In the original dustsheet. Black binding with red title on the spine.

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THE HIGHER THE STAKES, THE DEADLIER THE RISK . . .

THE BRAND NEW 2023 THRILLER FROM THE MASTER OF THE RACING THRILLER

Theo Jennings is a young auctioneer at the Thoroughbred sales ring in Newmarket. The October yearling sales are where the big money exchanges hands in frenzied auctions: millions of Guineas paid for horses that are as yet unnamed, untested, and have never taken a step on the track. It’s the greatest gamble in all of horseracing, and one that can end in ruin.

Theo has just made the biggest sale of his life, when he overhears a secret conversation between the two bidders – can they really have colluded to fix the price of his big sale? When that same horse is found dead the next morning, he has no choice but to investigate, even against the wishes of his boss. But the more he uncovers, the less he can trust the people around him.

The higher the stakes, the greater the risk. And in the bloodstock game, the ultimate price can be murder . . .

PRAISE FOR FELIX FRANCIS:

‘From winning post to top of the bestseller lists’ – SUNDAY TIMES

‘The Francis flair is clear for all to see’ – DAILY MAIL

‘The master of suspense and intrigue’ – COUNTRY LIFE

‘A story of skulduggery, conspiracy and dodgy dealings’ – YORKSHIRE TIMES

‘Felix Francis’ novels gallop along splendidly’ – JILLY COOPER

‘A gripping tale’ – DAILY EXPRESS

‘The pages fly by’ – HORSE & HOUND

Felix Francis (born 1953) is a British crime writer. He is Dick Francis’ younger son. Felix studied physics and electronics at London University, and then started a 17-year career teaching Advanced Level physics at three schools, the last as head of the science department at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire, before quitting to look after his father’s affairs. He lives in Oxfordshire. From 1993 to 2005, he was a director and deputy chairman of World Challenge Expeditions Ltd. Felix is also a former governor of Winchester House Prep School, and is a governor of Malvern College.

Dick’s wife, Mary Francis, assisted with both the research and the writing of many of Dick’s novels until her death in 2000. Felix assisted with this, and after Mary died Felix took over her work. Felix and his father often worked together on plot and character details at Dick’s home in the Cayman Islands. This partnership allowed Dick to draw upon Felix’s knowledge and experience as a physics teacher in Twice Shy and his past as an international marksman in Shattered (2000) and Under Orders (2006).

With the publication of Dead Heat in 2007, Felix took on a more significant role in writing, and was credited as co-author. Silks (2008) was the second novel in this father-and-son collaboration, and Even Money (2009) was the third. Crossfire (2010) was the novel Dick and Felix were working on when Dick died in February 2010.

Felix’s first novel written without his father was Gamble, published in September 2011, beginning the “Dick Francis novel” franchise.