by Dick Francis
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Product Description
"Sadly, death at the races is not uncommon. However, three in a single afternoon was sufficiently unusual to raise more than one eyebrow."
It's the third death on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day that really troubles super-sleuth Sid Halley. Last seen in 1995's Come to Grief, former champion jockey Halley knows the perils of racing all too well-but in his day, jockeys didn't usually reach the finishing line with three .38 rounds in the chest. But this is precisely how he finds jockey Huw Walker-who, only a few hours earlier, had won the coveted Triumph Hurdle.
Just moments before the gruesome discovery, Halley had been called upon by Lord Enstone to make discreet inquiries into why his horses appeared to be on a permanent losing streak. Are races being fixed? Are bookies taking a cut? And if so, are trainers and jockeys playing a dangerous game with stakes far higher than they are realistic?
Halley's quest for answers draws him even deeper into the darker side of the race game, in a life-or-death power play that will push him to his very limits-both professionally and personally.
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Average Customer Review:
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
 WHAT ARE THE ODDS?, 2008-06-20
I am a Dick Francis virgin, that is to say Under Orders is my first Dick Francis novel. Unlike some of the other reviewers I have no fond memories of his previous works and writing style and therefore I present my review based solely on my experience with the content contained between the covers of this book.
I was immediately drawn into this tale of a one handed former jockey, now surviving as a moderately successful P.I., and his main squeeze, a vivacious, blond, Dutch cancer research specialist as they navigate the perilous waters of steeplechase racing and internet gambling. They cross paths with a variety of characters including horse trainers and jockeys, who are suspected of being paid off to fix races, a journalist whose paparazzi tactics are less than honorable, a grieving father, an ex-member of MI5, a couple of English Lords, and a plethora of supporting cast members.
Murder, suicide, and muggings replete with an ample amount of blood and gore are the order of the day and the author's vivid description of the intricacies of internet gambling as well as his speculation as to the devious methods which could be employed by gambling site owners to ensure them windfall profits was quite enlightening.
Additionally, Mr. Francis obviously has his finger on the rather jaded pulse humanity as illustrated by an incident in his story depicting the publics' mournful reaction to the death of a racehorse and the news coverage generated by that event when compared with the apathetic reaction to the death of a jockey on the same day. It would appear that we are a species more willing to empathize with and bestow our compassion on an animal than on our fellow man.
I found this offering to be a quick read and a pleasant diversion and particularly impressive when one considers that the ingenious plot is the brainchild of an 86 year old author. Cheers to you, Mr. Francis.....and three and a half stars too.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Another winner for Dick Francis, 2008-03-03
I bought "Under Orders" 2 days ago and just finished reading it this morning. Housework and eating fell to the wayside as I entered the world of Sid Hadley, Jockey turned Private Investigator. Dick Franicis never fails to weave several plot lines together for an exciting ending. This book also lets the reader enter the real world of Police Departments lack of funding, how computers are enabling "easy to get away with" crime and how science is making sure that the right person is caught, not just an easy patsy. I'd recommend this book to any mystery lover.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Dick Francis - Under Orders, 2008-02-13
Another winner from Dick Francis. His later works depend rather much on a tried and trusted formula especially with hero Sid Hailey. However this very predictability has appeal at least you know what you are going to get. Heroes are brave, clever and underestimated, baddies are loud, brash and ruthless and women are beautiful and compliant.Great stuff!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Boring and unconvincing, 2008-01-13
This was one of the most boring books I have ever read.
The plot was uninteresting and plodding and all the characters were just cardboard cut outs; completely superficial and predictable and with no depth at all. The female characters were particularly unbeliveable and some of their dialogue was just awful.
I am at a loss to explain how so many people gave this book high ratings, perhaps it is due to his earlier work being of a higher standard? (It'd have to be surely for this writer to have had such a career.)
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
So glad there is anther Sid book, 2007-10-28
I am always worried about long time authors' ability to turn out another entertaining book. However, in my opinion, rarely has Francis failed to please and Under Orders is no exception. I welcome the return of Sid Halley (honestly, how has it been that there has never been a decent, mainstream series picked up of this character on television? With the dismal choice for watching these days, Sid would be a perfect vehicle for a really decent show that doesn't have CSI in front of the title.) as a happier more well adjusted hero. I disagree that there is any excess in bringing him back. This was another fast paced, hook me in tight from the first page Francis novel. I'm a little worried about reading the next one, as other parent/child torch passings have never lived up to my expectations but I am really pleased that we have at least one more novel in the cadre of Francis books. I think it's amazing with the volume of work he has done that he's managed to turn out mostly solid, entertaining books time after time. Please spare me the "formulaic" complaint. Mr. Francis has had a formula that was apparent since about book 3 but it has rarely failed to still be an interesting character driven piece with believable motivations. If you don't like the formula, stop reading after your third novel. But I think, as his popularity shows, its a formula that works, is intriguing and obviously appealing and his ability to draw me in to a story has shone through once more.
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