Sid Halley, ex-jockey, now private investigator, is relatively resigned to the fact that he now has an artificial hand. The new electro-plastic mechanism doesn't seem to be slowing him down, either, as he simultaneously takes on cases involving corruption at the highest levels of the Jockey Club, the puzzling performances of a trainer's top horses and a con man's ensnarement of Sid's ex-wife.
Sid Halley is one of my favorite characters - he's so down to earth and human. I never want one of Dick Francis' books to end.
Introduction to Sid Halley. A good mystery with interesting plot twists.
One of Dick Francis's best!
The cover is not in prime condition, but the writing is stellar.
Francis' hero in this one, 1st person, as usual, is Sid Halley, former jockey. Former, because of an accident which also cost him his left hand. Sid is now a detective, and this adventure begins when he is approached by the wife of one of the owners he once rode for. She has a problem, and has heard that Sid might be just the man to handle it. Good thriller, as usual.
"ex-jockey turned private eye"
Francis at his very best. A real page-turner.
A brilliant book, one of his best! It's the 2nd in the Sid Halley series. This is the story that got me hooked on Dick Francis.
I have yet to read a book by Dick Francis that I didn't like. I've loved them all and this one too. It has great suspense plus a little but not too much romance.
You need to be a horse or horse racing fan to fully understand and appreciate the base story in this book. Not my cup of tea.
This summer, my same friend gave me a big bag of mysteries to read and I found Whip Hand. I was pleasantly surprised! In fact, this turned out to be the best mystery I have read all summer. The main character is Sid Halley, an ex-jockey turned PI whose small stature belies all the hidden baggage beneath. He also brings the same passion to win that he had as a jockey to his investigations. Halley has three separate mysteries dumped on him: a mail fraud, a syndicate fixing and racehorse tampering. The racehorse tampering was especially timely after spending some time in Versailles Kentucky this summer, site of the tragic and still unsolved horse tampering case. Not to give the story away, but this book is filled with action, drama, suspense, believable characters, just a little romance, and a plot that will have you guessing until the very end. Next time I receive a Dick Francis book, I will be a little more anxious to begin reading!
