Felix Francis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 (age 70–71) |
| Education | University of London |
| Occupation(s) | crime writer, physics teacher |
| Known for | writing with his father |
| Notable work | Gamble |
| Parents |
|
Felix Francis (born 1953) is a British crime writer. He is Dick Francis’ younger son.[1]
Felix studied physics and electronics at London University, and then started a 17-year career teaching Advanced Level physics at three schools, the last seven as head of the science department at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire,[2] before quitting to look after his father's affairs.[3] He lives in Oxfordshire.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] 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[6] and his past as an international marksman in Shattered (2000) and Under Orders (2006).[citation needed]
With the publication of Dead Heat in 2007, Felix took on a more significant role in writing, and was credited as co-author.[6] Silks (2008) was the second novel in this father-and-son collaboration, and Even Money (2009) was the third.[7] 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.[6]
Critical response
Kirkus said Gamble was "fully worthy of the family name", familiar to Dick Francis fans, but well-handled.[8] Eurocrime gave a mixed review to Gamble, commenting on Felix's lack of direct experience of horseracing, criticizing "a curious flatness" in its narration, but calling it "a nicely layered, slightly complex thriller".[9]
Novels
| Title | Year | ISBN of first edition | Narrator/Main character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamble | 2011 | ISBN 978-1-4104-3870-6 | Nicholas "Foxy" Foxton, financial adviser | |
| Bloodline | 2012 | ISBN 978-1-4104-5223-8 | Mark Shillington, racing commentator | |
| Refusal | 2013 | ISBN 978-0-3991-6081-3 | Sid Halley, former private investigator | |
| Damage | 2014 | ISBN 978-0-3991-6822-2 | Jeff Hinkley, BHA investigator | |
| Front Runner | 2015 | ISBN 978-1-4059-1522-9 | Jeff Hinkley, BHA investigator | |
| Triple Crown | 2016 | ISBN 978-0-3995-7470-2 | Jeff Hinkley, BHA investigator | |
| Pulse | 2017 | ISBN 978-0-3995-7474-0 | Chris Rankin, Doctor | Dr Rankin is the first female protagonist/narrator in any of the books |
| Crisis | 2018 | ISBN 978-0-5255-3676-5 | Harrison Foster, Crisis Manager | |
| Guilty Not Guilty | 2019 | ISBN 978-0-5255-3679-6 | Bill Russel, racing steward | |
| Iced | 2021 | ISBN 978-1-471-19661-4 | Miles Pussett, former steeplechase jockey, now tobogganist | |
| Hands Down | 2022 | ISBN 978-1-471-19666-9 | Sid Halley, former private investigator |
References
- ^ "dickfrancis.com biographies. http://www.dickfrancis.com/site/DIFR/Templates/General2.aspx?pageid=8&cc=GB
- ^ "College Management - Malvern College". Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
- ^ Karl Quinn, "Son keeps the Dick Francis story galloping along", The Age (Australia), October 30, 2009, http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/books/son-keeps-the-dick-francis-story-galloping-along/2009/10/29/1256405473995.html
- ^ "My space: Felix Francis, author", Daily Telegraph (UK), 06 Sep 2011, [1]
- ^ "College Management - Malvern College". Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
- ^ a b c d "Anything Dad could do... Felix Francis, son of thriller writer Dick Francis, pens his first solo effort". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
- ^ Stasio, Marilyn (2010-02-15). "Dick Francis, Jockey and Writer, Dies at 89". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
- ^ DICK FRANCIS'S GAMBLE | Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ Sarah Hilary, "Gamble" (Review), Eurocrime, 11/09/2011, http://www.eurocrime.co.uk/reviews/Gamble.html
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
This page was last edited on 6 January 2024, at 16:09