Dead Cert

novel by Francis

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

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Dead Cert is a 1962 novel by Dick Francis. It was his first work of fiction and is set in the world of horse racing. Francis, a former jockey, became known for his realistic plots that often featured an amateur sleuth using deductive reasoning to solve mysteries. His novels typically feature a seemingly respectable villain whose smooth exterior hides their vices. Dead Cert was later adapted into a film in 1974. The novel falls within the detective, mystery, and thriller genres, which thrill readers with mysterious crimes and puzzles that are solved through logic.12

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Dick Francis
…with a successful first novel, Dead Cert (filmed 1974). Thereafter he averaged a book a year, all set in the world of horse racing. His books usually feature an amateur sleuth who uses classic deductive reasoning to solve the central mystery and who becomes emotionally involved with the case. The…
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…with a successful first novel, Dead Cert (filmed 1974). Thereafter he averaged a book a year, all set in the world of horse racing. His books usually feature an amateur sleuth who uses classic deductive reasoning to solve the central mystery and who becomes emotionally involved with the case. The…
Read More