''Under Orders'' is a

novel A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...

Dick Francis Richard Stanley Francis (31 October 1920 – 14 February 2010) was a British steeplechase jockey and crime writer whose novels centre on horse racing in England. After wartime service in the RAF, Francis became a full-time jump-jockey, winn ...

, published on 7 September 2006. This is the fourth Francis novel to feature

Sid Halley Sid Halley (John Sidney Halley) is a fictional character in four Dick Francis novels, ''Odds Against'', '' Whip Hand'', ''Come to Grief'', '' Under Orders'' and two follow-up books by Felix Francis, ''Refusal'' and ''Hands Down''. He is a former ...

, jockey turned private detective. The title is a reference to the time shortly before the start of the race, when the horses and jockeys must obey the orders of the starter. Francis' well-known collaboration with his wife Mary resulted in the pair producing one book every year until 2000, when Mary died. Under Orders was the first book he wrote after her death, appearing after a six-year gap. Although the book lists Dick Francis as sole author, it appears that his son Felix provided major assistance in the writing, as evidenced by a substantial change in style that is characteristic of all the later books credited to Dick and Felix Francis as co-authors, as well as books written solely by Felix after his father's death.

References

External links

''The Guardian''
2006 British novels Novels by Dick Francis Horse racing novels British sports novels British crime novels Michael Joseph books {{2000s-crime-novel-stub