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Book Review of Odds Against (Sid Halley, Bk 1)

Odds Against (Sid Halley, Bk 1)
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"Odds Against" is the first book in the Sid Halley trilogy. Sid Halley is a former jockey who lost the use of his hand when he had an accident during a race and a horse fell on him. He can no longer ride, so his father-in-law has taken him into his business as a private eye. Although Sid has been with the firm for two years, he has done little work but has observed and absorbed a lot. When he takes on the case of what's happening at Seabury racetrack when a shady property dealer appears on the scene, Sid risks life and limb to find out what is going on and to make sure Seabury is safe.

Francis's mysteries don't usually start off with a fast and furious beginning, but the story builds slowly and steadily with characters being introduced along the way. I can usually never figure out who the culprit is because Francis's writing makes it hard to guess. I like his style of writing that is not hurried and his charactersare so convincing they could be real people.
Published 1987.