Dick Francis  (1920 – 2010) was a British steeplechase jockey and crime writer whose novels centre on horse racing in England.

This is the first of his very popular books I’ve read. Francis wrote more than 40 international best-sellers.

He is a skillful and entertaining writer — but I’m no fan of horse racing. And these books are REALLY focused on horse racing.

His wife Mary was very involved. He called her his researcher.

His son became a co-author and author on his own.

High Stakes (1975) has a terrific romance. And a complicated heist plot.

I did like the story.

The hero is a toy designer / engineer — who begins dabbling in owning race horses.

His trainer takes advantage of his naiveté — and enters into a conspiracy to defraud the owner.