Dead Heat [Hardcover]

This fresh angle on the tried-and-tested formula will ensure another winner for the Francis dynasty. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

‘I wondered if I was dying. I wasn’t afraid to die but, such was the pain in my gut, I wished it would happen soon.’

The night before the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket sees the great and the good of the horse-racing community gathered for a prestigious black-tie Gala dinner. It is a fitting testament to the glamour of the occasion that top chef Max Moreton is cooking the evening’s meal.

Max is something of a celebrity in Newmarket circles. He is founder of the racing town’s favourite Michelin-starred restaurant, the Hay Net. However, spending the night retching in the throes of agony is the last thing Max expects. But much worse is to come...his food is suspected of putting twenty-four of the dinner guests in hospital. Max’s pride and professionalism tells him all is not as it seems.

Within hours, Max’s restaurant is forcibly closed, his reputation teeters on the brink of ruin, and a court case looms. But the day is far from over, and soon Max Moreton finds himself desperately fighting for more than just his livelihood...

Dead Heat is the latest searing, intrigue-filled blockbuster from the Grand Master of thriller writing.

‘I wondered if I was dying. I wasn’t afraid to die, but such was the pain in my gut, I wished it would happen soon.’ The night before the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket sees the great and the good of the horse-racing community gathered for a black-tie gala dinner at the Hay Net - the racing town’s favourite Michelin-starred restaurant - founded by Max Moreton, something of a local celebrity. Spending the night retching in the throes of agony is the last thing Max expected of the evening. But much worse is to come…his food is suspected of putting twenty-four dinner guests in hospital. Within hours, Max’s restaurant is forcibly closed, his reputation teeters on the brink of ruin, and a court case looms. But the day is far from over, for soon Max Moreton finds himself desperately fighting for more than just his livelihood… --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Dick Francis has written forty novels, a volume of short stories (Field of 13), his autobiography (The Sport of Queens) and the biography of Lester Piggott. He is rightly acclaimed as one of the greatest thriller writers in the world.

Felix Francis is the younger of Dick’s two sons. Having spent 17 years teaching A-level Physics he took on the role of managing his father’s affairs in 1991. With Dead Heat, Felix takes on a more significant role in the writing, assisting his father with the production of the latest instalment of the Dick Francis catalogue.