Silks by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

I've always loved Francis, I return to his early works as a homecoming. Silks was really good, the title being a reference both to the brightly coloured outfits jockeys wear on the course to identify themselves, and to the promotion of barristers to Queen's Council judges. Silks goes between both worlds, defence barrister Geoffrey Mason is a part time amateur jockey who ends up defending a jockey accused of murdering another jockey.

Francis' collaboration with his son is a welcome return to form, utterly compelling and brilliantly written and researched. This isn't the first team work, Shattered is one of my favourites and is written by the pair, but this is only the second time it has been a full on partnership.