Zaffre lands two from ‘king of horseracing thrillers’ Felix Francis

Zaffre has acquired No Reserve from Felix Francis, dubbed by the publisher the “king of horseracing thrillers”, along with a second thriller.

Ben Willis, publishing director for Zaffre, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada rights in a two-book deal from Ed Wilson at Johnson & Alcock. Francis was previously published by Simon & Schuster.

No Reserve will be released on 28th September 2023 in hardback, e-book and audiobook and Francis’ second, as-yet-untitled novel will be published in September 2024.

No Reserve is described as “a blistering new high-stakes thriller set in the cutthroat world of British racehorse sales". The publisher goes on: “Theo Jennings is a young auctioneer at the Thoroughbred sales ring in Newmarket. The October yearling sales are where the big money exchanges hands in frenzied auctions: millions of guineas paid for horses that are as yet unnamed, untested and have never taken a step on the track. It’s the greatest gamble in all of horseracing, and one that can end in ruin.

“Theo has just made the biggest sale of his life, when he overhears a secret conversation between the two bidders – can they really have colluded to fix the price of his big sale? When that same horse is found dead the next morning, he has no choice but to investigate, even against the wishes of his boss. But the more he uncovers, the less he can trust the people around him. The higher the stakes, the greater the risk. And in the bloodstock game, the ultimate price can be murder.”

Francis said: “I am delighted to have now become a Zaffre author. It is a new chapter in my writing career and I look forward to many years of cooperation, starting with No Reserve, my new novel to be published in September 2023. No Reserve explores the dark side of thoroughbred bloodstock auctions and the levels to which some people will descend to steal an illicit buck or two, or even a million.”

Willis said: “I have long admired Felix’s thrillers. Quite simply, no writer today can do what he does: create fast-paced, intricate thriller plots set in the stands of one of the country’s most beloved spectator sports. No Reserve is the perfect example of his work – a page-turning crime story that thrusts you behind the glamorous curtain of horse racing and into its dark underbelly.”

Wilson added: “This is the dream combination of iconic British brand author with cutting edge global publishing know-how – we’re excited to see Ben and the team take Felix to the next level.”