Dead Heat (Francis Thriller) About the Author FELIX FRANCIS studied Physics and Electronics at London University and then embarked upon a 17 year career teaching Advanced Level physics. Felix Francis is the younger son of crime writer and National Hunt jockey Dick Francis, and over the past 40 years Felix assisted Dick with both the research and the writing of many of his novels. Felix's love of racing, writing talent, and knowledge and experience as a physics teacher was invaluable in the father and son writing partnership. Felix has written ten 'Francis' novels, the first Under Orders was published in 2006. Then followed Dead Heat,Silks, Even Money, Crossfire, Gamble, Bloodline, Refusal, Damage and Felix's tenth novel Front Runner.