List $34.95

Written by Dick Francis & Felix Francis - Audio book performed by Martin Jarvis - Unabridged Fiction - 9 COMPACT DISCS - 11 hours

Publisher, Penguin Audio (September 2007)

Listen to an audio clip.

After a six-year absence from the bestseller lists, Dick Francis roared out of the gate with 2006's Under Orders, demonstrating once again every ounce of his famed narrative drive, brilliant plotting, and simmering suspense. Hard on the heels of that triumph comes Dead Heat, set against the backdrop of Britain's famed Two Thousand Guineas Stakes.

Max Moreton is a rising culinary star and his Newmarket restaurant, The Hay Net, has brought him great acclaim and a widening circle of admirers. But when nearly all the guests who enjoyed one of his meals at a private catered affair fall victim to severe food poisoning, his kitchen is shuttered and his reputation takes a hit. Scrambling to meet his next obligation, an exclusive luncheon for forty in the glass-fronted private boxes at the Two Thousand Guineas, Max must overcome the previous evening's disaster and provide the new American sponsors of the year's first classic race with a day to remember.

Then a bomb blast rips through the private boxes, killing some of Max's trusted staff as well as many of the guests. As survivors are rushed to the hospital, Max is left to survey the ruins of the grandstand-and of his career. Two close calls are too close for comfort, and Max vows to protect his name-and himself-before it's too late.

About Dick Francis: Dick Francis was born in South Wales in 1920. He was a young boy rider of distinction winning awards and trophies at horse shows throughout the United Kingdom. At the outbreak of World War II he joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot, flying fighter and bomber aircraft including the Spitfire and Lancaster.

Following the war, Dick Francis, son and grandson of jockeys, became a professional steeplechase jockey himself. He was Champion Jockey in 1954 and rode for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for four years. He raced eight times in the world famous Grand National Steeplechase, nearly winning in 1956 when the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch, collapsed under him a few strides from victory. This incident, which he calls "both the high point and low point of my career as a jockey," was the impetus for him to begin a second career as a writer.

In January 1957 he retired from race riding and took up a pen. He became a racing feature writer for the London Sunday Express and published his racing autobiography, The Sport of Queens. Sports writing soon led to fiction writing. His first novel was published in 1962 and one followed each year until his 39th, and last, was published in September 2000.

Dick Francis was made an Officer of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1984, and was promoted to Commander of the Order (CBE) in June 2000. He was awarded the British Crime Writers Association Silver Dagger in 1965, Gold Dagger in 1980 and Cartier Diamond Dagger for his life's work in 1990. He is the recipient of four Edgar Allen Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, including the Grand Master award in 1996. In 1998 was elected as a Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.

He now lives in the Caribbean. In June 2000 he and his wife, Mary, who helped with much of the research for the books, celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. Sadly, Mary died later that year, bringing to an end one of the great literary partnerships of the twentieth century. However, a new partnership now blossoms with his younger son, Felix, who has helped with the research for Under Orders, the first Dick Francis novel for six years.