Dick Francis, British mystery writer, dies

Dick Francis, the bestselling British mystery writer and former jockey, has died at his home in the Cayman Islands, a spokeswoman said. No cause of death was announced. He was 89.

Francis published 42 novels. He was also a successful jockey but retired from racing in 1957 and took up writing, first as a racing correspondent for Britain's Sunday Express newspaper. He began writing novels in 1962.

We'll have more details later at latimes.com/obituaries.

-- Associated Press

Photo: Dick Francis in 2000. Credit: Associated Press