The Horse With My Name
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Product Description
Product Description
Dan Starkey - international man of inaction - rides again. How far can he fall this time?
Ex-journalist Dan Starkey is stuck in a grimy Belfast bedsit. His life is a disaster, and his only solace is the pub round the corner. He needs to get out more, particularly since the sessions at Relate with his wife Patricia have been cancelled and she's hooked up with new man Clive. Fellow ex-journalist Mark Corkery, whose secret persona is The Horse Whisperer, an internet horse-racing gossip, wants him to investigate Geordie McClean, the man behind Irish American Racing. Simple enough for a man with Dan's experience, surely? But Trouble is Dan's middle name. And trouble is what he finds...
Ex-journalist Dan Starkey is stuck in a grimy Belfast bedsit. His life is a disaster, and his only solace is the pub round the corner. He needs to get out more, particularly since the sessions at Relate with his wife Patricia have been cancelled and she's hooked up with new man Clive. Fellow ex-journalist Mark Corkery, whose secret persona is The Horse Whisperer, an internet horse-racing gossip, wants him to investigate Geordie McClean, the man behind Irish American Racing. Simple enough for a man with Dan's experience, surely? But Trouble is Dan's middle name. And trouble is what he finds...
About the Author
Bateman was a journalist in Northern Ireland before becoming a full-time writer. His first novel, DIVORCING JACK, won the Betty Trask Prize, and all his novels have been critically acclaimed. He wrote the screenplays for the feature films DIVORCING JACK, CROSSMAHEART and WILD ABOUT HARRY. He lives in Ireland with his family.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dan Starkey is back, but Colin Bateman doesn't come up a winner this time. Embroiling Starkey with the world of horse-racing, which is even worse than that of boxing, Starkey meets old acquaintances and makes new enemies - possibly the nastiest he's ever run into. But although the jokes are here, and the new love interest, and the suspense, the plot is really weak this time around. The death which gets Starkey involved in all this never gets explained except as a throwaway in the last line, we are never told just what happened to get all these gamblers and Chinese Triads so mad (except that they lost money), the finale is unexciting and unfortunately Dan Starkey's 'man of inaction' moniker is really deserved here. There's also some extremely nasty torture scenes (involving both Starkey and a woman) and (unlike in previous novels) this time there is absolutely no payback in any form (except arrest by the police). Finally, I'm starting to wonder whether Bateman still likes Dan Starkey, as he has never been this flawed, mendacious and unlikeable before. Divorcing Jack and Of Wee Sweetie Mice And Men remain the highlights of this series. Hopefully the next time will be of that level again.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Right from the outset this book had me laughing out loud. This was my introduction to Colin Bateman - and Dan Starkey, the main character in the book. I had bought it because I thought it was going to be a "laddish" comedy about a thirty-something bloke, along the lines of Nick Hornby or Mike Gayle. I was right, but it was so much more.
The book centres on the life of Dan Starkey, formerly a journalist for a Belfast newspaper, who unwittingly manages to find himself embroiled in the murky underworld of horse racing. Struggling for freelance work, he is commissioned to investigate Geordie McClean, a big player in horse racing circles. Unfortunately, McClean has a dodgy past and more unfortunately, Starkey has been involved in this past. Before he knows it, Starkey is being chased by a chinese gambling cartel and Irish bookmakers and three dead bodies in his house. On top of that he falls for the daughter of the man he is investigating! And just when things couldn't get any worse - they do!!
This is a superb thriller with a constant flow of twists in the tale that left me constantly on the edge of my seat. Combined with the "in your face" humour, this is a book you will not want to put down.
I later found out that this was just the latest in a series of books involving the journalist Dan Starkey, who appears to constantly court disaster where ever he goes -the first being "Divorcing Jack".
Bateman has without doubt introduced a fresh perspective on murder mystery and thriller books. His humour is refreshing and his ability to draw you into the story is commendable. Believe me, if you read this book you WILL enjoy it and you will start buying the other books. I know because I have and they are ALL superb!
Format:Paperback
On the back cover it says - "Four Legs. Eats Grass. Sleeps standing up - that's the sum total of Dan's knowledge of horses." Unfortunately it's also the sum total of Colin Bateman's knowledge too... He has it that the winner of the Grand National would be worth millions as a stallion prospect.... true apart from the fact that he would be missing two vital parts of his anatomy....
This and many other mistakes suggest that the research for this book involved going down the pub where they happened to have the racing on in the background....
All that said - it is an enjoyable comic thriller at a relentless pace. Not much of it is believable and so the lack of understanding the horse world jars less than it might
A good distraction when you need one
This and many other mistakes suggest that the research for this book involved going down the pub where they happened to have the racing on in the background....
All that said - it is an enjoyable comic thriller at a relentless pace. Not much of it is believable and so the lack of understanding the horse world jars less than it might
A good distraction when you need one
Most Recent Customer Reviews
great read!
another great bateman laugh along, hate to put it down
fun characters, although the central characters in his books does always seem to be rather sameish - alter ego??? Read more
fun characters, although the central characters in his books does always seem to be rather sameish - alter ego??? Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by Soozie Soo
Bateman at his darkest....
Well, I read this book in one sitting. I thought it was brill - didn't have any problems with the plot - it certainly kept me guessing. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2004 by "andrea54"
very disappointing
Dan Starkey is back, but Colin Bateman doesn't come up a winner this time. Embroiling Starkey with the world of horse-racing, which is even worse than that of boxing, Starkey meets... Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2003 by W. Thielemans
Northern Irish stuuner
Very witty, fast paced and well plotted. Easy reading. Some will dislike a book centred on a heavy drinker who jerks off in the shower. Many will enjoy the wit and action. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2002
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