Colin Bateman (1) (1962–)

I found this compulsively readable and almost equal parts funny and cringe. The Man with No Name who runs No Alibis, a crime fiction bookshop in Belfast, is a walking bundle of neuroses, and it was distressing how many of those I could relate to. (The sheer number of everyday things that the Man nopes out of, I have noped out of at least once in my life with precisely the same sort of self-protective anxiety.) It’s definitely a darker brand of humour but not darker in terms of crime: show more it’s mostly a puzzle sort of crime with a reasonably low body count. I would read another book in the series if I could get a hold of it. show less

A novel with a title as cool as “Of Wee Sweetie Mice and Men” is just begging to be at least taken off of the shelf. If that catchy handle isn’t enough, the boxer throwing a jab on the cover, with a little mouse atop his glove, should certainly get your attention. If I hadn’t already been directed to this book by my friend, Glenn, that title and cover art would have gotten me to give this one a try.
Bateman grabbed a hold of me with the first paragraph.

“Peace had settled over the show more city like the skin on a rancid custard. Everybody wanted it, just not in that form. The forecast remained for rain, with widespread terrorism.”

Boy, Howdy! I think this was the most fun I’ve had with a book in all of 2021. I love boxing, comedy, and weird characters. This page-turning thrill ride is the crazy misadventures of unlikely, heavyweight contender, Fat Boy McMaster and his entourage preparing for a mismatch of a title shot with the champion, Mike Tyson. Fat Boy “can’t fight, he has the charisma of a bag of sugar and more in common with tripe than hype. He is the Great Fat Hope”.
Our motley crew welcome the chance to leave the atrocities of Northern Ireland behind for the more settled conditions of New York City. Ha! Right from the frying pan, and into the fire.

Special thanks to Glenn Russell for introducing me to Colin Bateman’s work. show less

Once again Colin Bateman delivers a book that is both hilarious and outrageous. This is the third in the Dan Starkey series and in this one, Dan, his wife and newborn baby go to Wrathlin Island. Dan has been sent there to investigate the rumors that the Messiah has been born there and is about to start school.

He finds the island is a place that believes they are sheltering God’s daughter and are working hard to protect her. The islands council have taken the law into their on hands and show more have outlawed liquor as well was television. Dan is suffering without his drink and his entertainment but manages to wise-crack his way around the island, making more enemies than friends. Facing guns, knives, beatings and a blind population, he struggles to expose the truth. Although the book stretches the imagination almost to the breaking point, the journey is a fun one.

Turbulent Priests is chock full of witty dialogue, humor, desperation and weirdness. I am already looking forward to my next Dan Starkey book. show less

Sullo sfondo l'Irlanda e tutto ciò che l'IRA ha significato e significa.

In primo piano, le vicende di Dan Starkey, giornalista con un livello di sarcasmo pari soltanto al tenore etilico. Le giornate scorrono placidamente nella tranquilla devastazione, tra la rubrica che l'ha reso famoso, i pub e i dischi. O almeno così era fino all'arrivo di Margaret, studentessa universitaria che trascinerà - involontariamente - il celebre giornalista nel periodo più scalcagnato e disperato che la vita show more potesse riservargli.

Un libro essenziale per tutti gli amanti del cosiddetto Comedy thriller, dove il fascino etilico di Starkey e la sua irriverente personalità si mescolano alla perfezione ad una trama che non lesina su misteri, botte, crudeltà e ritmi tesi, impreziosita dai migliori cliché irlandesi e da intrighi politici che soffiano sulla suspance.


Come resuscitare il thriller e affogarlo magistralmente nel malto.
Applausi, o Bateman. show less