Turbulent Priests

Dan Starkey returns in Colin Bateman's third novel of the series, set on the remote Wrathlin Island off Ireland's northern coast. A journalist turned investigator, Starkey must look into claims that a young schoolgirl may be the returned Messiah. Starkey brings his wife Patricia and young son to the island while he conducts his investigation for Cardinal Daley, the Primate of All Ireland. The small, dry community proves challenging to navigate as the island's inhabitants resist his presence and questions. The story combines crime fiction elements with religious themes in a dark comedy format. Through its isolated setting and clash between outsiders and locals, the novel explores faith, skepticism, and the nature of truth in modern Ireland.

Readers describe Turbulent Priests as a darkly comic crime novel that blends serious themes with humor. The book has limited reviews online, with most concentrated on Goodreads and Amazon UK. Readers liked: - The balance of comedy and social commentary - References to Northern Ireland politics and religion - Character development of protagonist Dan Starkey - Sharp dialogue and pacing Readers disliked: - Plot becomes convoluted in the middle sections - Some jokes feel forced or repetitive - Religious/political elements may require local knowledge Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (52 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.2/5 (12 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Manages to tackle serious issues while keeping you laughing" - Goodreads "The plot lost me about halfway through" - Amazon UK "You need to know Belfast to get all the references" - Goodreads

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman A group of retirees investigate murders in their community with wit and dark humor that matches Bateman's irreverent approach to crime.

The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz A meta-mystery featuring a fictionalized version of the author draws readers into a murder investigation with the same blend of humor and crime as Turbulent Priests.

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde Detective Jack Spratt investigates the death of Humpty Dumpty in a world where nursery crime meets police procedural with satirical undertones.

Bryant & May: Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler Two elderly detectives solve crimes in London with eccentric methods and sharp wit that creates the same mix of humor and mystery.

Holy Disorders by Edmund Crispin A murder mystery set in a cathedral town combines ecclesiastical politics with crime-solving in ways that mirror Bateman's religious-themed narrative.

🔸 Rathlin Island, where the book is set, is Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island and has a real population of just around 150 people. 🔸 Colin Bateman dropped the "Colin" from his pen name after his early works, publishing subsequent books simply as "Bateman." 🔸 The Dan Starkey series began with "Divorcing Jack" (1995), which was later adapted into a film starring David Thewlis. 🔸 Religious-themed mystery novels saw a significant surge in popularity following the success of "The Da Vinci Code" in 2003, though "Turbulent Priests" took a more satirical approach to the genre. 🔸 The book's title is a play on words referencing Thomas Becket, the "turbulent priest" whom Henry II famously wished to be rid of in 12th century England.