The Horse with My Name

The Horse with My Name is the fifth installment in Colin Bateman's Dan Starkey series, set in Northern Ireland's horse racing world. The novel was written while Bateman stayed at Fairyhouse Racecourse in County Meath, lending authenticity to its racing backdrop. Dan Starkey, unemployed and separated from his wife Patricia, takes on an investigation into racing entrepreneur Geordie McClean. The case comes from Mark Corkery, known as "The Horse Whisperer," who suspects McClean's business practices require scrutiny. The book combines crime fiction with dark comedy, using the complexities of Northern Ireland's racing culture as its foundation. Through Starkey's investigation, the story examines themes of deception, redemption, and the moral ambiguities that exist in both personal relationships and professional dealings.

Readers describe this comic crime novel as blending dark humor with an offbeat mystery, though many note it doesn't reach the heights of Bateman's other works. Readers appreciated: - The narrator's cynical, self-deprecating voice - Fast-paced plot with unexpected turns - References to Los Angeles film culture - Snappy dialogue Common criticisms: - Plot becomes convoluted in later chapters - Supporting characters lack depth - American setting feels less authentic than Bateman's Irish-based stories - Several reviewers found the ending unsatisfying Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (183 ratings) Amazon UK: 3.8/5 (24 reviews) Sample reader quote: "Not Dan's best outing. The wit is there but the plot meanders too much. His Belfast-set novels have more bite." - Goodreads reviewer Another notes: "Fun enough ride but lacks the sharp edge of Mystery Man or Divorcing Jack." - Amazon UK review

Dead Lions by Mick Herron MI5 agents investigate suspicious deaths against a backdrop of British espionage, mixing dark humor with crime in the same vein as Bateman's racing world intrigue.

The Big O by Declan Burke This Irish crime novel follows a criminal plot through multiple perspectives, merging crime with dark comedy in Dublin's underworld.

Borderlands by Brian McGilloway An inspector investigates murders along the Ireland-Northern Ireland border, capturing the region's tensions and complexities like Bateman's Belfast-set narratives.

The Guards by Ken Bruen Ex-cop Jack Taylor investigates Galway's criminal underbelly, blending Irish culture and noir elements with a troubled protagonist similar to Dan Starkey.

Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride A detective sergeant works Aberdeen's crime beat, combining police procedural elements with regional Scottish culture in the same way Bateman uses Northern Ireland's racing world.

🏇 The author wrote the novel while staying at Fairyhouse Racecourse in Ireland, one of the country's most historic racing venues, established in 1848. 📚 This book is the fifth entry in the Dan Starkey series, featuring a character who has become one of Northern Ireland's most recognizable fictional detectives. 🖋️ Colin Bateman initially wrote for newspapers before becoming a novelist, similar to his protagonist Dan Starkey, lending authenticity to the character's background. 🎭 Horse racing noir is a distinct subgenre of crime fiction, popularized by authors like Dick Francis, combining elements of classic noir with the high-stakes world of thoroughbred racing. ☘️ The novel reflects Northern Ireland's significant horse racing culture, where the sport generates over €1 billion annually for the economy and employs thousands of people.