The Horse with My Name

The Horse With My Name is the fifth novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 5 August 2002 through Headline Publishing Group.[1] Bateman wrote the novel while staying at the Fairyhouse Racecourse in County Meath.[2]

The Horse With My Name
First edition
AuthorColin Bateman
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesDan Starkey novels
GenreCrime, Dark comedy
PublisherHeadline
Publication date
5 August 2002 (2002-08-05)
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages281
ISBN978-0-7553-0238-3
OCLC59483211
823.914
LC ClassPR6052.A773 H67 2003
Preceded byShooting Sean
(2001)' 
Followed byDriving Big Davie
(2004)' 

Plot

This novel follows Dan Starkey who is currently both unemployed and single. His estranged wife Patricia, after cancelling their counselling sessions with Relate, has entered into another relationship with someone called Clive and is currently living with him in the family home. Starkey receives a request from Mark Corkery, known as "The Horse Whisperer", to investigate racing entrepreneur Geordie McClean who is apparently not quite as clean as his name would suggest.

Reception
Reading a Colin Bateman novel is like having a drink with an old friend. The experience may not solve your problems but it will give you a warm glow for as long as you're together.

Ferdia Mac Anna, Irish Independent[3]

The novel received little but positive coverage in the media.

Ferdia Mac Anna, writing for the Irish Independent, stated that she found the feel of the novel to be "weirdly familiar but oddly cosy" where "everyone is on the make in one way or another and the heroes are either losers or drunks or both", calling Starkey's journey a "roller-coaster ride". She does note that "on occasion, the witty one-liners and outrageous scenarios grow a tad obvious", however also states that "I would rather read Bateman than many critically-acclaimed works of serious literature". Mac Anna further goes on to state that "Bateman's great strength is that he satirises everything" and calling the novel "terrific entertainment and stylishly funny".[3]

Author John Gaynard stated that he was "a little disconcerted by the "stand up comedy" aspect" of the novel, yet he "persevered" and "came across some genuine moments of comedy". He opined that Bateman "is the sort of writer you either love or hate" and awarded the novel four stars, out of five.[4]

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References
  1. "The Horse With My Name (Book, 2002)". WorldCat.org. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  2. Bateman, Colin. "The Horse with my Name". Colin Bateman. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  3. Mac Anna, Ferdia (22 September 2002). "Murder, intrigue, hoods and horsenapping - Celeb News, Independent Woman". Independent.ie. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  4. Gaynard, John J. (6 October 2011). "John Gaynard's review of The Horse with My Name". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
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