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Dan Starkey #9
The Dead Pass
Hired to find the missing son of retired political activist Moira Doherty, Dan Starkey knows his new case is going to be challenging. Billy 'the Bear' Doherty isn't an easy man to find - a criminal with a nasty drug habit, his mum is convinced he's been murdered.
But when Moira herself is killed, her body found floating in the waters under Londonderry's Peace Bridge, Dan finds himself in the middle of a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Already in unfamiliar territory, Starkey is quickly embroiled in the city's porn and drug fuelled underworld, where a new generation of gangster terrorist is intent on creating mayhem their predecessors could only dream of...
But when Moira herself is killed, her body found floating in the waters under Londonderry's Peace Bridge, Dan finds himself in the middle of a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Already in unfamiliar territory, Starkey is quickly embroiled in the city's porn and drug fuelled underworld, where a new generation of gangster terrorist is intent on creating mayhem their predecessors could only dream of...
391 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2014
11 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Colin Bateman
77 books353 followersColin 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 of Divorcing Jack, Crossmaheart and Wild About Harry. He lives in Northern Ireland with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 30, 2016
I really like Bateman's books (with or without the 'Colin'), particularly the Dan Starkey series.
Starkey, a former journalist, now a PI, is sarcastic, irreverent and very, very Norn Iron... The humour in Bateman's work is inextricably intwined in Northern Ireland's recent history and politics, much of it so local that I wonder how it travels. In this novel, for instance, I would not expect a reader from outside of the province to 'get' the High Chaparral reference or understand why Starkey, a Belfast native, would feel so out of place in Derry/Londonderry, a city only 80-odd miles away, but do they understand why that / is simultaneously worthy of ridicule and being very important to the various factions in Northern Ireland society?
Whatever. The Dead Pass is a fine addition to the series as Starkey heads to the other side of Northern Ireland, with a potential Messiah in tow (yes...), to either investigate a murder or shirk the responsibilities thrust upon him by his own, complicated personal life, along the way running into, only slightly exaggerated, caricatures of members of those various factions. If you 'get' it, you will have fun and, perhaps, learn more about our messed-up little corner of Europe that you would from a hundred serious commentaries. In Northern Ireland we are very good at poking fun at very serious subjects but I do wonder if it translates.....
Starkey, a former journalist, now a PI, is sarcastic, irreverent and very, very Norn Iron... The humour in Bateman's work is inextricably intwined in Northern Ireland's recent history and politics, much of it so local that I wonder how it travels. In this novel, for instance, I would not expect a reader from outside of the province to 'get' the High Chaparral reference or understand why Starkey, a Belfast native, would feel so out of place in Derry/Londonderry, a city only 80-odd miles away, but do they understand why that / is simultaneously worthy of ridicule and being very important to the various factions in Northern Ireland society?
Whatever. The Dead Pass is a fine addition to the series as Starkey heads to the other side of Northern Ireland, with a potential Messiah in tow (yes...), to either investigate a murder or shirk the responsibilities thrust upon him by his own, complicated personal life, along the way running into, only slightly exaggerated, caricatures of members of those various factions. If you 'get' it, you will have fun and, perhaps, learn more about our messed-up little corner of Europe that you would from a hundred serious commentaries. In Northern Ireland we are very good at poking fun at very serious subjects but I do wonder if it translates.....
March 31, 2015
I enjoyed this, but I’m sticking to my tougher ratings, as i was just giving everything 4 & 5 stars.
I picked this out after reading some great reviews on Amazon
It’s a private detective novel, set in Ireland (I'm guessing a lot of Colin Batemans books are?)
It's the usual clichéd tough guy, wise cracking, womanising, hard drinking private dick stuff, but with both a modern twist (The Private Dick, Dan Starkey is like myself, an ex punk, who Loves the Clash and Liverpool FC) and a hint of mysticism / other worldliness.
Starkey is based in Belfast and is hired to investigate the disappearance of Derry / Londonderry gangster Billy the bear, Billy’s mother (an ex political activist).
Joining him on his journey to Derry / Londonderry (the book will explain why I don’t stick to one or the other) is the mysterious Christine, a 16 year child messiah, who has split religious groups in Ireland after a religious order is set up following her.
The problem is..i have genuinely forgot how and why Christine and Starkey became friends (that’s my fault not the authors. I just took so long reading this that I have forgotten). Anyways..she joined him on his trip and halfway there becomes violently ill after seeming having a premonition of sorts. Great! I thought. A nice twist on the normal Private Dick stories.
I envisaged spooky unexplained shenanigans aplenty, but unfortunately once they finally arrive at their destination they go their separate ways for the most part of the book and what follows is the usual cranky (but at times very funny) Private Dick feller poking around where he should not, getting drunk, hitting on his female journalist friend (Sarah) and getting into the usual capers that occur in these books, shootings, fights, kidnaping, unrequited lust, ex-wives, warring gangsters, whiskey and of course calling in favours from merciless killer pals.
Sorry if this all sounds very cynical as I did actually enjoy this book..but I just kept hoping that it would take a twist from the norm and that Christine would have returned to the book earlier than she did and give the story the mystical angle I thought is was heading into.
Christine does return in the end (and the drama picks up and another premonition proves to be vital to the plot as it comes to its conclusion.
If Private detective novels are you thing, I do recommend this book.
I read it, I enjoyed it. It was good
I picked this out after reading some great reviews on Amazon
It’s a private detective novel, set in Ireland (I'm guessing a lot of Colin Batemans books are?)
It's the usual clichéd tough guy, wise cracking, womanising, hard drinking private dick stuff, but with both a modern twist (The Private Dick, Dan Starkey is like myself, an ex punk, who Loves the Clash and Liverpool FC) and a hint of mysticism / other worldliness.
Starkey is based in Belfast and is hired to investigate the disappearance of Derry / Londonderry gangster Billy the bear, Billy’s mother (an ex political activist).
Joining him on his journey to Derry / Londonderry (the book will explain why I don’t stick to one or the other) is the mysterious Christine, a 16 year child messiah, who has split religious groups in Ireland after a religious order is set up following her.
The problem is..i have genuinely forgot how and why Christine and Starkey became friends (that’s my fault not the authors. I just took so long reading this that I have forgotten). Anyways..she joined him on his trip and halfway there becomes violently ill after seeming having a premonition of sorts. Great! I thought. A nice twist on the normal Private Dick stories.
I envisaged spooky unexplained shenanigans aplenty, but unfortunately once they finally arrive at their destination they go their separate ways for the most part of the book and what follows is the usual cranky (but at times very funny) Private Dick feller poking around where he should not, getting drunk, hitting on his female journalist friend (Sarah) and getting into the usual capers that occur in these books, shootings, fights, kidnaping, unrequited lust, ex-wives, warring gangsters, whiskey and of course calling in favours from merciless killer pals.
Sorry if this all sounds very cynical as I did actually enjoy this book..but I just kept hoping that it would take a twist from the norm and that Christine would have returned to the book earlier than she did and give the story the mystical angle I thought is was heading into.
Christine does return in the end (and the drama picks up and another premonition proves to be vital to the plot as it comes to its conclusion.
If Private detective novels are you thing, I do recommend this book.
I read it, I enjoyed it. It was good
December 31, 2014
I would probably have given this five stars had I not read any of Colin bateman's other dan starkey books. Good story, good writing. He just doesn't surprise me any more.
October 26, 2018
Usual Bateman caper. Nice to see a different city namely stroke city. Little glimpses of the Belfast humour . Nice undercurrent of political https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2... re the peace process and how easily it could be unrivalled.
Usual Bateman caper nice to see a different setting ie stroke city. Glimpses of the quick dark Belfast humour .. Lovely subtle referencing to the peace process and how fragile it is and how quickly it can unravel.
Usual Bateman caper nice to see a different setting ie stroke city. Glimpses of the quick dark Belfast humour .. Lovely subtle referencing to the peace process and how fragile it is and how quickly it can unravel.
January 21, 2020
The Dead Pass has a beginning, middle and an end. It keeps its feel throughout. The lead character, an unpaid private detective, found himself in a lot of horrible situations seemingly with no escape. Even though there was murder, violence and blood, the main character always seemed to have a snarky attitude with occasional references to punk rock. The story took place in a very cold Ireland with many references to the old Ireland that is no more. The book is recommended and why it was given four stars here.
January 19, 2018
this is the last (or perhaps just latest.) book in the Dan Starkey series, he’s a former Belfast Journalist turned Private Eye. These books have always mixed humour and violence and usually have interweaving stories, this one involved a child messiah, Irish Republican Terrorism, porn and the birth of Dan’s first Grandchild (kinda.) Bateman does a few other series of books and I’d recommend him to people who like that kinda thing.
November 30, 2019
Another great book in the Dan Starkey series.
“The Troubles” are over in Northern Ireland, but not everyone is happy about this.
The fun loving private investigator Dan Starkey seems to get tangled up with ever bad person in Northern Ireland, but because he is such a goofball and the dialogue is witty and fun without being annoying this is a great book series.
“The Troubles” are over in Northern Ireland, but not everyone is happy about this.
The fun loving private investigator Dan Starkey seems to get tangled up with ever bad person in Northern Ireland, but because he is such a goofball and the dialogue is witty and fun without being annoying this is a great book series.
September 4, 2018
I love this guy's writing. I kinda want to say it makes me want to travel to Ireland and check out the places, but then again!
He's got a great sense of plot and humour.
I hadn't read a Dan Starkey series book in years. So glad I read this, it was even better than I remembered. Great book.
He's got a great sense of plot and humour.
I hadn't read a Dan Starkey series book in years. So glad I read this, it was even better than I remembered. Great book.
April 18, 2019
A great Irish read.
December 21, 2020
more irish fun
July 18, 2022
Great story great adventure lol moments
February 13, 2016
It was grand to be back in the roller coaster company of Dan Starkey the reluctantly big hearted Belfast private investigator... and now sort of grandfather. I very much enjoyed Bateman's description of young parents - very instructive for professionals.
However, Starkey is off out of Belfast sharpish to Derry/Londonderry on a case, with his old young friend Christine the Messiah along for the ride and it all gets predictably complicated and even Starkey loses count of the number of times he is a hairs-breadth from death. Along the way there are the usual wry observations of life in post-Troubles Northern Ireland.
However, Starkey is off out of Belfast sharpish to Derry/Londonderry on a case, with his old young friend Christine the Messiah along for the ride and it all gets predictably complicated and even Starkey loses count of the number of times he is a hairs-breadth from death. Along the way there are the usual wry observations of life in post-Troubles Northern Ireland.
April 4, 2015
Liked the fact that this was based in Derry. Apart from that the style is now very familiar. Is the interest of the New Seekers setting up the themes for future books?
June 21, 2016
typical bateman . Silly entertaining and enjoyable.
March 22, 2018
Hard-boiled PI genre. Quirk - set in Northern Island. Well done, nice dialogue. 6.5/10
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews