Murphy's Law

Martin Murphy #1

by Colin Bateman

His thick and fast-growing medical file says he should be retired, but Detective Martin Murphy wants to get back on the streets, doing what he does best. Murphy has been given one last chance. After a terrible experience working undercover in Northern Ireland, he's in London, and about to fail another psychological assessment. While his life spirals out of control, his boss sends him back undercover to expose a gang of diamond thieves who have just burnt a security guard alive. As he gets closer to the gang's leader, Murphy realises their plans are more ambitious and more deadly than anyone could have expected...

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Ireland, Irish Literature

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Colin 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.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

After an undercover case looking into the Irish Republican Army (the IRA) goes horrifically wrong in Belfast, detective Martin Murphy finds himself back on the job in London, tasked with infiltrating a criminal gang of diamond thieves, whose cover is running an undertaker business. This Colin Bateman read seemed a lot more adult than his usual stuff, and I found myself really wanting to know how it all turned out. 7 out of 12. If anyone is wondering why I read so many Bateman's it's because they are so readily available at the library I'm using!

[Jackie Watts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels like a sequel. There are so many allusions to previous events that I spent the first twenty chapters feeling that I'd missed out on something important, and worrying that the reason I didn't like the main character was because I didn't have the full picture. Eventually, I worked out that he just wasn't very likeable. Not necessarily a fatal flaw - I loved Mystery Man - but, combined with a plot that's a bit lacklustre and some unmemorable villains (I had to re-read the introductory chapters three times to remember which henchman was which), it really leaves me with very little to rave about.

[Leif Bodnarchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. Straight in, no kissing. Bateman's style in this is quickfire, nonsense-free. The narrator curses and opines, dumps you in a car boot, and drives you somewhere nasty, with no ostentatious word-faffery to ruin a quality story.

[Mike Worth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have read most of his books and can't remember all exactly - just that I have never been let down and have enjoyed Mr Bateman's writing immensely

[Book Dragon Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an unexpected random treasure. I loved it.

[Mike Vines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe in all things Bateman. Murphy is a tragic mess of a cop trapped undercover with a grand gang of psychos. Highly recommended!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Jimmy Murphy has been given one last chance. After a terrible experience working undercover in Northern Ireland, he's in London, and about to fail another psychological assessment. While his life spirals out of control, his boss sends him back undercover to expose a gang of diamond thieves who have just burnt a security guard alive. As he gets closer to the gang's leader, Murphy realises their plans are more ambitious - and more deadly - than anyone expected...

Enjoyed it kept seeing James Nesbit and hearing his voice. At times I found it hard to work out who was speaking. Would be interesting to know how/why his child died.

[Ann Dewar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more fun to read than I expected, having seen trailers for the tv series and not fancying it at all.

The story centres around an Irish undercover policeman living in London. There is a quite a touching backstory about the loss of his son and divorce from his wife. There are too many wisecracks for my personal taste but I enjoyed the gangland plot and thought it worked well in terms of balance and pacing.

[Mohammad Sabbir Shaikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murphy is a cop who goes undercover to nab a gang of diamond thieves. While Divorcing Jack and Cycle of Violence were entertaining in their own ways, Murphy's Law is by far the funniest Bateman novel I've read. Apart from the compelling storyline, it features all kinds of jokes. There are situational comedy, puns, dark humor and punchlines so good that you're bound to laugh out loud before proceeding. Now I'm extremely eager to try Bateman's other crime comedies.

[Gordon Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very readable farce. Not deep, not laugh out loud funny, but amusing in a droll kind of way. It's impossible to think of Murphy without seeing James Nesbitt, and the character was written for him. Belfast born, gift of the gab, gets into scrapes but always finds a way out, and usually with a clever line too.

[Andy Dainty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book with Bateman's wicked sense of humour and a few twists and turns put in to surprise, but throughout the book, I was just wishing I was reading about journalist Dan Starkey instead of Detective Martin Murphy.

[Alok · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast quick read. Our protagonist sings, drinks, mourns, and has a quip or a one-liner on tap. The story isn't deep or the stakes aren't particularly high, but it doesn't take itself too seriously and is funny (more on the lines of clever amusing writing rather than laugh out loud type).

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointed in this book.

I'm currently working my way through all of his books having read one about 10 years back and not thinking much more of it. (Horse with my name)
I've also recently borrowed the entire Murphy's Law TV series having missed the original run.

This is a crime novel by someone who clearly knows little about crime. The plot is far fetched beyond belief. Now I know that we are not meant to take Bateman's characters too seriously, but the holes in this plot and its divergence from how real crime works is frankly ridiculous. I won't spoil it by revealing the plot, but gangsters, drug dealers, robbers simply don't work like this. Maybe I'm expecting too much, but please, as the TV series took itself 'Oh so seriously', at least attempt some semblance of reality.
When one character who's been Murphy's sworn enemy for the whole book, spills the beans to him just before he dies, I thought 'oh don't be ridiculous. No way, Jose!'
Contrived!

Chapter & Verse is the best Bateman I've read. Highly recommend.

Dan Starkey novels are OK, but I find the bickering between him and his wife Trish (and others) tedious to say the least. It's meant to be funny. It needs an edit coz it's not.

[Kaylol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't seem to remember much about it though it's been only a couple of weeks since I read it. I remember the funny main character though - the guy in pain who somehow seems awesome. Funny, well written.

[Lee O'mahoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst this seems like another Northern Irish story of violence, the poignancy of Murphy's loss of his son in retribution for thwarting the IRA and subsequent loss of his marriage, paint a different story. I found myself wanting him to stop hurting and move on from his losses.

[LieutBubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been awhile, I still have this book on my shelf of - Have you Read This??

I liked the begrudging antihero, the people problems, and the mystery.
Stuck in my head are the nonverbal impressions of a "shrink", very Sherlock.

[Shirley Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Wonderfully well written and very funny.

[Samra Muslim · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as thrillers go ... this isn't one of the best, but still a decent timepass book - which could be categorized as a great holiday or bedtime read!

[Rieka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story but poorly written.....

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good book

[Ck442000]

Great British TV series as well