Colin Bateman Books In Order

Publication Order of Dan Starkey Books

Publication Order of Martin Murphy Books

Publication Order of Eddie and the Gang With No Name Books

Publication Order of Titanic 2020 Books

Publication Order of Mystery Man Books

Publication Order of SOS Adventures Books

Publication Order of Papercuts Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Anthologies

Before he became a full-time author, Collin Bateman used to serve as a journalist. Divorcing Jack, which won the Betty Task Prize was Colin Bateman’s debut novel. Ever since then, all the novels that Colin Bateman has penned down, have been critically acclaimed. Due to the success of his novels, Colin Bateman was even involved in the penning down of the screenplay feature films, that were adapted from his novels including Crossmaheart, Divorcing Jack and also Wild about Harry.

Colin Bateman Best Books

Divorcing Jack

Divorcing Jack is the story about a hero, though in this case his name is not Jack and neither is he getting a divorce. The protagonist’s name is one, Dan Starkey, who is a satirical columnist for the local newspaper. As it is the case with many columnists and lead characters, Dan is a heavy drinker which many at times lands him in trouble with his wife. Worse than the hangovers that he normally experiences is the discovery of a body of his one-night stands, who murmurs to him, Divorce Jack before she passes out. The discovery of the body marked the starting point of a wild rollercoaster that was marked with multiple kidnappings, wife getting her revenge for betrayal, gunfights, car chases, multiple kidnappings, the leaders of the underworld chasing Dan alongside the IRA, the police, the army and several foreign secret services as well.

With that said, Divorcing Jack is an exceedingly funny read. Despite the fact that the plot is somewhat unbelievable, the humor still made up. Apart from being filled with local characters, Divorcing Jack has several great lines that will keep the reader entertained throughout.

Mystery Man

Mystery Man is another highly entertaining book by Collin Bateman. It is also the first installment in the Mystery Man book series. The protagonist in this book is the owner of No Alibis, one of the leading mystery fiction bookshops in Belfast. In an exceedingly clever plot twist, the PI next door has been missing for quite some time. Thus, the PI’s clients come to the protagonist’s bookshop to look for him. Due to the fearless nature of the bookshop owner, he decides to take up these cases. The hero is the epitome of the paranoid hypochondriac. He eventually ends up with every personality disorder and disease that crosses his mind. The girl next door is a self-proclaimed virgin, whose main work is creating graphic novels. Without the assistance of the girl, the hero manages to solve a safe case like missing trousers, derogatory graffiti on flyovers. However, when the exceptionally beautiful girl teams up with the armchair detective, danger backs its ugly head.

With that said, the mystery man is an ingenious story, with an extremely paranoid hero. This book is downright funny. Medications, medical terms, and descriptions are spot on. The Mystery Man is filled with some laddish humor as well as some exceedingly interesting anoraky stuff about crime fiction present and past.

The Day of Jack Russell

The Day of Jack Russell is a comic crime caper that has been laced throughout with gags, humor and nonconformist characters. The readers will find themselves laughing from time to time. Colin Bateman’s style of writing is not only witty but also highly engaging as well. The author, Bateman has a gift of constructing a dialogue that crackles off the page. The storyline begins as one Bill Randall, a man who owns a low-cost airline enters the mystery man’s bookshop. The man has been made fun off on YouTube by several individuals, who had pornographically altered his features on one of the advertising billboards within Belfast. Randall wants the mystery man to find out who these men are so that he can be able to deal with them. Apart from this case, the mystery man is also presented with another case, where the Stuffed Dog of the Chief Constable of the town has been stolen.

Dr. Yes

Dr. Yes is the third book in the Mystery Man book series. The book begins as the case of the cock headed man has just been solved and life has just returned to normalcy for the mystery man. Despite having some normalcy in his life, the Mystery Man is still facing some challenges at home, when his girlfriend alleges that she is three months pregnant with his child. One Day, he spots one Augustine Wogan, a paranoid crime writer walking past his shop. This, in turn, becomes the catalyst for one of the Mystery Man’s most dangerous cases ever. Wogan’s wife had disappeared a few moments after she entered Dr. Yes’s clinic, who is a professional plastic surgeon. Wogan is more than convinced that his wife is dead and he wants the Mystery Man to solve the mystery.

However, it does not take long before Wogan is found dead. From here, things continue to become exceedingly dangerous and deadly for the Mystery Man and his girlfriend, their unborn baby as well as Jeff. With that said, this is one of the best books by Colin Bateman. Unlike the other previous installment, there is an element of danger for the heroes. The whole installment, is a rollercoaster, especially the Poroit case, which will keep the reader guessing who did it to the very end.

I Predict a Riot

I Predict a Riot is another highly entertaining read by Collin Bateman. In this book, the author introduces the readers to James Mallow a die had copper and one of the best CID in Belfast. James career as a CID is closing to an end. However, before handing over his badge, he is more than determined to put more politicians behind bars as well as Pink Harrison, a racketeer. It does not take long before a dismembered body turns up and Mallow is more than convinced that this time around, he has managed to get the perpetrator. The only problem is that Pink Harrison is already down and the full-scale rioting is from the look of things likely to flare up. With that said, I predict a Riot is a brilliantly written book that is full of hilarious twists and turns and an exceedingly satisfying end. Despite the beatings and the murders, this is a feel good book.

2 Responses to “Colin Bateman”

1. Eleanor Dent: 3 years ago

   You list Papercuts as a series with 8 novels. I have just been talking to Colin Bateman on Messenger. he says that Papercuts is one novel with 8 chapters. I was very disappointed to discover that there aren’t 7 more novels to read. Please amend your list.

   Reply
   • Graeme: 3 years ago

     It’s 8 single novels / short stories that were initially released individually. It’s helpful for people to have the breakdown of the list in case they pick up book #4 etc above so it will stay as is.

     Reply