Murphys Law [Paperback]

Colin Bateman (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Headline Books (November 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755302435
• ISBN-13: 978-0755302437
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,046,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense, human and political, July 10, 2010

By 

Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall "Dr Stuart Jeanne B... (New Plymouth, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murphys Law (Paperback)

This is my first experience with literature from Northern Ireland. I found the culture portrayed quite harsh and brutal in comparison to most American detective stories. As a former journalist, Bateman's writes clearly and succinctly in ordinary working class language. The character he creates, detective Martin Murphy, is extremely complex. Murphy, a former British undercover operative assigned to infiltrate the IRA, is a deeply scarred man. He's resourceful, afraid of nothing based on his undercover experience and relentlessly honest. He's also heavy drinking, foul mouthed, incredibly funny and deeply haunted by the murder of his son (presumably in an IRA vendetta), as well as a subsequent separation from his wife.

In a way it's a classic murder mystery, with the suspense greatly heightened by continual uncertainty whether, owing to his personal failings, Murphy will finally cop a bullet from the criminal gang he's pursuing. However by the end the reader is reasonably confident that the main character's inate brilliance and relentless perserverence will enable him to prevail.

Brilliant plot construction and characterization.