Driving Big Davie is the sixth novel of the Dan Starkey series by Northern Irish author, Colin Bateman, released on 5 April 2004 through Headline Publishing Group.[1] Bateman started the novel in response to the death of Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash, who he stated was a "huge inspiration on [his] teenage years".[2]
 First edition | |
| Author | Colin Bateman |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Dan Starkey novels |
| Genre | Crime, Dark comedy |
| Publisher | Headline |
Publication date | 5 April 2004 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 312 |
| ISBN | 978-0-7553-0919-1 |
| OCLC | 55624240 |
| 823.914 | |
| Preceded by | The Horse With My Name (2002) |
| Followed by | Belfast Confidential (2005) |
Plot edit
Dan Starkey is invited to Florida by his old friend, "Big Davie", who has a spare honeymoon ticket after being dumped by his erstwhile fiancée. Starkey is back with his wife Patricia and feels he's gotten over the murder of his toddler son "Little Stevie" - however his wife disagrees and declares that an American road trip would do him good. When the opportunity to avenge Stevie's death presents itself, Starkey cannot refuse.
Movie edit
A movie adaptation of the novel was planned in 2001, with Steve Bendelack attached as director.[3][4]
Reception edit
For those of you not in the know, Bateman is the funniest writer Ireland has produced since Roddy Doyle.
Martin Doyle, Irish Post[5]
The novel received little but positive coverage in the media.
Reviewing for the Irish Post, Martin Doyle stated he found Bateman's novels to be "pitch-black comic thrillers" and called the novel "a helter-skelter of high jinks and low humour"; stating that while the novel is not "a demanding read" he found it to be "a rewarding one".[5] Andrea Henry, in a review for the Daily Mirror stated that, at the prospect of Starkey's vengeance for his murdered son, "fast and furious murder and mayhem ensue", and called the novel "laugh-a-minute lad lit".[6]
References edit
- ^ Driving Big Davie (Book, 2004). WorldCat.org. OCLC 55624240. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ Bateman, Colin. "Driving Big Davie". Colin Bateman. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ "Driving-Big-Davie - Trailer". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ "In brief: Eddie Murphy believes in Shrek". The Guardian. 9 March 2001. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ a b Doyle, Martin. "Irish News UK - News from the Irish Community in Britain". Irishabroad.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ Henry, Andrea (25 March 2004). "Best of the Rest". mirror. Retrieved 17 January 2012.