Louis Alexander

3.5 stars

The story is set in the 1980's & introduces us to Mike Boyle, a behavioural psychologist living near Birmingham. He's led an interesting life. When he was a child, the family moved from Ireland to England looking to escape "the troubles". But after losing both parents, he returned to Ireland to live with relatives.
Now he runs a facility for troubled youth. HIs life revolves around obtaining funds for research & spending time with girlfriend Anna. It's a quiet, structured existence show more that's about to be turned upside down.
While visiting relatives in Ireland, he's approached by men with ties to the IRA. Mike is shocked to learn his father was involved with their cause & they want his help to finish what his father started.
In alternate chapters, we follow the machinations of a covert british committee tasked with gathering intel on the IRA. They're aware of Mike's background & want to recruit him as their mole. But they're a sneaky bunch & contact Mike under the guise of investing in his research. Unlike the reader, Mike initially has no idea who he's getting mixed up with. He's become a popular guy & it's not long before he's approached by yet another mysterious faction that threatens loved ones if he doesn't play along.
He wants no part in the struggle but realizes he must wade in if he is to learn about his father's secret past. It's a journey that will take him & Anna from England to Ireland, Italy & back again as he tries to solve a decades old crime & figure out who to trust.

It's an intricate tale, to say the least. Everyone seems to have hidden agendas & secrets they'll kill to protect. Like Mike, we're not sure who some of these characters are & which side they represent. For him it's a personal quest but can't help getting caught up in a game of spy vs. spy.
The author does a good job of giving equal air time to both side while remaining neutral. It's easy to sympathize with each faction while still being revolted by their actions. There are no clear winners here & all are products of their environment.
Mike & Anna may be the only truly "good" guys. I was particularly happy to see Anna portrayed as a smart & resourceful partner for Mike instead of the token female. Despite the violence, it has a decidedly cozy feel as it's a very "clean" read (no sex, swearing, etc.) In fact, this was the only part that felt awkward. Dialogue between the characters comes across as polite & formal. In the case of Mike & Anna, their conversations make them sound more like casual acquaintances than 2 people who are sleeping together. To me, they felt like a couple from the 50's instead of the swinging 80's.
There are long passages describing the history of the troubles that could have been tightened up. It is necessary to have an understanding of the conflict but there's more here than you need to get the characters' motivations & it ends up reading as slightly didactic while slowing the pace of the main plot line.
Still, you can't help getting caught up in Mike's life & care about him as the situation becomes more complex & dangerous. The pace picks up considerably around chapter 35 & you have no idea how it will all pan out & who will be left standing. The ending leaves the door open for a sequel so who knows....Mike may have another adventure in his future. show less