Pray for Us Sinners

Pray For Us Sinners (2000) by Patrick Taylor. If you are expecting one of Mr. Taylor’s “Irish Country Doctor” stories, you will be shocked by this tale set in 1973 Belfast during the “Troubles”. This is a raw tale of how neither side, the British or the Provisional Army, were winning. This book is a dark tale of betrayal, loyalty, lies, misguided senses of justice and the truth that both sides were right, and very, very wrong.
Mostly this is Marcus Richardson’s story. Born in Belfast, he is now a member of the British Army’s bomb disposal unit who, because of circumstances, is asked to go undercover back in Ireland. He is to infiltrate and uncover the name of the Provo’s lead bomb maker.
Davy McCutcheon, a long time show more veteran of the Provos, took over the job of bomb maker following in his father’s footsteps. But after his love, Fiona, walks out of his live due to his “Calling”, he has second thoughts. The two men are eventually brought together for a job that might well end the Troubles once and for all. However, both man have vastly different struggles over what should be done.
Mr. Taylor has brought forth a rich historical setting for us to savor, not the least of which is the strong language and the high emotions. The”Troubles” were not limited to just the political strata but fell on the shoulders of all the “common” folk who had to life thought the violence and injustice.
The audio book version was read by John Keating and his voice alone brought forth the richness of the language (always of utmost importance in Irish writing) and painted an aural masterpiece. Mr. Keating is always a pleasure to listen to. show less

My main interest in Patrick Taylor's stories has a lot to do with how fascinating and factual his stories are. For me they are like a history lesson and when it comes to the audiobooks the voice overs of John Keating never let me down. In Pray for Us Sinners I learned about the battle between the British Army and the Provisional Irish Republican Army in the town of Belfast in 1973. Although fiction this audiobook portrays a very realistic picture of the disturbances in Northern Ireland at that time.

In this story you have the main character Marcus Richardson who has worked as a bomb-disposal officer for the British Army. Later he is recruited to go undercover for the SAS to help flush out the Provisional IRA men who are committed to show more constructing bombs for what they call the cause. Although not directly targeted these bombs kill and maim innocent civilians. Marcus eventually comes across Davy MacCutcheon one of the bomb-makers, who although at first remains strong-headed in his support of his cause, later struggles with wanting to leave the IRA, even more so once the love of his life Fiona Kavanagh walks out on him.

This story places the reader in between the emotions of both Marcus and Davy, which at times left me emotionally feeling as if I was being pulled in two different directions. Although I was mostly rooting for Marcus, at times I found myself feeling sorry for Davy, his struggles with his life as a Provo and his relationship with Fiona.

I felt Taylor did an outstanding job writing this story and Keating was perfect in his story telling on the audiobook. Not being familiar with these times in Ireland, I felt I learned a great deal from this story. Although I have reviewed a few other audiobooks by Taylor in his Irish Country book series, I felt this book stands alone well and is just as amazing as his other stories. show less

Historic Fiction, the saying in Ireland there are no happy endings holds true for this very engaging book.