Customer Reviews:
 Frightening and attracting . It must be read December 28, 1998
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
Dillon's book provides a deep insight on the undercover side of the Northern Ireland "troubles". As the author says this work provides more questions than answers but it's part of its powerful attraction, keeping your attention on it from the first to the last word.It must be read while waiting for new light on the dark side of the conflict. You can read it as a thriller but you'll be suddenly frightened by the fact that it's not fiction. All the intrigue, perfidy, pain and suffering are real. It helps us to understand this painful conflict.
info you won't find elsewhere on northern irelands war August 13, 2005
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
When this book first came out it was stunning,the detail separated it from most other books at the time. It details the violent conflict between the British security forces and the paramilitary organisations,particularly the Provisional IRA .Chapter 3 explains the IRA's discovery of the four square laundry British intelligence operation and consequent paranoia about informers in 1973. Chapter 6 is about the life and death of British army officer Robert Nairac who was trying to infiltrate the IRA. Chapter 7 recounts the Fred Holroyd and Colin Wallace affairs and alleged conspiracies that made big news in the 1980s. Chapter 11 is about the smaller republican group ,the INLA and the assassination of Airey Neave. A number of chapters on informers,this of course was written before the outing of top British informer within the IRA Stakeknife, but it's interesting to read this with the benefit of hindsight on this topic. Chapter 15 on the technology of surveillance by the British. And there's so much more,Over 500 pages,fantastic value.
2 final points,there are 2 maps in the book(one of northern ireland generallyand the other of Belfast and its main streets).This helps make sense for those of us outside northern ireland.
Secondly there's a very helpful timeline with all the major paramilitary incidents and political events between 1969 and 1990. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
 A great book by a great author January 28, 2006
helen (UK)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I found this book fascinating to read, well researched and full of insider knowledge. An essential read for anybody interested in the recent history of Northern Ireland.
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