First published 1993
Harry Johnson works as a tailor in Belfast during the height of the Troubles. His quiet life measuring suits and hemming trousers masks a dangerous secret. British intelligence has recruited him to gather information from his customers, many of whom belong to paramilitary organizations on both sides of the conflict. Johnson moves carefully through his daily routine, cutting fabric and taking measurements while listening for details that could save lives or prevent attacks. His position gives him access to conversations others cannot hear, but it also places him in constant peril. One wrong word or suspicious glance could expose his role and cost him everything. As violence escalates around him, Johnson must balance his loyalty to his handlers with his need to survive in a community where trust is scarce and betrayal means death. The weight of his double life grows heavier with each passing day.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, thriller, espionage
Vibes: dark, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: double-agent, enemies-to-lovers, moral-dilemma
Setting: Belfast
Period: Height of the Troubles
472 pages · Hardcover · Chivers Large print (Chivers, Windsor, Paragon & C
Content warnings: violence