by Moore
First published 1991
Michael Dillon faces an impossible choice when IRA terrorists take over his Belfast hotel and force him to plant a bomb at a political gathering. The hotel manager must decide between his own safety and the lives of innocent people while his marriage crumbles around him. His wife Moira discovers his affair, adding personal betrayal to the political violence that surrounds them. As the deadline approaches, Dillon struggles with his conscience and the consequences of both action and inaction. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Northern Ireland's Troubles, where ordinary people become unwilling participants in a conflict that destroys families and communities. Moore explores how political violence invades private life and forces individuals to confront their deepest values.
Genres: fiction, drama, contemporary, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, moral-dilemma
Setting: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Period: The Troubles
232 pages · Paperback · Pearson Education Limited
Content warnings: violence