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Irish Blood
Following the carbomb killing of his wife while visiting Belfast in the Spring of 1998, American Mick McKenna is unwillingly flung headfirst into a world where the line between good and evil blurs beneath the haze of an 800-year old Irish struggle for peace and freedom. After witnessing a brutal murder, Mick is taken hostage and forced to choose between saving the life of an innocent Irish beauty and stopping an assassination plot that threatens to derail the signing of The Good Friday Peace Agreement, which will pave the way for freedom in Northern Ireland. Mick must fight against time, an IRA splinter group, and even the FBI, in an epic battle that will leave him and the nation of Northern Ireland changed forever.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2014
47 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 3, 2014
Irish Blood is a tense and climatic thriller that spans two continents and takes the lives of countless individuals while catapulting readers into a dangerous world filled with unexpected twists that will leave them breathless.
While on their honeymoon in Ireland, Mick's wife is tragically murdered by a carbomb. Mick is struggling to deal with her death and finds himself drawn back to Ireland and the location of her death. Seeking to find answers, Mick locates a distant cousin who explains the violence that has plagued Northern Ireland for hundreds of years. As Mick begins to understand the events surrounding is wife's murder, he also begins to heal. His relationship with his cousin, Big Tom and the rest of their family, has immensely helped bring him closure. Mick decides he must return to America and start living again, but when he witnesses a murder at the hands of an IRA splinter group he is thrown into their savage world and is soon fighting for his life. Now, it's up to Mick to thwart their plans and ultimately save the lives of innocent people.
Irish Blood is a fast moving sensational story filled with vivid detail and intriguing characters. The author's exquisite attention to detail creates a world that draws readers in and holds their attention until the very end. The unforeseen events build intrigue and keep readers on edge, making Irish Blood an all around entertaining read.
I highly recommend picking up a copy.
While on their honeymoon in Ireland, Mick's wife is tragically murdered by a carbomb. Mick is struggling to deal with her death and finds himself drawn back to Ireland and the location of her death. Seeking to find answers, Mick locates a distant cousin who explains the violence that has plagued Northern Ireland for hundreds of years. As Mick begins to understand the events surrounding is wife's murder, he also begins to heal. His relationship with his cousin, Big Tom and the rest of their family, has immensely helped bring him closure. Mick decides he must return to America and start living again, but when he witnesses a murder at the hands of an IRA splinter group he is thrown into their savage world and is soon fighting for his life. Now, it's up to Mick to thwart their plans and ultimately save the lives of innocent people.
Irish Blood is a fast moving sensational story filled with vivid detail and intriguing characters. The author's exquisite attention to detail creates a world that draws readers in and holds their attention until the very end. The unforeseen events build intrigue and keep readers on edge, making Irish Blood an all around entertaining read.
I highly recommend picking up a copy.
September 2, 2014
I really liked this book. Coming from a girl who grew up in Northern Ireland and understands the "war" it's an easy read for those that have no idea about the IRA or "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. Is it 100% accurate? No, but it is historical "fiction" for a reason. I think it's a great book for people to start with if they want to learn more about Northern Ireland and the troubles with Britain.
July 25, 2014
The history of "the Troubles" (an 800 year long understatement!) is introduced following the untimely death of the wife of Mick McKenna in Belfast punctuating the ongoing struggle in Northern Ireland ending the storybook wedding and honeymoon of the young American professional couple in 1998. Broken-hearted and finding it impossible to continue with his life status quo following her funeral back in the United States, he returns to Ireland to try and attain some kind of grief control, to clarify what, why, and who could have caused the bombing that ended her young life. With no real place to focus, he manages to find a couple who take him in and allow him to stay and study the culture and try to come to some kind of understanding that would give him some peace. Hard not to find someone in the country not touched by the continued violence between the Irish and the British, he confronts up close and personal the men and women of the struggle. He is shortly involved in the troubles himself and manages to gain the support of an FBI agent that will resolve his own life and death struggle in the country that has drawn him like the proverbial moth. Can he ever really love again? This was a free download and one I can recommend without reservation--isn't it said everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day? Whether Irish or Wannabe--this book will grab you.
May 4, 2015
Brendan Sean Sullivan deserves applause on two counts: He delivered the story at almost an even pace without letting me yawn or stray. He displayed admirable restraint in what could have turned into an exposition on Irish politics. The lone thing I missed was editorial competence.
May 3, 2014
Excellent novel. Every American who claims Irish heritage should read this piece of fiction to gain insight as to what it actually MEANS to have An Irish background.
December 30, 2018
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so . Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so . Shelley MA
March 8, 2022
IRA
A fun, fast read. Loss, love, and danger made this a pretty good read. I will read more from this author.
A fun, fast read. Loss, love, and danger made this a pretty good read. I will read more from this author.
February 25, 2015
I debated between two and three stars... I liked the book overall, but was constantly distracted by the improper omniscient POV. Maybe it's because throughout my education this POV was constantly put down or maybe it was the constant slip from one characters voice to the next without any real indication that the reader's POV had shifted yet again. I blame the editor. This could have been a much stronger novel if we'd stuck with Mick's POV throughout. I'm not going to go into the historical inaccuracies, they've been touched on enough in these reviews, but from a personal aspect, the book felt true. You see, I love someone from N.I. I've heard these tales first-hand, even sat in the pubs described. Now, I know they would trash this novel for all the inaccuracies, but as a second-hand listener, it gave me a little more understanding to the quiet strength and loyalty that runs in the Northern Irish Catholics.
July 19, 2014
I really like the author's style. I like characters and the action and the setting. It was a page turner.
However, the change of timing of the Omagh bombing really put me off. I can't see changing history to fit historical fiction, especially major events. Instead of arbitrarily changing the date the plot should have been written around the reality of history. There were a few other errors. The author uses England and the UK interchangeably. When the six counties did not join the Irish Free State that remained a part of the UK, not England. In the kindle version at least the town of Athenry is spelled incorrectly. Another factual error was the mention of the Dublin Police Department. There is no such agency. The national police force is An Garda Siochana and there have been no Dublin police since the 1920s.
It is too bad that such a good book is spoiled by such errors.
However, the change of timing of the Omagh bombing really put me off. I can't see changing history to fit historical fiction, especially major events. Instead of arbitrarily changing the date the plot should have been written around the reality of history. There were a few other errors. The author uses England and the UK interchangeably. When the six counties did not join the Irish Free State that remained a part of the UK, not England. In the kindle version at least the town of Athenry is spelled incorrectly. Another factual error was the mention of the Dublin Police Department. There is no such agency. The national police force is An Garda Siochana and there have been no Dublin police since the 1920s.
It is too bad that such a good book is spoiled by such errors.
Read
July 24, 2014It's rare that I don't finish a book, but this was an exception. Passing off one side of a situation as controversial and delicate as the Troubles as "history" is dangerous ground, and when you vilify an entire group of people in the name of such history, I'm going to put that book down.
Couldn't finish - research was horrifically one-sided, and I'm terrified of the reviews I read where they were grateful to the author for teaching them the history.
Couldn't finish - research was horrifically one-sided, and I'm terrified of the reviews I read where they were grateful to the author for teaching them the history.
September 28, 2014
This just didn't work for me...I liked the characters for the most part, but the story got a bit preachy at points and the climax well, wasn't. The subject matter should be rich and multilayered....centuries old fighting simply isn't simple and those that face death rarely stay neutral. I don't know, I don't like to dislike a book because it takes so much to put one out, but this one...not for me.
January 3, 2015
A good read with several twists and turns. It dealds with an American fellow whose wife was killded by a terrorist bomb in Ireland. He returns to Ireland to help get over his grief and becomes involved through no fault of his own with a sub group of the IRA. A good read for actions and Irish history.
April 9, 2015
Awesome book.A mystery, thriller and suspense story that goes between the US and Ireland. Much has to do with The Troubles in Ireland. Filled wit history and violence and love. It is fantastic novel that I highly recommend. One it is hard to put down. Gave insight into Northern Ireland's struggle for independence.
August 8, 2014
This book was a surprise to me, I wasn't expecting such an education on Ireland conflicts, but it was presented in such an entertaining, captivating way I felt like I was reading a great Memoir. It was a fiction story with a lot of facts.
April 8, 2015
Good read, predictable
I enjoyed this book. It described Ireland very well and the protagonist was very likeable,as we're many of the other characters. But just like American movies, everything gets wrapped up in a nice little package with a pretty ribbon.
I enjoyed this book. It described Ireland very well and the protagonist was very likeable,as we're many of the other characters. But just like American movies, everything gets wrapped up in a nice little package with a pretty ribbon.
August 25, 2014
Above average
Above average
Some beautiful references to Ireland. Interesting characters and plot lines. I enjoyed the book. Author was spot on with both U.S and Irish cultural settings.
Above average
Some beautiful references to Ireland. Interesting characters and plot lines. I enjoyed the book. Author was spot on with both U.S and Irish cultural settings.
August 13, 2014
This was a very moving book, getting the reader involved in The Troubles in Ireland and how they affected one man.
August 21, 2014
Great read! Really enjoyed most of the book and couldn't put down the last 3/4. Well played.
August 9, 2014
Excellent well written
Excellent well written
this book was well written that will hold your interest and gives an in site to the history and turmoil of Ireland.
Excellent well written
this book was well written that will hold your interest and gives an in site to the history and turmoil of Ireland.
September 17, 2014
Only finished it because I have to add it to my challenge, enough said.
May 11, 2016
Not awful but an over simplification of 'the Troubles'. Typical anti British stance taken by an American author with Irish ancestry
July 19, 2014
2.5 Stars
January 5, 2018
A great read that contained love, tragedy, suspense and a bit of history, even though it was a work of fiction.
The characters were interesting, and the plots and subplots kept me turning the pages. I read this book quickly because I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next to the people involved and can't wait for a second book from this author.
The characters were interesting, and the plots and subplots kept me turning the pages. I read this book quickly because I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next to the people involved and can't wait for a second book from this author.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews