Year of issue: 1990, pages 191

I chose the novel Lies of Silence because it revolves around the 'troubles' that Northern Ireland has dealt with for many years. I find it an interesting topic because it deals with something that is still an issue today in the fact that Northern Ireland is still working towards becoming a peaceful country. I've always found it interesting to read books based around actual events or situations, and this book is just that.

Summary:
The story is centred around three characters: Michael Dillon, his wife, Moira Dillon, and Michael's girlfriend, Andrea Baxter. It takes place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where Michael is the manager of The Clarence Hotel. One night, while Michael and his wife are sleeping, members of the IRA, the Irish Republic Army, break into their house and hold them hostage. The IRA places a bomb in the trunk of Michael's car, and the next morning, they order him to drive it to The Clarence Hotel, and leave it there. Michael is to follow their instructions exactly, or else his wife will die. Michael has no idea what the IRA's intent is, only that he must follow their instructions. Michael follows through with the plan. As he parks his car in the usual spot, he watches a bus of tourists pull into the hotel, knowing that by the end of the day, they will probably be dead. However, he follows through with the IRA's instructions and goes across the street to a local store. A few minutes before the bomb is supposed to go off, Michael, unable to handle the fact that so many innocent people will die, calls the police and informs them of the bomb. Fortunately, no one is hurt from the explosion, and by some miracle, Moira is still alive. But now, the IRA is after Michael for disobeying them. Michael and Moira are advised by the police that for their safety, they should leave the country. Moira refuses to leave her home, but Michael moves to London with his girlfriend, Andrea. In the meantime, the police have arrested two suspects that they believe were involved in the bomb incident. The police ask Michael to testify in court against the two men. Michael is the only one that can testify because he was the only one that saw the faces of the people who broke into his house. At first, he agrees, and then, at the request of his girlfriend, he changes his mind and decides not to testify. Before Michael can call the police and tell them this, he is approached by Father Connolly, a relative of one of the two boys that Michael is being asked to testify against. Father Connolly tells Michael that if he decides to testify, his life will be in great danger. Michael becomes angry and once again changes his mind. He decides to testify. Michael goes back to his flat to call the police and while he is there, he is shot and killed by two members of the IRA.

1) The chapters that I thought were the most interesting were chapters two and three. These were the chapters where the IRA members break into Michael's house and hold him and his wife captive. Up until the point that Michael calls the police about the bomb, the reader has no idea what is going to happen. The author...








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