Say Nothing: A Gripping True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland

James O'Brien: A decent read about the Troubles. Slightly overlong but decent enough.

United Kingdom on Sep 15, 2023

Edwin Ortiz: The irish troubles was a controversial and troubling subject in the news for many years . This book written by a very good writer dissects the complexity of figues and events throughout the Troubles. Extremely well researched and very fair it tells a story of informants betrayal violence regret from many angles. A must read of a story not totally ended just yet.

United States on Sep 12, 2023

Marc Reichardt: As Patrick notes, this isn't a work of history, so I you're looking for a "balanced" account of The Troubles that talks about the general timeline and looks at the actions of both Republicans and Loyalists, this isn't it. But it's a far more ground-level and experiential account of just what it was like to live through those times and should be a reference point for anyone interested in the topic.

United States on Sep 10, 2023

Carcar: Loved it. Great facts.

As a NI female, I agree it would have been how the author speculates to who done it. It's our classic morality! Coupled with the facts in this great book, case solved!

United Kingdom on Aug 04, 2023

Mrs. K. A. Wheatley: I loved Empire of Pain and immediately went out and bought every other book by Radden Keefe. This got bumped up the to read pile after I watched an amazing documentary series on the BBC about the Troubles in which Radden Keefe is interviewed and the focus of this book, the disappearance of Jean McConville, mother of ten children who was taken from her flat one night and never seen again, is covered. I needed to know more and immediately immersed myself in this book. Although it focuses on this case, it uses it as a lens by which to look at the history of the Troubles as a whole. It's engaging, vital and totally gripping.

United Kingdom on Aug 03, 2023

Mowery: When I began this book, I was aware of course of the IRA and The Troubles in Northern Ireland but did not know the details, the history, or the major players. The book was gripping, powerful and riveting; indeed it was hard to put down. Patrick Radden Keefe pulled out all the stops to research this book and find the truth about this terrible period of time in Northern Ireland including the disappearance and ultimately murder of Jean McConville, widow and mother of 10. A revelation at the end of the book was jarring. Disturbing but engrossing. One of the best books I have ever read.

United States on Jul 29, 2023

Amazon Customer: Absolutely fantastic book. It’s so very well written, with real life stories unraveling as though they are fiction. I’ve learnt so much about the dark history of the troubles -
I was always aware of conflict in Northern Ireland but never really knew why. Now i understand so much more.
For anyone in there 40s who grew up during those times and doesn’t know much of NI past this book is for you.

United Kingdom on Jul 28, 2023

Portlander: Whether you are connected by birth, family or as in in my case, Army service, to Northern Ireland, it is impossible not to be aware of it and The Troubles A detailed, easy to read and, at times, surprising look at the events and the players. Enjoyable? No! Enlightening, a definite YES.

United Kingdom on Jul 26, 2023

G. C. Carter: The 2019 book entitled: “Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland” by Patrick Radden Keefe is a well-researched and well-referenced book 4-years in the making of some of the history of Ireland and in particular, Northern Ireland and the period called “The Troubles” and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Provisional IRA or “Provos”. Of considerable mention is the Machiavellian role of purported IRA lead and alleged terrorist turned politician Gerry Adams and the results of a Boston College grant to record the oral histories of former IRA members with a promise to control the release of the tapes and transcripts. Also stressed is the brutality of the IRA actions and the aggressive move of attacks from Northern Ireland to London, England in order to bring about change. Of some mention is the role of Bill Clinton and chief negotiator George Mitchell in helping achieve a lasting albeit fragile peace. The main thrust of the book is actions of the IRA and evidence of its aggressive actions. For those interested in this conflict and its resolution the book will be fascinating reading.
Illustrative of the author’s style and substance, Keefe...

United States on Sep 30, 2022

Patricia M. Terrell: Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe is subtitled A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. It is very rare for me to ignore everything around me and become completely immersed in a book, no matter how great or suspenseful it is, but that is exactly what happened with this one. Being across the ocean, I really didn’t know that much about life in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, which stretched from 1968 to 1998, at the time events were happening. I first became aware of the deep divisions only after I began researching my ancestry, which led to Ballygawley, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. During trips there, I visited Belfast and took the bus tours which included much about The Troubles and brought me past the Peace Walls and art commemorating both sides. In fact, one of the last British soldiers to be killed had the same last name as my ancestors (Neely), who was killed in an IRA bomb attack outside Ballygawley.

So when I came across the story of Jean McConville, a 38-year-old mother of 10 children who was abducted and murdered by the IRA, I was intrigued. Who would burst into someone’s home, knowing the father had died of cancer, and remove the...

United States on Jun 22, 2019