Joe Joyce creëert meeslepende thrillers die lezers meenemen naar cruciale historische momenten, van de neutraliteit van Dublin tijdens de oorlog tot het turbulente sociopolitieke landschap van latere decennia. Zijn verhalen duiken diep in de complexiteit van spionage, politieke intriges en de vaak onzichtbare werking van de journalistiek. Naast fictie heeft Joyce belangrijke historische onderwerpen onderzocht, waaronder een opmerkelijke Ierse familie en een dramatische wisselwerking tussen literaire en publieke figuren. Zijn achtergrond als journalist voor gerespecteerde publicaties verleent zijn verhalen een diep gevoel van authenticiteit en directheid.
Set against the backdrop of 1940s Ireland, the narrative intricately weaves political, military, and human elements of conflict. It offers a fast-paced and gripping exploration of the era, emphasizing the historical accuracy of events and the complexities faced by individuals caught in turmoil. Through vivid storytelling, the book delves into the impact of war on society and personal lives, making it a compelling read for those interested in this tumultuous period.
June 1941. An American plane crashes in the west of Ireland. Its cargo of booze, cigarettes and caviar destined for the US embassy in London includes a piece of secret military hardware of great interest to the Germans. The device disappears from the wreckage. Paul Duggan, a young Irish military intelligence officer still pining for a beautiful Austrian-Jewish refugee who has moved on to a new life in New York, sets out to find it before the Germans do. Meanwhile, the United States and the British are pushing neutral Ireland to help protect their Atlantic convoys, which would involve it in the war. The search and the diplomatic arm-twisting become entwined and take Duggan to the dangerous back streets of Lisbon, the war's spy centre, where the intelligence games between the Allies and the Nazis can turn deadly.
Written by an experienced and established author, playwright and journalist, this is a fast-paced and gripping historical thriller that reveals the hidden depths of political, military and human conflict in 1940s Ireland.