More than a year ago, I wrote about my impromptu visit to Northern Ireland while on a home exchange to County Mayo. Although I spent a day exploring the beautiful Antrim Coast on a Game of Thrones tour, I spent most of my time in Belfast. And while touring the city, I noticed something unusual that inspired me to write the award-winning novel Born of Bombs and Bullets: An Aaron Thornton Thriller. (See what professional reviewers and readers have to say about it at the end of this post.)
The Troubles
For those who aren’t familiar, Northern Ireland experienced a 30-year period of political and sectarian violence from about 1969 until a peace agreement was reached in 1998. Those three decades are known as The Troubles, and they were characterized by exceptionally bloody conflict between the Catholic and Protestant communities.
I remembered seeing, as a kid, frequent news reports about the riots, bombings, assassinations, and paramilitary confrontations. Sometimes, the fighting spilled across Northern Ireland’s borders.
Groups in the United States contributed significant, though illegal, support to the predominantly Catholic Irish Republican Army, or IRA. They sought to free Northern Ireland from British rule and reunite it with the rest of Ireland. But the mostly Protestant Loyalist camp had no intention of abandoning the Crown and leaving the UK. Tensions are still simmering.
Modern Belfast, Northern Ireland
The Troubles, then and now, inspired many movies and TV shows. And although the fighting officially ended more than 25 years ago, I was surprised to see vivid reminders of it during my visit to Belfast.
IRA warnings not to talk to the police posted in Catholic areas. Massive “peace walls” that still divide Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods. Segregated schools. A palpable tension surrounding any discussion of The Troubles. And— in West Belfast, where the violence was especially intense— countless wall murals memorializing key events and paying homage to those who died, either as combatants or bystanders.
To me, Belfast— though much safer now— still felt like a city on edge.
Born of Bombs and Bullets
So when I returned home, I wanted to understand the situation better. I started researching The Troubles and reading the daily news from Belfast. And I realized there was a fascinating— and still unfolding— story to tell. Not just about Northern Ireland’s Troubles and their lingering effects, but also about the individual and societal toll of a nation violently divided against itself. And to do the story justice, I knew it had to be told from both sides’ perspectives and through the (fictional) eyes of characters who experienced the conflict, directly or indirectly. A historically accurate, modern-day thriller was the result.
So if any of these themes interest you, I hope you’ll give Born of Bombs and Bullets: An Aaron Thornton Thriller a read or listen. It’s now available worldwide on Amazon as a paperback, ebook, or audiobook (voiced by a native of Northern Ireland). Numerous other retailers carry just the paperback and ebook versions.
The feedback from early reviewers— in the States and in Northern Ireland— is very encouraging. Please let me know what you think about my first travel-inspired novel— I’ll take all feedback into account as I get to work on my next book!
“This highly accomplished, brilliantly conceived, and nerve-shredding thriller effortlessly hooks the reader from the first page…”
– The Book Review Directory
“Full of suspense and twisting plot developments… Totally entertaining and thought-provoking.”
– Valerie Foster, Author of ‘The Risk of Sorrow’
“…delivers a fresh, hard-hitting take on Northern Ireland’s Troubles…”
– BestThrillers.com
“A riveting read… Intelligent thrillers like this one are hard to find.”
– J. Goddard, Amazon Reviewer in the USA
“I grew up in Northern Ireland…one of the most compelling and human stories I’ve read about a terrible time in Irish history.”
– Franco G., Amazon Reviewer in the UK
“…a sharply written, emotionally charged political thriller…”
– Literary Titan
“This book has plenty of thrills and a lot of heart. It holds you from the first page.”
– Emma M., Amazon Reviewer in the UK
“…a chilling descent into generational trauma, guilt, and the razor-edged cost of loyalty.”
– Reedsy Discovery
4 Responses
One trip tells you all does it, were you born in Belfast or are you from Belfast, if not then you got no f…ing about the troubles do you?
Kevin, I’m glad you reached out. When I first thought about writing the book, I wondered if an American could do it credibly. Privately, I’m told by reviewers who lived through The Troubles that it’s a fair representation, from multiple perspectives. (Keep in mind, though, that the characters and story are entirely fictional.) But I want to hear YOUR opinion. So I’ve emailed you a single-use coupon with which to download a free copy of the ebook. Give it a read and let us know here what’s missing from the story and what I got wrong. Thanks, Kevin!
I left my home land off Northern Ireland in 1983 and have never been back since, so I’m going to give your book a read, hopefully it will bring me memories.
Harry, thanks for your interest in the book. Please bear in mind that it’s a thriller centered around The Troubles, so it may not have the nostalgic effect you’re hoping for. Still, you’ll recognize some of the well-known places referenced in the story. And I’d welcome your feedback, as a native of Northern Ireland, about how well the book captures the many perspectives on the conflict.