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There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2023)Killing Thatcher is the gripping account of how the IRA came astonishingly close to killing Margaret Thatcher and to wiping out the British Cabinet – an extraordinary assassination attempt linked to the Northern Ireland Troubles and the most daring conspiracy against the Crown since the Gunpowder Plot.
In this fascinating and compelling book, veteran journalist Rory Carroll retraces the road to the infamous Brighton bombing in 1984 – an incident that shaped the political landscape in the UK for decades to come. He begins with the infamous execution of Lord Mountbatten in 1979 – for which the IRA took full responsibility – before tracing the rise of Margaret Thatcher, her response to the ‘Troubles’ in Ireland and the chain of events that culminated in the hunger strikes of 1981 and the death of 10 republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands. From that moment on Thatcher became an enemy of the IRA – and the organisation swore revenge.
Opening with a brilliantly-paced prologue that introduces bomber Patrick Magee in the build up to the incident, Carroll sets out to deftly explore the intrigue before and after the assassination attempt – with the story spanning three continents, from pubs and palaces, safe houses and interrogation rooms, hotels and barracks. On one side, an elite IRA team aided by a renegade priest, US-raised funds and Libya’s Qaddafi and on the other, intelligence officers, police detectives, informers and bomb disposal officers. An exciting narrative that blends true crime with political history, this is the first major book to investigate the Brighton attack.
In this fascinating and compelling book, veteran journalist Rory Carroll retraces the road to the infamous Brighton bombing in 1984 – an incident that shaped the political landscape in the UK for decades to come. He begins with the infamous execution of Lord Mountbatten in 1979 – for which the IRA took full responsibility – before tracing the rise of Margaret Thatcher, her response to the ‘Troubles’ in Ireland and the chain of events that culminated in the hunger strikes of 1981 and the death of 10 republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands. From that moment on Thatcher became an enemy of the IRA – and the organisation swore revenge.
Opening with a brilliantly-paced prologue that introduces bomber Patrick Magee in the build up to the incident, Carroll sets out to deftly explore the intrigue before and after the assassination attempt – with the story spanning three continents, from pubs and palaces, safe houses and interrogation rooms, hotels and barracks. On one side, an elite IRA team aided by a renegade priest, US-raised funds and Libya’s Qaddafi and on the other, intelligence officers, police detectives, informers and bomb disposal officers. An exciting narrative that blends true crime with political history, this is the first major book to investigate the Brighton attack.
397 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2023
1224 people are currently reading
32627 people want to read
About the author
Rory Carroll
2 books101 followersRory Carroll (b. 1972) is a journalist who started his career in Northern Ireland. As a foreign correspondent for the Guardian, he reported from the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, Latin American, and the United States. His first book, Comandante: Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela, was named an Economist Book of the Year and BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. He is now based in his native Dublin as the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,015 reviews
April 6, 2023
Almost Killing Thatcher
I am always interested in Ireland and, in particular, the factors in play during “The Troubles.” In 1984 the Irish Republican Army planned and executed an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The leaders of the British government were nearly wiped out in one dramatic blow. “There Will Be Fire” looks at the motivations, the attack, the investigation, and the aftermath of this mission.
Being of Irish descent and having been brought up on tales of gunrunning and rebellion in our family history, I am always cautious about accounts with a slant to them. Here Rory Carroll has presented a level chronicle without exploiting emotional biases. This is journalism reading like a thriller. Publishers Weekly compared it to “Day of the Jackal” and I have to agree, the writing reminded me of Ken Follett’s gift for presenting detail in a compelling manner.
This is an important book for looking at the mindsets of people involved on both sides. Thank you to the Penguin Group, Putnam Books, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #ThereWillBeFire #NetGalley
I am always interested in Ireland and, in particular, the factors in play during “The Troubles.” In 1984 the Irish Republican Army planned and executed an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The leaders of the British government were nearly wiped out in one dramatic blow. “There Will Be Fire” looks at the motivations, the attack, the investigation, and the aftermath of this mission.
Being of Irish descent and having been brought up on tales of gunrunning and rebellion in our family history, I am always cautious about accounts with a slant to them. Here Rory Carroll has presented a level chronicle without exploiting emotional biases. This is journalism reading like a thriller. Publishers Weekly compared it to “Day of the Jackal” and I have to agree, the writing reminded me of Ken Follett’s gift for presenting detail in a compelling manner.
This is an important book for looking at the mindsets of people involved on both sides. Thank you to the Penguin Group, Putnam Books, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #ThereWillBeFire #NetGalley
August 11, 2025
One of the most brilliantly written books I have ever read or listened to! It brings history to life in a gripping, edge of your seat narrative.
Author, Rory Carroll, a veteran Irish journalist for The Guardian, spent 2020 - 2022 interviewing hundreds of IRA members, police investigators, politicians, and others involved with the extraordinary assassination plot against Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the UK. Carroll and his team researched court documents, memoirs, and articles to create a captivating account of the planning of the assassination, the Brighton bombing in 1984, and the meticulous manhunt to determine who installed and detonated the bomb at the Grand Hotel.
Carroll's prologue in There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History is by far the best prologue I have ever read or heard. It reminds me of the quote by Kevin Ansbro, "A book should grab you by the lapels and kiss you into tomorrow." My lapels were up around my neck throughout this entire book. I listened to it on audiobook, and it is narrated superbly by John Keating.
The Troubles refer to the turbulent conflict in Northern Ireland between 1968 - 1998 that began with a civil rights march on Duke Street in Derry on October 5, 1968, which turned violent, and ended with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, on April 10, 1998. During the Troubles, 47,500 were injured, 3,700 died, 37,000 shootings occurred, and there were 16,000 bombings. 52% of the deaths were civilians.
There were unionists who wanted the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to be one nation. There were loyalists who wanted Northern Ireland to continue to be part of the United Kingdom. There were also significant divides between Catholics and Protestants.
Oftentimes, there were multiple deaths and bombings in the same week. Some of the larger tragedies occurred on or at Bloody Sunday, Enniskillen Poppy Day, Warrenpoint, Omagh, Teebane, Greysteel, and Loughinisland.
With steel-like precision, Carroll focuses primarily on the assassination attempt on the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, who was the number one foe of the IRA (Irish Republican Army). The hunger strikes that resulted with the deaths of 10 prisoners and the execution of Lord Mountbatten in 1979 are covered, along with several other incidences to help understand the backdrop of the conflict.
Carroll describes Thatcher's interactions with US President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the Soviet Union. Thatcher was strong willed and expressed her opinions forcefully. When the bomb detonated in Brighton, which was designed to kill Thatcher and her entire cabinet, there were five deaths and 30 injuries, but Thatcher was unharmed. Thatcher determined the cabinet meeting scheduled for the morning of the bomb would still be held at the Grand Hotel. Her nickname of Iron Lady is accurately descriptive.
I recently traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland. While there, I purchased and read the book Reporting the Troubles: Journalists Tell their Stories of the Northern Ireland conflict which includes articles by 68 veteran Irish journalists.
Even though an agreement was reached in 1998, Belfast neighborhoods clearly demonstrate whether their allegiance is to the UK or to the possibility of one nation with their flags, murals, and graffiti.
Some of the murals I saw while traveling to Northern Ireland this year stated:
* Prepared for war, ready for peace.
* If I must die, you must live to tell my story.
*No one that wants peace builds walls.
I highly, highly recommend There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History for history, politics, true crime and nonfiction readers as well as those who love fiction because this book reads like a historical thriller.
Author, Rory Carroll, a veteran Irish journalist for The Guardian, spent 2020 - 2022 interviewing hundreds of IRA members, police investigators, politicians, and others involved with the extraordinary assassination plot against Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the UK. Carroll and his team researched court documents, memoirs, and articles to create a captivating account of the planning of the assassination, the Brighton bombing in 1984, and the meticulous manhunt to determine who installed and detonated the bomb at the Grand Hotel.
Carroll's prologue in There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History is by far the best prologue I have ever read or heard. It reminds me of the quote by Kevin Ansbro, "A book should grab you by the lapels and kiss you into tomorrow." My lapels were up around my neck throughout this entire book. I listened to it on audiobook, and it is narrated superbly by John Keating.
The Troubles refer to the turbulent conflict in Northern Ireland between 1968 - 1998 that began with a civil rights march on Duke Street in Derry on October 5, 1968, which turned violent, and ended with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, on April 10, 1998. During the Troubles, 47,500 were injured, 3,700 died, 37,000 shootings occurred, and there were 16,000 bombings. 52% of the deaths were civilians.
There were unionists who wanted the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to be one nation. There were loyalists who wanted Northern Ireland to continue to be part of the United Kingdom. There were also significant divides between Catholics and Protestants.
Oftentimes, there were multiple deaths and bombings in the same week. Some of the larger tragedies occurred on or at Bloody Sunday, Enniskillen Poppy Day, Warrenpoint, Omagh, Teebane, Greysteel, and Loughinisland.
With steel-like precision, Carroll focuses primarily on the assassination attempt on the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, who was the number one foe of the IRA (Irish Republican Army). The hunger strikes that resulted with the deaths of 10 prisoners and the execution of Lord Mountbatten in 1979 are covered, along with several other incidences to help understand the backdrop of the conflict.
Carroll describes Thatcher's interactions with US President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the Soviet Union. Thatcher was strong willed and expressed her opinions forcefully. When the bomb detonated in Brighton, which was designed to kill Thatcher and her entire cabinet, there were five deaths and 30 injuries, but Thatcher was unharmed. Thatcher determined the cabinet meeting scheduled for the morning of the bomb would still be held at the Grand Hotel. Her nickname of Iron Lady is accurately descriptive.
I recently traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland. While there, I purchased and read the book Reporting the Troubles: Journalists Tell their Stories of the Northern Ireland conflict which includes articles by 68 veteran Irish journalists.
Even though an agreement was reached in 1998, Belfast neighborhoods clearly demonstrate whether their allegiance is to the UK or to the possibility of one nation with their flags, murals, and graffiti.
Some of the murals I saw while traveling to Northern Ireland this year stated:
* Prepared for war, ready for peace.
* If I must die, you must live to tell my story.
*No one that wants peace builds walls.
I highly, highly recommend There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History for history, politics, true crime and nonfiction readers as well as those who love fiction because this book reads like a historical thriller.
April 16, 2023
This book is a great read and gives about as objective a telling of the Brighton bombing as has been told. It is extensively researched and well written. I lived in Ireland at the time and paid particular attention to the events as they unfolded. However, this book provided much, much more than I learned at the time. Some of it was for good reason- when they were trying to track down the people who carried out the bombing, there was secrecy. But Carroll has given us a play by play account of what led up to the bombing, the planning surrounding it and the people behind it and other activities of the Provos.
To be upfront about this, I have never liked Thatcher. I think she was an evil, uncaring monster. She let the Hunger Strikers die to prove a point and after 10 men had died and it was called off, gave in to the demands which were reasonable anyway. She broke the miners union and severely damaged the social structure of Britain. It is her behavior that set in motion to move to Brexit.
Despite all of that, Carroll has written a book that is fair and added a great deal to my knowledge about the topic.
To be upfront about this, I have never liked Thatcher. I think she was an evil, uncaring monster. She let the Hunger Strikers die to prove a point and after 10 men had died and it was called off, gave in to the demands which were reasonable anyway. She broke the miners union and severely damaged the social structure of Britain. It is her behavior that set in motion to move to Brexit.
Despite all of that, Carroll has written a book that is fair and added a great deal to my knowledge about the topic.
June 22, 2023
**SPOILER FREE**
With the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland having simmered over two decades ago, the conflict has gone from one of global attention to a footnote of history. Millennials and Gen Zers who grew up in the 9/11 era are familiar with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, their causes, consequences, and participants, but would need the aid of Google to know who Gerry Adams or Bobby Sands is. Coyly dubbed “The Troubles,” the 30-year period of violent conflict surrounding the British occupation of Northern Ireland is relatively unknown amongst younger generations, making its stories excellent subject matter, as they are filled with the tales of spy craft and deceit that make historical accounts read like espionage thrillers.
Rory Carroll’s "There Will Be Fire" zooms in on one specific event of The Troubles, the Irish Republican Army’s bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England that almost killed British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The book follows the life and account of the bomber Patrick Magee, his target Thatcher, and the numerous British police agencies trying to catch him. Where the book thrives is in its detailed reporting, which, with much skill from Carroll, caries the tension of a blockbuster thriller. Carroll is a talented writer, describing the act of bomb-making and defusing as a walk on the razor’s edge. Readers will feel the “eureka” moments of discovery along with the police agents, which come after months of sifting through mugshots and manually comparing fingerprints.
But while the storytelling is superb, There Will Be Fire fails in its lack of context and unexplained causes of The Troubles and the motivations of its participants. The book spends a lot of time with Margaret Thatcher, detailing her rise through the Conservative Party to become the first female Prime Minister. It’s clear Carroll is fond of her, as she is portrayed as a stern, unwavering force, undeterred by Irish bombs or English sexism. Unfortunately, no such exposure is provided for Patrick Magee or his compatriots. Besides a brief exploration of Magee’s family life, Carroll omits any explanation of why he, or any others, joined the Irish Republican Army. (Or, why the IRA existed in the first place.) While Thatcher is lauded for her heroism, the lack of provided motivations for those trying to kill her leaves the impression that the Republicans (people who want a united Ireland free from British rule) simply “hate the Brits” and “enjoy killing.” In reality, the reasons for Irish Republicanism, both militant and pacifist, are much more nuanced.
Ireland suffered over 800 years of English colonialism, with a reprieve for the southern part of the nation coming in the early 20th century. The six counties of the north, which are still considered British territory, became a hotbed for Britain’s anti-Catholic prejudice, state violence, and all-out murder. Never does There Will Be Fire mention the many institutionalized prejudices the British government imposed on Catholics, such as voting restrictions, forced unemployment, and “internment,” the process of imprisoning “suspected” Republicans without trial. It borders on malpractice that Carroll never includes Bloody Sunday, when British paratroopers shot 26 unarmed civil rights marchers, as a catalyst for Irish armed resistance. He also omits the extent torture was used on Irish prisoners, the British government’s use of military and paramilitary death squads, and Margaret Thatcher’s attempt to get the Ulster Volunteer Force, the pro-British counterpart of the IRA, to assassinate the President of Ireland. Instead, the reader is given a rosy picture of “The Iron Lady,” one that her Conservative Party biographer could have written.
In not providing the proper context for Magee’s actions, Carroll fails his readers by giving the impression The Troubles could be boiled down to “good vs. evil.” In actuality, both the IRA and the British government have apologized for their actions on numerous occasions. Not only does a one-sided depiction not provide the full story of The Troubles, but it is dangerous. To avoid future conflicts, in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, we must properly understand what drives someone to plant a bomb or torture a prisoner. Only with a thorough understanding of others’ reasonings can we prevent violence. Carroll’s account fails in this, as it misleads its readership into thinking there are “good guys” (Thatcher) and there are “bad guys” (Magee). Through that lens, humans will continue to misunderstand each other, and conflict will follow.
Though the prose is superb and the story is worthy of exploration, the half-tale of There Will Be Fire severely limits the book's potential. I give it 2 stars and would steer anyone interested in learning about the entirety of The Trouble to read Say Nothing instead.
With the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland having simmered over two decades ago, the conflict has gone from one of global attention to a footnote of history. Millennials and Gen Zers who grew up in the 9/11 era are familiar with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, their causes, consequences, and participants, but would need the aid of Google to know who Gerry Adams or Bobby Sands is. Coyly dubbed “The Troubles,” the 30-year period of violent conflict surrounding the British occupation of Northern Ireland is relatively unknown amongst younger generations, making its stories excellent subject matter, as they are filled with the tales of spy craft and deceit that make historical accounts read like espionage thrillers.
Rory Carroll’s "There Will Be Fire" zooms in on one specific event of The Troubles, the Irish Republican Army’s bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England that almost killed British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The book follows the life and account of the bomber Patrick Magee, his target Thatcher, and the numerous British police agencies trying to catch him. Where the book thrives is in its detailed reporting, which, with much skill from Carroll, caries the tension of a blockbuster thriller. Carroll is a talented writer, describing the act of bomb-making and defusing as a walk on the razor’s edge. Readers will feel the “eureka” moments of discovery along with the police agents, which come after months of sifting through mugshots and manually comparing fingerprints.
But while the storytelling is superb, There Will Be Fire fails in its lack of context and unexplained causes of The Troubles and the motivations of its participants. The book spends a lot of time with Margaret Thatcher, detailing her rise through the Conservative Party to become the first female Prime Minister. It’s clear Carroll is fond of her, as she is portrayed as a stern, unwavering force, undeterred by Irish bombs or English sexism. Unfortunately, no such exposure is provided for Patrick Magee or his compatriots. Besides a brief exploration of Magee’s family life, Carroll omits any explanation of why he, or any others, joined the Irish Republican Army. (Or, why the IRA existed in the first place.) While Thatcher is lauded for her heroism, the lack of provided motivations for those trying to kill her leaves the impression that the Republicans (people who want a united Ireland free from British rule) simply “hate the Brits” and “enjoy killing.” In reality, the reasons for Irish Republicanism, both militant and pacifist, are much more nuanced.
Ireland suffered over 800 years of English colonialism, with a reprieve for the southern part of the nation coming in the early 20th century. The six counties of the north, which are still considered British territory, became a hotbed for Britain’s anti-Catholic prejudice, state violence, and all-out murder. Never does There Will Be Fire mention the many institutionalized prejudices the British government imposed on Catholics, such as voting restrictions, forced unemployment, and “internment,” the process of imprisoning “suspected” Republicans without trial. It borders on malpractice that Carroll never includes Bloody Sunday, when British paratroopers shot 26 unarmed civil rights marchers, as a catalyst for Irish armed resistance. He also omits the extent torture was used on Irish prisoners, the British government’s use of military and paramilitary death squads, and Margaret Thatcher’s attempt to get the Ulster Volunteer Force, the pro-British counterpart of the IRA, to assassinate the President of Ireland. Instead, the reader is given a rosy picture of “The Iron Lady,” one that her Conservative Party biographer could have written.
In not providing the proper context for Magee’s actions, Carroll fails his readers by giving the impression The Troubles could be boiled down to “good vs. evil.” In actuality, both the IRA and the British government have apologized for their actions on numerous occasions. Not only does a one-sided depiction not provide the full story of The Troubles, but it is dangerous. To avoid future conflicts, in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, we must properly understand what drives someone to plant a bomb or torture a prisoner. Only with a thorough understanding of others’ reasonings can we prevent violence. Carroll’s account fails in this, as it misleads its readership into thinking there are “good guys” (Thatcher) and there are “bad guys” (Magee). Through that lens, humans will continue to misunderstand each other, and conflict will follow.
Though the prose is superb and the story is worthy of exploration, the half-tale of There Will Be Fire severely limits the book's potential. I give it 2 stars and would steer anyone interested in learning about the entirety of The Trouble to read Say Nothing instead.
March 9, 2023
In 1984, the IRA killed five people and came dangerously close to assassinating then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher - and yet this disaster has gone mostly undiscussed in recent years. In this book, Carroll brings together the long chain of events which led up to the bombing, and unravels the complicated investigation that followed.
Having been to school in both the United States and India, I like to think that I have gained a wider perspective on world history than I would have otherwise, but there are definitely gaping holes in my knowledge. The Troubles are certainly a subject I have basically no knowledge about. I was glad to find that this book, while focusing on one major incident, provides the context needed to get invested in the story.
It's a complicated story that Carroll weaves, for while the book opens with the planting of a bomb in a hotel room by a single man, many events and people have a hand in getting Patrick Magee there. We follow the story on both sides, both Irish and British, placing the two major figures, Magee and Thatcher, on the larger stages upon which events play out.
I appreciated that the author remained quite neutral on the central question that motivated the Troubles, fairly portraying the good and bad actions of both sides. I also liked the wide variety of sources that Carroll was able to incorporate, giving the reader a peek into the many people who were involved in setting up the bombing as well as bringing Magee to justice.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Having been to school in both the United States and India, I like to think that I have gained a wider perspective on world history than I would have otherwise, but there are definitely gaping holes in my knowledge. The Troubles are certainly a subject I have basically no knowledge about. I was glad to find that this book, while focusing on one major incident, provides the context needed to get invested in the story.
It's a complicated story that Carroll weaves, for while the book opens with the planting of a bomb in a hotel room by a single man, many events and people have a hand in getting Patrick Magee there. We follow the story on both sides, both Irish and British, placing the two major figures, Magee and Thatcher, on the larger stages upon which events play out.
I appreciated that the author remained quite neutral on the central question that motivated the Troubles, fairly portraying the good and bad actions of both sides. I also liked the wide variety of sources that Carroll was able to incorporate, giving the reader a peek into the many people who were involved in setting up the bombing as well as bringing Magee to justice.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 4, 2024
This book covers the 1984 bombing of the Brighton Grand Hotel by the IRA, in an attempt to kill Thatcher and her cabinet. In addition to the actual bombing the author includes a brief overview of the IRA and Thatcher’s government, and some context before and after the attack.
This brought back some memories. Thatcher was a hugely divisive figure - the 1980’s Britain I remember was pretty broken, which I think she bears a lot of responsibility for. She was possibly as divisive as the IRA. I’m not sure the author shares my view, which is fine. However he also doesn’t address either party in any real depth, instead opting for non-fiction thriller. A decent page-turner, but I was hoping for some deeper analysis.
This brought back some memories. Thatcher was a hugely divisive figure - the 1980’s Britain I remember was pretty broken, which I think she bears a lot of responsibility for. She was possibly as divisive as the IRA. I’m not sure the author shares my view, which is fine. However he also doesn’t address either party in any real depth, instead opting for non-fiction thriller. A decent page-turner, but I was hoping for some deeper analysis.
May 24, 2023
I know that Carroll has been the Guardian's Ireland correspondent for many years. And must've picked up a great deal of information about the IRA and the attempts to thwart it. But the level of detail he provides here is unbelievable. Particularly at the end, when it comes to Magee's (and his accomplices') arrest. It was like reading the best kind of thriller. The writing reminded me of Jonathan Freedland's The Escape Artist. Fast-moving. Tightly-written. Flowing. Obviously they teach them well at the Guardian. Or maybe it's something that journalists learn in general. Whatever, this is a first-rate read. My only criticism is that sometimes - just very occasionally - Carroll slips into flippancy. Keeping score between the IRA and the police like it's a football match, for example. But it's only a minor gripe. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Even though - the bomb disposal experts aside - there's no one to really root for. Thatcher and the IRA...It's a bit like what Kissinger said about the Iran-Iraq war: 'It's a pity they both can't lose'. I don't mean through violence. I just mean I didn't and don't have time for either. I do believe in a united Ireland. But only if it's achieved peacefully.
May 23, 2023
Story of the Irish Republican Army bombing attempt to assassinate Margaret Thatcher in 1984. Reads like a thriller. Page-turning. An in-depth history of The Troubles is well documented in the book as well.
August 20, 2023
What a disappointment this book was!
When asked by my daughter, what I'd like for Father's Day, I nominated "Killing Thatcher", as I'd heard it made the right noises and I was lead to believe it was a totally unbiased account of the Brighton bombing and if anything, that it was very much republican in sympathy, where the author's forward seems to confirm that it could be the case. So I was really, really looking forward to reading this account of one of the decades, if not the centuries most pivotal moments in history.
This stance however, was immediately and quickly blown out of the water (if you pardon the pun).
Which started with the recounting of the demise of Lord Louie Mountbatten, which seems here, for reasons which may only be known to the author, to try and want to paint Mountbatten as a fun loving, cuddly old heroic grandad and not the evil old colonial relic, gangster and serial paedophile that he, in all likelihood was. Where an under age rent boy victim (officially and here, egregiously described as a "boat boy"!) of Mountbatten's was actually blown up on the boat with him!
Bad start then!
Next up was the book’s early depictions of Thatcher herself.
Here, the author seems to be desperately trying to give Maggie a human face. Which is to undoubtedly engender reader sympathy for what can only be described as easily one of the twentieth centuries most evil characters and to be fair, she was up against some pretty stiff competition!
The telling of her back story, her "family" life and her policies all read like she was nothing more than a put upon, tough, "auld granny", "bravely" championing women's rights, the rights of the individual and rallying against the "evils of socialism and self determination"! Unbelievable nonsense!
There was simply no detachment from the author at all and the raw emotionalism he was trying to evoke inevitably came across as weak, sycophantic, hard to read drivel and anyone having lived through Margaret Thatcher and her wicked policies can undoubtedly see it as such, with all it’s jaw dropping inaccuracies and with mind boggling disbelief!
It didn’t improve as the book went on either, whenever the author was relating anything about Thatcher, it was nothing short of a “love in” and her “stoicism” in the “face of adversity” most obviously rendered the writer “pretty hard”!
Just as awful and nauseating was the depictions of Norman Tebbit. About the only thing the author gets right, is the account of how Tebbit was portrayed on Spitting Image!
This revisionist style of retelling history can and often leads to many, many contradictions and this book was no different. There is at least one contradictive sentence or statement on nearly every page, hopeless indeed!
I also noticed that due to the spelling of words, for example, such as “grey” as “gray”, that the author is trying to appeal to the American market. But regardless of which side of the Atlantic you’re reading this, you’ll still find it woefully inadequate as an informative, balanced historical account!
In this book ALL the police are literally "good old boys". Irredeemably “fighting the good fight!” Here's one extract,
"Physical opposites, they shared an old school passion for villain catching!"
Jesus wept! It really was sick inducingly awful stuff and I'm sure the author was just using old scripts from "The Bill" for police interactions!
**points finger**
“I don’t want excuses Tosh, I want RESULTS!!”
I'll finish with two other completely inane and ridiculously stupid extracts from the book, that should really have the author rethink his occupation (again, pardon the pun!), from journalist to just about anything else really;
"Even those who despise Thatcher, would have been in awe at her resolve!"
"Troopers on gray horses with kettledrums swelled the martial symphony with thumping cadences to stir even a pacifists fighting spirit!"
WTF?!!
When asked by my daughter, what I'd like for Father's Day, I nominated "Killing Thatcher", as I'd heard it made the right noises and I was lead to believe it was a totally unbiased account of the Brighton bombing and if anything, that it was very much republican in sympathy, where the author's forward seems to confirm that it could be the case. So I was really, really looking forward to reading this account of one of the decades, if not the centuries most pivotal moments in history.
This stance however, was immediately and quickly blown out of the water (if you pardon the pun).
Which started with the recounting of the demise of Lord Louie Mountbatten, which seems here, for reasons which may only be known to the author, to try and want to paint Mountbatten as a fun loving, cuddly old heroic grandad and not the evil old colonial relic, gangster and serial paedophile that he, in all likelihood was. Where an under age rent boy victim (officially and here, egregiously described as a "boat boy"!) of Mountbatten's was actually blown up on the boat with him!
Bad start then!
Next up was the book’s early depictions of Thatcher herself.
Here, the author seems to be desperately trying to give Maggie a human face. Which is to undoubtedly engender reader sympathy for what can only be described as easily one of the twentieth centuries most evil characters and to be fair, she was up against some pretty stiff competition!
The telling of her back story, her "family" life and her policies all read like she was nothing more than a put upon, tough, "auld granny", "bravely" championing women's rights, the rights of the individual and rallying against the "evils of socialism and self determination"! Unbelievable nonsense!
There was simply no detachment from the author at all and the raw emotionalism he was trying to evoke inevitably came across as weak, sycophantic, hard to read drivel and anyone having lived through Margaret Thatcher and her wicked policies can undoubtedly see it as such, with all it’s jaw dropping inaccuracies and with mind boggling disbelief!
It didn’t improve as the book went on either, whenever the author was relating anything about Thatcher, it was nothing short of a “love in” and her “stoicism” in the “face of adversity” most obviously rendered the writer “pretty hard”!
Just as awful and nauseating was the depictions of Norman Tebbit. About the only thing the author gets right, is the account of how Tebbit was portrayed on Spitting Image!
This revisionist style of retelling history can and often leads to many, many contradictions and this book was no different. There is at least one contradictive sentence or statement on nearly every page, hopeless indeed!
I also noticed that due to the spelling of words, for example, such as “grey” as “gray”, that the author is trying to appeal to the American market. But regardless of which side of the Atlantic you’re reading this, you’ll still find it woefully inadequate as an informative, balanced historical account!
In this book ALL the police are literally "good old boys". Irredeemably “fighting the good fight!” Here's one extract,
"Physical opposites, they shared an old school passion for villain catching!"
Jesus wept! It really was sick inducingly awful stuff and I'm sure the author was just using old scripts from "The Bill" for police interactions!
**points finger**
“I don’t want excuses Tosh, I want RESULTS!!”
I'll finish with two other completely inane and ridiculously stupid extracts from the book, that should really have the author rethink his occupation (again, pardon the pun!), from journalist to just about anything else really;
"Even those who despise Thatcher, would have been in awe at her resolve!"
"Troopers on gray horses with kettledrums swelled the martial symphony with thumping cadences to stir even a pacifists fighting spirit!"
WTF?!!
March 3, 2023
This is the true account of the 1984 attempt on the life of Margaret Thatcher by the IRA. A bomb was planted at the Grand Hotel in Brighton where she was attending a Conservative conference. Thatcher was spared, but five people died and many were injured, some maimed for life. In telling the story, Carroll goes into the history behind the Irish fight for freedom and significant events in this history including the assassination of Mountbatten as well as the hunger strike that resulted in the deaths of some of the IRA prisoners. He recounts the intricate investigation into the Brighton bomb and search for the perpetrators, as well as the background of the bomber and other members of the IRA. Finally, he theorizes how Thatcher’s survival shaped modern politics.
This is a very detailed, yet thrilling account of events in history. I found the story fascinating. I also liked the historical perspective going back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 (“remember remember the fifth of November”).
I loved Patrick Radden Keefe’s Say Nothing; A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland and recommended it to many friends. I think this book ranks up there with Keefe’s and will certainly recommend it. Researching and writing this book was an ambitious project and Carroll provides a thorough retelling while maintaining reader interest throughout. Don’t let the fact that this is nonfiction scare you…it reads like a novel.
Thanks to #netgalley and #GPPutnumssonsbooks #Penguin
October 9, 2022
If you want to truly test yourself as an author, an excellent prompt is, "Try to write a book about the Troubles without taking a side." Rory Carroll's There Will Be Fire is proof that it can be done and done very well at that.
The book follows the story of the Brighton bombing in England in 1984. The bombing was executed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in their campaign to unite all of Ireland and very nearly killed Margaret Thatcher. Most of the book follows the bomber and then the police attempts to identify and arrest him. This is the very short version of an extremely long story.
The Troubles of Northern Ireland are a quagmire of politics, grudges, and justice (or lack thereof). Carroll makes it clear his book will not tackle everything about the IRA and the Troubles. He also states he is not biased. While I think I can decipher precisely what he thinks if we were sharing a few drinks, it does not in any way hinder the narrative of the book. Carroll explains the finer points someone needs to know but sticks to the story of the bomber and the subsequent pursuit. It is one of the few times where saying a piece of history, "reads like a novel," is 100% earned.
The book follows the story of the Brighton bombing in England in 1984. The bombing was executed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in their campaign to unite all of Ireland and very nearly killed Margaret Thatcher. Most of the book follows the bomber and then the police attempts to identify and arrest him. This is the very short version of an extremely long story.
The Troubles of Northern Ireland are a quagmire of politics, grudges, and justice (or lack thereof). Carroll makes it clear his book will not tackle everything about the IRA and the Troubles. He also states he is not biased. While I think I can decipher precisely what he thinks if we were sharing a few drinks, it does not in any way hinder the narrative of the book. Carroll explains the finer points someone needs to know but sticks to the story of the bomber and the subsequent pursuit. It is one of the few times where saying a piece of history, "reads like a novel," is 100% earned.
August 24, 2023
3.5 stars
If the book had just focused on the Brighton bombing as advertised I would have given it four stars. That part was interesting and thrilling as the reader got the story from both sides, the IRA and the police. However there was A LOT of extraneous information that could have been better edited.
If you really want to learn more about the IRA and the Troubles I would highly recommend reading Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. Now that's a 4.5-5 star book.
If the book had just focused on the Brighton bombing as advertised I would have given it four stars. That part was interesting and thrilling as the reader got the story from both sides, the IRA and the police. However there was A LOT of extraneous information that could have been better edited.
If you really want to learn more about the IRA and the Troubles I would highly recommend reading Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. Now that's a 4.5-5 star book.
February 15, 2025
dear maggie i hope u are rotting in hell
February 8, 2025
Well done Mr. Carroll! A very detailed, yet thrilling account of events surrounding the attempted 1984 assassination of Marget Thatcher. The story gives the reader just enough background on each of the main characters involved and their role with the IRA along with the different police jurisdictions that constantly overlap to keep the story moving right along.
This was my second book on the Troubles, the first being Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, and I was not disappointed. There Will Be Fire gave me a better perspective of the inner workings of the IRA as opposed to Say Nothing, which was a superb story in its own right (I gave it a 5 star). Both books will give you a history behind the Irish fight for freedom. Highly recommended.
This was my second book on the Troubles, the first being Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, and I was not disappointed. There Will Be Fire gave me a better perspective of the inner workings of the IRA as opposed to Say Nothing, which was a superb story in its own right (I gave it a 5 star). Both books will give you a history behind the Irish fight for freedom. Highly recommended.
July 30, 2024
They gave up after only one attempt?? Should’ve killed her twice.
November 7, 2024
Whether you know very little or a lot about the history of the turbulent and often violent relationship between Ireland and England over the centuries, I think you will appreciate the lucid way the author explains a very complicated issue. As you’d expect from a journalist, he adopts a distinctly non-partisan approach, relying on a range of sources including interviews with participants on both sides. (Notably, the one person who refused to speak to him was Gerry Adams.)
I’m of an age where I can remember the period when IRA activity on the mainland of Britain was at its height but I had forgotten just how intense and all-pervading it was, or just how many casualties and fatalities it caused. These included police, members of the rescue services, bystanders and those whose job was to try to defuse the bombs.
I recall watching the coverage of people being rescued from The Grand Hotel in Brighton after the bombing on 12th October 1984, the penultimate day of the Conservative Party Conference. The photograph of Cabinet Minister Norman Tebbit being brought out of the debris which is included in the book, is a reminder of the destruction the bomb caused, some by falling masonry. Although Tebbit’s injuries were serious they were not as life-changing as those of his wife. There were five fatalities but not, through chance, Margaret Thatcher. Some may find her determination to carry on with the conference hard-hearted, others may think it a sign of defiance.
The description of Killing Thatcher as ‘the ultimate political thriller…the perfect blend of true crime and political history – propelled by a countdown to detonation’ is pretty much on the money. The most thrilling section – perhaps appropriately enough in Chapter 13 – is that depicting events in the hours and minutes before the bomb’s detonation. Who was doing what, where and with whom in the hotel as the minutes ticked by. And, in another part of the world, Patrick Magee, the man who placed the bomb on a long-delay timer, listening to the radio eager to find out if the device had detonated.
Another striking section of the book is that describing the 1981 hunger strikes by IRA prisoners in the Maze prison (also referred to as H-Block). Bobby Sands is probably the most well-known of the men (ten in all) who starved themselves to death as part of a campaign to be given the status of prisoners of war rather than criminals. The author describes how the hunger strikes became effectively a stand-off between the prisoners and Margaret Thatcher, and he doesn’t pull any punches when describing what starving yourself to death means in reality.
There was lots in the book I didn’t know (or had forgotten) such as the extent of the fundraising for the IRA in the United States and the involvement of Libya’s Colonel Qaddafi in providing weapons.
The hunt for the bomber that forms the final section of the book is full of fascinating information about fingerprints and other forensic techniques. It has the tension and detail of a police procedural. The investigation team were literally looking for a needle in a haystack and lacked many of the tools that are a commonplace part of detective work today. This was the days of paper records, manual cross-checking and only limited access to computers. The patient surveillence that eventually tracks down Magee and his associates has many of the hallmarks of an espionage thriller.
This was a book club pick and being focused on the assassination attempt of such a polarising figure as Margaret Thatcher made it difficult at times not to get drawn into a debate about her political views rather than the merits of the book. However, everyone thought it a very well-researched and readable account of the history of the conflict between Irish republicans and the British government.
I’m of an age where I can remember the period when IRA activity on the mainland of Britain was at its height but I had forgotten just how intense and all-pervading it was, or just how many casualties and fatalities it caused. These included police, members of the rescue services, bystanders and those whose job was to try to defuse the bombs.
I recall watching the coverage of people being rescued from The Grand Hotel in Brighton after the bombing on 12th October 1984, the penultimate day of the Conservative Party Conference. The photograph of Cabinet Minister Norman Tebbit being brought out of the debris which is included in the book, is a reminder of the destruction the bomb caused, some by falling masonry. Although Tebbit’s injuries were serious they were not as life-changing as those of his wife. There were five fatalities but not, through chance, Margaret Thatcher. Some may find her determination to carry on with the conference hard-hearted, others may think it a sign of defiance.
The description of Killing Thatcher as ‘the ultimate political thriller…the perfect blend of true crime and political history – propelled by a countdown to detonation’ is pretty much on the money. The most thrilling section – perhaps appropriately enough in Chapter 13 – is that depicting events in the hours and minutes before the bomb’s detonation. Who was doing what, where and with whom in the hotel as the minutes ticked by. And, in another part of the world, Patrick Magee, the man who placed the bomb on a long-delay timer, listening to the radio eager to find out if the device had detonated.
Another striking section of the book is that describing the 1981 hunger strikes by IRA prisoners in the Maze prison (also referred to as H-Block). Bobby Sands is probably the most well-known of the men (ten in all) who starved themselves to death as part of a campaign to be given the status of prisoners of war rather than criminals. The author describes how the hunger strikes became effectively a stand-off between the prisoners and Margaret Thatcher, and he doesn’t pull any punches when describing what starving yourself to death means in reality.
There was lots in the book I didn’t know (or had forgotten) such as the extent of the fundraising for the IRA in the United States and the involvement of Libya’s Colonel Qaddafi in providing weapons.
The hunt for the bomber that forms the final section of the book is full of fascinating information about fingerprints and other forensic techniques. It has the tension and detail of a police procedural. The investigation team were literally looking for a needle in a haystack and lacked many of the tools that are a commonplace part of detective work today. This was the days of paper records, manual cross-checking and only limited access to computers. The patient surveillence that eventually tracks down Magee and his associates has many of the hallmarks of an espionage thriller.
This was a book club pick and being focused on the assassination attempt of such a polarising figure as Margaret Thatcher made it difficult at times not to get drawn into a debate about her political views rather than the merits of the book. However, everyone thought it a very well-researched and readable account of the history of the conflict between Irish republicans and the British government.
February 7, 2024
Thrilling, riveting, an almost unputdownable book.
Detailing the lead up to the Brighton Hotel bombing in 1984, detailing the main characters and then the manhunt and aftermath this is probably the best book that's ever been written on the subject. It reads like a classic true crime thriller which i suppose it is. The whole books moves at a fast pace and there isn't a dull moment.
The author has done his homework and more importantly has done his best to be neutral and just tell the story. The reader can decide for themselves whose cause they prefer. (personally i admire Thatcher and think the IRA were scum)
I read this in two days it was so good i'd happily read anything else this author has written.
Detailing the lead up to the Brighton Hotel bombing in 1984, detailing the main characters and then the manhunt and aftermath this is probably the best book that's ever been written on the subject. It reads like a classic true crime thriller which i suppose it is. The whole books moves at a fast pace and there isn't a dull moment.
The author has done his homework and more importantly has done his best to be neutral and just tell the story. The reader can decide for themselves whose cause they prefer. (personally i admire Thatcher and think the IRA were scum)
I read this in two days it was so good i'd happily read anything else this author has written.
July 19, 2024
This is an utterly brilliant book.
On 12th October 1984, the Provisional IRA came very close to wiping out the British Cabinet including Margaret Thatcher. If one of the chimneys of the Grand Hotel in Brighton had taken a slightly different route as it plummeted from the roof to the foyer then history would have been very different.
As it was, 5 people were killed and 34 were injured, some severely.
This book is written in a style similar to the work of fiction, The Day of the Jackal. Rory Carroll writes about the long fight for Irish freedom, the assassination of Lord Mountbatten, and the career of the bomber and his comrades. After describing the effects of the bombing, the author meticulously documents the manhunt for the bomber and his eventual capture in Glasgow the following year. He also describes how the people behind the scenes, the fingerprint experts, the surveillance teams, and the evidence finders discovered the small clues that when pieced together provided the proof of the bomber's identity.
Recommended.
On 12th October 1984, the Provisional IRA came very close to wiping out the British Cabinet including Margaret Thatcher. If one of the chimneys of the Grand Hotel in Brighton had taken a slightly different route as it plummeted from the roof to the foyer then history would have been very different.
As it was, 5 people were killed and 34 were injured, some severely.
This book is written in a style similar to the work of fiction, The Day of the Jackal. Rory Carroll writes about the long fight for Irish freedom, the assassination of Lord Mountbatten, and the career of the bomber and his comrades. After describing the effects of the bombing, the author meticulously documents the manhunt for the bomber and his eventual capture in Glasgow the following year. He also describes how the people behind the scenes, the fingerprint experts, the surveillance teams, and the evidence finders discovered the small clues that when pieced together provided the proof of the bomber's identity.
Recommended.
May 5, 2023
Detailed book about the IRA campaign to kill Thatcher through the Grand Hotel bombing and the aftermath with the police search for the bombers. The book also gives a brief insight into the history of the IRA too
September 22, 2023
It’s really difficult to write a 416 page book about ‘The Troubles’/ the attempted assassination of Thatcher while humanizing ALL involved parties, many of whom are unsavory. Very impressive for that reason and reads like a thriller
August 27, 2023
This was FASCINATING. Apparently my favorite type of history book at the moment is a detailed look at one specific incident tied in with some broader history of reasons. Would really recommend for those that enjoyed Say Nothing.
August 21, 2023
another really fantastic book on modern irish history!!
its difficult not to compare this book to "say nothing" --both extremely thoroughly researched, exploring the social and political evolution of the ira over time, focusing on specific leading "characters" to drive the narrative, balancing informing and storytelling. that being said, i think they compliment each other well, they build on each other instead of serving as substitutes. because there will be fire focuses on the brighton bombing, there is a much more intense concentration on that event (of course), but also the role of thatcher and her government in the troubles in the lead-up
this story is fascinating, it really is insane how incredibly close they were to killing margaret thatcher. like, a few feet and a couple minutes close. it was difficult to balance names at times and keep track of who was responsible for what strategy or plot or government position, but the key players popped up often enough to make the main points easy to follow.
i will say it took a long time to get to the most interesting (in my opinion) part of the story, the bombing itself. obviously the lead up is crucial, but something about the writing in the first half did seem to drag a bit. that being said, i listened to the second half in one sitting and was completely enthralled. great build up to the explosion. relative to "say nothing," it ends a bit abruptly, but that might be because that book focuses so heavily on how the attitudes of young bombers changed as they served time and matured after their attacks (an aspect i found very interesting). i suppose the main players were older in this one, so i wont hold it against carroll.
this might make me sound like a naive outsider, but i did feel as though this was a fairly unbiased account. at the very least, it shared very personal and/or graphic moments from either side that had me expressing sympathies for both. the moments that described the civilian casualties from various bombings were what really made this seem like a not explicitly pro-ira retelling--he doesnt skirt around the fact that these people were responsible for the deaths of many innocent people, but also doesnt fail to explain how people like patrick magee still justified their actions while still feeling remorse
i will say this book did nothing to endear margaret thatcher to me, but i wouldnt necessarily say thats the fault of the book and moreso how my personal politics reacted to his descriptions of her. i can definitely see much more clearly why irish nationalists feel so strongly about her
the ira bombings are so infinitely interesting to me, the morality of bombings in general. how to go about punishing individuals who are essentially cogs in this centuries-old machine, carrying out the orders of an organization so much larger than themselves, fighting for deserved freedom.
if there is one thing to take away from this book, it is that the brighton bombing gave way to one of the hardest warnings of all time:
"Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always."
taking modern irish history this fall. so incredibly hype.
edit: surprised to find, upon reading 2 and 3 star reviews, the critics seem to claim this is an explicitly anti-ira (or at least pro-thatcher) book. honestly wouldve anticipated it the other way around. the argument seems to hinge on his positive descriptions of people like mountbatten and thatcher, and his negative descriptions of certain bombings. i have to say i disagree, i think he did a fairly good job balancing the two. as someone who knew relatively little about mountbatten and thatcher going in, i was not made to feel like they were good people. the bombings are a little different, but i did not feel swayed in any direction from my current perspective on them
its difficult not to compare this book to "say nothing" --both extremely thoroughly researched, exploring the social and political evolution of the ira over time, focusing on specific leading "characters" to drive the narrative, balancing informing and storytelling. that being said, i think they compliment each other well, they build on each other instead of serving as substitutes. because there will be fire focuses on the brighton bombing, there is a much more intense concentration on that event (of course), but also the role of thatcher and her government in the troubles in the lead-up
this story is fascinating, it really is insane how incredibly close they were to killing margaret thatcher. like, a few feet and a couple minutes close. it was difficult to balance names at times and keep track of who was responsible for what strategy or plot or government position, but the key players popped up often enough to make the main points easy to follow.
i will say it took a long time to get to the most interesting (in my opinion) part of the story, the bombing itself. obviously the lead up is crucial, but something about the writing in the first half did seem to drag a bit. that being said, i listened to the second half in one sitting and was completely enthralled. great build up to the explosion. relative to "say nothing," it ends a bit abruptly, but that might be because that book focuses so heavily on how the attitudes of young bombers changed as they served time and matured after their attacks (an aspect i found very interesting). i suppose the main players were older in this one, so i wont hold it against carroll.
this might make me sound like a naive outsider, but i did feel as though this was a fairly unbiased account. at the very least, it shared very personal and/or graphic moments from either side that had me expressing sympathies for both. the moments that described the civilian casualties from various bombings were what really made this seem like a not explicitly pro-ira retelling--he doesnt skirt around the fact that these people were responsible for the deaths of many innocent people, but also doesnt fail to explain how people like patrick magee still justified their actions while still feeling remorse
i will say this book did nothing to endear margaret thatcher to me, but i wouldnt necessarily say thats the fault of the book and moreso how my personal politics reacted to his descriptions of her. i can definitely see much more clearly why irish nationalists feel so strongly about her
the ira bombings are so infinitely interesting to me, the morality of bombings in general. how to go about punishing individuals who are essentially cogs in this centuries-old machine, carrying out the orders of an organization so much larger than themselves, fighting for deserved freedom.
if there is one thing to take away from this book, it is that the brighton bombing gave way to one of the hardest warnings of all time:
"Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always."
taking modern irish history this fall. so incredibly hype.
edit: surprised to find, upon reading 2 and 3 star reviews, the critics seem to claim this is an explicitly anti-ira (or at least pro-thatcher) book. honestly wouldve anticipated it the other way around. the argument seems to hinge on his positive descriptions of people like mountbatten and thatcher, and his negative descriptions of certain bombings. i have to say i disagree, i think he did a fairly good job balancing the two. as someone who knew relatively little about mountbatten and thatcher going in, i was not made to feel like they were good people. the bombings are a little different, but i did not feel swayed in any direction from my current perspective on them
May 4, 2023
This was gripping, a true story of course, but written like a thriller with lots of background, procedural details and character back story to truly bring it to life. An excellent listen, highly recommended.
January 29, 2023
A compelling, impeccably researched, and superbly written account of the 1984 Brighton bombing and attempted assassination of Margaret Thatcher by the IRA.
Books about the Troubles always read as highly ambitious to me, because of how extensive and complicated a political conflict it proved to be; indeed, I must admit that there were several moments when I first started reading this where I worried if Rory Carroll was casting his critical-authorial net too far and wide, worried if the book would be overwhelmed by the full-scale, unrelenting intensity of the subject. Boy, was I wrong! The connections and links that Carroll draws between seemingly unrelated events paints an incredibly well-rounded, multi-faceted, and, yes, overwhelming (but in the best way!) picture of this decades-long 'war'—its gains and its costs, its deadly effects on ordinary people, and the price of political power.
So, add Carroll's name to that hypothetical list of nonfiction writers who are able to encase significant, highly-charged historical events in a palatable, easy-to-read, novel-like narrative structure, that will appeal to both academic and amateur historians alike.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Books about the Troubles always read as highly ambitious to me, because of how extensive and complicated a political conflict it proved to be; indeed, I must admit that there were several moments when I first started reading this where I worried if Rory Carroll was casting his critical-authorial net too far and wide, worried if the book would be overwhelmed by the full-scale, unrelenting intensity of the subject. Boy, was I wrong! The connections and links that Carroll draws between seemingly unrelated events paints an incredibly well-rounded, multi-faceted, and, yes, overwhelming (but in the best way!) picture of this decades-long 'war'—its gains and its costs, its deadly effects on ordinary people, and the price of political power.
So, add Carroll's name to that hypothetical list of nonfiction writers who are able to encase significant, highly-charged historical events in a palatable, easy-to-read, novel-like narrative structure, that will appeal to both academic and amateur historians alike.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 21, 2023
Exceptionally researched book with a bibliography that is nearly as long as the story itself, There Will Be Fire provides historical perspective about The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the UK. It lost me here and there as it delved into the rather Byzantine politics and warfare between the sides, and the internecine strife within each of the camps as well. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was the primary target of the 1984 bombing in Brighton which is at the heart of the book, but it covers much territory leading up to and following this rather spectacular event. It is a fascinating accounting of a very chaotic, bloody and unsettling time for many people.
March 2, 2024
Despite its gripping storytelling and focus on the event that nearly killed Margaret Thatcher, the book neglects the broader historical and political nuances, including the reasons for Irish Republicanism and the institutionalised oppression faced by Catholics in Northern Ireland. This oversight renders the narrative incomplete.
September 24, 2024
Proper page turner told like an espionage thriller, but the fact that it's all true makes it all the more interesting. Learnt so much about the clandestine operations of the IRA, and unfortunately the horrors they inflicted. Brilliant book.
May 22, 2024
Well balanced history of the Troubles, Thatcher's ascendency and the investigation and aftermath of the Brighton bombing. Carroll skillfully humanizes both sides in this well researched book with original interviews.
The book does a fantastic job of laying out the long and complicated history of the IRA and Northern Ireland.
This is densely packed with information that reads like a thriller. I couldn't put it down
The book does a fantastic job of laying out the long and complicated history of the IRA and Northern Ireland.
This is densely packed with information that reads like a thriller. I couldn't put it down
January 12, 2025
The reporting and storytelling elements of the book are very well executed. On the other hand, I feel like the book tries to moralise too much without giving proper context for the Troubles. In particular, the book paints Thatcher as having real girl power and doesn’t spend nearly as much time looking at its Irish subjects, like Magee for example. It skirts over exploring the motivations or the history that led people down the path to violence and it feels one dimensional as a result.
February 13, 2025
Supremely well-researched and written. Has a thriller's pacing but it's meticulous and treats its subject matter with sensitivity and nuance.
Good job all around!
Good job all around!
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