Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe chronicles Ireland’s brutal campaign for unification that lasted three decades and is likely still felt by its people today. The conflict, dubbed The Troubles, pitted Southern Ireland, which was predominantly Protestant and aligned itself with Britain, against Northern Ireland, which was predominantly Catholic and wanted all the Brits kicked out in order to have an Ireland united as one. While many may not be familiar with The Troubles era, I’d hazard a guess that many, like myself, are more familiar with the term IRA, referring to the Irish Republican Army, instead. As seen in movies usually depicting gangsters, the truth of the matter is much more complicated. Say Nothing recounts the incredible story of how this paramilitary group eventually fought a bloody war for nearly three decades in hopes of unifying Ireland.

Say Nothing is another great example of a non-fiction book that can surpass many fiction stories of today in terms of adventure, horror and just sheer unbelievability. Some parts of the story are so wild that I literally had to search Google and lo and behold, its right there in the news and still talked about today. The characters of Gerry Adams, Dolours and Marian Price, and Brendan Hughes are all incredible and very important people in the conflict. However, Say Nothing really only goes over the IRA or Provos side of the conflict. Even the author acknowledges this and says that for more information on the Loyalists, we’d need to go elsewhere for that information. But fear not as there are enough stories and intrigues here that will keep you turning page after page.

Say Nothing is a highly informative read. I spent a lot of time searching for more information as I went along, simply because some of them sounded just too incredible to be believed at first. More than anything, I’m shocked and amazed how after this whole ordeal was completed, the disappearance of a few people caused so much uproar and attention. If anything, I’d have assumed that they’d be forgotten as just casualties of war. Definitely, hats off to the family of Jean McConville for continuing the fight to find their mother’s remains and all the others who have made this story come to light. The author put things in such a way that it just made the book seem like a thriller. I’m also glad to discover that this story will soon be turned into a television series by FX. I am also glad to have watched the movie Belfast by Kenneth Branagh. Likewise, I had no idea at that time what The Troubles really depicted, but this book made things a lot clearer, and the movie deserves a rewatch on my part.