When Shadows Fall
Lt. Adam Bowen of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers returns home from the war in 1918, wounded and uncertain about his future. His brothers are attorneys, so one option is to join their firm, which he reluctantly decides to do. Tara Reilly is a local girl whose family had owned a small farm near Dublin. They were killed by IRA extremists led by a local tough named Larry Mulligan. She now seeks revenge and soon befriends James Bryant, Scotland Yard District Inspector, whose job is to root out Irish terrorists. He falls for her, but after she accidentally meets Adam, she falls in love with him. Adam soon is forced to take up the mantle of IRA fighter and help free Ireland from British rule. They are all heading for an exciting climax: Mulligan is trying to kill Tara after she attempts to kill him, while James is trying to capture Adam after he learns he is a member of the IRA and is associated with their leader, Michael Collins.
This is a well-written, fast-paced book about the Irish Rebellion in the 1920s, the IRA, and the mixed feelings among the Irish regarding British rule. This is historical writing at its best! The drama and action compel the reader to turn the page as the plot slowly unravels, and the climax to the novel is eagerly awaited. The author places the reader into the thick of the story, sharing the pain and the grief of the characters. I strongly recommend this entertaining but tragic story of Irish history.