Fiction

Northern Spy

Northern Spy

  • Downloads：1342
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-06-02 10:51:51
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Flynn Berry
  • ISBN：147460711X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
  • Download

Summary

A producer at the Belfast bureau of the BBC， Tessa is at work one day when the news of another raid comes on the air: the IRA may have gone underground after the Good Friday agreement， but they never really went away。 As the anchor requests the public’s help in locating those responsible for this latest attack – a robbery at a gas station – Tessa’s sister Marian appears on the screen， pulling a black mask over her face。

The police believe Marian has joined the IRA， but Tessa knows this is impossible。 They were raised to oppose Republicanism， and the violence enacted in its name。 They’ve attended peace vigils together。 And besides， Marian is vacationing by the sea。 Tessa just spoke to her yesterday。

But when the truth of what has happened to Marian reveals itself， Tessa will be forced to choose: between her ideals and her family。 Walking an increasingly perilous road， she fears nothing more than endangering the one person she loves more fiercely than her sister: her infant son， Finn。

Download

Reviews

Sharon ，

This book is suspenseful and had me hooked from the beginning。

Chris R。 ，

It's almost unfair to be this talented。When I read Under The Harrow， I loved how the story unfolded。The same is true here。 What's also remarkable is how well Berry conveys a mother's love for her child。And， though politics features heavily in the novel， I never felt I was reading a lecture or primer disguised as a novel。A fantastic read。 It's almost unfair to be this talented。When I read Under The Harrow， I loved how the story unfolded。The same is true here。 What's also remarkable is how well Berry conveys a mother's love for her child。And， though politics features heavily in the novel， I never felt I was reading a lecture or primer disguised as a novel。A fantastic read。 。。。more

Georgia ，

A book about motherhood， sisterhood， and the IRA that grows increasingly tense but isn't exactly your traditional thriller。 This was an ok read for me， but I found the ambiguous time frame confusing。 In the book， there's a new round of the Troubles and the IRA has spies all over the place， is abducting people， and bombing stuff。 It reads like a story set in reality， yet there， to my knowledge， hasn't been a resurgence of the IRA in recent years， especially not of the magnitude described in this A book about motherhood， sisterhood， and the IRA that grows increasingly tense but isn't exactly your traditional thriller。 This was an ok read for me， but I found the ambiguous time frame confusing。 In the book， there's a new round of the Troubles and the IRA has spies all over the place， is abducting people， and bombing stuff。 It reads like a story set in reality， yet there， to my knowledge， hasn't been a resurgence of the IRA in recent years， especially not of the magnitude described in this book。 I saw somewhere that the author set the book in a nebulous time in the future， but that's not at all clear and makes the story feel off center。 I'm not really sure why she didn't spell that out。 。。。more

Tracee ，

3。5

Judy Masters ，

When I first started this book， I was so sure it was going to be a political book， but I was so wrong。 It was a story of family and trust。 I can imagine one of my sisters being a double agent and needing help and thus， the beginning of thrilling adventure。 The sisters are more alike than they care to reveal and their trust in each other is apparent。 One of the best war books I have read in a long time。

Bryan ，

This was a really thrilling read even if I spent a lot of it saying "girl， what are you doing？" internally。 It would have been 4 stars but the ending is a total cop out。 This was a really thrilling read even if I spent a lot of it saying "girl， what are you doing？" internally。 It would have been 4 stars but the ending is a total cop out。 。。。more

Carla ，

Not sure how true to life this book is。 But it definitely kept me reading。 I found the spy， counter-spy idea terrifying and fascinating。 Who can you trust？Book description:A producer at the BBC and mother to a new baby， Tessa is at work in Belfast one day when the news of another raid comes on the air。 The IRA may have gone underground in the two decades since the Good Friday Agreement， but they never really went away， and lately bomb threats， security checkpoints， and helicopters floating omino Not sure how true to life this book is。 But it definitely kept me reading。 I found the spy， counter-spy idea terrifying and fascinating。 Who can you trust？Book description:A producer at the BBC and mother to a new baby， Tessa is at work in Belfast one day when the news of another raid comes on the air。 The IRA may have gone underground in the two decades since the Good Friday Agreement， but they never really went away， and lately bomb threats， security checkpoints， and helicopters floating ominously over the city have become features of everyday life。 As the news reporter requests the public's help in locating those responsible for the robbery， security footage reveals Tessa's sister， Marian， pulling a black ski mask over her face。The police believe Marian has joined the IRA， but Tessa is convinced she must have been abducted or coerced; the sisters have always opposed the violence enacted in the name of uniting Ireland。 And besides， Marian is vacationing on the north coast。 Tessa just spoke to her yesterday。When the truth about Marian comes to light， Tessa is faced with impossible choices that will test the limits of her ideals， the bonds of her family， her notions of right and wrong， and her identity as a sister and a mother。 Walking an increasingly perilous road， she wants nothing more than to protect the one person she loves more fiercely than her sister: her infant son， Finn。Riveting， atmospheric， and exquisitely written， Northern Spy is at once a heart-pounding story of the contemporary IRA and a moving portrait of sister- and motherhood， and of life in a deeply divided society。 。。。more

Gregory ，

（3。5/5） Good story。 Worthwhile for the genre。 The narration on audible was excellent。

Paige Farmer ，

Despite the mediocre reviews， I decided to read this because I was interested in the subject of the IRA and I like most of Reese Witherspoon's picks。 However， the writing was just bad -- such a disappointment。 Despite the mediocre reviews， I decided to read this because I was interested in the subject of the IRA and I like most of Reese Witherspoon's picks。 However， the writing was just bad -- such a disappointment。 。。。more

Jen Gardner ，

Really enjoyed this one。 Setting was unique and the main character's conundrum and decision-making was compelling。 Really enjoyed this one。 Setting was unique and the main character's conundrum and decision-making was compelling。 。。。more

Natallya Velev ，

I wish I enjoyed this one more。 As a thriller/mystery， it fell really flat。 The story was very slow and despite it being an easy quick read， I struggled to finish it cause I wasn’t really into it。 I did enjoy learning about the IRA and Northern Ireland， but even that wasn’t very well explained for someone who didn’t know anything about it before。The characters were alright， but I wasn’t particularly in love with any of them。 It also felt like they lacked depth and at times were just boring。 It’s I wish I enjoyed this one more。 As a thriller/mystery， it fell really flat。 The story was very slow and despite it being an easy quick read， I struggled to finish it cause I wasn’t really into it。 I did enjoy learning about the IRA and Northern Ireland， but even that wasn’t very well explained for someone who didn’t know anything about it before。The characters were alright， but I wasn’t particularly in love with any of them。 It also felt like they lacked depth and at times were just boring。 It’s not until you’re like 80% into the book that something interesting happens and gets you hooked to finish。 But then， the ending comes quickly and it’s a rush to fill the holes and end the story。 Overall， I’m slightly disappointed as I had high hopes for this one。 。。。more

Kate ，

3。5

Bookish Ally ，

If I said I had a bit of a soft spot for Ireland that wouldn’t quite be the truth。 I’ve a good chunk of Irish in me， but more southern than the Northern Ireland this is placed。 Tessa is in between a rock and a hard place - between her sister and the IRA， between the IRA and British intelligence， between her feelings and her morals。 I grew up thinking that Belfast had to be the worse place to live in the world - this author does an excellent job of capturing the tension that existed in living in If I said I had a bit of a soft spot for Ireland that wouldn’t quite be the truth。 I’ve a good chunk of Irish in me， but more southern than the Northern Ireland this is placed。 Tessa is in between a rock and a hard place - between her sister and the IRA， between the IRA and British intelligence， between her feelings and her morals。 I grew up thinking that Belfast had to be the worse place to live in the world - this author does an excellent job of capturing the tension that existed in living in a part of the world torn up by terrorism。 There， the terrorists are the boys you grew up with， and the fear never lessens。 A solid read - 4 stars for creating tension and the relational writing。 The love between sisters， for ones country， ones child， and all the other loves… 。。。more

Tara Thompson ，

It was a pleasant enough read， but it did not live up to the hype。

Justin Hairston ，

So much of modern-day spy/terrorist fiction revolves around the Middle East， so it was cool to explore some new territory with a little light alt-history IRA intrigue。 I’m a fairly recent Wikipedia student of modern Irish history so reading a false extrapolation of the way things could’ve progressed after The Troubles wasn’t the least confusing path I could’ve chosen， but I’ll be looking to remedy that with Say Nothing up next。 For now， I had a nice time with these Belfasters and their secret wa So much of modern-day spy/terrorist fiction revolves around the Middle East， so it was cool to explore some new territory with a little light alt-history IRA intrigue。 I’m a fairly recent Wikipedia student of modern Irish history so reading a false extrapolation of the way things could’ve progressed after The Troubles wasn’t the least confusing path I could’ve chosen， but I’ll be looking to remedy that with Say Nothing up next。 For now， I had a nice time with these Belfasters and their secret war。 。。。more

Cassie Pickle-Kinnaird ，

Why， Reese？ Why？ Nothing happened。

Cheryl ，

3。5*

Brigid Long ，

Such a great book that dives into some very tough topics， but balances the complexity of the IRA history with the modern reality of Northern Ireland so well。 This book brought to light a lot of realities my family have faced， but in such a great way to educate yet also hold everyone at the edge of their seat with suspense。 A clear 5/5 for me！！

Kayla Gallup ，

Tessa believes everything in her life is going well。 An attack happens and she is surprised to find her sister Marian is involved and may be involved with the IRA。 As the story progresses both sisters become entangled with the IRA。 I found this novel to be a fast read， but really forgettable。 I did like the family and the secrets that were involved。 I loved being able to see Northern Ireland and their troubles。

Kathy ，

My mother was raised in Westport， County Mayo， Ireland。 I remember growing up in Cleveland， Ohio in the 1950s and hearing all about “the troubles”。 I also remember being at a party at someone’s home when 3 young Irish men， who were the main guests， were introduced as “heroes” from back home。 These men were laying low in the USA because of some work they had done “for the cause”。 No one ever talked about the IRA out loud， and I was an adult before I learned what being a member of the IRA entailed My mother was raised in Westport， County Mayo， Ireland。 I remember growing up in Cleveland， Ohio in the 1950s and hearing all about “the troubles”。 I also remember being at a party at someone’s home when 3 young Irish men， who were the main guests， were introduced as “heroes” from back home。 These men were laying low in the USA because of some work they had done “for the cause”。 No one ever talked about the IRA out loud， and I was an adult before I learned what being a member of the IRA entailed。Flynn Berry does an amazing job of describing what living in Northern Ireland feels like for an Irish Catholic。 There are several mysteries here。 The 2 main characters are sisters who appear to be very different， but both change as the story unfolds。 Great read！！！ 。。。more

Kim Mroch ，

I really enjoyed this book！ I only have a basic understanding of the violence in Northern Ireland and really got drawn into learning more about it through this book。

Shaun Shepard ，

I wonder if this is one of those books that I enjoyed more as an audio than I would have otherwise - I was not expecting to love it but I was very invested！ I listened to the entire seven part audiobook in about eight hours in the car （I listen on 1。25-1。5 speed）。 I think this was a really insightful （if fictional） view into a complicated conflict。 It really brought the daily challenges of living in Northern Ireland to life， and I learned quite a bit along the way！

Sharen ，

This book is a modern take on the tensions between the IRA and the British government。 It is full of spies， danger and espionage， and the level of fear of normal citizens to not be suspected by either side and to not be harmed in the actions。 It is easy to see how subtly people can be radicalized to participate even when they are extremely aware and uninterested。 Skilled members of both sides just carefully chip away at the shell until someone ends up in the thick of things。 'The baby's needs fi This book is a modern take on the tensions between the IRA and the British government。 It is full of spies， danger and espionage， and the level of fear of normal citizens to not be suspected by either side and to not be harmed in the actions。 It is easy to see how subtly people can be radicalized to participate even when they are extremely aware and uninterested。 Skilled members of both sides just carefully chip away at the shell until someone ends up in the thick of things。 'The baby's needs fill the room like water。''It's difficult to know how scared to be。''But maybe we're not pacifists， maybe we've just been luck until now。' 。。。more

Angie ，

2。5/5 starsLoved the descriptions of Ireland （definitely want to visit now！） and found the political aspect of it very interesting。 I also liked how it acknowledges motherhood and sisterhood during turbulent circumstances。 I did feel the plot was slow most of the time and the writing quite flat。 I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected， but if you’re very much into mysteries， and Irish politics and history this book might be for you！

Janalee ，

So good！ Loved the descriptions of motherhood and sisters， all entwined in a great thriller about the IRA。

Janice ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Unbelievable。 She’s supposed to be dead and is in hiding but is allowed to share custody of Finn with her Ex and still has contact with her mother。

Julie ，

I was introduced to this book as part of Reese Witherspoon’s book club。 The overall premise was intriguing so I wanted to give it a read。 Storyline is very interesting， conflict in Northern Ireland between the IRA and the Republic。 Tessa works for the BBC and find out her sister， Marian， is a member of the IRA。 Marian then convinces Tessa to become a spy for the government in hopes to bring peace between the two parties。 This really had potential to be a favorite for me but I just felt it was mi I was introduced to this book as part of Reese Witherspoon’s book club。 The overall premise was intriguing so I wanted to give it a read。 Storyline is very interesting， conflict in Northern Ireland between the IRA and the Republic。 Tessa works for the BBC and find out her sister， Marian， is a member of the IRA。 Marian then convinces Tessa to become a spy for the government in hopes to bring peace between the two parties。 This really had potential to be a favorite for me but I just felt it was missing a lot of the action。 The author would bring you into these climactic moments and then quickly end them and bring you into another mundane day in Tessa’s life。 For example， one moment Tessa’s adrenaline is sky high， surrounded by members of the IRA at a wedding and she’s helping her sister plant a bug and then bam！ She’s in her kitchen cooking breakfast for her toddler。 Really？？ I felt she spent more time telling us about all the mundane day-to-day tasks Tessa did and about her anxiety over the situation instead of actually giving us the action and drama we were here for。 I will applaud the author for wrapping this up nicely。 My biggest pet peeve with books is when the ending feels rushed or it just abruptly ends。 You spend so much time invested in the storyline and the characters that you want to know how everything ends for them。 She did a great job tying up loose ends！ Would recommend because overall it really was a good storyline。 I rated it 3 stars because what drew me into the book left me wanting more。 It had potential for a lot of action packed drama but just fell short。 。。。more

KYS ，

DNF。 Started off strong and with an intriguing premise， but quickly descends into confusing， fast-paced， indecipherable errata。

Kim ，

Interesting and engaging in some parts…slow in others。 It was good， but not great- which was a little disappointing bc the book description sounded so interesting。

Dorrie DeCubellis ，

A surprisingly easy read。 Kept me interested throughout。 A historical fiction page turner， which can be hard to find。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Northern Spy

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Northern Spy&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Northern Spy&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0