Dimensions
165 x 240 x 30mm
John Cole, the celebrated former political editor of the BBC, draws on his knowledge of Northern Ireland, its people and its politics for this part thriller and part love story, inspired by the "troubles" of the 1970s.
Alan Houston is an Ulster-born journalist working in London, married with two sons - one at university, the other still at school. With sectarian violence growing, Alan is persuaded to quit journalism and become political adviser to the British government in Belfast. Alan's wife Mary, who is looking forward to resuming her career in Britain as an art historian, reluctantly follows her husband to his old stamping grounds.
Absorbed by his new job, in which he makes contact with the hard men of the IRA, Alan neglects his wife, who is attracted to another man. The IRA, mindful that leverage is a necessary weapon in its negotiating armoury, targets one of the Houstons' sons. From behind the scenes adviser Alan suddenly becomes a major player.
In the assured resolution of his story John Cole reveals sides of Northern Ireland knowledge that gives 'A Clouded Peace' that extra edge. He shows how a politically motivated strike at Harland and Wolff is broken up; how paramilitary thugs keep control of both Protestant and Catholic ghettoes. With its twists and turns and its strong characterisation 'A Clouded Peace' marks an impressive fiction debut by one of our most famous political commentators.
