"How the death of a spy in the IRA led to the biggest murder investigation in British history. Highly recommended."
Four Shots in the Night tells the story of the Northern Ireland Troubles as seen through the lens of one particular murder, that of an IRA informant, and how his role in the decades-long conflict defined him and defined the war. The questions this book tackles are even larger; how did the Troubles really come to an end? Was it a feat of diplomatic negotiation (as we've been told) or did spies play the decisive role? And how far can, or should, a spy go, for the good of his country?
When dawn broke on 26th May 1986 and the body of Frank Hegarty was discovered lying at the side of a road in Northern Ireland, it soon became apparent this was the work of the IRA ‘Nutting’ Squad, a group tasked with identifying, interrogating and, sometimes, executing spies within their organisation. Rumours soon began to surface that Hegarty was a spy working for the UK Security Services and, later, that he had been murdered by another spy to protect the latter’s identity.
The search for justice confirmed Hegarty’s status as an informant and led to protests, campaigns, far-reaching changes to British law, a historic ruling from a senior judicial body and a unique police investigation – Operation Kenova. Rumours also persisted that one of the country’s most senior politicians may have been personally involved in the murder.
Four Shots in the Night provides a useful and relevant synopsis to any reader not familiar with the history of The Troubles and then, for those in search of a true-crime investigative thriller, it pieces together eye-witness and other evidence that peels back the layers of an incredibly secretive world where betrayal and a violent death were a risk people were prepared to take to bring peace to Ireland.
Highly recommended.
| Primary Genre | History |
| Other Genres: |
HOW THE DEATH OF A SPY IN THE IRA LED TO THE BIGGEST MURDER INVESTIGATION IN BRITISH HISTORY.
On 26th May 1986, the body of an undercover British agent was found by the side of a muddy lane, with a rope
tied around its wrists and tape over each eye. Years later, it was reported that this murder might have been carried out by another undercover British agent, known as 'Stakeknife'. In 2016, a detective began to investigate this case, and would soon find himself running the largest murder investigation in British history.
In a compulsive blend of investigative journalism and true crime thriller, Henry Hemming exposes the parallel worlds of the IRA and British intelligence through the lives of those inextricably bound up in both. He reveals the bravery of those who were crucial in ending the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the bloodiest and longest-running conflict in recent British history, and the determination of one detective in his dogged search for justice and the truth.
Four Shots in the Night features in the following genres: History, Military intelligence, Military history, History and Archaeology, Military and defence strategy, Warfare and defence, Society and Social Sciences
Four Shots in the Night is available in Paperback, Hardback
Four Shots in the Night was written by Henry Hemming and published by Quercus an imprint of Quercus Publishing
Four Shots in the Night has 368 pages
£11.69
