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What it’s about
Patrick Radden Keefe’s history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland begins with the 1972 murder of a Belfast housewife, a case that remained unsolved for more than three decades. From that starting point, he traces nearly a century of sectarian violence, political upheaval, and fragile cease-fires, showing how the conflict shaped lives on both sides and left many people afraid to speak. Blending meticulous historical research with the momentum of a mystery, the book follows the unanswered questions surrounding the killing while widening its focus to the people and forces caught in Northern Ireland’s long struggle.
Its account is both detailed and compassionate, presenting a complicated history through the experiences of those who lived through it. The central question is not only who was responsible for one woman’s death, but how a society marked by violence can confront the consequences of its silence.
Recommendation DNA i
Established Profile
Narrative and listener evidence are still growing.
Scores show traits; confidence shows the evidence behind them.
Included in Recommendation DNA i
Core findings used in the overall score.
Additional Findings (Descriptive Only)Other traits and early findings. Not in the overall score.
Evidence Confidence
Why this matters →- The book itself is well identified and supported across independent sources.
- We still have limited information tied to this exact recording or edition.
- We have recording-specific performance commentary or analyzed audio for this audiobook.
We have a useful picture of the audiobook, though some listening and edition-specific details are still becoming clearer.
Evidence Snapshot i
These cards measure different things in the same evidence pool, so they are not meant to add together. Retained Evidence counts unique saved records; discussions and networks count independent groups; narration and edition cards count only records qualified for those specific jobs.
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Supporting sources 21
What this means
Unique evidence records that remain after filtering and deduplication. The larger evidence-signal total shown below can be higher because one retained record may support several separate facts or observations.
Source groups 10
What this means
Separate reviews, forums, interviews, or conversations, with duplicates kept from inflating the total.
Networks 40
What this means
Different platforms and publications represented in the research behind this page.
Supporting sources 3
What this means
Performance evidence that can actually describe how this narrator sounds or performs this recording. Identity records, narrator biographies, sample links, and awards are useful context but do not count here on their own.
Supporting sources 2
What this means
Sources tied to the audiobook recording itself, such as verified product or catalog records that help resolve narrator, runtime, format, release information, or stable recording identifiers.
What this means
The most recent date this page’s saved evidence picture was refreshed and checked.
A larger evidence pool gives us more to work with, but volume alone does not make a conclusion stronger. Relevance and independence still matter.
What the Evidence Adds
Useful context the synopsis doesn’t cover — patterns that may help you decide whether this book is your kind of read or listen.
How to approach it
This is driven more by ideas and argument than by plot. It is likely to work best when you want to follow the reasoning and reflect on the implications rather than simply relax into a story.
Emotional Impact
Emotional stakes are a noticeable part of the book, rather than the story operating only at the level of plot or ideas.
Complexity
The material is relatively layered, so it may reward a little more attention than a purely effortless read or listen.
Built from 256 retained source records across 36 independent discussions and 20 source networks.
Awards & Recognition
What counts here
Narrator Experience
How Matthew Blaney performs this particular recording.
How we build this section
Performance summary
The narrator delivered the excerpt with a measured pace and smooth, balanced tone while enunciating clearly. The focus remained on conveying the narrative steadily without showcasing character voices or dialogue style.
Verified against the exact title, author, and narrator. Opens the Amazon sample page.
Performance at a glance
What the qualified evidence says about this narrationAudio observations reflect a short verified sample and are combined with recording-specific performance evidence.
What this means for your listen
Early performance evidence points this way: the steady or measured pace should feel easy to settle into; listeners who prefer brisk delivery may find it more deliberate. Clear or careful diction should make dialogue, names, and unfamiliar terms easier to follow over a longer listen.
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Evidence behind this section
Counts describe support for this narrator/recording, not a quality score.Why we describe the performance this way
We use evidence tied specifically to this recording. Repeated observations across independent sources carry more weight than isolated comments. Narrator background and career recognition can add useful context, but they do not determine how this performance is described.
View source groups 8 groups · 46 records
What the Story Feels Like
How this works
What this means
Emotion plays a meaningful role in the experience, so character relationships and outcomes are likely to matter beyond the plot mechanics.
Why it appears: Book information and independent reader or listener observations that speak directly to this trait; recording-specific claims are kept separate unless they are actually supported.
What this means for you: There is a strong emotional pull, so the characters and their outcomes are likely to matter as much as the plot itself.
Built from the book and story evidence that speaks directly to these traits; it does not describe an unverified recording.
Where Readers Agree
The strongest agreement centers on emotional impact and story quality. The leading theme appears across 7 independent discussions and 7 source networks, which makes it more than a one-off reaction.
The strongest theme is independently supported across 7 discussions and 7 source networks.
Evidence sources for agreement
Is This Right for You?
Story and reader-fit guidance remains useful here. Recording-specific claims are limited to evidence matched to this exact edition.
You’ll probably enjoy this if…
- You are looking for a nonfiction story.
- You want a story with strong emotional intensity.
It might not be the best fit if…
- If narration style is important to you, use the verified sample above alongside the edition-matched performance evidence.
Our Take
This is a nonfiction story where emotional impact and story quality stand out most strongly. The main point of variation is listener experience unclassified, so that part of the experience is more likely to depend on personal taste. For the audiobook, there is enough recording-specific support to add a meaningful performance view for Matthew Blaney in Narrator Experience. Verified recognition adds another positive point of context, although the recommendation still rests on the qualities of the work and, where supported, the recording itself.
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Follow the people, genres, and listening traits connected to this audiobook.
Where Reader Reactions Vary
Readers split most clearly around listener experience unclassified. Because those reactions recur across independent discussions and sources, they look more like genuine taste differences than isolated comments.
The strongest theme is independently supported across 36 discussions and 20 source networks.
Runtime & Edition Details
- Runtime
- 14 hours and 40 minutes
- Format
- Unabridged audiobook
- Publisher
- Random House Audio
- Audiobook release date
- February 26, 2019
- Language
- English
- ASIN
- B07MHXYD12
Why You Can Trust This Recommendation
- Identity and edition signals are checked separately
- Independent discussions and source networks are counted distinctly
- Narration claims require edition- or narrator-specific support
- Unsupported information is withheld instead of displayed as a zero score
256 evidence records remain in the research set behind this page after filtering and deduplication.
See contributing sources
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