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  • Say Nothing

  • A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
  • Written by: Patrick Radden Keefe
  • Narrated by: Matthew Blaney
  • Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (456 ratings)

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Say Nothing

Written by: Patrick Radden Keefe
Narrated by: Matthew Blaney
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Publisher's Summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Empire of Pain—a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing in Northern Ireland and its devastating repercussions.

"Masked intruders dragged Jean McConville, a 38-year-old widow and mother of 10, from her Belfast home in 1972. In this meticulously reported book—as finely paced as a novel—Keefe uses McConville's murder as a prism to tell the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Interviewing people on both sides of the conflict, he transforms the tragic damage and waste of the era into a searing, utterly gripping saga." —New York Times Book Review

Jean McConville's abduction was one of the most notorious episodes of the vicious conflict known as The Troubles. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the I.R.A. was responsible. But in a climate of fear and paranoia, no one would speak of it. In 2003, five years after an accord brought an uneasy peace to Northern Ireland, a set of human bones was discovered on a beach. McConville's children knew it was their mother when they were told a blue safety pin was attached to the dress--with so many kids, she had always kept it handy for diapers or ripped clothes.

Patrick Radden Keefe's mesmerizing book on the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath uses the McConville case as a starting point for the tale of a society wracked by a violent guerrilla war, a war whose consequences have never been reckoned with. The brutal violence seared not only people like the McConville children, but also I.R.A. members embittered by a peace that fell far short of the goal of a united Ireland, and left them wondering whether the killings they committed were not justified acts of war, but simple murders.

From radical and impetuous I.R.A. terrorists such as Dolours Price, who, when she was barely out of her teens, was already planting bombs in London and targeting informers for execution, to the ferocious I.R.A. mastermind known as The Dark, to the spy games and dirty schemes of the British Army, to Gerry Adams, who negotiated the peace but betrayed his hardcore comrades by denying his I.R.A. past--Say Nothing conjures a world of passion, betrayal, vengeance, and anguish.

Look for Patrick Radden Keefe's latest bestseller, Empire of Pain.

©2019 Patrick Radden Keefe (P)2019 Random House Audio

What the critics say

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 

WINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE 

"Resolutely humane. . .Say Nothing [has an] exacting and terrifying lucidity. . .meticulously reported. . .Keefe's narrative is an architectural feat, expertly constructed out of complex and contentious material, arranged and balanced just so. . .an absorbing drama.\ —JENNIFER SZALAI, The New York Times

"Say Nothing has lots of the qualities of good fiction. . . Keefe is a terrific storyteller. . .He brings his characters to real life. The book is cleverly structured. We follow people--victim, perpetrator, back to victim--leave them, forget about them, rejoin them decades later. It can be read as a detective story. . .What Keefe captures best, though, is the tragedy, the damage and waste, and the idea of moral injury. . .Say Nothing is an excellent account of the Troubles.  —RODDY DOYLE, The New York Times Book Review

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What listeners say about Say Nothing

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    5 out of 5 stars

Best book I’ve read in years

A wonderful book that reads like historical fiction, though clearly it’s not. Found it to be highly informative and entertaining. The narrator was flawless too. There was none of that theatrical imitation of people’s voices that can be so annoying with some narrators. It was just perfect, in my opinion.

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4 people found this helpful

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Captivated and enthralled the entire time

This book is fascinating throughout. The story is about larger than life people and the author created such atmosphere and such an amazing sense of time and place while telling their story that I couldn’t stop listening. It’s also created a massive thirst for more information about the people in the story that I feel like I’m obsessed with the subject now. The performance is deft and lyrical and adds so much colour and soul to the experience. A remarkable story told in a masterful way. So yeah, I liked it.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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READ: VOICES FROM THE GRAVE"

Despite the glowing reviews from his own newspaper the book has numerous shortcomings. I encourage readers/listeners to continue to the end though as the writer attempts, in a couple paragraphs, to patch over many omissions. He has attempted to set out the investigation of one murder - one of many. Had he stuck to the EVIDENCE in this version it would have been compelling but he goes in several unrelated,editorial directions. At the end of Chapter 18 the narrative becomes "Get Jerry". It is an another example of a journalist's approach vs a Homicide investigator. The Homicide Investigator doesn't care what you "think" - but what do you "know". By assuming he has determined the identity of the shooter of Jean McConville the writer does a disservice to the victim. The tapes should be where the investigation starts , not where it ends. The "Troubles" were a failure in every aspect: Political, Military,Intelligence,Informant Development, the combatants themselves.Telling the story of any murder is of value if the reader knows the writer has stuck to the evidence.

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2 people found this helpful

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Amazing book and fantastic narration

This book is fantastic and the performance of the narrator is amazing. With the perfect accent to enjoy the contents too!

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1 person found this helpful

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Great read!

Very interesting. Great story, l learned about Ireland and the IRA. I enjoy books that have a good story but are based on facts.

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Truly excellent book

This meticulously researched book is narrated masterfully by Matthew Blaney, who enriches the story with his lilting Irish accent, making it come alive. Years of detailed historical research by Radden Keefe have resulted in an engrossing and fascinating non-fiction read that brings these characters to life. I had a difficult time ever pressing pause! Highly recommend it.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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I can Say Nothing good about this book

Big disappointment. Get ready for a boring narration of every individual that lived in every house in Ireland, and have their adolescent need to fight due to juvenile beliefs and the want to form terrorist groups to cope with their insecurity.
A story about groups of religious half-wits killing each other for the most asinine reasons. As if your neighbour filled with mortal rage because you believe in a green shirted Easter Bunny named Bob, but they believe in a yellow shirted Easter Bunny named Phil—well this can't stand, someone's going to have to die. It's difficult to empathize with two groups of idiots picking a fight with each other. If 1/10 of the money and time given to church was redirected to schools a lot of bloodshed would have been avoided.
Boring. Monotonous. I'm trying to think of something positive to say about the book but my brain keeps telling me, nope, you can say nothing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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loved it

best book I've read in years!! very biased and true account of the troubles

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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So Educational

My family is of Irish decent. We are traveling to Ireland in a few months and I wanted a thorough understanding of the Troubles. I am so glad i chose this audio book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding

One of the best non fiction accounts of the Troubles available. Brilliant author. Thank you.

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