Michael Barrett Miller

From Clare McKay, author of "Laramie Moon." Received via Facebook.
""Oo-roo" is loosely the 5th novel in Mr. Miller's "Life in the Shadows" series, but the books also stand alone. This episode features some of the original cast of characters from the previous novels – Mick, Jack, Mahaney, Walking Bear and others – who Miller describes as "a small group of Australians, British and Irish who occasionally became the point of the spear when traditional means of solving challenges" to their respective governments were not getting the job done. This book is less action-oriented than the preceding entries in the series. No bombs going off or bullets flying. Instead "Oo-roo thoughtfully focuses on Mick Garrett facing changes in the world and his life.
While Mick and Jack are called to Dublin to put together a multinational sting on a large illegal gun-running operation, the reader gets a good look at the repercussions of Brexit, especially on Ireland and Australia. In between meetings to set up the deal, Miller takes us on a wonderful tour of Dublin at Christmas time visiting museums, restaurants, and of course pubs. Other locales in the book are London and scenic Bend, Oregon where Mick goes to spend Christmas with his lady love Nicole's family. Miller's sensory descriptions are so vivid that the reader can experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes on the ski slopes, fly fishing on an icy river, at sumptuous meals in first class hotels, and discreetly in the bedroom. Along the way we are also privy to Mick's thoughts about honesty, maintaining relationships, and where he and his friends are going in their lives.
The genuine characters, intelligent dialogue, timely insights, personal drama and intimate tours of amazing places make "Oo-roo" a great read. I highly recommend it. "