A Force Like No Other: The Next Shift

A Force Like No Other #2

by Colin Breen

In this follow-up to his bestselling "A Force Like No Other", Colin Breen brings together more compelling insider stories from RUC officers who served during the Troubles. Includes stories about the IRA border campaign (1958–62), the Shankill Butchers murders and the 1987 Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Ireland

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2019

Reviews

[Jamie Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting insight into what life in NI used to be like

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be mandatory reading

This book made me laugh and cry. I grew up in Belfast during the Troubles and I can never thank the men and women of the RUC enough for all they did. The bravery they showed was incredible. This book shows just how evil the terrorists from all sides were.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good and interesting as first book. Again having lived through troubles and school in Belfast followed by Uni between 1966 and 1985. Then worked in Belfast many of these events fresh in my mind. Especially while working in RVH hospital doing medicine

[Chris Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "The Next Shift", Colin Breen has written another remarkable and moving book that records the experiences, memories and reflections of former members of the RUC. Many came forward in response to the publication of his first volume and wanted to tell their stories and the result is "a darker book than its predecessor - for some of the more horrific incidents, the details are so upsetting and violent that they had to be left out of the book, out of respect for the victims and their families. That this book is more sombre is not by design; these are simply the stories that people needed to tell. The same dark humour is here, though, and moments of absurdity, as is the fierce loyalty. If anything, the sense of camaraderie that existed in the RUC is even more apparent, as strong among its former members today as it ever was. Despite the dangers they faced, many of the officers I spoke to felt their years in the RUC were the best of their lives...This book shows the human face behind the uniform and how ordinary people coped in extraordinary times."

Well worth reading for anyone with an interest in NI.

[T.J. McCurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A raw reminder for those who served.

Life as it was fighting terrorism boring, humorous,raw and tragic. Ordinary people doing extraordinary work to keep the peace. Read it then understand the hurt felt by the RUC family by the political expediency which presented to them the George Cross then turned their back on those who served and allowed their name to be tainted.