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Irish Troubles #1
Pray for Us Sinners
An explosive novel set in 1974 Belfast! 1974, Belfast Northern Ireland. British army explosives expert Lieutenant Marcus Richardson gets one last infiltrate the Provisional IRA, a violent IRA offshoot, who has begun a campaign of terror in Ulster. But, as Richardson assumes the identity of a working-class Catholic and infiltrates the Belfast Provos, he finds that the conflict over Ulster may not be as black and white as it seems, and that duty can have vastly different meanings to different people.
306 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 1999
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466 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Taylor
90 books1,379 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Patrick Taylor, M.D., is the author of the Irish Country books, including An Irish Country Doctor, An Irish Country Village, An Irish Country Christmas, An Irish Country Girl, and An Irish Country Courtship. Taylor was born and raised in Bangor, County Down, in Northern Ireland. After qualifying as a specialist in 1969, he worked in Canada for thirty-one years. He now lives on Saltspring Island, British Columbia.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
Patrick Taylor, M.D., is the author of the Irish Country books, including An Irish Country Doctor, An Irish Country Village, An Irish Country Christmas, An Irish Country Girl, and An Irish Country Courtship. Taylor was born and raised in Bangor, County Down, in Northern Ireland. After qualifying as a specialist in 1969, he worked in Canada for thirty-one years. He now lives on Saltspring Island, British Columbia.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 18, 2019
This is a historical novel about the 1970s and “The Troubles” in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The book takes place in 1973 Belfast. The book is well written and researched. In fact, Taylor stayed so accurate to what it was like fighting in the streets of Belfast that the scenes are not sanitized or glorified for the reader. Therefore, many readers may choose not to read it for those reasons.
Taylor provides two protagonists, one for each side of the conflict. Marcus Richardson is a British Army bomb disposal expert and David McCutcheon is a devoted Provo. There is no winner in this story, as there was no winner in the actual conflict. If you ever wanted to know what it was like in Northern Ireland during “the troubles”, this book is for you.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twelve hours and fifty-five minutes. John Keating does an excellent job narrating the story. Keating is an Irish actor and voice-over artist as well as an award-winning audiobook narrator. He is excellent with the various Irish accents.
Taylor provides two protagonists, one for each side of the conflict. Marcus Richardson is a British Army bomb disposal expert and David McCutcheon is a devoted Provo. There is no winner in this story, as there was no winner in the actual conflict. If you ever wanted to know what it was like in Northern Ireland during “the troubles”, this book is for you.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is twelve hours and fifty-five minutes. John Keating does an excellent job narrating the story. Keating is an Irish actor and voice-over artist as well as an award-winning audiobook narrator. He is excellent with the various Irish accents.
March 23, 2023
3.75 stars rounded up
Read for Irish stories month.
I am a huge fan of Taylor's Ballybucklebo series about a country doctor. Think of an Irish James Herriot, but an MD. They have humor and warmth, a place I wish was real.
This was Taylor's first novel, a no flinching look at 1973 Ireland. The story is of two men, Davy, a IRA explosives maker, and Mike/Marcus, an English army bomb disposal man sent to infiltrate the IRA. It was sad and depressing, as only a civil war can be. Taylor makes you see both sides and why it was so hard. Its not romantic, all though there is a love story in it.
Im hard pressed to recommend, because it is so different from his other books. If you are interested in learning more about the 'troubles', its a good place to start.
Read for Irish stories month.
I am a huge fan of Taylor's Ballybucklebo series about a country doctor. Think of an Irish James Herriot, but an MD. They have humor and warmth, a place I wish was real.
This was Taylor's first novel, a no flinching look at 1973 Ireland. The story is of two men, Davy, a IRA explosives maker, and Mike/Marcus, an English army bomb disposal man sent to infiltrate the IRA. It was sad and depressing, as only a civil war can be. Taylor makes you see both sides and why it was so hard. Its not romantic, all though there is a love story in it.
Im hard pressed to recommend, because it is so different from his other books. If you are interested in learning more about the 'troubles', its a good place to start.
January 19, 2017
This is an entirely different from Patrick's Irish Country doctor series.
Set in Belfast, 1973 during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Marcus Richardson, a British Army bomb disposal officer goes undercover to help break up the Provisional IRA group building and placing bombs in and around the area. Davy MacCutcheon, Provisional IRA armourer, constructing bombs (taught by his father) since his teens.
Patrick has woven a very interesting story, using actual historical events and people, I learned much about the factions "fighting" this "war". Much of what I had known had come during the time of these events by way of the news media - English and Irish.
Unlike the Irish Country doctor series - this is filled with MUCH language that might be offensive to some folks - the "F" word is used very liberally, however, if it were not part of the dialogue it would make the story unbelievable.
I am getting ready to read the second book Now and in the Hour of Our Death.
Set in Belfast, 1973 during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Marcus Richardson, a British Army bomb disposal officer goes undercover to help break up the Provisional IRA group building and placing bombs in and around the area. Davy MacCutcheon, Provisional IRA armourer, constructing bombs (taught by his father) since his teens.
Patrick has woven a very interesting story, using actual historical events and people, I learned much about the factions "fighting" this "war". Much of what I had known had come during the time of these events by way of the news media - English and Irish.
Unlike the Irish Country doctor series - this is filled with MUCH language that might be offensive to some folks - the "F" word is used very liberally, however, if it were not part of the dialogue it would make the story unbelievable.
I am getting ready to read the second book Now and in the Hour of Our Death.
September 23, 2013
Thrilling, fascinating fictional portrayal of significant times in Northern Ireland.
My main interest in Patrick Taylor's stories has a lot to do with how fascinating and factual his stories are. For me they are like a history lesson and when it comes to the audiobooks the voice overs of John Keating never let me down. In Pray for Us Sinners I learned about the battle between the British Army and the Provisional Irish Republican Army in the town of Belfast in 1973. Although fiction this audiobook portrays a very realistic picture of the disturbances in Northern Ireland at that time.
In this story you have the main character Marcus Richardson who has worked as a bomb-disposal officer for the British Army. Later he is recruited to go undercover for the SAS to help flush out the Provisional IRA men who are committed to constructing bombs for what they call the cause. Although not directly targeted these bombs kill and maim innocent civilians. Marcus eventually comes across Davy MacCutcheon one of the bomb-makers, who although at first remains strong-headed in his support of his cause, later struggles with wanting to leave the IRA, even more so once the love of his life Fiona Kavanagh walks out on him.
This story places the reader in between the emotions of both Marcus and Davy, which at times left me emotionally feeling as if I was being pulled in two different directions. Although I was mostly rooting for Marcus, at times I found myself feeling sorry for Davy, his struggles with his life as a Provo and his relationship with Fiona.
I felt Taylor did an outstanding job writing this story and Keating was perfect in his story telling on the audiobook. Not being familiar with these times in Ireland, I felt I learned a great deal from this story. Although I have reviewed a few other audiobooks by Taylor in his Irish Country book series, I felt this book stands alone well and is just as amazing as his other stories.
My main interest in Patrick Taylor's stories has a lot to do with how fascinating and factual his stories are. For me they are like a history lesson and when it comes to the audiobooks the voice overs of John Keating never let me down. In Pray for Us Sinners I learned about the battle between the British Army and the Provisional Irish Republican Army in the town of Belfast in 1973. Although fiction this audiobook portrays a very realistic picture of the disturbances in Northern Ireland at that time.
In this story you have the main character Marcus Richardson who has worked as a bomb-disposal officer for the British Army. Later he is recruited to go undercover for the SAS to help flush out the Provisional IRA men who are committed to constructing bombs for what they call the cause. Although not directly targeted these bombs kill and maim innocent civilians. Marcus eventually comes across Davy MacCutcheon one of the bomb-makers, who although at first remains strong-headed in his support of his cause, later struggles with wanting to leave the IRA, even more so once the love of his life Fiona Kavanagh walks out on him.
This story places the reader in between the emotions of both Marcus and Davy, which at times left me emotionally feeling as if I was being pulled in two different directions. Although I was mostly rooting for Marcus, at times I found myself feeling sorry for Davy, his struggles with his life as a Provo and his relationship with Fiona.
I felt Taylor did an outstanding job writing this story and Keating was perfect in his story telling on the audiobook. Not being familiar with these times in Ireland, I felt I learned a great deal from this story. Although I have reviewed a few other audiobooks by Taylor in his Irish Country book series, I felt this book stands alone well and is just as amazing as his other stories.
December 8, 2017
Taylor tells the story of Northern Ireland during the violent period of the 1970's. Marcus Richardson, an explosives expert in the British Army, is sent undercover to infiltrate the Provisional IRA when a bomb he is diffusing goes off and the army is able to proclaim him dead. On the other side is Davy MacCutcheon, an IRA bomb expert who has been fighting the British since his teen years. These two men's lives transect and intertwine within the backdrop of the "Irish troubles".
A top notch thriller. Recommended for fans of historical novels as well.
Patrick Taylor is the author of the Irish Country Doctor series.
A top notch thriller. Recommended for fans of historical novels as well.
Patrick Taylor is the author of the Irish Country Doctor series.
March 10, 2020
Pray For Us Sinners (2000) by Patrick Taylor. If you are expecting one of Mr. Taylor’s “Irish Country Doctor” stories, you will be shocked by this tale set in 1973 Belfast during the “Troubles”. This is a raw tale of how neither side, the British or the Provisional Army, were winning. This book is a dark tale of betrayal, loyalty, lies, misguided senses of justice and the truth that both sides were right, and very, very wrong.
Mostly this is Marcus Richardson’s story. Born in Belfast, he is now a member of the British Army’s bomb disposal unit who, because of circumstances, is asked to go undercover back in Ireland. He is to infiltrate and uncover the name of the Provo’s lead bomb maker.
Davy McCutcheon, a long time veteran of the Provos, took over the job of bomb maker following in his father’s footsteps. But after his love, Fiona, walks out of his live due to his “Calling”, he has second thoughts. The two men are eventually brought together for a job that might well end the Troubles once and for all. However, both man have vastly different struggles over what should be done.
Mr. Taylor has brought forth a rich historical setting for us to savor, not the least of which is the strong language and the high emotions. The”Troubles” were not limited to just the political strata but fell on the shoulders of all the “common” folk who had to life thought the violence and injustice.
The audio book version was read by John Keating and his voice alone brought forth the richness of the language (always of utmost importance in Irish writing) and painted an aural masterpiece. Mr. Keating is always a pleasure to listen to.
Mostly this is Marcus Richardson’s story. Born in Belfast, he is now a member of the British Army’s bomb disposal unit who, because of circumstances, is asked to go undercover back in Ireland. He is to infiltrate and uncover the name of the Provo’s lead bomb maker.
Davy McCutcheon, a long time veteran of the Provos, took over the job of bomb maker following in his father’s footsteps. But after his love, Fiona, walks out of his live due to his “Calling”, he has second thoughts. The two men are eventually brought together for a job that might well end the Troubles once and for all. However, both man have vastly different struggles over what should be done.
Mr. Taylor has brought forth a rich historical setting for us to savor, not the least of which is the strong language and the high emotions. The”Troubles” were not limited to just the political strata but fell on the shoulders of all the “common” folk who had to life thought the violence and injustice.
The audio book version was read by John Keating and his voice alone brought forth the richness of the language (always of utmost importance in Irish writing) and painted an aural masterpiece. Mr. Keating is always a pleasure to listen to.
August 20, 2023
A compelling time in Irish history, The Troubles, Belfast 1973.
Marcus Richardson, a British Army bomb-disposal officer barely escapes death from a car bomb. Before the news can be announced, he is approached for an undercover assignment requiring reporting his death and subsequently submersing himself into the Falls Road ghetto to join the Provisional IRA and report on their movements and identities. With his bomb skills it is felt he can be seen as useful to the IRA.
And then there's Davy MacCutcheon, a bomb-maker for the Provisional IRA. A man dedicated to the cause of freeing Ireland from the clutches of the British. Davy has no qualms about making bombs but the change in policy when civilians are the targets rather that collateral damage has him rethinking his commitment.
When the two men find themselves working together, the humanity of both sides is apparent as is the professionalism with which they practice their craft. Both of these men were compelling and the author made me care about them both.
I learned so much more about The Troubles and some understanding of that the battle was about.
Marcus Richardson, a British Army bomb-disposal officer barely escapes death from a car bomb. Before the news can be announced, he is approached for an undercover assignment requiring reporting his death and subsequently submersing himself into the Falls Road ghetto to join the Provisional IRA and report on their movements and identities. With his bomb skills it is felt he can be seen as useful to the IRA.
And then there's Davy MacCutcheon, a bomb-maker for the Provisional IRA. A man dedicated to the cause of freeing Ireland from the clutches of the British. Davy has no qualms about making bombs but the change in policy when civilians are the targets rather that collateral damage has him rethinking his commitment.
When the two men find themselves working together, the humanity of both sides is apparent as is the professionalism with which they practice their craft. Both of these men were compelling and the author made me care about them both.
I learned so much more about The Troubles and some understanding of that the battle was about.
January 16, 2024
After reading a number of Patrick Taylor's light-hearted novels about Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, this novel was a sudden change. Taylor's portrayal of 1974 Belfast, with the Catholic Provos fighting the British army, is a nuanced study of both sides, through sympathetic characters. We come to understand how the Catholics have suffered under the British, and how the British had war stories of their own. The novel was well written and thought out, and I learned some history of the long-lived conflict.
April 21, 2025
I’ve read all but the last Patrick Taylor Irish country doctor books; this one was his first novel. I liked it a good bit. There was a little bit of confusion about some of the characters. It felt a little rushed at times to get some plot points out rather than concentrate on specific characters. Still, for a first novel, it was very good. It was set in 1974 (not 1973 as a few other reviewers set). That’s splitting hairs. But I do like details in reviews to be correct! This one goes back to the library tomorrow.
June 6, 2018
This book was so good and so heartbreaking at the same time. Set during the Irish Troubles of the 1970s, I found myself cheering for the main character from each side, even though they were working at cross purposes. The author managed to bring out the humanity of each of those characters in such a way that I wanted them both to have a happy ending so badly. But in that kind of strife, everyone loses somehow in the end.
July 1, 2023
It's ok as a thriller but the portrayal of different groups involved in the conflict is for most of the book completely unfair (anyone who tells you that this condemns both sides in the exact same way is lying to you). Also, a lot of the suspense doesn't hold up if you don't agree with the author politically and the writing isn't great. Nonetheless it had some interesting characters and was an alright way to kill an afternoon.
August 2, 2017
Obviously I did not recall reading this, having checked it our of the library and re read it. It ranked higher with me on a second read, a lot of characters and difficult to track whose side they were on, much like the times in Ireland in the 70's. Taylor does a superb job of endearing his characters to the reader, even the most simple soul winds its way into your heart.
June 2, 2018
Fast paced novel about the "Troubles in Ireland" in 1974. Protagonist was LT in British Army who went undercover attempting to infiltrate the Provisional IRA are building bombs. He was told that he was to identify the leadership and the membership who are building bombs. Quickly paced mystery with well developed characters.
February 13, 2020
Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ulster in 1974 and largely factual to the extent that it formed the historical outline of what is a very instructive novel.
On a timely basis,the information could help to better understand the position of Northern Ireland in the wake of the February 2020 Brexit agreement & the divisive tenseness of possible border checkpoints once again.
On a timely basis,the information could help to better understand the position of Northern Ireland in the wake of the February 2020 Brexit agreement & the divisive tenseness of possible border checkpoints once again.
October 31, 2018
much more serious than the O'Reilly doctor series since it is about the troubles in Ireland. The author creates sympathy for all the characters even though many of them are terrorists some of the time. The passion, the trauma, the ambivalence and the grief of civil war are all very real.
did-not-finish
November 5, 2025For all I understood every chapter started with a new name and either a provvo or an IRA person or someone doing something and I did not exactly realise what they were doing or whose sides they were on. DNF at 25%.
I still might try something else from this author.
I still might try something else from this author.
June 5, 2018
Historic Fiction, the saying in Ireland there are no happy endings holds true for this very engaging book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2019
Definite departure from his other series. Still I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next one.
March 16, 2022
Suspenseful but sooooo depressing and bleak in the end.
October 30, 2022
Good stuff! I can see why they went for the ending they did but it's not really the most satisfying end around. Reflective of the times it depicts.
December 13, 2022
Tragic ending, maybe that's an Irish thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2025
A real page-turner!
Learning a lot about the Troubles the last few months so when I stumbled upon this book it seemed meant to be. Really good stuff
Learning a lot about the Troubles the last few months so when I stumbled upon this book it seemed meant to be. Really good stuff
Read
December 22, 2025So good…
December 14, 2015
Marcus Richardson is from Ulster, but in the British Army. He's trained as a bomb disposal expert and is sent home to work undercover in the PIRA in 1973. Going undercover is hard, but he begins to understand a bit about why the working class Catholics hate the British. There is a lot of unexpected sympathy on both sides of the religion coin in Ulster, and a feeling that the fight is almost over. Even the die-hard PIRAs aren't sure why they are bombing innocent people when it hasn't brought about the results they want.
Not the most cheerful suspense crime novel, but the audio was worth it for all the different types of accents--Belfast, hick Irish, Dublin, snooty boarding school British, and so on.
Not the most cheerful suspense crime novel, but the audio was worth it for all the different types of accents--Belfast, hick Irish, Dublin, snooty boarding school British, and so on.
July 14, 2013
This book has had me on edge and agitated from its first words, but that Is what terrorism is about. Written in Taylor's usual captivating style, I can only take it in small doses. I know I will want to revisit Ballybucklebo after it. I have to say I could hardly wait to finish this, which I did mostly because I had bought it. I really hated this. It was well written, but spies, wholesale dishonesty, violence, frustrations, terrorism, all are part of a formula that is not entertainment to me.
October 7, 2013
It's not often I give five stars to a book, but Pray for Us Sinners deserves it. The characters were a step above who you usually meet in spy novels, there were a lot of unexpected twists and turns, and Taylor cuts to the chase. A British spy heads into Belfast to infiltrate the Provisional Irish Republican Army and ends up tangled up in a plot to assassinate the prime minister.
Kudos to Taylor for an engaging, original thriller, especially the series of twists at the end that take the book in an unexpected, though realistic direction.
Kudos to Taylor for an engaging, original thriller, especially the series of twists at the end that take the book in an unexpected, though realistic direction.
September 9, 2014
An outstanding tale of two men during the troubles that hit Northern Ireland in about 1974. One man working to infiltrate the IRA to find out who is building the bombs and who is ordering the bombs.. another man, a bomb builder who struggles with the reality of killing innocents..
Patrick Taylor has done an excellent job of telling the stories of two men from different sides and their struggles.. even as they come together for a time.
A must read by all.
Patrick Taylor has done an excellent job of telling the stories of two men from different sides and their struggles.. even as they come together for a time.
A must read by all.
October 2, 2014
Great book, I highly recommend it if you want to learn more about the Irish troubles of the 1960s and 1970s. I was a US high school and college student at the time and hardly remember it all except for the Lord Mountbatten assassination. It is a departure for Patrick Taylor, but I sincerely liked this book as I have loved all of his Irish Doctor novels.
May 23, 2014
We honeymooned in Ireland in 1973 and visited my husband's family farm in Co. Roscommon. I never fully realized that all this was going on. Although there were whispered conversations, no one would discuss "the troubles" in public. Life in the Republic went on as usual. This book is a page-turner!
October 19, 2014
A story about two men against the background of the Irish Troubles in Ulster in the 1970's. Each man feels driven to do what they do, sacrificing love and family for honor. It doesn't end well for both of them. It does help put a face on the political situation that used to exist in Northern Ireland.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews