DECLAN MCIVER

       Declan McIver is a former member of the Black Shuck.
       That term is the name given a small group of IRA assassins placed together to carry out attacks against England in the period known as "The Troubles". According to the first set of adventures:
       "During the Soviet-Afghan war an elite team of operatives were trained in the mountains of Afghanistan. Loyal to the Provisional Irish Republican Army, they were created for a single purpose; to bring about the downfall of the entire British government in one terrifying attack. They were known only by their codename, Black Shuck.
       "In the years that followed—betrayed from within by the internal power struggles of the IRA—the team members were hunted down. Forced into a battle for their lives, three survived, fading into the turbulent streets of Northern Ireland. To this day, their identities remain a mystery— but nothing can stay hidden forever."

       Born and raised in Northern Ireland, McIver was present, though hidden, when his politically active parents were murdered by the Ulster Volunteer Force. Within a few years, McIver was old enough to join the IRA to vengeance for his parents' death, becoming a member of Black Shuck and training with a group of Soviet special forces operatives during that nation's fight in Afghanistan. Learning all the Spetsnaz had to teach him, he was ready to return to Belfast and make use of his new skills. It did not take long, though, for McIver to see other pieces of the IRA move away from the goal of unity in Ireland and aim more for personal power and advancement. The killing he saw that did not serve the correct purpose caused him to flee to America for a new life.
       He was helped in the fresh start by an Israeli agent who had saved his life in Belfast and whose life he was able to save when he overheard a scheme by Islamic terrorists and decided he could not just let it happen. When considerable trouble and danger he was able to thwart the plan and save his friend. In return he was offered a job as part of that man's protection detail and for the next few years he happy served in that capacity.
       Wanting more from life, he parted company on good terms and started afresh elsewhere in the States becoming a fairly successful real estate developer. He found a woman to share his life and he was happy and content.
       Then trouble came to call.

       I really procrastinated on starting this series because I thought it was about the adventures of Black Shuck against the U.K. and I never like reading stories where the protagonists are terrorists.
       I WAS WRONG!! Okay, I admitted it.
       This is an exciting and well-written series and it makes a great deal of sense and is believable and really brings home the fact that in any struggle there are good guys on both sides doing bad things and there are bad guys on both sides doing even worse things and it can be tough to know who is who when the facts can be manipulated so easily.
       Declan McIver is a very good man. Some very nasty people, though, are terrific at controlling the media and McIver pays the price. However, backing McIver into a corner is not a smart thing to do as these nasty folks learn the hard way.
       There was a gap of several years between the third book and the fourth. I hope there is not such a gap before the next book. I really like Declan McIver.

My Grade: A-

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