Before the changes that followed the Belfast Agreement, police only travelled through the area with the support of the British army. Photograph: Stephen Davison As a teenager, McConville cut through a field to get into St Oliver Plunkett Park, the home ground of Crossmaglen Rangers GAC, to avoid “getting hassle” from soldiers in the town. The British army sangar (or “lookout post” as locals called it) that loomed over the small town’s market square for decades was demolished as part of the so-called “normalisation” plan in 2007. That might be your football for the evening and all of a sudden you had to go beg, borrow or steal to try and get a new one to continue on the training session.

With a population of less than 1,200 during that period, there were between 2,000 and 3,000 British troops in and around the republican stronghold. Today, there are none. The people here work to improve things for themselves because they accept they’re not going to get anything from anybody else — Úna Walsh It was his first time ever driving into Crossmaglen: “It was bizarre as I didn’t really know where I was going because I would have walked the roads, flew into a field and then walked on to another road. Your orientation by air is completely different.” As always the book is written nicely and does hold your attention, even when you work out what the likely outcome will be.It's mentioned in the start blurb of the book that the author had tried to be even handed with telling the facts...I'm not sure how successful this was as there where times when the commentary did seem slanted in regard upholding the 'bandit county' title of the book...it was a compelling read mind you revealing some of the tales of a troubled time and the intelligence used by both sides in getting information or resources. South Armagh, for those not in the know, is a rural location which saw a decades long battle between the PIRA and the British Army who, depending on your point of view, were either invaders continuing an imperialist agenda or people simple defending their fellow countrymen.

I suddenly got a promotion and was going to work in a helicopter. I thought, ‘will I die here?’ — Alan Mains Outside Keenan’s Bar, an official Northern Ireland tourist information sign hangs which serves as the “centre point” for Walsh’s walking tours. I’d first learned about the Troubles as a kid when I learned my grandpa emigrated from Ireland at 10 years old and due to the conflict didn’t want to talk about it, violence or war at all. Hands Across the Divide by sculptor Maurice Harron, in Derry, Northern Ireland. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The themes behind these thrillers also pull together some of Andrew’s other interests, particularly history, world news, and travel. They explore the ways in which events and human behaviors deep into the past continue to impact on modern society, politics and business.