Killing Thatcher
The IRA, the Manhunt and the Long War on the Crown
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Killing Thatcher
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Narrated by:
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Gary Trainor
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By:
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Rory Carroll
About this listen
A Sunday Times Paperback of the Year 2024
The Sunday Times Bestseller and Waterstones Paperback of the Year 2024
A Sunday Times History Book of the Year
A Spectator Book of the Year
The Irish Times No.1 Bestseller
‘As taut as a fictional thriller’ Mail on Sunday
‘Gripping, detailed and richly layered’ Guardian
KILLING THATCHER is the gripping account of how the IRA came astonishingly close to killing Margaret Thatcher and to wiping out the British Cabinet – an extraordinary assassination attempt linked to the Northern Ireland Troubles and the most daring conspiracy against the Crown since the Gunpowder Plot.
In this fascinating and compelling book, veteran journalist Rory Carroll retraces the road to the infamous Brighton bombing in 1984 – an incident that shaped the political landscape in the UK for decades to come. He begins with the infamous execution of Lord Mountbatten in 1979 – for which the IRA took full responsibility – before tracing the rise of Margaret Thatcher, her response to the ‘Troubles’ in Ireland and the chain of events that culminated in the hunger strikes of 1981 and the death of 10 republican prisoners, including Bobby Sands. From that moment on Thatcher became an enemy of the IRA – and the organisation swore revenge.
Opening with a brilliantly-paced prologue that introduces bomber Patrick Magee in the build up to the incident, Carroll sets out to deftly explore the intrigue before and after the assassination attempt – with the story spanning three continents, from pubs and palaces, safe houses and interrogation rooms, hotels and barracks. On one side, an elite IRA team aided by a renegade priest, US-raised funds and Libya’s Qaddafi and on the other, intelligence officers, police detectives, informers and bomb disposal officers. An exciting narrative that blends true crime with political history, this is the first major book to investigate the Brighton attack.
©2023 Rory Carroll (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
‘Meticulous historical journalism… A compelling read’ – The Sunday Times
‘A gripping modern history book’ – The Independent
‘A gripping book…brilliantly retold by Rory Carroll, whose depth of research is matched by his gift for vivid description’ – Daily Express
‘[A] fascinating book …. A tautly written account’ – New Statesman
‘[A] gripping tale’ – The Economist
‘A tense, blow-by-blow account’ – The Scotsman
‘Carroll turns the story into the most gripping thriller imaginable. He covers the political background of Northern Ireland’s Troubles with brisk efficiency, but the real fascination lies in the countdown to the assassination attempt, the tension building with every page. As Carroll notes, things could have been very different, as “history pirouetted on a twist of geometry”’ – Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times
What listeners say about Killing Thatcher
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian J.
- 15-05-23
Really interesting, well read, fascinating stuff
As an Englishman it was great to see two sides of a familiar story. I really enjoyed this book and the performance was also excellent. I felt it tried to report and show facts from both sides but not lecture or fall on either side.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Damien,Ireland
- 21-04-23
Fantastic listen
A fascinating story, well told and gripping listen. The author takes you back in time to more troubled times and intertwines the characters lives incredibly well.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mr j j craggy
- 24-06-23
Fascinating
Great history of the Brighton bombing, its planning, execution and aftermath. Kept me riveted throughout.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-06-23
Good open account.
Excellent, a fair and detailed account showing no bias. Captivating and informative. Would definitely recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Daisy
- 07-06-23
Absolutely brilliant
A gripping account of the Brighton hotel bombing. It’s real life - I remember it only well - but reads like a respectfully told thriller.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S Murphy
- 17-05-23
A great recommendation
Loved it. Felt like it was unbiased and very factual. Great recommendation to anyone who hasn’t engaged with Irish/troubles history in much depth before
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S
- 04-06-23
Great choice
Really fascinating story, told in an engaging way. Narrator was great and kept me hooked. If I’d been able to do it in one sitting, I would have. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- MR JOHN CALDER
- 01-05-23
Utterly Fascinating
A well balanced account starting with a good depth of history, kept me pinned to my headphones waiting for the next chapter even though I already knew the story, I will leave it be a few months and listen again because it's a book worth a number of listens!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- A C Hodson
- 10-05-23
A non-fiction thriller
Fantastic book, superbly read by the narrator. Tells the story of the Brighton bomb, the characters, the political situation before and after and puts it in context with world events that followed such as the end of the Cold War. As others have said it is a thriller, it barrels along at pace and is totally engaging.
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- Hunary
- 11-05-23
Excellent book and narration.
A really interesting and balanced story with great narration. It has a nice pace to it with enough detail. Highly recommended.
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