Spies: Ireland’s War of Independence. United friends … divided loyalties

Orphan Johnny Dunne has fled Balbriggan, where he spied for the rebels in Ireland’s War of Independence. Now he has a new and even more dangerous mission. Rebel leader Michael Collins engages in a cut-throat secret war with British Intelligence: and Johnny, Ireland’s youngest spy at only fourteen years of age, finds himself at the centre of the action. In a Dublin full of gunmen, soldiers, police informers and the dreaded Black and Tans, Johnny has to watch his every move.

But it’s hard to turn his back on the past, especially on his friendships with Alice Goodman, and with Stella Radcliffe, the daughter of a British officer, who risked her own life to save his.

As the War of Independence grows more lethal, the three friends must decide where their loyalties lie. Then a secret from Johnny’s past changes everything…

Review

The things I liked about Spies were that the writing style was original and captivating – you really felt like you were in the room with the characters! Sometimes I struggle to get into books that are set in the past. Most of my favourite books are contemporary but I had no problem with this book because it was a gripping page-turner. Overall I thought this book was really good. Not only was it an excellent story but I also learned a lot about the War of Independence even though it never felt like I was reading history school book! www.seomraranga.com/2018/08/book-review-spies/ — Oisin, Rang V, Scoil Iognaid, Co. na Gaillimhe * Seomra Ranga * a strong fictional plot with friendship and loyalty, Dublin author Gallagher succeeds in engaging readers aged 10+ in the story of a turbulent part of Irish history. It’s a method he employed before to bring to life for young readers the events of the Easter Rising in Friend or Foe, the Civil War in Taking Sides and the 1913 Dublin Lockout in Across the Divide … by writing Spies as a sequel, Gallagher is able to build on the relationships formed in Pawns, allowing space for a compelling subplot to emerge around Johnny’s orphanage past — Evening Echo

About the Author

Brian Gallagher is a full-time writer whose plays and short stories have been produced in Ireland, Britain and Canada. He has worked extensively in radio and television, writing many dramas and documentaries. He collaborated with composer Shaun Purcell on the musical, Larkin, for which he wrote the book and lyrics, and on Winds of Change for RTE’s Lyric FM.

Brian is the author of seven books of historical fiction for young readers: Friend or Foe, set during the 1916 Easter Rising, and Across the Divide, set during the 1913 Dublin Lockout, have been particularly popular to the general reader, schools and One Book One Community projects. Brian is also the author of four adult novels.

Find out more about Brian’s books at briangallagherwriter.com┬á