I just read...

Scorched Earth by Dara Kavanagh

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Fred Hart, an Irish junior officer in the Second Boer War (1899-1902) witnesses an atrocity perpetrated by his major, Cecil Havelock-Saunders. Stunned by the mindless brutality of the act and despising himself for not intervening, he deserts. Ten years later, the major is running for parliament. Fred, now an opium addict, impoverished, is living anonymously on the edges of Dublin society. He feels compelled to tell the world what really happened. But once he commits his story to the Freeman’s Journal, his days are numbered.

In a carefully crafted and beautifully written historical novel, Dara Kavanagh keeps the reader on the edge. A fast-paced plot with engaging, well-drawn characters provides an immersive experience and insight into a little-known period of Irish history — one that resonates with contemporary questions of moral responsibility to speak out in the face of evil. One to make you think — I would highly recommend it.

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