Fictional accounts of actual events seems to be a popular new approach to the novel. Jonathan Lee's book is a prime example. This story is about the IRA's 1984 bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton England intended to kill PM Margaret Thatcher and her political upper echelon. She was staying in the hotel for a conference and the bomb had been planted on a long delay. 
 The book opens with an IRA initiation of a young young man named Dan. I was immediately riveted. The book explores his development along with the lives of those connected to the hotel: father manager, his hapless daughter, and staff. I must admit I was not particularly interested in the hotel staff and longed for the book to get back to the action. Without realizing it I wanted a political thriller which this book really is not. The book clicked on for me again when things got closer to the bombing. 
 The author sets the stage for the war between the Brits and the IRA but does not provide great historical detail. The author's intention I think was to describe what it was like to live and breath at that exact time in history from two very different and polarized perspectives. I found myself wanting to find out more which is sign that the book did indeed get under my skin.