Joe Joyce crafts compelling thrillers that transport readers to pivotal moments in history, from the wartime neutrality of Dublin to the turbulent socio-political landscape of later decades. His narratives delve into the intricacies of espionage, political intrigue, and the often-unseen workings of journalism. Beyond fiction, Joyce has explored significant historical subjects, including a notable Irish family and a dramatic interplay between literary and public figures. His background as a journalist for esteemed publications lends a profound sense of authenticity and immediacy to his storytelling.
Set against the backdrop of 1940s Ireland, the narrative intricately weaves political, military, and human elements of conflict. It offers a fast-paced and gripping exploration of the era, emphasizing the historical accuracy of events and the complexities faced by individuals caught in turmoil. Through vivid storytelling, the book delves into the impact of war on society and personal lives, making it a compelling read for those interested in this tumultuous period.
June 1941. An American plane crashes in the west of Ireland. Its cargo of booze, cigarettes and caviar destined for the US embassy in London includes a piece of secret military hardware of great interest to the Germans. The device disappears from the wreckage. Paul Duggan, a young Irish military intelligence officer still pining for a beautiful Austrian-Jewish refugee who has moved on to a new life in New York, sets out to find it before the Germans do. Meanwhile, the United States and the British are pushing neutral Ireland to help protect their Atlantic convoys, which would involve it in the war. The search and the diplomatic arm-twisting become entwined and take Duggan to the dangerous back streets of Lisbon, the war's spy centre, where the intelligence games between the Allies and the Nazis can turn deadly.
the untold story of Ireland's most successful family
390 pages
14 hours of reading
The Guinnesses is the story of a family that turned a small 18th century legacy into a huge 20th century fortune, creating one of the world’s great brands and rising from “trade” into the highest levels of British aristocratic society in the 20th century. This compelling, racy, epic biography tells how they weaved their way to wealth and social success through often troubled times. It covers their roles in Irish and British politics as well as business and society and the scandals and controversies which sometimes embroiled them, some of which never saw the light of day, like a 19th century sex scandal; others have been long-forgotten, like the murders of four of their employees in the west of Ireland and the financial skulduggery which accompanied their final step into the ranks of the super-rich in the late 19th century. Full of insights and incidents, it covers a cast of characters - businessmen, politicians, socialites, explorers and eccentrics - from the God-fearing Arthur Guinness to the early death in 1992 of Benjamin Guinness, the last family member to sit on the board of the Guinness company.
