62 pages • 2 hours read
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
441
Book • Nonfiction
Northern Ireland • 1970s
2018
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe explores the Irish “Troubles,” focusing on the murder of Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10 abducted and killed by the IRA in 1972. Keefe delves into the socio-political complexities, cultural silence, and human memory inaccuracies, contextualizing McConville's case within the broader conflict. Keefe investigates various episodes of violence, prominent IRA and British figures, the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, and the lingering aftermath for those involved. The book suggests the complexities of historical truth and moral responsibility. The narrative includes acts of abduction, secret killings, abuse, trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles.
Informative
Mysterious
Unnerving
Dark
Suspenseful
Reviews & Readership
131,253 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Patrick Radden Keefe's Say Nothing garners widespread praise for its meticulous research and compelling narrative on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Reviewers commend its gripping storytelling and depth of insight. Some note a dense amount of detail may overwhelm casual readers, but overall, it is regarded as a masterful blend of history and true crime.
Who Should Read Say Nothing?
Readers who appreciate in-depth investigative reporting and true crime, similar to Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark or Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill, will find Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe compelling. It's ideal for those interested in political history, particularly the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
131,253 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Jean McConville
Jean McConville
A widow and mother of ten who was abducted from her Belfast home during the Troubles, her story illustrates the personal impact of the conflict on Northern Irish families.
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
A significant figure in republican politics and the Provisional IRA who played a key role in the Good Friday Agreement, although he denies involvement in the IRA.
Dolours Price
Dolours Price
A member of the Provisional IRA known for her involvement in violent acts during the Troubles, she later turned against Sinn Féin's political strategy and publicly criticized Gerry Adams.
Marian Price
Marian Price
Dolours’s sister, she followed a similar path in the IRA and continued her activism into the 2000s, maintaining a disapproving stance on the political outcomes of the Good Friday Agreement.
Brendan Hughes
Brendan Hughes
A prominent member of the Provisional IRA known for his leadership and subsequent disillusionment with the shift in republican tactics following the peace process.
441
Book • Nonfiction
Northern Ireland • 1970s
2018
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.