Death in the Fields: The IRA and East Tyrone

On its own this isn't the easiest read because it is very operationally focused, so after a while becomes a narrative of '& then they killed XX so the other side killed YY so then the other side killed ZZ ...'. That said it really brings out the sheer relentless slaughter on all sides.The book does add brilliant insights on how the British harnessed technology to penetrate the IRA - that is new. It also hints at an untold story - while allegations of British collusion with loyalists have been around for a while, there are several instances in the book of injured IRA men disappearing into the South to receive medical treatment. Is there an untold story there.I guess a lot of primary sources either don't exist (I doubt the IRA or UVF wrote down what they did) & presumably a fair bit of the British archive is still embargoed, so the extensive quoting of other published sources is in my view justified.What I'd like is now to read another slightly higher level history - i.e. the author tells in great detail the foot soldiers war (on both sides): what were those commanding at say Division or army level (or its IRA equivalent) thinking & doing & why?So a really useful addition to our knowledge - to the extent that it's not an easy read - well it's not an easy subject, but there is way more to tell on this history.

A good read, however, a bit too reliant on other authors and previously interviewed individuals. Some factual inaccuracies.

I had high expectations of this book prior to reading it but found it to be plodding and tedious.Also,it is very biased towards the British security services which is to be expected given the author's past ties.

A well researched and written book detailing not only Operation Judy (Loughgall) but also several other operations against the IRAs East Tyrone Brigade Coagh, Clonoe, Cloghog and Drumnakilly. Those that prefer their history to be romantic fiction will not like this book neither will those who can’t believe there were touts in East Tyrone and that to this day they were never found. In the East Tyrone IRA at the time there was a hardcore who took chances and lost because they enjoyed killing too much.

An excellent book which truly reflects the horror and brutality of the IRA in its murderous campaign of violence. It shows the bitter sectarian nature of the IRA in its cowardly attacks on local Protestant communities. The books shines a light on IRA lies and also on loyalist terrorist lies. An area of the ‘Troubles’ rarely reflected on. Thought provoking.

This is a great book and really interesting. A great companion piece to Toby Harnden's (superb) Bandit Country about S Armagh. Both really informative

I very much doubt if the author ever served in Tyrone: his lack of knowledge of the basic geography is woeful.Poorly cobbled rehash of other much better books.

Great overall and lots of time and effort done overall. 2 things about It that I just can't fathom how the author or whoever got it wrong are:1. Some volunteers are not named correctly by their pictures2. They wrongly name the driver at loughall. It was one of the other volunteers who were there though.I KNOW it's not something to derate this book but how can you get this wrong when all the evidence is out there?GREAT BOOK none the less. MUST BUY!