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.

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.

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.

Informative / Mysterious / Unnerving / Dark / Suspenseful

- Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe won the 2019 National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, showcasing its critical acclaim and impact.
- The title of the book was inspired by a line from the poem "Whatever You Say, Say Nothing" by Irish poet Seamus Heaney, reflecting the theme of silence and secrecy in the conflict explored in the book.
- Patrick Radden Keefe, a staff writer at The New Yorker, spent over four years researching and writing Say Nothing, conducting numerous interviews to provide an in-depth account of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

**Patrick Radden Keefe**  
A journalist and nonfiction author who wrote about the abduction of Jean McConville in the context of the Troubles, incorporating extensive research and interviews to form his narrative.

**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**  
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**  
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**  
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**  
A prominent member of the Provisional IRA known for his leadership and subsequent disillusionment with the shift in republican tactics following the peace process.

Patrick Radden Keefe

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Say Nothing Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Part 1: “The Clear, Clean, Sheer Thing” 

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 5

Say Nothing Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

Part 1: “The Clear, Clean, Sheer Thing”

Part 1, Chapters 6-10

Say Nothing Part 1, Chapters 6-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Human Sacrifice”

Part 2, Chapters 11-15

Say Nothing Part 2, Chapters 11-15 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 16-19

Say Nothing Part 2, Chapters 16-19 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “A Reckoning”

Part 3, Chapters 20-24

Say Nothing Part 3, Chapters 20-24 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 25-30

Say Nothing Part 3, Chapters 25-30 Summary & Analysis

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Say Nothing Index of Terms

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Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland

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