ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Before requesting IRA Terror on Britain's Streets 1939-1940, I didn't know much about this time period. Thank you for giving me the chance to learn about the IRA Terror.

Definitely an informative book, revealing some of the history of the IRA.
It's a book I would read parts of every now and again, but didn't feel like something I'd want to read in one sitting.
Still, it is a very good book which I recommend to anyone interested in their history.

An interesting and eye opening read at times, well for me anyway, there was a lot on here that was new to me and it was so fresh to read about a part of the troubles not written about much. It’s well written, keeps you interested and as a former detective the author gives a knowledgeable feel. Great history

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is a well-written, largely researched narrative that was as entertaining as it was informative about a little-known parcel of history related to the IRA. Great read for anyone interested in history, Ireland, true crime, or nonfiction in general. You don't want to be left out and miss the opportunity to read this engaging book. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of this book to read. The impressions expressed here are my own honest opinions written voluntarily.

"It is little known today that, in January 1939, the IRA launched a bombing campaign, codenamed The S – or Sabotage – Plan on mainland England. With cynical self-justification, they announced that it was not their intention to harm human life but in just over a year, more than 300 explosive devices resulted in 10 deaths, 96 injuries and widespread devastation. London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and many other towns and cities were targeted." --Description

It hasn’t been too long since I read another book by Pen & Sword Books on the so-called “Troubles” that scarred Northern Ireland for nearly a century. That book was more concentrated on the large flare-ups in terrorist tit-for-tat fighting in and around the 1960’s and 1970’s, so I jumped at the chance to read IRA Terror on Britain’s Streets 1939–1940 as it concerned a period that was briefly glossed over in that previous book. Technically not part of “The Troubles” as a whole, you can see the seeds being planted in this period that would later bloom into a full-blown war.

The narration of this book is very informative, although it doesn’t strive to be very neutral (if one can be in a situation like this). Being a former Detective that worked directly in Northern Ireland for a period, one can assume that Kirby wouldn’t be too excited to sing the virtues of men that would have wanted him dead. With his unique insight on the situation, and both an acerbic wit and self deprecating humor – this book is very addictive and sometimes humorous despite the dark topic.

I think my biggest takeaways from the book are some of the origins of The Troubles, even dating back into the nineteenth century. I had no idea that The IRA sprang from groups like the Fenian Brotherhood and the fact that it was originally an American organization that repatriated back into Ireland to instigate an uprising was interesting. I also had no idea that some versions of the IRA had ties to Hitler during the Second World War.

Just like with many books from this publisher that I have been reading lately, I quite enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in true crime books, Ireland, or World War II history. It covers a topic that not many of my American friends, with me being an American myself, would know about.

I thought I was quite well-educated on the history of Britain in 1939, a year that saw the beginning of the war with Nazi Germany. While most will be aware of that I doubt I'm the only one surprised to learn that it was also the year the IRA launched mass bombing attacks in a campaign that lasted through to the next year.

Dick Kirby is one of my favourite True Crime authors and I interrupted my "catch up" of his back catalogue to devour his latest book, IRA Terror on Britain's Streets 1939-1940. As always with one of Mr Kirby's books this is meticulously researched and goes into great detail about the protagonists ,the plot,their capture and trials. It also tells in great detail the carnage wrought by the cowardly attacks with the protestations that those of us who remember later attacks will be familiar with that they were planned so as not endanger human life. which were just as dishonest and cynical then as they have been since.
As usual Dick Kirby treats us to his disdainful view of the justice system and again he shows that weak sentencing and certain Judges being in the wrong job entirely is not new either.

This is a fascinating book on events that many will be totally unaware of,lost amongst the better known history of that era.