Letterbox

Book excerpt: At approximately 09.00hrs on the 15th June 1996, an unassuming white lorry was parked on Corporation Street in the city centre of Manchester, England; it contained over 3000 pounds of high explosive. At 11.15hrs the same day, Manchester witnessed the detonation of the largest device on the British mainland since the second World War ... The Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility for the attack. Based around actual events, LETTERBOX tells the story of Liam Connor, an ordinary boy brought up in Manchester by a seemingly ordinary family. He goes to the local school, loves football and has a best friend called Sean ... an ordinary life! Unbeknown to Liam, his father, Michael Connor, harbors a dark historic secret, following a life a lot less ordinary ... as a furtive, yet high ranking soldier within the IRA. As a result of extraordinary circumstances, Liam's innocent and carefree world is shattered when he is exposed to the truth about his family's heritage and then learns about the tragic death of his father at the hands of the SAS. Consumed with both hate and the need to seek retribution, Liam is taken to Ireland where he is intensively trained to become a highly skilled and efficient soldier within the Irish Republican Army ... He is 16 years old! Some years later, following the drug-induced death of his beloved sister, Liam is given the opportunity to exact his revenge on those he believed should truly be blamed for the tragedies in his life ... The British Government! Thus, on the 15th June 1996, it was Liam's responsibility to drive the bomb laden lorry into the unsuspecting city of Manchester and let the voice of the IRA be clearly heard ... And listened to!!