Moore, Brian: 1921-1999

Lies of Silence, 1990 - Chapter Summaries

The chapters are grouped into manageable sections.
Chapters 1–2: Michael's private life and the approaching crisis
Michael Dillon is a hotel manager in Belfast who feels dissatisfied with his life and disappointed that his youthful ambitions have not been fulfilled. He is married to Moira, but their relationship has become unhappy and distant. Michael is having an affair with Andrea Baxter, a Canadian woman with whom he hopes to start a new life in London. Although he has decided to leave his wife, he struggles to tell her the truth. His personal problems are soon overshadowed by the political violence surrounding him.
Chapters 3–4: The IRA invasion
Michael and Moira's home is invaded by armed IRA members. The intruders take control of the situation and threaten Moira's life to force Michael to cooperate. They order him to drive a car containing a bomb to the Clarence Hotel, where a group of people, including the Protestant Reverend Pottinger, will be attending an event. Michael realises that he has been placed in an impossible situation: obeying the terrorists could result in the deaths of many innocent people, while resisting them could cost his wife her life. During the invasion, Michael also recognises one of the attackers, a young man called Kev.
Chapters 5–6: Michael's moral dilemma
Michael prepares to carry out the terrorists' instructions while struggling with his conscience. He knows that the bomb could kill numerous people, but he fears that warning the police will lead to Moira being murdered. As he drives through Belfast, he becomes increasingly aware of the ordinary people whose lives are threatened by the planned explosion. He also reflects on the religious and political divisions that have shaped Northern Ireland. Eventually, Michael decides that he cannot allow innocent people to die. He secretly contacts the police and warns them about the bomb.
Chapters 7–8: The bombing and its consequences
The police evacuate the hotel before the bomb explodes, preventing any deaths. Michael discovers that Moira has survived because the IRA members left her behind after he drove away. Although the immediate danger has passed, Michael is still frightened because he has recognised one of the terrorists. The police advise him to remain silent about the attacker's identity to protect himself. Meanwhile, Moira decides to speak publicly about what happened. Her television interview condemns IRA violence and makes the couple's situation more dangerous. Michael becomes increasingly frustrated with Moira because he believes that her decision to speak publicly puts both of them at risk.
Chapters 9–10: Escape to London and the final conflict
Michael decides to leave Belfast and move to London with Andrea, hoping to escape the violence and begin a new life. However, his problems follow him because the police want him to identify Kev, while Father Connolly attempts to persuade him not to cooperate. The priest indirectly warns Michael that speaking against the IRA could have serious consequences. Michael is torn between doing what he believes is morally right and protecting himself from retaliation. Even in London, he cannot escape the fear and pressure created by the conflict. The novel ends tragically, demonstrating that remaining silent does not necessarily guarantee safety and that political violence can destroy lives even far from the original conflict.