Point of View

The author employs a past- tense, third- person limited narrator to illustrate the thoughts of various characters. The perspective changes according to chapter, but characters can maintain their perspective through whole sections of the novel. For the majority of the novel, the perspective mainly switches back and forth between the characters of Campbell and Fegan as they slowly begin to circle each other. Later, Bull O'Kane's perspective is added in as a catalyst to the other two as his character provides the setting and events that finally allow Fegan the chance to kill Campbell. These three perspectives are occasionally interjected upon by Edward Hargreaves, the Minister of the State of Northern Ireland. Hargreaves's perspective mainly serves to illustrate the cluelessness and indifference of the English government when faced with the instability of Irish politics.

Language and Meaning

As this book is classified as a thriller...