I have written two historical crime novels and a work of non-fiction on ethical leadership. Although they approach their subjects in very different ways, all three are concerned, to some extent, with questions of power, justice and the choices people make when confronted by difficult circumstances.
Historical Fiction
The Undiscovered Country (2020)
Ireland, 1920. A country at war, a new republic struggling to establish itself, and a murder that demands an answer.
In County Mayo, as the Irish War of Independence intensifies, Eamon Gleeson and Mick McAlinden of the Irish Republican Police find themselves investigating a murder in a society where the old institutions of law and order are collapsing and new ones have yet to establish their authority.
Their investigation raises questions about loyalty, violence and the meaning of justice in a time of revolution.
Part detective story, part exploration of the moral uncertainties of the struggle for Irish independence, The Undiscovered Country examines what happens when the demands of war collide with the obligations of justice.
The Irish Times described it as:
“A smart and pacy debut that details a historical period that deserves further exploration.”
It’s available on Hive
and on Amazon
Read more about The Undiscovered Country
Some Service to the State (2023)
Ireland, 1925. The War of Independence and Civil War are over. But peace has not brought justice to everyone.
In the divided Ireland of the 1920s, the disappearance of a young girl draws former IRA volunteer Mick McAlinden and Dublin doctor Sophia Hennessy into an investigation that exposes some of the darker realities of life on both sides of the newly established border.
A sequel to The Undiscovered Country, Some Service to the State explores the consequences of partition, the persistence of sectarian prejudice, and the injustices suffered by those with the least power to defend themselves.
It is also a story about friendship, loyalty and the difficulty of doing the right thing in societies where the institutions of authority cannot always be trusted to uphold justice.
Available from Amazon
Read more about Some Service to the State
Non-Fiction
Ethical Leadership: Moral Decision-Making Under Pressure (2022; revised second edition forthcoming)
What does it mean to exercise ethical leadership when circumstances are uncertain, information is incomplete, and every available course of action may carry significant moral costs?
Drawing on moral philosophy, social psychology, history and practical experience in humanitarian operations and human rights advocacy, Ethical Leadership explores how individuals and organisations can make responsible decisions under pressure.
Rather than offering a checklist of leadership virtues, the book examines the habits of judgement, the structures of power, and the personal responsibilities involved in deciding when and how to act.
The revised second edition extends these discussions to further contemporary challenges and draws on additional research and experience.
At its heart is an argument that ethical leadership requires more than good intentions. It demands the courage to question power, recognise uncertainty and accept responsibility for the consequences of our choices.
Available from De Gruyter
