This is a fictional whodunnit centering on the years of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1922) and the mystique surrounding Michael Collins' leadership and death. As with most such fictional stories incorporating historical figures, it suffers from a rather forced, unreal feeling. Basically, the launching device is the discovery of journals kept by a young woman (not an historical figure) who served as one of Collins' agents/assassins as well as his lover briefly, and more as well. Sort of an Irish Nikita. The story is interestingly, if melodramatically, written and holds your interest reasonably well if you are familiar with Irish history and the leading figures in the fight for freedom from Britain. Otherwise, I imagine it would be rather heavy going. Generally, I would say it is no worse and certainly no better than the usual historical novel with the added fillip of the speculation (pretty much laid to rest by Collins' best biographers) as to who fired the shot that killed him.