This book, co-authored by ex-Beirut hostage John McCarthy and his (now ex-) girlfriend Jill Morrell, gives a fascingating insight into the human condition when placed under stresses which would be difficult for any of us to contemplate.

John was held hostage in Lebanon for several years, during which time he was forced to find imaginative ways to pass seemingly endless time, while being constantly afraid for his life and the lives of his friends and co-hostages. His account of his emerging friendship with Belfast-born Brian Keenan is moving and funny, and their friendship continues, several years after their release, to this day. While any human contact was welcomed, not all of the hostages got on with each other, as evidenced by McCarthy's relationship with British envoy Terry Waite, who McCarthy found arrogant.

The sections on the campaign for John's release are less facinating than the first-person account of life as a hostage, but still make interesting reading.

A less deeply introspective account than Keenan's "An Evil Cradling", this is nonetheless a fascinating relation of a story none of us would wish to be able to tell.