The third in his trilogy, retired Detective Inspector Roger A. Price raises the stakes of the SAS Red Troop series, this time setting the action in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, in 1992. Price’s more than three decades of experience in policing is immediately clear, with the book packed full of realistic action and tactical military jargon. He does a nice job of explaining the terminology in a clear, easy-to-understand way without letting it get in the way of the story. Unholy Alliance concludes the series, following With Prejudice and Shoot to Kill, but Price provides plenty of context, allowing the book to stand alone. It is a complete page-turner, full of suspense, action and adrenaline.
Set against the backdrop of the Troubles, the covert Red Troop unit was commissioned by Margaret Thatcher after the 1984 Brighton bombing and is led by Captain Jackson and MI5 Officer Hastings. The officers are highly skilled at their jobs, from surveillance to shooting, and one even manages to talk his way out of a kidnapping and near-attempt on his life. The action begins in the very first pages, with the troop receiving the orders that kick-start the conflict. Price’s descriptions are incredibly vivid, and his insight into listening in on conversations, following suspects without attracting suspicion, and all the sensory details clearly come from first-hand experience. These details make it easy to get caught up in the world of the Red Troop and the dangers of operating undercover.
After intercepting an assassination plot against a Northern Irish politician, Captain Jackson and Hastings must neutralise the threat while ensuring the target is none the wiser about the attempt on his life. Although the attack is thwarted, it violates a longstanding agreement between Loyalist and Republican paramilitaries not to attack senior politicians. It soon becomes clear that a fractured Loyalist group has no intention of respecting this boundary. The Red Troop then discovers that rival Loyalist and Republican paramilitaries are both working with a criminal gang to carry out armed robberies and fund their own operations. The cooperation, however, is precarious, and Prime Minister David Manning orders the troops to protect this fragile relationship between rival factions. There are plenty of twists along the way, particularly as it becomes increasingly difficult to tell who the various characters are really working for and with.
This uneasy cooperation is one of the most interesting parts of the novel. Loyalist and Republican factions working together with a criminal gang creates an unusual situation where no one can be completely trusted. The Red Troop are also operating in a world of shifting loyalties, informants and double-crosses, and Price keeps the reader guessing about who is really in control. This gives the novel more than just a series of action scenes, as there is a constant sense that one wrong move could unravel the entire operation.
The characters also help keep the story moving. Jackson and Hastings are both highly capable, but their different approaches to the job give the Red Troop some personality beyond its military role. The camaraderie between the soldiers provides a welcome contrast to the darker parts of the story, and Crompton, Harris and King bring some humour into what could otherwise be a very grim novel.
Though fictional, the novel is entertaining while offering insight into the political tensions, terrorism and violence of the Troubles. At times, the acronyms (PIRA, INLA, UVF, UDA, UFF, RUC) and rival factions can be confusing for readers unfamiliar with the historical context. Overall, though, Price does a lovely job of making the complicated dynamics and motivations of the competing groups easy to follow and wildly interesting. Unholy Alliance is an enjoyable mix of military action, espionage and historical context, and a fitting conclusion to the Red Troop trilogy.
Sophia Kazan is an Editorial Intern at Aspects of Crime.