London TV Watching, 'The Day of the Jackal,' and 'Disclaimer'

The novel follows an unnamed English assassin, known only as the Jackal, who is hired by the OAS (Organisation de l'armée secrète), a French dissident paramilitary organization, to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle. The story is divided into three parts: 'Anatomy of a Plot', detailing the Jackal's preparations; 'Anatomy of a Manhunt', focusing on the French secret service's efforts to identify and stop the Jackal; and 'Anatomy of a Kill', the final confrontation. The novel is known for its detailed and methodical portrayal of both the assassin's plans and the police investigation, creating a tense and suspenseful narrative[2][4][5].

The book delves into the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath, focusing on the lives of key figures such as Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, Gerry Adams, and Jean McConville's children. It explores the civil rights movement, the Provisional IRA's bombing campaign, the 1981 hunger strike, the peace process, and the post-conflict struggle to understand crimes like McConville's murder. The narrative also incorporates the Belfast Project, a secret oral history endeavor that collected stories from former IRA members. The book is a panoramic history that captures the complexities and tragic consequences of the Troubles[1][2][5].