THE BOMBMAKER - Stephen Leather

I suspect I should have read this in 1999.  Ultimately a readable enough book, which, being a thriller required a willing suspension of disbelief.  Whilst willing, the suspension bit got wider, higher and somewhat shakier as I went on.  Partially I think the problem was one of believability of the main premise.  I'm not Pollyanna, I'm well aware that everyone has a few things tucked away in the past that they'd rather their partner didn't find out about... but seriously ... the proverbial hits the oscillating device and she's still staying quiet?  Had a bit of a problem swallowing that. 

Aside from that, the other problem was getting context, somehow, despite the story referring to the IRA background of Andrea, there was something about the time period in which it was set that wouldn't gell in my head - so none of the technology sat within a strongly enunciated time period.  I was constantly at sixs and sevens having to remind myself that this wasn't a current day thriller, and things, bomb and havoc wise, might have moved on, but I'd no idea from where exactly.

Was intriguing enough to have a look at some of the work by this author that's more current though, and ebooks The Bestseller and The Basement acquired for a look when time permits.