A well-written account with, I am sure, a few embellishments along the way.

thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

A wonderfully well written book about a terrible time in Northern Ireland. For someone who does not live in NI the writer has certainly done a fantastic job bringim* this to life.
Describes how the troubles effect the lives of ordinary families.
Thanks to both NetGalley and Motador for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Out Of The Flames is Phillip Coogan's story of how the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland affected an ordinary man and his family and is an important and ignored part of a story more often told by in print by ex-military men,paramilitaries and politicians.
While the Troubles form the core of the book it tells of Coogan's idyllic early life and ambition to be a Priest through his ,family life ,various business ventures and the ill-health that was eventually realised to be the result of his experiences in the awful and horrific times that were the Troubles He conveys very well the descent of relative normality in Northern Ireland into the tribalism and brutality that led to anarchy and the very worst in human nature showing itself. To most,if they noticed at all,reports of the explosion that wrecked Coogan's business in Belfast and destroyed his peace of mind would have been something barely meriting a mention in the media. Like thousands of others though what to those not affected was a relatively minor event ,along with the constant threat of "a knock on the door" and being on the wrong end of sectarianism even in small communities cast a dark shadow leaving psychological scars of the kind only now recognised as PTSD and it's related symptoms.
A very moving book and a very brave one,not least towards the end when Mr Coogan finds himself in literally a bad place for a while,a place many would not admit to having been admitted but all relevant to his story.
My only personal reservation as an agnostic was that Mr Coogan is a devout Catholic and while the beliefs of others are their choice I did nearly give up on the book quite early on because of the constant religious references.which to be fair are part of that stage in his life but left me thinking,"if it carries on like this I'm done with it,". His story,his beliefs and I'd never knock anyone for what they believe in but that part was very nearly too much for me.
That aside a very good read,in his place I'd have made very different choices but his character and personality shines through so I could understand why he stood his ground when there were alternatives.