In Northern Ireland, from the late 70s to the early 90s, the IRA killed over 40 alleged informers.

But the man who often found, tortured and sometimes killed these people on behalf of the IRA

was himself an informer, a secret British army agent with the codename Stakeknife.

Who gets to play God? And why me? Why my family?

When lies are still being told to this day, who do you believe?

I wouldn't even know where to start, and I'm with the IRA.

Steakknife.

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Today we're exploring all things Americana, as we gauge the literary temperature in Trump's America.

I'll be speaking to cultural critic Gia Tolentino, darling of the internet attuned reader,

and author of Trick Mirror, one of the most talked about books of the summer.

And what about all those US bestsellers we barely hear about across the proverbial pond?

We'll fill you in on the books you might have missed and what to look forward to this autumn.

But we begin with a best-selling author whose contribution to the well of decency in these cynical times should not go unrecognised.

Anne Patchett is the much-loved Orange and Penn Faulkner Prize-winning author of eight novels,

including Balcanto, State of Wonder and Commonwealth.

Her latest is the Dutch House, a 20th century-spanning saga that returns us to the familiar

Patchett territory of family discord,

understanding and forgiveness.

Opening in mid-century suburban Philadelphia, it tells the story of siblings Danny and

Mave, abandoned by their mother as young children and raised by their self-made property

...