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.

Listen first on BBC Sounds.

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We made our way slowly down the path that led to the stream,

swatting slightly.

Drink on the sun, I suppose.

It was a real summer story.

The air humming with heat.

Yes, the heady nostalgia of David's Last Summer by Pulp,

the song that provided the inspiration for David Nichols' new novel, and he's going to be here.

Also a peek into the secretive world of ghostwriting,

and the latest brilliant female literary figure who deserves further spotlighting.

But first, let's return to the lazy, hazy summer of 1997,

with the holidays stretching seemingly indefinitely

and a life-changing teenage romance on the horizon.

That's the setting for Sweet Sorrow,

...