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. BBC Sounds, music, Radio, podcasts.

Hello there.

On Open Book today, we examine the female protagonists and their creators who refuse to play by the rules.

They include the author of one of 2021's most anticipated debuts, and yes, I know it's still only January,

and the life and work of Tova Ditley-Aveson,

a brutally honest Danish writer whose work is enjoying a comeback. And we travel, although sadly only in our minds, to Quebec. But let's start, as is only right, with the debut. Luster by Raven Lailani is already a bestseller in the States after having been published there last year.

It arrives on these shores garlanded with critical praise from the likes of Candice Carty Williams and Zadie Smith.

Luster tells the story of Edie, an unapologetically chaotic 23-year-old, who, when the book opens,

works as a lowly paid publishing assistant, one of only two black women in the office.

It is a job she will shortly be fired from.

When Edie starts dating Eric, a white middle-aged archivist, who also just so happens to have a wife and an adopted black daughter, she finds herself drawn into the uncomfortable power play at the centre of their open marriage.

Lelani writes about the shifting tensions between sex, race, money and identity with a sharp wit and dark hilarity.

And I'm delighted that Raven now joins me down the line from New York.

Raven, welcome.

Thank you for having me.

Could you start by reading us the passage where Eric and Edie establish the boundaries of their relationship, please?

Absolutely. I'd like to lay my cards on the table, he says, withdrawing his hand.

...