Shades of Brian Moore's Lies of Silence abound in this no-holds-barred debut about an Irish republican paramilitary who becomes first hunter, then hunted... Bell resists clichés and stretches the tension out to a bitterly abrupt end in which there are no winners.

Exploring the impact of the Northern Irish Troubles on the lives of young women, [So It Is] combines a gripping narrative drive with a deep sensitivity to the language, thoughts and emotions of its characters.

Vividly and sympathetically written.

Gritty but realistic to the time, So It Is is an interesting, at times upsetting read. We hope to see more of this author soon.

Had me close to tears... If you like your books gritty with more than a hint of truth... then you will enjoy this one.

So It Is represents a mature exploration of a controversial and difficult subject, and Bell has handled it intelligently, never compromising or sanitising, and wisely choosing to place the human – not the political or paramilitary – story at the centre of the novel.

In recent years Northern Irish writers have tended to avoid subjects close to home... Liam Murray Bell, a Scotsman by birth but who was at university in Belfast, has no such reservations... He knows the place and its people well and he has a good ear for the particularities of Ulster speech... As events unfold, Bell never lets us forget where we are in this city of invisible boundaries where it is dangerous, sometimes fatal, to stray far from one’s own... He knows how to tell a tale... [and] has written a challenging political thriller cum coming-of-age story.

There are real glimpses of a unique literary voice emerging in the first part of the book. Aoife's story is constructed in a genuinely engaging fashion, and Bell uses our present peace time context to examine the impact of all that has gone before. The interwoven narrative of a contemporary character who seeks to bring some retribution to bear upon those figures that live amongst us still in Northern Ireland – those with plenty of secrets and lies in their closets – interestingly seems to offer some catharsis to our villains in their attempts to deal with their own past.

'So It Is explores the physical and psychological devastation of the Northern Irish conflict on many levels with sensitivity and compassion. This is an intelligent, carefully constructed novel that includes real events from the Troubles to reinforce its emotional power.'

By turns lyrical and brutal, Liam Murray Bell’s novel is a gripping and unforgettable literary debut. Interweaving an acutely-observed coming-of-age story with a chilling account of one woman’s involvement in Republican paramilitary activity, So It Is unflinchingly examines the devastating impact of violence on individual lives. This is a first novel of astonishing maturity from a talent to watch.

This is a beautifully written debut novel which races us through, at a sometimes brutal pace, the history of the Troubles in the 1980s from the perspective of a young girl. The narrative deals with some difficult and painful issues , while the unusual voice of the narrator draws the reader in. A deftly written, confident debut.

No word is wasted, no imagery subdued in this powerful book which shows the reader what hard times are all about. An emotional rollercoaster with a very thought-provoking ending where the true value of life is considered.

Liam Murray Bell's debut novel offers a fresh perspective on the Troubles.