Nuala Anne McGrail, a student at Dublin's Trinity College, is beautiful in the way a Celtic goddess is beautiful - not that Dermot Michael Coyne of Chicago has ever seen one of those - unless you count his grandmother Nell, who left Ireland during the troubles, and who would never tell why she left. Somebody else remembers, though - or why else would Dermot be set upon by thugs? Dermot has returned to Ireland to learn just why Nell left - but the answer may kill him, for his quest is linked to the current peace talks between Ireland and England, as well as to the bloody history of the years 1919 - 1923. Soon the irresistible and very canny Nuala seems all that stands between Dermot and death. But Dermot's all that protects Nuala, too. And unless they can unravel the secrets of Nell's youth, not only their lives, but hopes for peace in Northern Ireland, may be imperilled.