This book offers a startling new perspective on one of history's most famous unsolved mysteries: the fatal shooting in August 1922 of Michael Collins, Commander-in-Chief of newly-independent Ireland. This is the first book to do so since the publication of John Feehan's landmark 1981 study.

In the three decades which have passed since Feehan's important treatment, the centenary of Collins' birth (1990) has spawned a tsunami of new interest, books and films. Yet many questions remain unanswered regarding his suspicious demise.

While of vivid interest for the many Michael Collins fans and experts all over the world, the book is written to also be accessible for those who are hearing of him for the first time.

The need for this new study, and the reasons why it is important to understand Collins' end, are explained in the Introduction; which also discusses the challenges of this subject, which have frustrated past attempts by other writers.

Part One is entitled "What Do We Really Know?" This section is devoted to an in-depth review and critique of the known evidence to date. It begins with a brief bio of Michael Collins' life and times: including the War of Independence, the notorious Treaty controversy, which led directly to his death, and his final journey, from which he never returned (of which it describes only those bare facts which are undisputed.)

Then follows a penetrating critique of the witnesses' testimony. "What does the eye-witness testimony tell us?" poses many important questions, and offers some shocking answers. The original witness statements available are provided ver batim in an appendix; followed by an exhaustive inventory, which carefully catalogues and compares each account with that of every other witness.

Part Two constitutes this author's New analysis. This includes considerable exploration of that background of political turmoil which led up to Collins' death. In this, the author manages to cast a different light and offer a fresh perspective; while demonstrating firm support for this assessment, in the most important previous chroniclers.

Part Two culminates with a new reconstruction of What happened at Béal na mBláth: an educated estimation as to what all of the foregoing adds up to. This surmise is sure to startle readers; while it yet demonstrably fits the known facts and eyewitness accounts.

Part Three discusses Aftermath, legacies and ramifications. It explores how Collins was treated in death by his former colleagues and opponents; the meaning of his death, and of the reactions thereto. This includes an exploration of Collins' tragedy in a wider sense: as an occupational hazard of popular movements for self-determination everywhere, and their leaders.

Appendices provide documents from the Civil War, including peace negotiations in which Collins was concerned at the time of his death. Another is devoted to "Debunking the myths": due to its unresolved nature, discussion of Collins' fate has often more resembled folklore than history. It has been plagued by myth-making. Therefore, eleven of the most prevalent and misleading myths are listed, analyzed and dismantled.

"Crime of the century" is an expression which has been too often exploited by sensationalist commentators. Yet Collins' martyrdom was indeed one of history's defining moments, at the dawn of the turbulent 20th century. It was a particular type of political tragedy: one which the following decades would see replayed over and over again, throughout the world. It bore many factors in common with the fate of other great leaders. It could be called one of the opening salvos, in the sort of national and international conflicts which would define the era. In this sense, it may also be seen as a kind of skeleton key: a deeper understanding of which may unlock riddles in other cases like his. ( )