The 12 Pins (Paperback or Softback)

In 1947 Mary Deben travels to Connemara, Ireland to write her ‘Spanish novel’.

She recounts her recruitment of Tom Lees to be her ‘eyes and ears' on their journey to report on the Spanish Civil War in 1937. Although sympathetic to the Republicans, they follow the the Irish Blueshirts, to the Francoist-Nationalist side.

Mary is prevented from going to the front and only Tom sees action with the calamitous Irish Brigade. Experiencing the horrifying menace of the fascists and the complicity of the Press on the Nationalist side, Mary escapes from Spain leaving Tom to an unknown fate.

Ten years later, in Connemara, Mary is remorseful of having enlisted Tom. She unwittingly becomes involved in the child abuse scandal of the Industrial Schools.

Recruiting a young Christian Brother she gathers evidence of the abuse in a local School. While reporting on the the scandal, she learns of Tom’s fate and has a meeting with an extraordinary stranger, one that has unexpected consequences.