The story revolves around the enigmatic figure of Sir John Joyce, or "The Major" as he prefers to be called, and the shadowy Department for the Containment of Espionage and Terrorism- (DECEIPT), of which Sir John is in charge. Will Sir John manage to recruit Maggie Doyle from under the noses of the IRA? Has he found Lisa Bingham? Painkiller is an absorbing and tense thriller, which delves into the murky world of espionage through he work of a counter-terrorism organisation and its methods. The story moves along at a fast pace with plenty of action and the tension builds throughout the book keeping the reader involved to the end