Divorcing Jack

Dan Starkey is a cynical Northern Irish columnist whose sharp wit hides moral fault lines. He cheats on his wife Patricia with Margaret, complicating his personal life and motives. His investigative drive pulls him into dangerous confrontations with paramilitaries and a political conspiracy. He chooses to publish the truth despite the risks, asserting journalistic integrity over self-preservation.

Charles Parker is the American journalist who partners with Starkey to chase a hidden truth behind Brinn and the bombs. He brings a cool, methodical approach and steady skepticism to a volatile investigation. Parker's loyalty to uncovering facts is tested by political danger and personal risk. He remains a grounding force as events spiral toward violence.

Michael Brinn appears as a charismatic politician who campaigns for peace while allegedly orchestrating violence behind the scenes. The summary reveals his manipulation and ties to bombings, exposing the gap between his public persona and private actions. Brinn embodies the theme that political power can disguise brutality. His exposure underscores the fragility of peace promises.

Margaret is a young art student connected to Starkey and Brinn through old friends. Her murder catalyzes the investigation and reveals how personal networks intersect with political intrigue. Her death exposes vulnerability in a hostile environment where individuals are pulled into dangerous games of power. She becomes a symbol of the collateral damage of conflict.

Lee Cooper is a nurse by day and a stripper by night, embodying dualities of care and risk. She rescues Starkey during a violent moment, becoming a key ally in the pursuit of truth. Her resourcefulness and courage contrast with the political maneuvering around Brinn. She represents a practical form of resilience within a dangerous landscape.

Patricia Starkey is Starkey's wife, whose absence and later kidnapping heighten the personal stakes of the political intrigue. Her kidnapping adds pressure on Starkey to reveal the truth regardless of danger. She embodies the human cost of a life caught between personal loyalty and public scandal. The strain on their marriage mirrors the larger fracture in society.

Cow Pat Keegan is the feared terrorist mastermind behind the violence, using intimidation to control events. He captures Parker and presses Starkey to hand over the tape, representing the immediacy of threat in the conflict. Keegan's ruthlessness reveals how violence is used as a tool to manipulate political outcomes. His actions drive the thriller’s climactic confrontations.