It focuses on the personal effects of The Troubles, a period of ethnic, religious and political conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to 1998.

The men force Dillon, an apolitical hotel manager, to drive his bomb-laden car to the hotel that he manages so that they can kill a leading Protestant reverend, members of the Orange Order, and militant Protestants, all of whom are attending the same function.

Various aspects of female psychology are also present throughout the novel, including Dillon's extramarital affair with the Canadian writer Andrea and Moira's mental breakdown following the revelation of his infidelity.

Publishers Weekly described it as "Moore's most powerful, meaningful and timely novel",[2] the Toronto Sun said that "once again Brian Moore proves his astonishing versatility and compelling humanity as a writer," the Irish Independent noted that "the writing is crisp and taut" and that "the moral crises [...] are intensely complex and gripping,"[3] and Francine Prose in The New York Times described it as "characteristically first rate... intelligent...

[5] Lies of Silence is a choice for English comparative study for the Leaving Certificate in schools in Ireland.