The First Wave
A
Billy Boyle Mystery
James R. Benn
Soho Crime (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-56947-471-0 (1569474710)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-471-6 (9781569474716)
Publication Date: September 2007
List Price: $24.00
Synopsis (from the publisher): Lt. Billy Boyle reluctantly accompanies Major Samuel Harding, his boss, in the first boat to land on the shores of Algeria during the Allied invasion. Their task is to arrange the surrender of the Vichy French forces. But there is dissension between the regular army, the local militia and DeGaulle’s Free French. American black marketeers in league with the enemy divert medical supplies to the Casbah, leading to multiple murders that Billy must solve while trying to rescue the girl he loves, a captured British spy.
Review:
Billy Boyle lands on the shores of Algeria during the Allied invasion
and finds himself investigating black market murders in The First Wave, the
second mystery in this series by James R. Benn.
Lt. Billy Boyle is a third-generation cop from Boston who
is currently
serving as a military investigator under Maj. Sam Harding in the US
Army in 1942. Harding is assigned to liberate Algeria from the Vichy
Regime, a client state of Nazi Germany, and Billy accompanies him on
the first boat to land on the shores of the African nation. Setting up
office in a base hospital, the officers are faced with a number of
immediate non-combat problems. A rebel group has captured a group of
college
students who were in Algeria to protest the war and medical supplies
are being stolen and sold on the black market which may also be linked
to the murders of several soldiers. Billy's assignment is to find the
location of the rebel group as well as to shut down the black market
before anyone else is killed.
The combination of fact and fiction is often a compelling mix,
especially in a mystery. As Billy is part of the first wave to land on
Algeria, he wonders if the French will regard the Americans as invaders
or liberators. Historically accurate, this conflict contributes to the
suspense of the story and, not coincidentally, adds to the list of
suspects. Who can Billy trust in this occupied foreign land?
Billy goes about his assignment with a positive attitude and good humor
despite being knocked around a bit. He's a very well drawn character.
The mystery here is cleverly conceived with a number of unexpected
twists and turns in a multi-faceted plot.
Despite the striking and colorful book cover, The First Wave
feels more like a classic noir-ish WWII suspense thriller. Billy's
escapades in Algeria are an exciting addition to this well-written
series.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The First Wave and to Soho Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Mysteries in this series ...
Billy Boyle
Soho Press (Hardcover), September 2006
ISBN-10: 1-56947-433-8 (1569474338)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-433-4 (9781569474334)
The First Wave
Soho Press (Hardcover), September 2007
ISBN-10: 1-56947-471-0 (1569474710)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-471-6 (9781569474716)
Blood
Alone
Soho Press (Hardcover), September 2008
ISBN-10: 1-56947-516-4 (1569475164)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-516-4 (9781569475164)
Omnimystery keywords for The First Wave ...
Location(s) referenced: Algeria.