A Mortal Terror
A Billy Boyle, World War II Mystery by James R. Benn
Review: January 1944: On leave in Switzerland from his post as a military investigator, 1st Lieutenant Billy Boyle is ordered to Naples, Italy, to look into the murders of two US Army officers in A Mortal Terror, the sixth mystery in this series by James R. Benn.
The first man, Lt. Norman Landry, was found in the 3rd Division bivouac area at Caserta, just outside of Naples. His body was found behind a supply tent, his neck snapped, a brand new playing card showing out of his shirt pocket: the ten of hearts. There were no other cards near the body. The second officer was Captain Max Galante, M.D., of the 5th Army medical staff. His body was found the same night outside headquarters at Caserta, strangled. A playing card was also sticking out of his shirt pocket: the jack of hearts. To Billy, these cards were sending a message from the killer. Higher ranking officers were next on his list.
The mysteries in this series have been uniformly outstanding, and A Mortal Terror continues this fine trend. They are typically not simply whodunit-style murder mysteries, but often involve a personal element. In this case, it is Billy's younger brother, Danny, who has joined the Army Special Training Program at his college. And Danny has been assigned to a platoon in Caserta, arriving just after Billy. But concern for his wildly inexperienced young brother has to take a second place to his duty to solve these murders. What do the dead men have in common? Are the playing cards a ruse, to divert his attention from the next target? Or if not, will he be able to figure out what they mean and prevent another officer from being killed?
As a character, Billy Boyle is true to his faith, his family and his country. Benn has a unique and sensitive way of incorporating the horror of war into a credible fictional narrative. This book, and the ones that precede it, is highly and enthusiastically recommended.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of A Mortal Terror.
Acknowledgment: Soho Press provided an ARC of A Mortal Terror for this review.
Review Copyright © 2011 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Selected reviews of other mysteries by this author …
Rag and Bone
Soho Press (Hardcover), September 2010
ISBN-13: 9781569478493; ISBN-10: 156947849X
Location(s) referenced in A Mortal Terror: Italy
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A Mortal Terror by James R. Benn
Publisher: Soho Crime
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 1-56947-994-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-56947-994-0
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $25.00
Synopsis (from the publisher): In his time investigating crimes for both the Boston cops and General Ike's European forces, Lieutenant Billy Boyle hasn't encountered a serial killer. But now it looks like he may — a serial killer with a particularly frightening agenda.
Two officers from the American troops stationed in Caserta, Italy, not far from Naples, have been found murdered. Lieutenant Norman Landry was found behind a supply tent with his neck snapped. Captain Max Galante, MD, was strangled on the same night, and his body left in a garden outside HQ. The MOs are completely different, and it seems like the officers had no connection to each other, but one frightening fact links the murders: each body was discovered with a single playing card: the Lieutenant, the ten of hearts; the Captain, the jack of hearts. The message seems to be clear — if the murderer isn't apprehended, the higher ranks will be next.
Billy is sent to Italy for the investigation, which grows increasingly sinister. But he has other things on his mind, too. His girlfriend, Diana, is on a very dangerous spy mission, and Billy doesn't know when — or if — he'll see her again. To make matters worse, Billy's just learned that his baby brother, Danny, is being sent over to Europe as an infantry replacement, an incredibly dangerous assignment. And all around him, he sees GIs suffering from combat fatigue preparing for another battle. As the invasion at Anzio begins, Billy needs to keep a cool head amidst fear and terror as the killer calculates his next moves.