Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 3
Well, I enjoy reading World War II history. I also enjoy historical fiction and mysteries. So, unless the story stinks or has too much sex and unnecessary violence, combining all three is a win-win-win read for me.
Newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Billy Boyle is an Irish-American cop from South Boston who just wants to sit the war out in a comfortable billet without too much danger. Unfortunately, the relative whose states-side staff he was suppose to join in Washington got posted to England. Boyle enters London just after a German bombing raid and sees victims of the Blitz. Thus begins his continuing education that "no man is an island," and that perhaps he'd better play a bigger role in this war than he initially intended.
The war becomes more personal when people he has come to regard as friends turn into war casualties. And the English, a people he had been taught to dislike by his father's IRA-supporting friends, turn out to be people he learns to respect. And when some of them get seriously hurt, his detective skills are called on to find the people who harmed his friends.
He quickly finds that the resolution of the men and women who are determined to defeat the Nazis is sometimes countered by greed, murder, intrigue, treason, conspiracy and worse.
This book was an easy and entertaining read. I started and completed it within 36 hours over a July 4th weekend that also included another book and two movies. It reminded me of the old-style mysteries of the 30s and 40s that didn't need explicit sex to drive sales.
My only problem with it is that I am fifth or sixth in line to get the next volume in this series that people aren't regularly posting. I may have to resort to clicking on the Amazon button to buy the next Billy Boyle mystery.
Newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Billy Boyle is an Irish-American cop from South Boston who just wants to sit the war out in a comfortable billet without too much danger. Unfortunately, the relative whose states-side staff he was suppose to join in Washington got posted to England. Boyle enters London just after a German bombing raid and sees victims of the Blitz. Thus begins his continuing education that "no man is an island," and that perhaps he'd better play a bigger role in this war than he initially intended.
The war becomes more personal when people he has come to regard as friends turn into war casualties. And the English, a people he had been taught to dislike by his father's IRA-supporting friends, turn out to be people he learns to respect. And when some of them get seriously hurt, his detective skills are called on to find the people who harmed his friends.
He quickly finds that the resolution of the men and women who are determined to defeat the Nazis is sometimes countered by greed, murder, intrigue, treason, conspiracy and worse.
This book was an easy and entertaining read. I started and completed it within 36 hours over a July 4th weekend that also included another book and two movies. It reminded me of the old-style mysteries of the 30s and 40s that didn't need explicit sex to drive sales.
My only problem with it is that I am fifth or sixth in line to get the next volume in this series that people aren't regularly posting. I may have to resort to clicking on the Amazon button to buy the next Billy Boyle mystery.
Meredith P. (Francophile) reviewed Billy Boyle (Billy Boyle World War II, Bk 1) on + 52 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Looking for a good mystery with a bit of humor and a lot of history? This one is set in WWII England and Europe, and has General Eisenhower as one of the characters. A good story that keeps you guessing to the very end. Well-drawn characters, charming protaganist.
Helpful Score: 1
Billy Boyle is the introductory novel to a world we today do not know. Billy has just gotten to be a detective in Boston. He's part of a large clan of Irish friends and relatives. His mother does not want him to be drafted. When she remembers a distant relative (a Doud)b is married to a general who is stationed stateside, she makes arrangements for Billy to be attached to this general. The Doud connection is to Uncle Ike, who Billy soon discovers is now in England! His Irish relatives aren't excited about his helping the English.
Billy is immersed in a world of secrecy. He soon discovers he's to help discover a spy at a Danish compound in England. When murder happens, he gets involved. There's new friends, a Polish count and a beautiful Englishwoman.
This book was an interesting read. Billy isn't always honest; he goes around the rules & laws. Billy is almost an innocent abroad who is growing up & learning as he works. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Billy is immersed in a world of secrecy. He soon discovers he's to help discover a spy at a Danish compound in England. When murder happens, he gets involved. There's new friends, a Polish count and a beautiful Englishwoman.
This book was an interesting read. Billy isn't always honest; he goes around the rules & laws. Billy is almost an innocent abroad who is growing up & learning as he works. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a charming book. It had lots of '40s lingo and was all in all a lot of fun. The plot wasn't terribly complex - though there were a few surprises. Mostly it made for a fun read that wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable if it weren't for the characters. They were immensely likable I will keep an eye out to read about Billy's other exploits.
Helpful Score: 1
I would never have picked this up if it weren't for so many positive recommendations in a discussion group I belong to. The WWII backdrop just didn't appeal that much to me. I'm glad I tried it. Loved the character of Billy Boyle, the mystery is a nice puzzle with a couple little twists, great supporting characters and an excellent sense of place and time. The details of WWII battles, except for a few big ones, are not in my memory, so I was sorely tempted to go look up the Norwegian invasion to find out what really happened (I let the book tell me instead). Really good storytelling, I put aside everything else while reading it.
