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Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery by James…
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Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery (edition 2006)

by James R. Benn

Series: Billy Boyle (1), Billy Boyle - Chron (Spring 1942, 1)

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5902640,084 (3.55)44
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:Whatâ??s a twenty-two-year-old Irish American cop whoâ??s never been out of Massachusetts before doing at Beardsley Hall, an English country house, having lunch with King Haakon of Norway? Billy Boyle himself wonders. Back home in Southie, heâ??d barely made detective when war was declared. Unwilling to fightâ??and perhaps dieâ??for England, he was relieved when his mother wangled a job for him on the staff of a general married to her distant cousin. But the general turns out to be Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose headquarters are in London, which is undergoing the Blitz. And Uncle Ike wants Billy to be his personal investigator. 
  
Billy is dispatched to the seat of the Norwegian government in exile. Operation Jupiter, the impending invasion of Norway, is being planned, but it is feared that there is a German spy amongst the Norwegians. 
  
Billy doubts his own abilities, with good reason. A theft and two murders test his investigative powers, but Billy proves to be a better detective than he or anyone
… (more)
Member:jeshakespeare
Title:Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery
Authors:James R. Benn
Info:Soho Press (2006), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 304 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:
Tags:adult fiction, mystery, World War II, Billy Boyle

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Billy Boyle by James R. Benn

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» See also 44 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 26 (next | show all)
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel set during WWII. Billy Boyle, a young Boston cop with a tenuous connection with General Eisenhower, found himself sent to England to help his uncle Ike. The book was serious, based on fact, but still remained entertaining. The twist at the end explained many of the questions I had while I was reading. Now looking forward to reading more in the series. ( )
  VivienneR | Nov 28, 2023 |
There's probably nothing basically wrong with this book, but I'm giving up on it after about 100 pages. It could be that it just doesn't meet my current need of story. Or maybe there's just not enough story.

The basic writing is pretty good. Good descriptions. Good distinctions between the main characters. They just aren't doing enough.

It's pretty slow. There are too many characters to keep track of right off the bat. I didn't really care about whoever it was that turned up dead. The spy threat hasn't been made real. I'm not really connecting with the main character.

I'm glad I got it free for my Nook. ( )
  zot79 | Aug 20, 2023 |
Verging on 4.5 stars. A good start to an engaging series. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery itself. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. ( )
  tsmom1219 | Feb 24, 2022 |
Good book. Somewhat simple writing, but I'm not sure if that's because of the writer's skill or the feel he was trying to give the book. Either way, it worked. I'm looking forward to read his other works. ( )
  monogodo | Sep 15, 2020 |
The first of an extensive historical fiction series featuring an American GI in WW2. The historical account of the military personnel is quite interesting. The storyline is well researched and quite readable. Unfortunately allowing an inexperienced GI a solitary mission causes some loss of credibility. ( )
  MM_Jones | Sep 6, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 26 (next | show all)
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Billy Boyle - Chron (Spring 1942, 1)

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Epigraph
I know a hall whose doors face North on the Strand of Corpses far from the sun, poison drips from lights in the roof;  that building is woven of backs of snakes.  There heavy streams must be waded through by breakers of pledges and murderers. - The Edda:  The Deluding of Gylfi (Norse Mythology, 13th century A.D.)
Dedication
For Debbie--Once a dream, come true.
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Prologue:  I typed the date under my name: Lieutenant William Boyle, August 6, 1942.
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Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:Whatâ??s a twenty-two-year-old Irish American cop whoâ??s never been out of Massachusetts before doing at Beardsley Hall, an English country house, having lunch with King Haakon of Norway? Billy Boyle himself wonders. Back home in Southie, heâ??d barely made detective when war was declared. Unwilling to fightâ??and perhaps dieâ??for England, he was relieved when his mother wangled a job for him on the staff of a general married to her distant cousin. But the general turns out to be Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose headquarters are in London, which is undergoing the Blitz. And Uncle Ike wants Billy to be his personal investigator. 
  
Billy is dispatched to the seat of the Norwegian government in exile. Operation Jupiter, the impending invasion of Norway, is being planned, but it is feared that there is a German spy amongst the Norwegians. 
  
Billy doubts his own abilities, with good reason. A theft and two murders test his investigative powers, but Billy proves to be a better detective than he or anyone

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