...a cavalcade of exotic adventures.
Readers follow Billy from London to all
sorts of unexpected locales. But it's
the journeys Boyle takes within his own mind
and heart that are of greater import...James
R. Benn just spins a ripping good yarn.
-Mystery Scene Magazine
The Yanks don’t do war like the Brits,
and James R. Benn’s World War II mysteries
are a case in point. In the first three
novels in this lively (and surprisingly
thoughtful) adventure series, Benn’s hero,
Lt. Billy Boyle, a rookie Irish cop from
South Boston, was still a “rosy-cheeked
youth” under the protection of his distant
relative, “Uncle Ike,” who sent him on
exciting secret missions where he made
exotic friends. It was dangerous, but it was
also a lot of fun. Billy is still the
charmer in EVIL FOR EVIL
(Soho, $25), which lands him in a
United States Army arms depot in Northern
Ireland, investigating the theft of a
shipment of 50 high-powered rifles. But war
can take the romance out of boyish ideals,
and Billy’s loyalties to his ancestral sod
are tested when he finds himself working
with British and Ulster authorities on a tip
that the I.R.A. stole the weapons, possibly
with German help. Characters as distinctive
as their fine-tuned slang walk Billy through
the thickets of this treacherous political
landscape. Only when he’s made peace with
his conflicted soul (“I felt guilty, wishing
God hadn’t given me the sense to see two
sides of a thing”), can he recognize this
divided country for what it is: home.
—Mariltn Stasio, New York Times Book Review.
Evil
for Evil is the best book in the Billy
Boyle series...to date. It is a well-paced mystery that highlights a
little known aspect of World War II history. Benn also does an
excellent job of illustrating the dilemma faced by Billy in solving
this crime...the story is filled with a nice assortment of spies, an
ever growing body count, lots of intrigue, and an era specific
atmosphere that brings the story to life....I'm looking forward to
reading the future adventures of Billy Boyle.
—Herbert White, Large Print Reviews.
Like the other books in this series Benn makes sure
that his details are correct, that the mystery is interesting, that
it all has the ring of authenticity. But this time it is Billy
himself who must confront who and what he is, to discover what is
most truly important to him. And it would be hard to find one word
that Benn missed on. The book has a fully realized feel to it...It
is, in short, a terrific read, that deserves a lot more attention
than the series had gotten so far.
- Bill Webb "I Love a Mystery"
Fans of
historical mysteries and World War II buffs will savor
“Evil for Evil,’’
James Benn’s
latest series novel with Billy Boyle…Rich in its exploration of
Irish history and politics, this is also a character study of brash
young man trying to balance personal, family, and political
loyalties while staying true to himself.
—Hallie Ephron, The Boston Globe
In his fourth outing
(after Blood Alone), Billy Boyle is separated from his
colleagues on "Uncle" Ike's investigative staff and seconded by the
British High Command to solve the mystery of 50 automatic rifles
stolen from an American depot in Northern Ireland. Suspicion falls
on the IRA with the real possibility of ties to Germany, and Boyle—a
good Boston Catholic cop who was raised to view the IRA as
modern-day Robin Hoods—finds himself unsure of whom to trust in the
land of his forefathers. The theft is followed by murders, and Boyle
begins to understand that more is concealed in the Irish rain than
can be explained by sectarian rivalry.
Verdict:
Benn’s novel should appeal to mystery readers who favor the period
or location, fans of war stories, and anyone who likes a good puzzle
or a heart-pounding adventure, not to mention devotees of the
series. A great addition to any mystery collection.
—Library Journal
"Book four in the
Billy Boyle WWII series is a real winner. This series has been
consistently well written and entertaining.
EVIL FOR EVIL opens with
Billy being sent to Northern Ireland to recover some stolen guns and
hopefully keep them from falling into the wrong hands. The Germans
hope that hostilities in Northern Ireland will distract the British
and so Billy’s mission is important on a number of levels. With the
help of an undercover operative he investigates but finds many
suspects on all sides. The seriousness of his mission escalates as
the body count rises.
Benn writes about this era in history like someone who lived it,
his research must be intense because the writing is detailed and
full. He also does a wonderful job with the mystery neither giving
anything away yet playing fair with the reader. Suspenseful to the
end. Another great book from Benn." —Jon
Jordan, Crimespree Magazine
"Deftly
keeps our hero’s wide-eyed verve as he tackles a more complex plot
that takes the series further from whodunit toward thriller."—Kirkus
Reviews
"A
twisting, turning plot drives Benn’s gripping fourth WWII mystery to
feature Lt. Billy Boyle . . . As an Irish-American whose family is
sympathetic to the Republican cause, Billy struggles to remain
impartial as he investigates the various factions on both sides of
the Catholic-Protestant divide. Benn offers no easy answers in this
rich mix of Irish history and wartime intrigue."—Publishers
Weekly
"An
utterly splendid novel."
--Cornelia Read, author of THE CRAZY SCHOOL
"Benn handles the Irish
question effectively, giving context to the “troubles” and capably
showing how WWII introduced an explosive new element to an already
volatile situation... this remains an entertaining series based on
fascinating historical premises."
— Bill Ott, BOOKLIST
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