The First Wave (Billy Boyle World War II, #2)

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The First Wave (Billy Boyle World War II #2)

by James R. Benn

3.70 · rating details · 181 ratings · 39 reviews

“ Benn follows up his first World War II mystery (Billy Boyle) with another danger-filled episode and delivers a cross-genre tale that is at once spy story, soldier story, and hard-Boyled detective.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“The period details are spot-on and Billy . . . continues to make a thoroughly engaging detective.”—The Denver Post

“Part Indiana Jones derri...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published September 1st 2008 by Soho Press (first published September 1st 2007)

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Mar 12, 2011

Cheryl Gatling added it · review of another edition

Shelves: ordinal-numbers

Doesn't everyone love a Boston Irish lad? A little charming, a little awkward with the ladies (yet successful enough to win a beautiful blonde girlfriend), impulsive enough to disobey orders whenever necessary, smart-talking, informal and rumpled, brave enough (or love-sick enough) to walk through fire to rescue the lady, devoted enough (or stupid enough) to get off his cot despite a fractured skull to save the life of his best friend. Billy Boyle (who just happens to be a nephew of the general ...more

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Mar 11, 2011

Steve rated it

· review of another edition

The book has a promising premise, and the historical background of America's working with the Vichy French and introducing penicillin to the world in 1942 would be engrossing, except that Benn writes like the history teacher he used to be. The prose is alternately clumsy, callow, or both, and Billy comes across more like a physically (not mentally or emotionally) mature older brother of Frank and Joe Hardy than an ex-Boston detective who has enlisted after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

...more

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Feb 05, 2011

Jeannie Mancini rated it

· review of another edition

All’s Fair in Love and War

Once again our Boston city cop turned World War II Private Investigator is thrown into the fray as bullets fly, bombs drop, and murder and mayhem toss Billy Boyle into the fires of chaos. Just back from a skirmish in Norway, his uncle General Ike Eisenhower hands Billy his second mission, allowing him a not so scenic tour of exotic Algiers. This version of the Kasbah was not what Billy had envisioned.

Arriving on desert shores with the First Wave of ...moreAll’s Fair in Love and War

Once again our Boston city cop turned World War II Private Investigator is thrown into the fray as bullets fly, bombs drop, and murder and mayhem toss Billy Boyle into the fires of chaos. Just back from a skirmish in Norway, his uncle General Ike Eisenhower hands Billy his second mission, allowing him a not so scenic tour of exotic Algiers. This version of the Kasbah was not what Billy had envisioned.

Arriving on desert shores with the First Wave of American troops, Billy and his commanding officer Major Sam Harding, immediately encounter a barrage of submachine guns pelleting them with lead that falls like rain. Greeted by both enemies and allies, Billy and Sam scamper off the beach into town, finding headquarters at a hospital outpost. They are there to assist Algiers and convince France to join the British Allies to fight against the Germans, but the Vichy French have agendas of their own and all is not as it should be among the world of sand and palm trees.

Not even an evening passes before the heat gets turned up and Billy is forced to play detective. Two murders, a drug heist, and his beloved Diana, who is an undercover special operative agent, gets kidnapped by an sadistic French officer taking prisoners for ransom.

This second installment brings the reader a volatile, high octane historical adventure mystery packed with blood curdling action, World War II history, romance, humor and a complex murder plot to rival any of the other top Noir style mystery novels. James Benn is a top-notch writer who has the talent to pull it all together with a blend of ingredients that can only win. With loveable characters you can do nothing but root for, and pages that turn for the reader like wildfire, I doubt any avid reader could put the Billy Boyle series down. High praise all around for a series that has it all, 5 stars for James Benn. His hero is handsome, his hero is brave, now if he can only manage to get the girl! Well, he does get her, but somehow keeps losing her….. Fabulous second installment to this addictive new series!
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Aug 17, 2010

Brian DiMattia rated it

· review of another edition

In the Billy Boyle series, James R. Benn has created an interesting character with some potential. He tries to mine the early 20th century Irish in Boston experience for a young man who is both worldly wise and naive. Unfortunately, it doesn't come together all that well.

Boyle keeps bouncing back and forth between being an observant investigator and savvy interviewer in some scenes and an innocent who can't believe the horrors of war and the politics of convenience it inspires in C...moreIn the Billy Boyle series, James R. Benn has created an interesting character with some potential. He tries to mine the early 20th century Irish in Boston experience for a young man who is both worldly wise and naive. Unfortunately, it doesn't come together all that well.

Boyle keeps bouncing back and forth between being an observant investigator and savvy interviewer in some scenes and an innocent who can't believe the horrors of war and the politics of convenience it inspires in Commanders. At some points it's like Benn wants him to be Bobby Goren from the early days of L&O: CI, and at others he's written like some wide eyed kid, think Jimmy Olsen with less spunk or fighting experience. This is awkward enough with the investigations, but when he also has to swear cold eyed revenge, cynically reflect on how cops tolerate and engage in light corruption, and be a manly but conflicted lover, it's just too much. It's like split personality, and you have no idea which Billy Boyle he's going to end up being in each scene.

The rest of the characters do little to improve things. Boyle's boss, Major Sam Harding, is a caricature of the regular army type who has better things to do than mess around with this kid's hunches. His sidekick, Kaz the Polish Baron, could have been interesting, but seems to only be around to mangle English and get into scrapes. Another character I won't identify (to avoid spoilers) is supposed to be a big reveal as a villain at the end, but by that point it's so ridiculously obvious to the reader that you want to throw up your hands and yell "DUH!" The truth is, the most interesting character Benn has created so far is one that he killed off late in the first book.

After a rant like this, how do I ever manage to give this book three stars? Because of the history. James R. Benn is a lot of things as a writer, but it's plain to see that he has not only a fascination for, but a grasp on World War II in ways that most movies and books just gloss over or miss completely. Considering themes like infighting amongst various Vichy French forces, military policy towards women's place in the chain of command, four-packs of "Lucky Strikes" included with MRE's and field hospital policy regarding Morphine doses, Benn puts immaculate and beautiful background research into his books. As a fan of World War II history, I enjoy his historical details so much that I'm going to keep reading this series. Because the War writing is actually good enough to make up for the bad mystery writing.

And because outside of writing, James R. Benn is a Librarian, so I have nothing but the highest respect for him!(less)

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Jul 28, 2010

Joni rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, interesting-place, ww2, mystery

I learned that WWII military nurses were paid only 50% of men. Males of lower rank not have to salute nurses, nor could nurses issue orders to men - the thought being no man should have to salute a nurse carrying a bedpan.
"Benn continues to create fascinating behind-the-scenes mysteries from little-known facets of World War II history. . . . A fast-paced mix of action, adventure, and crime solving. . . . A solid series that keeps getting better."-Booklist

"The Bi...more

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Jan 18, 2009

Kristen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mysteries

This is the second in a series of World War II mystery novels starring Billy Boyle, a young Irish police detective from South Boston who's gotten the job of looking into criminal activity within the military for his "Uncle Ike." The first one (Billy Boyle) was very good, and so is this one - Billy arrives in North Africa with the first wave of the Allied invasion, accompanying a senior officer who's supposed to make contact with the French resistance. Very little goes as planned, and...more

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Mar 22, 2011

Susan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult

A perfect book for high school boys! This has military action, a little love interest but nothing gushy, and tells the reader a great deal about WWII in Algeria. Billy Boyle, nephew of General Eisenhower (Uncle Ike) is the general's eyes on the ground. Billy is sent with the first wave of an invasion force into North Africa to check out what is going on with the arab natives. He finds that his "love interest" has been taken prisoner by the Vichy French with a group of young "r...more

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Nov 01, 2011

Thomas Holbrook rated it

· review of another edition

Lieutenant William “Billy” Boyle is in “the first wave” of the allied landing in Algiers. At the time of this landing, Algiers was held by the Vichy French, who were German allies, so the “landing” looked suspiciously like an invasion. Our hero, Billy, has been sent a head of the main force with orders to contact the resistance to pave the way for the successful allied assault. This plan, as do all military strategies, “does not hold together after contact with the enemy.” Within the first...more Lieutenant William “Billy” Boyle is in “the first wave” of the allied landing in Algiers. At the time of this landing, Algiers was held by the Vichy French, who were German allies, so the “landing” looked suspiciously like an invasion. Our hero, Billy, has been sent a head of the main force with orders to contact the resistance to pave the way for the successful allied assault. This plan, as do all military strategies, “does not hold together after contact with the enemy.” Within the first twenty four hours of Lt. Boyle’s landing, he finds himself investigating: a murder, a drug heist and hostages held for ransom (one of whom is his beloved Diana) all while having to navigate ever-shifting orders and military loyalties.
I enjoyed the first of this series because of its plot lines, historical context and quality writing. What I found in this, the second of the series, was more of what was found in the first book with the pleasant surprise of Billy being “allowed” to be changed by his experience of war. The witty repartee between Billy and “Kaz,” the exiled Polish Baron Billy met while in London, is as fresh as it was in found to be previously albeit with an edge. This edge, it is discovered, is caused by the grief Kaz is experiencing after his loss of Daphne, Diana’s sister, while he was in London. Billy is still as distrusting of authority as he was while he was a Boston Police Officer and his habit of only obeying those orders that suit him lends our hero an air of authenticity. The book has a flavor of Detective Noir popularized during the period of WWII.
The person Billy is when he lands in Algiers is not the same who “settles the score” in the final pages of the book. His experience of war, not just battle, causes a shift within him that will mark him for the remainder of his life. He is an excellent investigator, police officer and military man therefore he stays with the crime until it is solved. What he discovers about the military, human behavior and war in the course of that investigation is what makes this Boston Policeman into a veteran.
Mr. Benn takes some liberties with history for plot purposes, but most of his historical points are accurate and cause the book to have a feel of being more history than fiction. There is mature language, action and situations galore throughout the book but none is sufficient to be what would be found in a PG-13 movie. I learned more about the Second World War in North Africa reading this book than I did while I was in school (History was not my forte at the time) so I hope to continue my education of this period while I travel with Billy as he solves mysteries throughout the European Theater of War.
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Mar 20, 2011

Judy rated it

· review of another edition

Army Lt. Billy Boyle lands in the first wave sent ashore by Allied forces to liberate Algeria in 1942. Billy is a distant relation of General Dwight Eisenhower and since Eisenhower likes to help family, he makes Billy his personal investigator. Not bad for an Irish kid who rose through the police department in Boston because of his family connections and in five years became a detective. Oh, once in Algeria, mayhem ensues. Not my cup of tea. This is be the last of this series that I read. ...more

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Nov 22, 2010

Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

“The First Wave” by James R. Benn is second book in the fictional Billy Boyle series. In the Billy Boyle book (review) we meet the young Boston cop who has been enlisted as a special investigator to his uncle in Washington during WWII. Only that his uncle is Ike, and he takes Billy with him overseas.

The characters from the first book are being assembled, this time in Algeria, getting ready for the Allied forces to take over, hoping the French won’t put up a fight (they did). Stati...more“The First Wave” by James R. Benn is second book in the fictional Billy Boyle series. In the Billy Boyle book (review) we meet the young Boston cop who has been enlisted as a special investigator to his uncle in Washington during WWII. Only that his uncle is Ike, and he takes Billy with him overseas.

The characters from the first book are being assembled, this time in Algeria, getting ready for the Allied forces to take over, hoping the French won’t put up a fight (they did). Stations in a military hospital, Boyle discovers that a drug smuggling ring involving many high ranking Vichy officials is operating with aid from someone who is knowledgeable about top secret data.
Mix the smuggling up with a coup, murders and a kidnapping and you got the making of an interesting story.

Billy not only has to uncover the corruption which has become the norm, but also be sensitive as to not screw up Eisenhower’s notorious “deal with Darlan” – the fascist, antisemitic highest ranking leader of the French Vichy government.

While the first book in the series I considered historical-fiction, this book is more of a crime story which happens during war time. The history is there, but it there are far too many liberties taken with time-line and the story-line does not deal with any specific occurrences (such as Operation Jupiter from the last book).

The author did make this clear at the end notes, otherwise my rating would dropped.That being said, I like the fact that the stories revolve around little known events of World War II instead of the big ones we all learned about.

In “The First Wave” Billy has matured, he has seen devastation, revenge, backstabbing and some more of the acts men do in war time. Much like Billy, so has Mr. Benn’s narrative matured. The book is still an easy read and fast paced , but is more darker in storyline as well as tone.

The competing Vichy (that’s the French government the Nazi’s installed) interested are outlined by Mr. Benn are very interesting. Those interests shows how complicated and somewhat unrealistic were the hopes of the Allies that they would be greeted as liberators (we were not).

The book also centers around two other main subject, while not as exciting as murder & mayhem are no less important and in my opinion even more. The first is Pfizer’s ability to mass produce penicillin. The second is the important role of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. It was very inspiring to read a book which honors those women who despite holding a “Relative Rank” (meaning they didn’t have to be saluted to) and getting 50% less than their male counterparts, still volunteered in droves to serve in combat zones.

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Jul 31, 2011

Olgalijo rated it

· review of another edition

I'm not very interested in war in itself; so I have never read too much about WWII appart from my world History lessons (no, Spaniards don't deal much with WWII anything; we where too busy recovering from our own war to get into that). so it was very ineresting for me to learn some details about that war in Africa. The historical setting seemed to be very well researched, and the plot seemed consistent. I also liked the main character's insights and internal reactions. I would have parted with s...more

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Mar 08, 2008

Nikki rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

Billy Boyle was a newly-minted detective on the Boston police force when World War II broke out. He made detective because his father and uncle "took care of him" by making sure he knew the answers to the exam in advance. His Irish-American family isn't excited about fighting on the side of England, but a family connection to Mamie Eisenhower gets him what they think will be a cushy office job. Then Ike goes to Europe and Billy goes along as his top-secret investigator. This is the se...more

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Oct 24, 2008

Chuck rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: history, mystery

The First Wave is the second offering in the Billy Boyle WWII mystery series. After successfully solving his first case, Boyle finds himself spearheading the landings in North Africa. Not as a solider, but as a quasi-diplomat along with his Boss and foil, Major Harding. Their mission is to make contact with sympathizers in the Vichy government to avoid any possible fighting with the Allied troops. The pair quickly find themselves captured by fascists and after a rescue by commandos, soon wrapped...more

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May 25, 2011

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-historical-military

Another riveting read with Billy Boyle multi-tasking superbly in Algiers. This book highlights the contributions of women as nurses to the battlefield and the secret wonder drug of penicillin. Billy crosses a personal Rubicon in this book in regard to killing. Characters from the first book reappear and insert themselves into Jimmy's mission as well. Lots of duplicity with the Vichy French and a criminal element also make for an entertaining read. You are never quite sure who is killing who and ...more

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Nov 15, 2010

Janette rated it

· review of another edition

I should probably give this a 3 star, the writing is good, the mystery is good, I like the characters, BUT I know nothing about the Vicy French and Algeria. I was totally confused about who was who and who was doing what for over 1/2 of the book. There was a lot of murders and mayhem in this one, the mayhem from the war happenings, but it was a bit much. I will try the next one in the series because I liked the first one so much.

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Oct 24, 2010

Katherine rated it

· review of another edition

I liked it very much, but for some reason what stands out most is that this is the first cozy-ish mystery I've read where a central character is raped, and the victim has a realistic response. I don't know why, but I found that very shocking; I kept expecting there to be some last-minute revelation indicating that events had been interpreted incorrectly, and it hadn't actually happened.

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Oct 03, 2010

Kevin rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thrillers, nook

An excellent follow up to "Billy Boyle.". I really enjoyed this story about an investigator breaking up a smuggling ring asthe allies initially go to Algeria and France during World War II. This book had the intensity of the best "Indiana Jones."

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Oct 11, 2009

Shana rated it

The second installment of the Billy Boyle WWII mysteries. This time, Billy arrives in Algiers to help turn French loyalties. Much action ensues in the book -- from missing penicillian, dead French soldiers, Billy's girlfriend getting kidnapped, and much more.

I enjoy the characters of these books, and it probably would've been better if it hadn't been so long since I read the first one. I found this book more confusing and violent, so not nearly as enjoyable as the first.

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Jun 25, 2009

Colleen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: whodunnit

This is a good mystery and I will now read the others in the series. The villain was a little predictable but the hero was engaging and book had a nice pace.

Liked the WW2 nurse angle!

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Aug 12, 2009

Ed rated it

· review of another edition

Another excellent Billy Boyle tale by Benn...set in North Africa during the invasion. A great read! Again, fictional characters, blended with real characters and reasonably historically accurate.

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Mar 12, 2011

Sharon Hallman rated it

· review of another edition

Another great story by Benn. Everyone falls in love with Billy and his wild escapades. Love these books.

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Jan 30, 2011

Paul added it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Not rated. Abandoned after a few chapters. Too contrived, doesn't resemble any sort of reality I recognize.

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Sep 17, 2011

Nancy rated it

· review of another edition

Another great read, this time in North Africa. Fighting the evils of the WWII. Really comfortable with the way the characters are growing & changing throughout the many faces of the war.

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Dec 19, 2010

Maryann rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery

Again, a nice WWII mystery series, this time set in Algeria.

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Nov 30, 2010

Jerry Killen rated it

· review of another edition

Very enjoyable. Combined mystery with WWII in Africa.

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Oct 17, 2010

Marlene rated it

· review of another edition

I liked this one but not as much as book #1.

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Oct 26, 2010

Elena rated it

· review of another edition

Just as good as the first book.

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Oct 16, 2009

Myersorchard rated it

· review of another edition

not as good as the first but readable.

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Oct 02, 2010

Martina rated it

· review of another edition

#2 in the Billy Boyle series.

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Apr 26, 2011

Norma rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: e-books

Yep, I still like Billy...

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About James R. Benn

James R. Benn is the author of Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery, selected by Book Sense as one of the top five mysteries of 2006 and nominated for a Dilys Award. The First Wave was a Book Sense Notable title.
Benn is a librarian and lives in Hadlyme, Connecticut.

More about James R. Benn...

Books by James R. Benn

Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery (Billy Boyle World War II, #1)

Blood Alone (Billy Boyle World War II, #3)

Rag and Bone (Billy Boyle World War II, #5)

Evil for Evil (Billy Boyle World War II, #4)

A Mortal Terror (Billy Boyle World War II, #6)

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