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 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!