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

by James R. Benn

Overview

With a case of amnesia, will Billy remember who he is and what is his mission, before more people are killed?

Billy Boyle has been landed in Sicily in advance of the main Allied invasion forces. But when he awakens in a field hospital after suffering a concussion, he has amnesia. He doesn't know who he is or where he is, much less what his mission is. His only clue is that he possesses a yellow silk handkerchief embroidered with the initial L and a lot of people seem to be eager to get their hands on this talisman.

As Billy gradually recovers his memory, he recalls that he is his "Uncle" Ike's personal investigator in the European Theater of War. Before Billy can remember the dangerous task that has been entrusted to him and do his best to carry it out, several people are murdered. Those opposing him include members of various factions of the American Mafia, as well as soldiers of the German and Italian Armies.

Billy finally remembers his name, but to truly resolve the question of his identity he must dig deep into his soul to discover what kind of man he is.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781569475959
Publisher:	Soho Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Series:	Billy Boyle World War II Mystery Series , #3
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.52(w) x 8.78(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

James R. Benn is the author of ten books in the Billy Boyle series: Billy Boyle, The First Wave, Blood Alone, Evil for Evil, Rag & Bone, A Mortal Terror, Death’s Door, A Blind Goddess, The Rest Is Silence, and The White Ghost. A librarian for many years, he lives in Hadlyme, Connecticut, with his wife, Deborah Mandel.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Blood Alone

“A harrowing adventure that delivers on suspense and, quite movingly, on emotional registers too.”
—Megan Abbott

“James Benn is a wonderful writer and Blood Alone is terrific. The premise is irresistible, the pacing nonstop, the prose razor sharp. Any fan of Ken Follett or Alan Furst, or anyone who enjoys reading about World War II—or just a great story—will love this book.”
—Joseph Finder

“Immediately engaging . . . Blood Alone is an intriguing blend of history and fiction, superbly crafted and paced, easily the best period mystery I’ve read in quite some time.”
—BookPage

“A fast-paced mix of action, adventure, and crime solving . . . A solid series that keeps getting better.”
—Booklist

“Another bracing cocktail of period action with a whodunit chaser from the increasingly authoritative Benn.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“A well-engineered tale . . . Recommended.”
—Crimespree

From the Publisher

Characterization and atmosphere carry Benn's third WWII mystery (after 2007's The First Wave), a convincing blend of fact and fiction. As part of the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, Billy Boyle, a freewheeling Boston cop in civilian life now working as special investigator for General Eisenhower, bears a message from the real-life Lucky Luciano to the head of the Sicilian Mafia asking that he order local soldiers to stop fighting American troops. Unfortunately, the chaos of warfare interferes with Billy's mission, as does another mobster out to exploit the situation for money who plots to have Billy killed-while Billy is wounded and suffering from amnesia. The hero's gradual rediscovery of his memories lets him question what kind of person he is, in particular whether he's more than a brutal killer. Benn also does a fine job of depicting a dusty, poverty-stricken Sicily, where warm loyalty is the reverse side of pitiless vendetta. (Sept.)

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Publishers Weekly

In war-torn Sicily, a sleuthing soldier risks life and limb to crack a baffling mystery. G.I. Billy Boyle wakes up in a field hospital in Sicily, baking in the heat and struggling to remember the circumstances that landed him there. A sergeant named Rocko Walters explains how he rescued Billy from an assault by an Italian thug who escaped. It's the summer of 1943, and the countryside is crawling with invading Germans. Further questions are prevented by the arrival of gruff Colonel Gavin, who arrests Rocko, identifying him as a war profiteer, and takes Billy to headquarters. As his memory returns in dribs and drabs, Billy seizes on a name: Kaz, whom fans will remember as Billy's brash sidekick in previous adventures (The First Wave, 2007, etc.). It's a hop skip to his old cohorts and Uncle Ike (Dwight Eisenhower, though the general is only a distant cousin), who makes a cameo appearance. At length, Billy remembers the Italian Rocko referred to. His name was Roberto, and he was a rescuer, not an attacker. Billy sets out to find him but discovers he's been killed under mysterious circumstances. Meanwhile, Rocko is also murdered. Billy's determination to learn the truth behind both killings takes him into the heart of Sicily's complex criminal dynasty, as deadly as the encroaching German army. Another bracing cocktail of period action with a whodunit chaser from the increasingly authoritative Benn. Agent: Barbara Braun/Barbara Braun Associates

Kirkus Reviews