I’ve been meaning to do some reviews of books I’ve read that I like well enough to recommend. So here we go with the first one. I read this one thanks to our community member Judith, who recommended James R. Benn’s “Billy Boyle” series of World War II mysteries. She was right; if you liked “Foyle’s War” when it was on PBS, I’m pretty sure you’ll like this series (now up to book 18).
Delighted you enjoyed From the Shadows and will now begin the series from Book 1. I'm even more pleased that it led you to connect with the author.
I just picked up the final two titles, Road of Bones and From the Shadows. Can't wait to read them. You're right, they're like eating candy though nutritious because of the excellent historical detail and excellent writing. I think his writing got even better with subsequent titles. You will especially like books 13 & 14, set in Normandy shortly after D-Day. Book 13 includes an encounter with the Ghost Army and Book 14 opens on Hill 262 with the Polish regiment outnumbered and about to be overrun by thousands of Germans, winding up with the taking of Paris (but resist jumping ahead because they're all the better with the foundation created in the earlier books. The author includes, at the end of each book, a short description of the documented historical details into which he embeds his story and characters. I learned a lot about lesser known aspects of WW II along with greater on-the-ground details of better known actions and battles and the about the many different resistance groups. And I'm going to be really bummed to finish the series and have to wait for Benn's 2023 book.
Throughout the series are descriptions which make clear how truly terrible circumstances were both in London and in the various European theaters of conflict. Benn doesn't pull punches on reality. As the series progressed, I found myself often thinking of Ukraine and the lives of Ukrainians under the bombardment, occupation and ongoing fighting in their country.
Correction in your review: you opened with mention of Danny Boyle instead of Billy.
Just started Road of Bones. It begins with a bang as Billy heads for Poltava, a Russian air base in Ukraine. Plus Night Witches! There's a novel about them: "The Night Witches" by Ennis Garth, and an online search on 'Night Witches WWII" comes up with a wealth of hits.
Also, I didn't mention earlier that I had given my brother-in-law the book "The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-secret Unit Deceived the Enemy With Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery", by Rick Beyer, several years ago. I couldn't put it down, and he finished it off quickly during their brief Christmas visit. I recommend it to all of you reading this.
This series is, in addition to being an exciting read, is an incomparable education about some of the many parts of the war in Europe (plus one book set in the Solomon Islands) that we rarely learn about.
The Solomon Islands story kept me thinking of my maternal uncle whose submarine was sunk off the coast of Japan in 1944. In 2022, the sunken boat was located by a Japanese researcher & confirmed by the U.S. Navy as USS Albacore. The site is now formally dedicated as a U.S. war grave.
I'm well into "I Will Run Wild" at the moment, so may intersperse with the first of the "From the Shadows" as I read your Pacific War series. Enjoying your research.
The cover of the book makes this land-and-air lubber queasy, but will check out the series based on your solid endorsement. And I was a big fan of "Foyle's War."
Thank you for letting me know about this author. I broke my elbow 2 weeks ago and have a lot of free time to read. I ordered 2 of his books from Better World Books, one of my favorite online bookstores.
Delighted you enjoyed From the Shadows and will now begin the series from Book 1. I'm even more pleased that it led you to connect with the author.
I just picked up the final two titles, Road of Bones and From the Shadows. Can't wait to read them. You're right, they're like eating candy though nutritious because of the excellent historical detail and excellent writing. I think his writing got even better with subsequent titles. You will especially like books 13 & 14, set in Normandy shortly after D-Day. Book 13 includes an encounter with the Ghost Army and Book 14 opens on Hill 262 with the Polish regiment outnumbered and about to be overrun by thousands of Germans, winding up with the taking of Paris (but resist jumping ahead because they're all the better with the foundation created in the earlier books. The author includes, at the end of each book, a short description of the documented historical details into which he embeds his story and characters. I learned a lot about lesser known aspects of WW II along with greater on-the-ground details of better known actions and battles and the about the many different resistance groups. And I'm going to be really bummed to finish the series and have to wait for Benn's 2023 book.
Throughout the series are descriptions which make clear how truly terrible circumstances were both in London and in the various European theaters of conflict. Benn doesn't pull punches on reality. As the series progressed, I found myself often thinking of Ukraine and the lives of Ukrainians under the bombardment, occupation and ongoing fighting in their country.
Correction in your review: you opened with mention of Danny Boyle instead of Billy.
Corrected!
The 2023 book comes out September 5. So you don't have long to wait.
Just started Road of Bones. It begins with a bang as Billy heads for Poltava, a Russian air base in Ukraine. Plus Night Witches! There's a novel about them: "The Night Witches" by Ennis Garth, and an online search on 'Night Witches WWII" comes up with a wealth of hits.
Also, I didn't mention earlier that I had given my brother-in-law the book "The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-secret Unit Deceived the Enemy With Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery", by Rick Beyer, several years ago. I couldn't put it down, and he finished it off quickly during their brief Christmas visit. I recommend it to all of you reading this.
This series is, in addition to being an exciting read, is an incomparable education about some of the many parts of the war in Europe (plus one book set in the Solomon Islands) that we rarely learn about.
The Solomon Islands story kept me thinking of my maternal uncle whose submarine was sunk off the coast of Japan in 1944. In 2022, the sunken boat was located by a Japanese researcher & confirmed by the U.S. Navy as USS Albacore. The site is now formally dedicated as a U.S. war grave.
I think I’ll finish reading yours first. You’ve gotta like that.
I do!
TC while I ought to be reading Proust, you’re spoiling that ‘should’ with exactly what I adore to read: history with mystery.
Thank you!
I’m hoping that it is available in audio, I have challenges reading and audio is my savior! I will check it out!
Thanks TC, I take your recommendations seriously!
Yes, they have audiobooks.
TC, thanks for the book recommendation.
Always appreciate reviews! Thanks, TC. (Hope my nephew sees this.)Don't know how you get all that you do done. Very productive. Good to see that.
We are the ones who benefit.
I'm well into "I Will Run Wild" at the moment, so may intersperse with the first of the "From the Shadows" as I read your Pacific War series. Enjoying your research.
The cover of the book makes this land-and-air lubber queasy, but will check out the series based on your solid endorsement. And I was a big fan of "Foyle's War."
The first chapter is a voyage from Tobruk to Crete on that fishing boat in the middle of a major storm.
Yes, you'll get seasick. :-)
Digging the happenstance and happy serendipity, of new networks clicking into gear.
Inouye has one of the more interesting Wikipedia entries I've ever read. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Inouye
And Billy Boyle sounds Bostonian!
Thank you for letting me know about this author. I broke my elbow 2 weeks ago and have a lot of free time to read. I ordered 2 of his books from Better World Books, one of my favorite online bookstores.
Thank you! I’m not sure they all do, but I will forge ahead!
Thanks for the recommendation. Liked Boyles War series. Will check this out.
Cool!