Blood Alone

As this book opens, Billy Boyle is waking up in a field hospital. He cant remember who he is or what he is doing there. Slowly, he begins to piece together things like his name and the fact that he is in Sicily in the summer of 1942. He also believes he has an important mission to carry out for his uncle, General Eisenhower. But he cant remember what that mission is. However, he knows he has to keep moving, especially when he stumbles upon a dead body. Following the only clues he has, he sets out across the island, soon joined by a local doctor. Will he recover his memory in time?

Amnesia isnt a new plot device, but I thought it was handled well here to set up the story and draw us in. As Billy relearns who he is, it also offers reminders on what has happened before without saddling us with long exposition. New readers should be warned that this does contain some pretty major spoilers for the first two books, however. That information is needed since it allows us to see real growth in the characters; I love how they are developing. We also see the impact of the war, not only on Billy and the other soldiers but also on the people living in Sicily at the time. All of this does sidetrack the mystery at times, and Im torn on this. I appreciate how rich the book is, but I wish the pacing were a little better. Thats not to say there isnt plenty of action; so much so that Billy feels like an action hero at times. There is a solid mystery in the book with some good twists that took me by surprise. Overall, this is a great third book in a series I wish I had started sooner.

This fourth book in the Billy Boyle series is the most exciting and horrifying one to date. Billy abruptly awakens in a field hospital with a head injury and no idea who he is or what kind of man he is. His dog tags are missing and among his possessions is a yellow silk handkerchief with an L embroidered on it. He quickly lands in intrigue when he is taken under the wing of a Sicilian quartermaster named Rocco. After participating in a horrific battle in which he is again injured, he makes his way back to Rocco, only to learn that he is being sought by the military police, but for what he does not know. To his horror, Rocco is then murdered and Billy framed for it. As his memory slowly returns, he realizes that he is part of an advance guard into Sicily prior to the Allied invasion in 1942. His assignment, if he can complete it, will save thousands of Allied lives as well as countless civilian casualties. As always, author James Benn bases this series on actual occurrences. Suffice to say, the aphorism “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” comes to life in this complicated plot. The book is a fascinating, combining history with a beautiful story of one man coming to know his true self and being satisfied with it, flaws and all. I greatly recommend this book and the entire series.

Billy Boyle in the first two books of this series went to great links to bring ultimate revenge to persons who had done really bad things to Boyle’s friends. Finally in this book, he begins to explore the cost of revenge on the soul. He watches one character taste revenge and decide it was not in his constitution to commit such acts no matter how justified. Boyle discovers that who he is does not require his taking justice into his own hands. He gets in touch with his basic nature to be one who helps rather than destroys. Ethics set in a great series of adventures embedded in history, not bad for a mystery novel.

Maybe as a boomer knowledge of the locales and historical events in this series increases my enjoyment. One way or another this series has been a true find during the pandemic. Not a deep Agatha Christie type read, I find it more like an Earl Der Biggers Charlie Chan plot. Each book draws me in and I find myself not wanting to put it down. Great summer reads!

I enjoyed the first and second volumes in this series, but found them a little light and tending more to comedy. The author and the series are really maturing with this 3rd volume. It is a more serious approach to war. Character development and plot are getting better. A very good read. I’m looking forward to book 4.

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