A Blind Goddess

England in the summer of 1944, US Army Lieutenant Billy Boyle is looking for some well-earned R&R; an old friend has different ideas though. He wants Boyle to investigate the arrest on a murder charge of one of the Army’s first African American combat units.

The high command also have plans to curtail his leisure time, sending him to look into the murder of an accountant in a small town, the case has no immediate link to the US Army and yet he is barred from interviewing several key witnesses.

This latest in James R Benn’s series featuring Billy Boyle is an enjoyable, well-paced thriller that scores high on historical accuracy. Benn captures perfectly the drab, determined atmosphere of wartime and pulls no punches when it comes to the contrast between American troops coming to Europe to fight against tyranny bringing with them their own home grown prejudices.

The plot is satisfying with no shortage of action and owes no small debt to the moral boosting B movies Hollywood turned out during the war years. Benn provides a well-rounded cast of continuing and supporting characters, adding in this book a little about Boyle’s back story in Boston.

This is a competent addition to a series that is gathering praise from critics and loyalty from its growing audience in equal measure.