The Devouring

A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery

De: James R. Benn

Narrado por: Peter Berkrot

A murder in wartime Switzerland reveals Swiss complicity with the Nazis and profiteering during World War II.

Billy and Kaz are sent to neutral Switzerland to investigate the murder of a Swiss banking official with ties to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The US and Swiss governments are about to embark on diplomatic discussions regarding the Safehaven Protocols, which are aimed at limiting the amount of war materials exported by Switzerland to the Nazis, halting the laundering of looted gold, and preventing the postwar use of Nazi wealth for war criminals. With the talks about to begin, the OSS wants their involvement in the murder cleared up, as well as to protect the participants from any threat of violence. The plans go wrong from the beginning when Billy and Kaz crash-land in France. As they make their way through occupied territory to the border, they meet Anton Lasho, a member of the Sinti ethnic group, whose family was slaughtered by the Nazis, and who is, in turn, a one-man Nazi-killing machine. They'll need his help, because as they find once they make it across the border, Swiss banks are openly laundering gold "harvested" from concentration camps, and those that are profiting will do everything they can to protect their wealth and hide their dark secrets.

©2017 James R. Benn (P)2017 Recorded Books

Neutrality

I have listened to The Devouring three times- I'm current on the series. This book was the hardest to read and to listen to. The Nazis exterminated millions of Jews- there is no defense for what they did. The Devouring showed that other people were also targeted and no one cared, in fact there were individuals and industries that aided in the destruction. There is no such thing as neutrality.

Great job by James Benn once again !

The Devouring explores and exposes the complicity of the Swiss government in aiding and abetting the Nazi's during WW2. It is generally an unknown aspect of the conflict and one that has not been talked about enough. Benn does a great job of weaving in the complex government relationships in dealing with corporate interests and the lack of morals that play into profiteering. Peter Berkrot does a great job as usual with narration and drives the pace of the book nicely.In all a highly recommended listen.

Wonderful read

wonderful story telling as usual from this author. great historical accuracy. fantastic performance. thank you

a thriller mystery with lots of historical context

looking at the corporations that did business with the Nazis including AT&t , Ford the head of the international Red Cross giant aluminum companies and chemical companies... the story has lots of twists and turns but the historical context brings it to a new level.

Top 3 in the whole series

This story was one of my favorite from the entire series. I waited until I listened to all of them. Berkrot has dialed in his voices at this point, but the story was one of the best by far.

A little too convoluted

Enjoyable but at times convoluted with too many loose ends including the abandonment of the original mission once entered Switzerland.
Believable fiction despite the comment above.

Swiss Neutrality? Crash

I had often heard of Swiss neutrality during WWII and about Swiss bankers abetting Nazi crimes. This brilliant thriller exposes the myth of that neutrality and shows how the bankers used their vaunted secrecy to foster the crimes against Jews and others. This novel introduces us to several new characters that we can only hope to find in subsequent
Billy Boyle novels.

Disappointing Ending

Expected more of an ending. At least a little hint of the Billy's next adventure

Historic Fiction at its finest

This book, set in World War II Switzerland is an amazing continuation of the Billy Boyle series. Fast paced and full of intrigue and action, there is no down time. The story is in retrospect, a very accurate portrayal of the "neutral Swiss government" during the war. Few at the time knew or at least acknowledged that Switzerland was very involved, from a banking and manufacturing stance, in supporting the Nazi regime and victimizing Jews. It is true Switzerland was neutral, but it was just more neutral to some than others. This is that story of active and passive assistance some Swiss provided to Nazi Germany. This is a fast and easy, fully engaging, World War II story.

A good story, however...

Mr Benn loses one star for his frequent use of profane expletives. Such language adds nothing to the story. Would Mr Benn appreciate it if people asked him to damn everything? Would it not hurt him to have people use his name as a curse? 😕