A Blind Goddess

A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery, Book 8

By: James R. Benn

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

March, 1944: US Army Lieutenant Billy Boyle, back in England after a dangerous mission in Italy, is due for a little R&R, and also a promotion. But the now-Captain Boyle doesn't get to kick back and enjoy his leisure time because two upsetting cases fall into his lap at once.

The first is a personal request from an estranged friend: Sergeant Eugene "Tree" Jackson, who grew up with Billy in Boston, is part of the 617th Tank Destroyers, the all-African American battalion poised to make history by being the US Army's first combatant African American company. But making history isn't easy, and the 617 faces racism at every turn. One of Tree's men, a gunner named Angry Smith, has been arrested for a crime he almost certainly didn't commit, and faces the gallows if the real killer isn't found. Tree knows US top brass won't care about justice in this instance, and asks Billy if he'll look into it.

But Billy can't use any of his leave to investigate, because British intelligence agent Major Cosgrove puts him on a bizarre and delicate case. A British accountant has been murdered in an English village, and he may or may not have had some connection with the US Army - Billy doesn't know, because Cosgrove won't tell him. Billy is supposed to go into the village and investigate the murder, but everything seems fishy - he's not allowed to interrogate certain key witnesses, and his friends and helpers keep being whisked away. Billy is confused about whether Cosgrove even wants him to solve the murder, and why.

The good news is the mysterious murder gives Billy an excuse to spend time in and around the village where Tree and his unit are stationed. If he's lucky, maybe he can get to the bottom of both mysteries - and save more than one innocent life.

©2013 James R. Benn (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Billy Boyle Army Detective

Another excellent Billy Boyle book. Too bad the reader did not use the Boston accent of Billy Boyle, a former Boston detective. It was otherwise a fine performance.

An outstanding WWII murder mystery

I've read several of James R. Benn's Billy Boyle series of WWII mysteries. They are all standalone novels and so you don't need to start at the beginning. In fact, you should probably start with this one since it's one of the best. Benn interweaves several threads to create a unique and dramatic story. Benn shines a light on the not-so-well known elements of African American troops in WWII. It's a compelling story and he draws many good parallels through the story without ever becoming heavy-handed. It's also hugely entertaining and the narration is terrific.

More than a mystery tale

This story rises above others in the series which I've read, for its powerful portrayal of the terrible scandal of racism in the US military in World War II.