THE PHANTOM PATROL

World War II is finally ending. Or is it?

Paris. December 1944. U.S. Army captain Billy Boyle and his stalwart sidekick, Kaz—Lieutenant Piotr Augustus Kazimierz—are patrolling the Père Lachaise cemetery along with a group of Counter Intelligence Corps agents. Ever since France was liberated following the D-Day invasion that summer, there’s been a rash of vandalism and looting and, most seriously, the theft of priceless art. Explosions disrupt this evening’s vigil and turn the cemetery into a crime scene. The search for the art thieves sets Benn’s plot in motion: Are these random miscreants or members of a nefarious Nazi Syndicat? The complex investigation provides a solid pretext for visits to notable French locations like Versailles and a spirited recounting of deeply researched aspects of the war effort, a compelling hallmark of this long-running series. A brutal multiple murder adds heat and urgency to the search. Billy Boyle fans will appreciate cameos by series regulars Big Mike Miecznikowski, who like Billy was a cop before the war, and Diana Seaton, Billy’s love interest, as well as actor David Niven, who served in the unit on whose exploits the novel is partially based. Although Boyle’s 19th adventure eventually takes the reader to the bloody Battle of the Bulge, with scenes of gritty action, weaponry, and satisfying historical detail, it’s often a sobering reflection on the devastating consequences of war.

Benn’s absorbing series continues at a high level.