Book 15: The First Wave

This is the second installment in the Billy Boyle series and another solid hit. This one takes place in North Africa, right before Ike's deal with Darlan. James Benn knows his history well enough that he doesn't spend too much of the book making sure that you know he knows it. Just enough historical back story to remind you he is a history teacher. Interesting information on the army's institutional sexism in WW2.

The first person narrative has a mixed tone-- Billy is hard boiled and naive at the same time. Like a swirl cone! Only Billy is not that cool. Billy's detecting process is one that I employ with puzzles. He thinks things over and over and over until suddenly he stops thinking for a minute and two unrelated things converge into an idea. Good Stuff, Young Billy.