A Mortal Terror

Name: A Mortal Terror
Brand: Recorded Books
Availability: InStock
Author: James R. Benn
ISBN: 9798892744546

Author: James R. Benn

Series: Billy Boyle WWII Mysteries #6

Narrator: Peter Berkrot

Unabridged: 11 hr 49 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 11/19/2024

Categories: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Historical Fiction

Synopsis

THE SIXTH BILLY BOYLE INVESTIGATION

1943: US Army Lieutenant Billy Boyle, an ex-cop who serves as detective for General Ike, is sent to Caserta, Italy, to investigate the murders of two American officers stationed there. The MOs are completely different, and it seems like the officers had no connection to each other, but one frightening fact links the murders. Each body was discovered with a single playing card: the lieutenant’s with the ten of hearts; the captain’s, the jack of hearts. The message seems clear—if the murderer isn’t apprehended, the higher ranks will be next. As the invasion at Anzio begins, Billy needs to keep a cool head amidst fear and terror as the killer calculates his next moves.

“Captivating … Benn does a superb job of simultaneously capturing the personal anguish of war and creating a splendid adventure novel.”—Library Journal, starred review

About James R. Benn

James R. Benn is the author of the Billy Boyle World War II Mystery series, which includes the novels Billy Boyle, The First Wave, Blood Alone, Evil for Evil, Rag and Bone, and A Mortal Terror. A librarian for many years, he now writes full time and lives in Hadlyme, Connecticut.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sue on October 20, 2013

In this sixth installment of the Billy Boyle WWII mystery series, Lt. Boyle is assigned to a murder case, the murder of American officers, behind American lines. Obviously this has the powers that be in a huff and Billy is sent to Italy to investigate. From his arrival things become complex as his c......more

Goodreads review by Wendy on November 10, 2021

An earlier Billy Boyle book: this time, Boyle is still a Lieutenant and he's taken out of his vacation to investigate a couple of murders in Italy. This is when the Allies just came to Italy and are fighting their way through the country. The murders might be the work of a serial killer with a playi......more

Goodreads review by Jay on February 22, 2023

Solving a murder is hard enough. Solving a murder in the middle of World War II is harder still. But in James R. Benn's A MORTAL TERROR, Billy Boyle finds himself tasked with hunting down a serial killer not only in the middle of the war, but quite horrifyingly enough, in the middle of one of the big......more

Goodreads review by Cheryl on January 12, 2014

This story leads up to the invasion at Anzio, in Italy; and deals with battle fatigue, the murder of seemingly unconnected officers, what happens to the soldiers when the invasion stalls and they are left exposed to the Germans, and how Billy's brother Danny shows up and grows up, with Billy worryin......more

Goodreads review by Maryanne on February 06, 2025

Billy is assigned to investigate the murders of several officers stationed in Anzio and Caserta, Italy with the killer leaving a playing card on the victim. The story includes historical references but it dragged on with long descriptions of bombings, gun battle scenes and the miserable lives of sol......more