Solemn Graves

By: James R. Benn

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

US Army detective Billy Boyle is called to investigate a mysterious murder in a Normandy farmhouse that threatens Allied operations.

July, 1944, a full month after D-Day. Billy, Kaz, and Big Mike are assigned to investigate a murder close to the front lines in Normandy. An American officer has been found dead in a manor house serving as an advance headquarters outside the town of Trévières. Major Jerome was far from his own unit, arrived unexpectedly, and was murdered in the dark of night.

The investigation is shrouded in secrecy, due to the highly confidential nature of the American unit headquartered at the Manoir de Castilly: the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, aka, The Ghost Army. This vague name covers a thousand-man unit with a unique mission within the US Army: to impersonate other US Army units by creating deceptions using radio traffic, dummy inflatable vehicles, and sound effects, causing the enemy to think they are facing large formations. Not even the units adjacent to their positions know what they are doing. But there are German spies and informants everywhere, and Billy must tread carefully, unmasking the murder while safeguarding the secret of the Ghost army—a secret which, if discovered, could turn the tide of war decisively against the Allies.

©2018 James R. Benn (P)2018 Recorded Books

Riveting WWII Mystery

If you're new to the Billy Boyle series, this is a great place to start. Each of the Billy Boyle books is a standalone work and you can read them in any order. That said, I guarantee you will fall in love with the characters and become obsessed. Solemn Graves is a great novel, well-researched, historically accurate, and quite complex. James R Benn gives a nuanced view of the war, it's not all good guys versus Nazis. There are shades of gray, complex alliances, betrayal, subterfuge and a great introduction to the "Ghost Army," a well-kept secret for many years. There's a final twist in the ending that gives this book extra emotional impact. This is one of his best, and not to be missed. Narration by Peter Berkrot is excellent as usual.

Great Installment

I felt like the author really did a great job with the characters. Their interactions went a little further within the story and it held together well. The mystery was well done and I thought the ending was handled in typical Billy Boyle fashion. Well done and well narrated.

Love this series

Well written. Love that the story is based on actual events during WWII. I’ve listed to this series from the beginning and will listen until the last book.

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? 😕

Great historical fiction w/Great characters

Great mix of history and fiction with good character development and action that keeps you guessing to the end about culprits and motives