The Phantom Patrol

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Description

An investigation into a gang of Nazi-affiliated art thieves leads Billy Boyle and his comrades directly into the line of fire at the catastrophic Battle of the Bulge. An investigation into a gang of Nazi-affiliated art thieves leads Billy Boyle and his comrades directly into the line of fire at the catastrophic Battle of the Bulge. Winter 1944- Months after the Liberation of France, ex-Boston cop Billy Boyle finds himself in a Paris reeling from the carnage it has endured but hopeful that an end to war is in sight. When Billy finds a rare piece of artwork after a tense shoot-out in the P re Lachaise Cemetery, he thinks it could be connected to the Syndicat du Renard, a shadowy network of Nazi sympathizers known to be smuggling stolen artwork out of France. Trailing the Syndicat, Billy discovers that someone with a high level of communications clearance-someone in the Phantom regiment of the British Army-may be using his position to aid the thieves. Billy, determined to stop the abettor, heads up to the frontlines where he experiences a last-ditch battle against overwhelming odds. There, the ruinous Battle of the Bulge unfurls in the Ardennes Forest. Can Billy and his team survive the bracing onslaught and return the stolen artwork to its rightful protectors

Reviews

Praise for The Phantom Patrol

Benns nuanced consideration of the emotional marks that war leaves on those who survive provides his mystery with its real heart.
The Irish Times

The Phantom Patrol is a fascinating and complex tale of stolen art and the heroes who are determined to get it back that really is quite extraordinary. Set during the infamous Battle of the Bulge, Benns newest Billy Boyle mystery is a masterful blend of history and heart. I loved this book!
Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh Kings Daughter and The Wicked Sister

This fast-paced thriller will keep you turning the page to the end. As a World War II historian, I love the accurate history in these books. As a lover of well-done mysteries, I cant get enough of this series. You cant go wrong hanging out with Captain Billy Boyle and Lieutenant Baron Kazimierz.
Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, author of Clean Sweep: VIII Fighter Command Against the Luftwaffe, 194245

Bennveritablyplaces the reader on the battlefield, in the situation room and in the thick of World War II . . . He has written another engaging rapid-fire yarn with a little romance tossed in for good measure. New readers or fans since the outset of the series will be pleased.
BookTrib

Benn has a gift for rendering complex military history understandable and exciting. Here, he includes fascinating details about life after the Paris liberation and intriguing cameos of real people of the time: Hemingway is covering the war for Colliers; Rose Valland (of Monuments Men fame) advises Boyle and his crew on stolen artworks; and British actor and Major David Niven, of the Phantom special reconnaissance regiment, takes Boyle on a wild, witty ride in his M3A1 scout car, outfitted with a mounted machine gun and brandy. An absorbing and entertaining military history-mystery.
Booklist, Starred Review

Richly detailed . . . The action moves briskly as the determined Boyle, aided by fellow Army investigators (and series regulars) Kaz and Big Mike, gradually uncovers a Nazi plot with the potential to determine the outcome of the war. As always, Benn peppers the action with real history, ranging from the harrowing (the Malmedy Massacre) to the quirky (soldiers J.D. Salinger and David Niven make cameos).
Publishers Weekly

Fans of The Monuments Men and The Curse of Pietro Houdini will relish ThePhantom Patrol . . . History buffs, military enthusiasts, art lovers and thrill-seekers alike will all be enthralled with this enticing blend of high-stakes action and old-fashioned detective work.
BookPage

A spirited recounting of deeply researched aspects of the war effort . . .Boyles 19th adventure eventually takes the reader to the bloody Battle of the Bulge, with scenes of gritty action, weaponry, and satisfying historical detail . . .Benns absorbing series continues at a high level.
Kirkus Reviews

Afreshly riveting twist on a well-documented moment in time.
Shelf Awareness


Praise for the Billy Boyle mysteries

Full of action, humor and heart.
Louise Penny

Benn is a master of suspense; his work buildsto the end and never loosens its grip upon the reader.
Charles Todd

As historical detective series go, this one is extremely well tended by an author who clearly dotes on his hero. As do we.
The New York Times

[A] dependable series.
Parade

Author Bio

James R. Benn is the author of the Billy Boyle World War II mysteries. The debut, Billy Boyle, was selected as a Top Five Book of the Year by Book Sense and was a Dilys Award nominee, A Blind Goddess was longlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, The Rest Is Silence was a Barry Award nominee, and The Devouring was a Macavity Award nominee. Benn, a former librarian, lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida with his wife, Deborah Mandel.