The Devouring

Praise

​Nominated for the 2018 Macavity Award / Sue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Novel

Praise for The Devouring

​”​This is the twelfth installment of the Billy Boyle World War II Mysteries, and these creations just keep getting better and better.​”​
—Suspense Magazine ​

​“The Devouring is packed with the action we have come to expect from the Billy Boyle books​. ​The combination of history, action and suspense in the Billy Boyle novels continues to be irresistible—it’s one of the best crime novel series.​”​
​​—Connecticut News​

​”Suspenseful ​. . . ​Benn does his usual excellent job of incorporating historical background into a fast-paced plot, which barely slows down on the way to the satisfactory resolution.​”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review​

“Benn’s 12th World War II mystery keeps the action coming, with a nifty whodunit chaser.”
—Kirkus Reviews

​”Benn​ ​molds an entertaining story out of Billy and his cohorts’ encounters with odious Swiss bankers and a cadre​ of ​Gestapo agents stationed in Bern to protect the loot. Great history here.” 
—Booklist​

“Extensive historical and military contextual detail, copious suspense, plenty of action, and the innate politics of power are distinctive traits of this acclaimed World War II–set series. Absorbing . . . Should appeal to historical fiction fans, mystery readers, and military buffs.”
—Library Journal ​

“​Gripping . . . If you’re in need of a dose of adrenaline, then look no further.​”​
​​—BookPage​

“A white-knuckle adventure from the start. . . In The Devouring, Benn has created yet another thoroughly entertaining historical mystery page-turner that is filled with bountiful amounts of action and adventure. His ability to bring fresh understanding to an already well written about period of history is refreshing.”
—New York Journal of Books

“Thrilling . . . James Benn is a master of mystery novels. Benn has done another masterful job of maintaining the suspense and fast-paced action at Mach speed right up to last edge-of-your-seat moment.”
—Critics on the Aisle

“Part whodunit, part MacGuffin, part spy novel and a beautifully and poignantly written war story, The Devouring is a multi-layered and artfully synthesized novel.”
—The Day ​

Praise for the Billy Boyle series

“Spirited wartime storytelling.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“A fast-paced saga set in a period when the fate of civilization still hangs in the balance.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“A complex tale that maps the human cost of warfare in the South Pacific—and delivers a deft portrait of a young Jack Kennedy struggling to recover from the losses of PT-109. Poignant and riveting.”
—Francine Mathews, author of JACK1939

“Cleverly told . . . the book weaves fascinating military facts with obscure historical details about the islands and native life.”
—The Arizona Republic

“One of Mr. Benn’s best books of the series . . . A pleasure to read.”
—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“[An] excellent eighth Billy Boyle whodunit . . . The superior plot and thoughtful presentation of institutional racism directed against American soldiers about to risk their lives for their country make this one of Benn’s best.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“A smart, fast-paced, action-packed historical mystery series replete with liberal dashes of humor and romance providing broad appeal to readers of military history, thrillers and mysteries. He deftly combines a mélange of edge-of-your seat suspenseful situations with historical accuracy and engaging literary references.”
—BookTrib

“The series as a whole is the best set of wartime novels since those of the legendary Nevil Shute.”
—BookPage

“These creations just keep getting better and better.”
—Suspense Magazine

“Terrific . . . Razor sharp.”
—Joseph Finder

“Billy Boyle gets better and better. This is a must-read series.”
—Lee Child

“Full of action, humor and heart.”
—Louise Penny