Just finished The Devouring by James Benn, in my effort to reread the Billy Boyle series in order and close enough together that the last one is still in my memory when I start reading. It was, for me, one of the most interesting because I had come across most of the information Billy learns about US companies doing business with German companies during the Second World War via Switzerland when I was researching my third book which is at the publisher's now. Their "neutrality" is largely a myth, there were established, but quiet ties, due to the financial and business ties between Switzerland, the International Red Cross and Nazi Germany It's terrible when you grow up and find out that the white hats on your heroes are really a very muddy brown. ( )

Per usual, Billy and Kaz are on loan to yet another organization, the OSS. They befriend a Sinti (gypsy) as they make their way to Switzerland. This time, they are to help the OSS with their monitoring of the secret Swiss bank accounts set up mostly by Germans. This was another very well researched historical tale, turns out neutral Switzerland is an oxymoron. Their shared borders and secretive banking rules definitely leaned somewhat toward the Germans ability to move money and gold, both for themselves and for their war effort. ( )

Returned from France and quickly sent, with some difficulties, to Switzerland; Billy and Kaz soon find our how dangerous a neutral country can be. Following the money is fraught with connections to really dangerous people from Nazis on one side to the OSS on the other with the "not so neutral" Swiss adamant about protecting their monied clientele. A nice little vignette featuring Moe Berg, the smartest player in baseball adds some authentic color. ( )

THE DEVOURING by James R. Benn is the 12th episode in the Billy Boyle WWII mystery series. This time Billy, along with the urbane Polish Freedom Fighter Kaz, must make it to Switzerland as part of a secret mission to stop the Nazis from hoarding gold in Swiss banks for life after the war.
Mr. Benn has once again sent his heroes into a fast paced, peril filled adventure. Their little plane was shot down by ack-ack, somewhere in souther France, a long way from their proposed destination. They are captured by a member of the Sinti ethic group fighting his own war, on a mission to kill as many Germans as possible. Together the trio form a team that takes them across the border and into the real purpose of Billy and Kaz's mission.
Along the way they meet financiers and frauleins, Gestapo thugs and SS goons, treacherous old ladies and even more deadly young ones.
This is another example of Mr. Benn's ability to bring fresh insight to what may well be the most written about period of history. Along with writing a great action thriller, he has managed to infuse it with historical events within Switzerland that are seldom talked about. Things such as how so many of the "neutral" were actually rabid pro-Nazi sympathizers. So much so that they aided the Nazis in laundering stolen fortunes within the secrecy of their banks. So many of the wealthy turned a blind eye to the final solution even as they assisted in a multitude of ways.
More than just an action story, this is both a murder mystery and a revelation of a history most of us know little about.
You can't go wrong with a Billy Boyle adventure tale. Now I find myself having to read more of them. ( )