James R. Benn

James R. Benn is the author of the Billy Boyle World War II series, historical mysteries set within the Allied High Command during the Second World War. The series began with Billy Boyle, which takes place in England and Norway in 1942. Blue Madonna is the eleventh installment of the series.

Not so long ago I asked Benn about what he was reading. His reply:

I’m currently caught up in research reading, so my current stack is all non-fiction.

Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution, by Nathaniel Philbrick.

A terrific and well-written story of the early years of the American Revolution, when Benedict Arnold was one of our bravest and most gifted generals. Philbrick makes him come alive, and breaks through the image of the vile traitor (although that he was) to show a more rounded, and quite sad, view of the man for whom life’s bounties were never enough, and every slight was a mortal insult.

For Adam's Sake: A Family Saga in Colonial New England, by Allegra di Bonaventura.

A fascinating look at slavery and servitude in colonial New England, focusing on the intertwined lives of whites and blacks in New London, CT. The author creates real, living characters from records and archives. Superb for the historical enthusiast.

I’m working on a young adult book, with a recently freed slave as the protagonist – set in Revolutionary War Connecticut, during the summer in which Benedict Arnold raided New London and burned the city he knew very well to the ground.

Learn more about the Billy Boyle WWII Mystery Series at James R. Benn's website.

The Page 69 Test: Blue Madonna.

--Marshal Zeringue