Seven stars
I stumbled upon the work of Joseph Flynn a while back and have not stopped reading. This trilogy differs form his other work, due to the realistic aspects tied to his own family's experiences in the Second World War, and the themes that come to the surface. Flynn is a storyteller to the core and his exploring this era and these topics are sure to keep the reader in their seat, flipping pages well into the night. Another winner from a strong author.
While the European theatre shows signs of closing down, the Second World War is far from over for Charlie Hart. The German surrender means nothing if finality is not yet felt within. When Hart is assigned to locate and capture of the commandant of the Dachau concentration camp, his Chicago cop skills kick into high gear. Fleeing the country with a large cache of gold and his reputation as a horrible man, Hart will have to locate this war criminal and drag him back to face a tribunal of the Allies' creation.
Charlie does not blink at these orders and begins his hunt, using all the tools at his disposal, and explores the vast European landscape. He taps into his friend and British ply, Robyn Bradly, to pilot an aircraft for him as they follow any lead placed before them. The chase heads through Scandinavia before settling in Amsterdam and Paris, where Hart is able to gain momentum. He connects with some of his comrades-in-arms, in hopes of capturing the swine before the month is out.
Once that is accomplished, Charlie Hart has an even larger mission. He must turn back into Dan McGill, someone he has been hiding for a long while. He still has to face his own criminal activity, where he stole a large amount of cash from the Chicago Mob. They are still looking for him and there is no end in sight to their need to destroy the former cop. Armed with his courage and an idea, McGill/Hart begins inching towards the Irish bank that holds his money. He's ready to fight to the death and cannot be stopped! Flynn does a stellar job in this this piece and I am eager to see what some of his other work might be like in comparison.
Joseph Flynn's books prove highly entertaining for the reader, mixing fact and action to create a stellar experience. Flynn keeps a great flow to the storytelling, while providing insights into the European theatre of war and leaving the reader feeling in control of the entire experience. I have kept myself away from this time period, feeling that it is over-used in fictional work, though Flynn proves its importance with this piece, which uses a strong narrative to keep the story exciting and provides the reader with something stellar. There is a stunning build in the story throughout this piece and the trilogy as a whole, keeping the story sharp and the characters believable. Flynn delves deeply into his familial experiences to develop this story that readers can enjoy thoroughly. Unlike any of his other writing, this piece sticks out as being a beacon for successful storytelling with fact embedded therein.
I rely on the plot to provide the reader its something intriguing. That was the case here, as Flynn proves exceptional in his presentation. The surprises lurk around every corner and Flynn knows how to lead the way with some strong plot thickening before the final reveal. I did not enjoy this series as much as the other work I have read, though I can see why Flynn did what he did with this collection. He kept things sharp and on point, which is sure to lure the reader in and keep them hoping for more! Now, back to some of the mystery-based novels that caught my eye to begin this binge reading journey.
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for another strong novel that has me second guessing my dislike for the time period.
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