THE NINTH CIRCLE

When sketchy characters create havoc in Cuba, American military detectives race to the rescue.

Capt. Billy Boyle’s latest World War II mystery begins with a literal bang. As he and sleuthing sidekick Piotr “Kaz” Kazimierz wait in a seedy bar on the Cuban waterfront to rendezvous with a contact, a suitcase bomb disrupts their plans in an explosive foreshadowing of the crazy caper to come. Billy’s 21st adventure is set in January 1945, as the war draws to a close, but things are far from calm in the struggling island nation. The British have a large presence, and Nazi Germany has also gained a foothold there. Against this turbulent backdrop, the detective duo investigates the mysterious murders of British Intelligence officer Hugh Sinclair and local informant Hector Díaz. Less a conventional whodunit than a twisty thriller, the tale is also a vehicle for depictions of local points of interest and historic tidbits. Celebrity appearances, which have typically been a highlight of the series, figure prominently once more, beginning with Ernest Hemingway, who is often mentioned but never seen. The infamous Jewish American gangster Meyer Lansky has built a gambling empire in Cuba, Nazi sympathizers the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are in residence, and Billy and Kaz team up with Royal Navy Intelligence officer Ian Fleming in their quest for answers. Billy’s jaunty first-person narration again helps the interesting but complicated historical information go down easy. A useful cast of characters is included.

A colorful history lesson embedded in a brisk action tale.