Fifth Column ~ Review

Fifth Column
The Blitz Detective #2
By Mike Hollow

London is caught up in yet another war, a war which some are against.  Rumors of a Fifth Column within England are circulating. And London has become the nightly target of German bombers, so when a young woman is found amongst the rubble no one is surprised. But when evidence points to a personal attack as the case of death DI Jago is determined to find out who and why.

But delving into the past of Mary Watkins proves a daunting challenge. Few knew the young woman well and yet what little was known only raised more questions. Who killed her and why?

As Jago and his partner DC Cradock look more closely at the facts they uncover something they hadn't expected. Where this thread of deception leads them is uncertain but it could very well lead them to the England's Fifth Column.

The Fifth Column is a book of intrigue and suspense.  A murder, an act of betrayal, and the fate of a nation could be in the balance. Someone knows more than they are saying and Jago is determined to bring a murderer to justice, even if he has to untangle all the lies that have hidden the truth away.

Fans of Foyle's War will enjoy this literary series that follows a similar vein - World War II England with a police procedural. Fans of WW2 historical fiction will enjoy this series too. The characters are believable, one can empathize as the air raids take place. Some characters are likable, others are totally despicable. This is a story that one can get into as the case takes unexpected turns that lead to another yet another layer that further complicates the case.

I was provided a copy of this book by Kregel Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:

The neat row of small, late-Victorian terraced houses 

was punctuated by a gaping space: 

homes reduced to rubble in the night raid...

Detective Inspector Jago investigates, uncovering deception and betrayal 

At first glance, the young woman found in the early hours of the morning where bombs have landed is just another casualty of the previous night's air raid. But when the post-mortem shows signs of strangulation, Detective Inspector Jago is called on to investigate.

The dead woman is smartly dressed but carries no identification. However, a local engineering company reports a staff member has failed to appear at work that morning and the body is quickly identified as that of Miss Mary Watkins.

DI Jago's initial interviews yield little fruit; no one can think of a reason why Mary would be murdered. But as the investigation continues DI Jago begins to uncover a trail of deception and betrayal.