Death’s Door
Death’s Door by James R. Benn, published by Soho Press on August 6, 2013, is a historical fiction novel that immerses readers in a gripping mystery set against the backdrop of World War II. The story follows Lieutenant Billy Boyle, who is tasked with investigating the murder of an American monsignor found at Death’s Door, one of the entrances to Saint Peter’s Basilica. As Boyle navigates the complexities of Vatican politics and the dangers of German-occupied Rome, he faces the added urgency of finding his missing girlfriend, Diane Seaton, a British spy.
In this first edition, readers will encounter a narrative that intertwines elements of mystery and police procedural genres. Boyle’s mission becomes increasingly perilous as he must evade the Gestapo and Allied bombings while attempting to rescue Diane from the notorious Regina Coeli prison. The novel explores themes of loyalty and the moral dilemmas faced during wartime, all while maintaining a focus on the intricate dynamics within the Vatican. With 354 pages, this edition presents a detailed and immersive experience for those interested in historical fiction and detective stories.
Official synopsis Publisher
Will Billy risk everything to save his girlfriend, a British spy, even possibly getting the Vatican involved in the war?
When an American monsignor with high-level political contacts is found murdered at the foot of Death’s Door, one of the five entrances to Saint Peter’s Basilica, Lieutenant Billy Boyle is put on the case. To solve this murder, Boyle first has to be smuggled into Rome, while avoiding the Gestapo and Allied bombs. Then he must navigate Vatican politics and personalities—some are pro-Allied, others pro-Nazi, and the rest steadfastly neutral—further complicated by the Vatican’s tenuous status as neutral territory in German-occupied Rome.
But Boyle’s ready to risk it all because of one simple fact: Diane Seaton, his lover and a British spy, has gone missing while undercover in the Vatican. After he discovers that she’s being held in the infamous Regina Coeli prison, just a short walk from the Vatican border, Boyle must decide whether he dares attempt a rescue, even though a failed effort would alert the Germans to his mission and risk an open violation of Vatican neutrality.
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