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Eddie Harkins #1
Blame the Dead
The nurses of the US Army's Field Hospitals, mobile units that operate just behind the battle lines, contend with heat, dirt, short-handed staffs, the threat of German counterattack and an ever-present flood of horribly wounded GIs. At the 11th Field Hospital near Palermo, Sicily in the bloody summer of 1943, nurses also live with the threat of violent assault by one of their own--at least until someone shoots Dr. Myers Stephenson in the head.
Enter Eddie Harkins, a tough former Philadelphia beat cop turned Military Police lieutenant, who is first on the scene. Although he has never been a detective, Harkins soon finds himself the lone investigator, either because the Military Police are under-staffed or because someone in power thinks this rank amateur will never get close to the real killer. When the hospital commander tries to derail Harkins' investigation by transferring or harassing key witnesses, it becomes clear to Harkins that the unit is rotten to its core, that the nurses are not safe, and that patients who have survived Nazi bullets are still at risk after they arrive at this place that is supposed to save them.
Harkins fights--and worries that he is losing--multiple battles. He is driven to give hope to nurses who just want to do their life-saving work, to right at least a few of the wrongs around him, and to do penance for sins in his own past. The one bright note for Harkins is a rekindled relationship with Kathleen Donnelly, a nurse from Harkins' old neighborhood; but even that is complicated when Donnelly becomes a victim.
Enter Eddie Harkins, a tough former Philadelphia beat cop turned Military Police lieutenant, who is first on the scene. Although he has never been a detective, Harkins soon finds himself the lone investigator, either because the Military Police are under-staffed or because someone in power thinks this rank amateur will never get close to the real killer. When the hospital commander tries to derail Harkins' investigation by transferring or harassing key witnesses, it becomes clear to Harkins that the unit is rotten to its core, that the nurses are not safe, and that patients who have survived Nazi bullets are still at risk after they arrive at this place that is supposed to save them.
Harkins fights--and worries that he is losing--multiple battles. He is driven to give hope to nurses who just want to do their life-saving work, to right at least a few of the wrongs around him, and to do penance for sins in his own past. The one bright note for Harkins is a rekindled relationship with Kathleen Donnelly, a nurse from Harkins' old neighborhood; but even that is complicated when Donnelly becomes a victim.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
93 people are currently reading
2445 people want to read
About the author
Ed Ruggero
14 books105 followersEd Ruggero remembers very clearly two ambitions he had early on: he wanted to be a soldier and he wanted to be a writer.
Ruggero graduated from West Point in 1980, fulfilling one of his professional dreams. He served as an infantry officer in the Army and later returned to West Point to teach literature and writing. While he was on the faculty at West Point that Ruggero got the idea that it would be great to invite a newly famous author named Tom Clancy for a visit.
“I knew Clancy was fascinated by all things military, and West Point is a great draw. I had no travel budget to offer him, but I cheekily wrote that if he made his way to New York, I’d let him talk to my upperclass cadets.”
Clancy’s visit became a big event for the Academy, and the author was a houseguest of the Superintendent, the three-star general who is essentially the president of a university. Ruggero made good on his promise and brought Clancy to class to speak to cadets in a writing course.
“He told the cadets that he’d waited until he was forty years old to even try writing, something he’d always wanted to do. He told them not to wait.”
Ruggero took Clancy’s advice to heart and got to work on a manuscript that would become his first novel, 38 North Yankee.
“I got up at 4:30—oh-dark-thirty in Army jargon—and wrote until it was time to leave for work at six. I had two young children at the time and didn’t want to sacrifice my time in the evenings with them.”
Ruggero has written fiction, military history and several titles on leadership; and has built a business running retreats for business executives to places like Normandy and Gettysburg.
“We use the history of these battles and the challenges facing the commanders, to figure out how we can better lead our modern organizations.”
On one visit to West Point Ruggero met a graduate of the Class of 1941, who became a guide for two of his books, both non-fiction accounts of American paratroopers in World War Two. Some of the hundred and fifty or so former paratroopers Ruggero interviewed fought in six major campaigns.
“Getting to know those men and capturing their stories for later generations has been a highlight of my professional career.”
While visiting Sicily to research his non-fiction Combat Jump, about the 1943 Allied invasion, Ruggero became intrigued by the question, ”What happens after the fighting moves on?”
“The Allies had somehow to restore law and order and recreate a civil society and all its functioning parts immediately in the wake of the most violent and chaotic of human endeavors: modern war. That must have been incredibly difficult.”
That musing led Ruggero to a new fiction series that kicks off in 2019 with Blame the Dead.
“The protagonist is a former Philadelphia beat cop, Eddie Harkins, who winds up investigating the murder of a US Army surgeon. Among other problems, Harkins learns that many of the victim’s colleagues think that the dead man—who was something of a low-life—pretty much got what he deserved.”
“But, as Harkins says, you can hardly blame the dead guy for his own murder.”
Ruggero and his wife, Marcia Noa, divide their time between Media, Pennsylvania and Lewes, Delaware. Ruggero spent seven years as a trustee of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School.
“I often think of Tom Clancy’s advice to my cadets, which helped me in no small way to find a job I love.”
Ruggero graduated from West Point in 1980, fulfilling one of his professional dreams. He served as an infantry officer in the Army and later returned to West Point to teach literature and writing. While he was on the faculty at West Point that Ruggero got the idea that it would be great to invite a newly famous author named Tom Clancy for a visit.
“I knew Clancy was fascinated by all things military, and West Point is a great draw. I had no travel budget to offer him, but I cheekily wrote that if he made his way to New York, I’d let him talk to my upperclass cadets.”
Clancy’s visit became a big event for the Academy, and the author was a houseguest of the Superintendent, the three-star general who is essentially the president of a university. Ruggero made good on his promise and brought Clancy to class to speak to cadets in a writing course.
“He told the cadets that he’d waited until he was forty years old to even try writing, something he’d always wanted to do. He told them not to wait.”
Ruggero took Clancy’s advice to heart and got to work on a manuscript that would become his first novel, 38 North Yankee.
“I got up at 4:30—oh-dark-thirty in Army jargon—and wrote until it was time to leave for work at six. I had two young children at the time and didn’t want to sacrifice my time in the evenings with them.”
Ruggero has written fiction, military history and several titles on leadership; and has built a business running retreats for business executives to places like Normandy and Gettysburg.
“We use the history of these battles and the challenges facing the commanders, to figure out how we can better lead our modern organizations.”
On one visit to West Point Ruggero met a graduate of the Class of 1941, who became a guide for two of his books, both non-fiction accounts of American paratroopers in World War Two. Some of the hundred and fifty or so former paratroopers Ruggero interviewed fought in six major campaigns.
“Getting to know those men and capturing their stories for later generations has been a highlight of my professional career.”
While visiting Sicily to research his non-fiction Combat Jump, about the 1943 Allied invasion, Ruggero became intrigued by the question, ”What happens after the fighting moves on?”
“The Allies had somehow to restore law and order and recreate a civil society and all its functioning parts immediately in the wake of the most violent and chaotic of human endeavors: modern war. That must have been incredibly difficult.”
That musing led Ruggero to a new fiction series that kicks off in 2019 with Blame the Dead.
“The protagonist is a former Philadelphia beat cop, Eddie Harkins, who winds up investigating the murder of a US Army surgeon. Among other problems, Harkins learns that many of the victim’s colleagues think that the dead man—who was something of a low-life—pretty much got what he deserved.”
“But, as Harkins says, you can hardly blame the dead guy for his own murder.”
Ruggero and his wife, Marcia Noa, divide their time between Media, Pennsylvania and Lewes, Delaware. Ruggero spent seven years as a trustee of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School.
“I often think of Tom Clancy’s advice to my cadets, which helped me in no small way to find a job I love.”
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December 9, 2020Set during World War II, we follow Eddie Harkins, a former Philadelphia cop currently a Military Police lieutenant.
"If you'd have asked me yesterday if he was capable of murder, I'd have said no...Today I'm not so sure."
"We've turned this place into a shithole..."He's stationed at the 11th Field Hospital in Sicily and when Dr Myers Stephenson ends up dead, he's the only one who's able to investigate.
Despite never performing as a detective, he must investigate this murder - and quickly.
"You got a stomach bug?" Drake asked.But with everyone seeming to team up against him, with the suspects multiplying by the hour, and his deadline to solve the murder coming every closer...this might just be the one case that gets away.
"No, I...I've never seen a murder victim before,"
So.
Soooo.
Soooooooo.
Right off the bat, if you are looking for a take on the historical accuracy of this book - do NOT look at me. I typically don't read war books or historical fiction, so I really haven't a clue how accurate this is.
(Though, as a note: to me - as someone who is NOT familiar with the timeframe that this took place in - I think it was a little odd that the Military Police lieutenant was told to investigate a murder despite having no experience.
Other reviews kind of get into this so they'd be where you'd want to go.)
As for the actual story....ehh...it just didn't gel with me.
I was rather intrigued by this book at the beginning - the way the doctor died, the ever-increasing pool of suspects and the timeframe were all interesting to me.
I was curious regarding who did it but the more I read, the more my enthusiasm disappeared.
It took a lonnnnng time to ramp up this story and while the ending was super-snappy, it just didn't balance out compared to the setup.
I think what mostly threw me out of the book was way the book had a one-track mind about rape and sex.
Like this:
"How could a broad get that angry over getting her ass pinched?"and this:
"Were you a virgin when you joined the army?"And this:
"Grab-ass was acceptable, though? Professionally, I mean."I feel like some authors really use rape as a pivotal plot point that really makes the audience feel it and its rippling effects (see Bear Town by Fredrik Backman - A single instance completely and utterly changed my outlook on the book).
And other authors just use rape (or assault) (or repressing women's rights) over and over and over to the point where it doesn't make an impact to the reader anymore - to the point where it just becomes background noise.
Again, I don't know how historically accurate this book was, but there was so much emphasis put on the rapes and assaults that (as a reader) I was numb before I even got halfway through the book.
Overall, I think this book has a lot of potential...I'm just probably not the right audience for it.
I received a free copy of BLAME THE DEAD by Ed Ruggero from Macmillan in exchange for a honest review
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January 28, 2020
So many problems with this book...
Taking place in Sicily in 1943 during World War II, Eddie Harkins, a Philadelphia beat cop, is now the first MP on the scene of a murder case. As he is very reluctant to take the case and eager to hand it off to someone else, he gets told that he is to head up the murder investigation and discover the killer.
Okay so first of all this book has an extremely slow beginning. Like slow to the point where it put me to sleep several times trying to get through it. Also the author switches from one point of view to another and while this works for some books does not work for this book and is extremely disorienting. I found myself having to reread sections of the book in order to follow along properly. The ending of the book had some good action in it but was very short-lived.
Now onto my two HUGE problems with this book....
1. Military Police do NOT get put on to solve murder cases. That is actually a separate division. That would either fall under the branches of NCIS or CID depending on the investigation and the branch of the military investigating it. An ordinary MP would definitely not formally head up a murder investigation.
2. The incessant talk of sex and rape in this book is stifling. I found it completely unnecessary for plot purposes and frankly it just turned me off from the book entirely. Whether this may or may not be historically accurate is beside the point. And noting that the author made such a huge mistake with who can head up a murder investigation in the military makes me think that research was not fully done to create this book. I'm sorry but that takes the realism out of it for me.
I'm sorry but I will not be recommending this book.
I received a free copy of this book from McMillan in exchange for an honest review.
Taking place in Sicily in 1943 during World War II, Eddie Harkins, a Philadelphia beat cop, is now the first MP on the scene of a murder case. As he is very reluctant to take the case and eager to hand it off to someone else, he gets told that he is to head up the murder investigation and discover the killer.
Okay so first of all this book has an extremely slow beginning. Like slow to the point where it put me to sleep several times trying to get through it. Also the author switches from one point of view to another and while this works for some books does not work for this book and is extremely disorienting. I found myself having to reread sections of the book in order to follow along properly. The ending of the book had some good action in it but was very short-lived.
Now onto my two HUGE problems with this book....
1. Military Police do NOT get put on to solve murder cases. That is actually a separate division. That would either fall under the branches of NCIS or CID depending on the investigation and the branch of the military investigating it. An ordinary MP would definitely not formally head up a murder investigation.
2. The incessant talk of sex and rape in this book is stifling. I found it completely unnecessary for plot purposes and frankly it just turned me off from the book entirely. Whether this may or may not be historically accurate is beside the point. And noting that the author made such a huge mistake with who can head up a murder investigation in the military makes me think that research was not fully done to create this book. I'm sorry but that takes the realism out of it for me.
I'm sorry but I will not be recommending this book.
I received a free copy of this book from McMillan in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2020
After completing 1/3, I could see no reason to continue this uninteresting tale. 0 of 10 stars
March 17, 2020
This was a slow moving police procedural set at a US military field hospital in Italy during WWII. It reminded me a little of the books written by James R. Benn. A doctor at the hospital is found shot to death and Eddie Harkins, an MP, is assigned to find the killer. Everyone wanted the doctor dead so there were a lot of suspects. I found the investigation plodding, with much repetition. Then there was some action, including fighting and shooting, in the last 20% of the book. There was also a lot of talk about sexual harassment, rape, venereal disease and even an exploded penis. Most of this was unnecessary. I thought the book was just ok. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
December 29, 2019
I received a free copy of BLAME THE DEAD by Ed Ruggero from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It's a mystery set in Sicily during WWII. Very gritty and raw look at what war looks like in the nurses unit and the doctors who are in charge. The book starts right away with the murder of Stephenson who no one seems sorry that he is dead. Harkins is assigned to investigate and feels in over his head. I loved how fast paced the story was. I mean it did not let up. It was pretty easy to figure out who did it, but I still enjoyed all the intricacies as to why.
I am glad I read this book. It is outside my norm, but that ended up working to my advantage. Well worth the read.
I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It's a mystery set in Sicily during WWII. Very gritty and raw look at what war looks like in the nurses unit and the doctors who are in charge. The book starts right away with the murder of Stephenson who no one seems sorry that he is dead. Harkins is assigned to investigate and feels in over his head. I loved how fast paced the story was. I mean it did not let up. It was pretty easy to figure out who did it, but I still enjoyed all the intricacies as to why.
I am glad I read this book. It is outside my norm, but that ended up working to my advantage. Well worth the read.
December 7, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of BLAME THE DEAD by Ed Ruggero from Macmillan in an exchange for an honest review.
There seems to be tendency in big budget WWII stars to feature mainly, if not solely, white men. Rarely, will you see men of color. Sometimes you see women but by and large those women are limited to hiding people, falling in love with people, or nursing people. A sense of struggle or anything other than getting upset at death stalking men really isn’t shown.
Thankfully, Blame the Dead is an exception to this.
While Ed Ruggero’s debut mystery features as its lead a military police office Eddie Harkins who finds himself tasked with finding the murderer of an army doctor, it also features Kathleen Donnelly, a friend and an army nurse. It is though Donnelly and the other nurses that Ruggero showcases that not all battles are on the front lines. And if you need one reason to pick up this book, then his tackling of sexism and harassment in the work place is damn fine one because Ruggero can write women. Donnelly and Ronan in particular are fully realized and are not the stereotypical army nurse that seems to populate war stories.
Ruggero also works in other areas of morality in the times of war, of actions both behind the front lines and on the front lines. The front-line viewpoint is conveyed by the man who becomes Harkins’ driver, Colianno who provides the what seems to be mysterious past backstory that seems to be a requirement for many mysteries.
Ruggero’s writing style straddles the thin between too much information and too little. That sweet spot that some writers drift off as they have to tell you every little detail and spell out everything. He allows the relationships and backstory to come out in a way that make sense and that works quite well. Additionally, while Harkins and Donnelly are the main characters, he does dip into various thought processes of other character and these switches which in some books can be too jarring, are not jarring here and flow smoothly with the rate of the story.
There is a slightly false note, and that is the placement of a sex thing, it doesn’t quite fit and work. It’s not totally out of character or anything, but it feels very pro foma and therefore stands out from the rest of the book that feels very organic.
There seems to be tendency in big budget WWII stars to feature mainly, if not solely, white men. Rarely, will you see men of color. Sometimes you see women but by and large those women are limited to hiding people, falling in love with people, or nursing people. A sense of struggle or anything other than getting upset at death stalking men really isn’t shown.
Thankfully, Blame the Dead is an exception to this.
While Ed Ruggero’s debut mystery features as its lead a military police office Eddie Harkins who finds himself tasked with finding the murderer of an army doctor, it also features Kathleen Donnelly, a friend and an army nurse. It is though Donnelly and the other nurses that Ruggero showcases that not all battles are on the front lines. And if you need one reason to pick up this book, then his tackling of sexism and harassment in the work place is damn fine one because Ruggero can write women. Donnelly and Ronan in particular are fully realized and are not the stereotypical army nurse that seems to populate war stories.
Ruggero also works in other areas of morality in the times of war, of actions both behind the front lines and on the front lines. The front-line viewpoint is conveyed by the man who becomes Harkins’ driver, Colianno who provides the what seems to be mysterious past backstory that seems to be a requirement for many mysteries.
Ruggero’s writing style straddles the thin between too much information and too little. That sweet spot that some writers drift off as they have to tell you every little detail and spell out everything. He allows the relationships and backstory to come out in a way that make sense and that works quite well. Additionally, while Harkins and Donnelly are the main characters, he does dip into various thought processes of other character and these switches which in some books can be too jarring, are not jarring here and flow smoothly with the rate of the story.
There is a slightly false note, and that is the placement of a sex thing, it doesn’t quite fit and work. It’s not totally out of character or anything, but it feels very pro foma and therefore stands out from the rest of the book that feels very organic.
July 22, 2020
Ed Ruggero’s novel Blame the Dead was published in March of this year and is absolutely explosive and exceptionally well done. Blame the Dead is first and foremost a historical fiction novel based in Italy during the thick of WWII but there’s a twist. Blame the Dead is not just a wonderfully written piece of historical fiction, it is also a murder mystery that ends up revealing even more secrets that lie behind the lines of fire.
Ruggero’s main character is Eddie Harkins, an Irish-American Lieutenant who is part of the Military Police. His job day-to-day is to break-up traffic jams or to guard Prisoners of War (POWs). Back in Philadelphia, before volunteering to go off to war, Eddie was a run-of-the-mill traffic cop with little experience with homicide investigations. One fateful morning Eddie and his driver are stopped by some privates and called over to what looks like a murder scene. Dr. Myers Stephenson was shot in the back of the head during an air raid, the perfect time to try and get away with murder as no one would hear a thing. Together with the help of Nurse Kathleen Donnelly and his driver Dominic Colianno, Harkins must now try to solve what feels like an unsolvable case on hospital grounds while battle rages on. While Harkins pieces together what happened to the Doctor, other secrets float to the surface showing that the humble hospital grounds are not as innocent as they seem. There are a lot of different characters that play various important roles throughout Blame the Dead and Ruggero does an excellent job not letting any slip through the cracks for the reader. While sometimes an abundance of characters can seem daunting, Ruggero frequently has the narrator slip in a reminder of who that person is without having to completely describe them again.
War is by no means a sanitary place to be. Soldiers are covered in mud, dirt, and other people’s bodily fluids all while trying to defend the front and trying not to die. Ruggero’s details on the ruggedness and messiness of war are spectacular and constantly remind the reader that this was not a time where you could go take a shower if you wanted to; being clean was a luxury that many on the front lines could not afford. Ruggero takes his time to really show the reader what it may have been like in a hospital during World War II. Ruggero also brings up the topic of Venereal Diseases that were rampant among soldiers during WWII and points out how common this was - even if it’s something not discussed in every day history books. Ruggero has woven fiction with actual historical facts in such a seamless way that the reader may believe that this was actually part of history and not historical fiction. It’s the attention to detail that Ruggero has put into Blame that Dead that truly make it a remarkable novel. Blame the Dead manages to take a murder mystery and twist it with the grittiness of war to create a very believable story.
https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/blog...
Originally published on Cloud Lake Literary’s website, link above.
Thank you to Goodreads and Forge Publishing for the gifted ARC.
Ruggero’s main character is Eddie Harkins, an Irish-American Lieutenant who is part of the Military Police. His job day-to-day is to break-up traffic jams or to guard Prisoners of War (POWs). Back in Philadelphia, before volunteering to go off to war, Eddie was a run-of-the-mill traffic cop with little experience with homicide investigations. One fateful morning Eddie and his driver are stopped by some privates and called over to what looks like a murder scene. Dr. Myers Stephenson was shot in the back of the head during an air raid, the perfect time to try and get away with murder as no one would hear a thing. Together with the help of Nurse Kathleen Donnelly and his driver Dominic Colianno, Harkins must now try to solve what feels like an unsolvable case on hospital grounds while battle rages on. While Harkins pieces together what happened to the Doctor, other secrets float to the surface showing that the humble hospital grounds are not as innocent as they seem. There are a lot of different characters that play various important roles throughout Blame the Dead and Ruggero does an excellent job not letting any slip through the cracks for the reader. While sometimes an abundance of characters can seem daunting, Ruggero frequently has the narrator slip in a reminder of who that person is without having to completely describe them again.
War is by no means a sanitary place to be. Soldiers are covered in mud, dirt, and other people’s bodily fluids all while trying to defend the front and trying not to die. Ruggero’s details on the ruggedness and messiness of war are spectacular and constantly remind the reader that this was not a time where you could go take a shower if you wanted to; being clean was a luxury that many on the front lines could not afford. Ruggero takes his time to really show the reader what it may have been like in a hospital during World War II. Ruggero also brings up the topic of Venereal Diseases that were rampant among soldiers during WWII and points out how common this was - even if it’s something not discussed in every day history books. Ruggero has woven fiction with actual historical facts in such a seamless way that the reader may believe that this was actually part of history and not historical fiction. It’s the attention to detail that Ruggero has put into Blame that Dead that truly make it a remarkable novel. Blame the Dead manages to take a murder mystery and twist it with the grittiness of war to create a very believable story.
https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/blog...
Originally published on Cloud Lake Literary’s website, link above.
Thank you to Goodreads and Forge Publishing for the gifted ARC.
February 28, 2020
What's next? WHAT'S NEXT? That is why I liked this book. It kept me interested in the storyline. It is a WWII story about 'who done it.' Yeah, it is not just about the enemy (Germans) it's about who murdered the doctor and who else knows how many more at the Field Hospital.
As you are reading this story you felt like you are watching it on the screen, that's how good this book is.
As you are reading this story you felt like you are watching it on the screen, that's how good this book is.
March 18, 2020
I am a fan of military and historical fiction themed books. Usually when I see a book in this vein as this book by Mr. Ruggero, I jump to check out the book. Thus the reason I am sad that I struggled with this book.
I instantly was transported back in time. I got a clear vision of the world and the characters that Mr. Ruggero built for this book. Yet, I found myself missing that strong connection towards the characters; except maybe Colianno. He was a young guy that was assigned to Eddie to be taken under his wing. There was a bit of a mystery about Colianno. They more I got to know him the more I did like him.
In regards, to the main mystery, it was good. The other issue I had with this book besides the connection to the characters is that I found the pacing of the story to be slow. At times there was a bit too much time spent on talking or the build up to the mystery that I felt slowed the story down. While, this book may not have hit me in al the right spots; there is something in the way Mr. Ruggero writes that does make me want to give him another chance.
I instantly was transported back in time. I got a clear vision of the world and the characters that Mr. Ruggero built for this book. Yet, I found myself missing that strong connection towards the characters; except maybe Colianno. He was a young guy that was assigned to Eddie to be taken under his wing. There was a bit of a mystery about Colianno. They more I got to know him the more I did like him.
In regards, to the main mystery, it was good. The other issue I had with this book besides the connection to the characters is that I found the pacing of the story to be slow. At times there was a bit too much time spent on talking or the build up to the mystery that I felt slowed the story down. While, this book may not have hit me in al the right spots; there is something in the way Mr. Ruggero writes that does make me want to give him another chance.
March 4, 2020
"This may surprise you, Lieutenant, but we have a pretty important job here..."
“This may surprise you, Lieutenant, but we have a pretty important job here. I didn’t volunteer because I like the clothes, or because I wanted to see every s**thole in Europe.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about an Army mobile hospital unit based on Palermo, Sicily during World War II. The book begins in August 1943.
The story basically centers on the nurses that work at the hospital unit and there's a lot of historical happenings that I enjoyed reading about, in and around how the mobile units functioned.
This is also a mystery story and a story of intrigue. An Army doctor who was known for the horrendous way he treated the nurses is found murdered. One of the first people on the scene happens to be Army Lieutenant MP officer Eddie Harkins, who used to be a street cop in Philadelphia. He ends up investigating the murder rather than the Assistant Provost Marshal, who has even less investigative experience than him.
There's stories and sub-stories galore in the book and I enjoyed all the different characters and threads of plot.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction or murder mysteries.
I received this book from Forge Reads through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
“This may surprise you, Lieutenant, but we have a pretty important job here. I didn’t volunteer because I like the clothes, or because I wanted to see every s**thole in Europe.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about an Army mobile hospital unit based on Palermo, Sicily during World War II. The book begins in August 1943.
The story basically centers on the nurses that work at the hospital unit and there's a lot of historical happenings that I enjoyed reading about, in and around how the mobile units functioned.
This is also a mystery story and a story of intrigue. An Army doctor who was known for the horrendous way he treated the nurses is found murdered. One of the first people on the scene happens to be Army Lieutenant MP officer Eddie Harkins, who used to be a street cop in Philadelphia. He ends up investigating the murder rather than the Assistant Provost Marshal, who has even less investigative experience than him.
There's stories and sub-stories galore in the book and I enjoyed all the different characters and threads of plot.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction or murder mysteries.
I received this book from Forge Reads through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
March 25, 2020
Eddie Harkins was a traffic cop in the United States before World War II began. When a surgeon is murdered at a hospital base in Sicily, he is brought to the base to investigate. He discovers many secrets and coverups that have been happening at the base, which makes his investigation complicated.
The writing in this story was clear and concise. I immediately felt sympathy for the characters. Harkins got some bad news fairly early on in the book, and I could feel his pain. The story was detailed, but also concise, so words weren’t wasted. The story was also fast paced, so it was difficult to put down.
There are some sexual assaults and rapes that Harkins uncovers in his investigation. One thing that I noticed right away was that the men in charge treated these accusations in the same way that they are often treated today. They either brushed them off as being a misunderstanding or blamed the women for leading them on or wanting to be touched like that. Unfortunately, that’s still often the response decades later. However, this made the story very timely, since there is more awareness about sexual assaults today.
I loved this book! I highly recommend it!
Thank you Forge Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing in this story was clear and concise. I immediately felt sympathy for the characters. Harkins got some bad news fairly early on in the book, and I could feel his pain. The story was detailed, but also concise, so words weren’t wasted. The story was also fast paced, so it was difficult to put down.
There are some sexual assaults and rapes that Harkins uncovers in his investigation. One thing that I noticed right away was that the men in charge treated these accusations in the same way that they are often treated today. They either brushed them off as being a misunderstanding or blamed the women for leading them on or wanting to be touched like that. Unfortunately, that’s still often the response decades later. However, this made the story very timely, since there is more awareness about sexual assaults today.
I loved this book! I highly recommend it!
Thank you Forge Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2020
by Ed Ruggero is quite a read... It is a fast read that is paced like a roller coaster.. slow... and then sudden drops.... then a few jerky turns and we are slowly rising again only to another dip and speed. I thought it was a unique read, a murder mystery set at US Army’s 11th Field Hospital in Sicily Italy during WWII just after D-Day. There should be no complaints with this one.. it is a murder mystery, history that appeals to WWII buffs, a touch of romance (really only a touch... well really more sex than romance), institutional corruption, and military fiction... good characters.. all combine for an intriguing read. Well worth it. 4 stars
Happy Reading!
P.S. Didn't like the cover...
January 15, 2020
I enjoyed this very much. It’s a good mystery that takes place during a time period that I would not normally read. Took it on vacation and finished it in just a few days and it kept my interest the entire time. No real spoiler here....I can’t stand when reviewers do that.
December 29, 2019
Blame The Dead.
I received a free copy from Net Galley for a review. Well, I don't know if it was for a review. They were just nice.
This was a buddy read with none other than "Miranda Reads."
Wow. What a boring read. But fast paced ending.
Starting this book I knew nothing about Ed Ruggero. The author. I still know nothing about Ed Ruggero. The author.
All I know is this book has not been released yet, so I'm special. Nah, actually it was on Netgalley, and I just happened to be able to get a copy for 60 days, and for free. It took me 27 of those days to read this book. Wow. About 10 of those chapters were read in the last 30 minutes before this review was written
The story takes place during some war, I am not a history person, so I forget what War was fought against the Germans. That's the war that's taking place right now I'm pretty sure it's WW2 cause Hitler's involved, but I have no idea. (sorry)
Anyway it follows arund a man named Harkins while Harkins investigates a murder, and tries to find out "Who done it."
I'm really sorry I have no quotes, I read it using Netgalley, and for some reason I couldn't highlight in the book... Lame, I know.
Anyway... The book, interesting as the plot was, was very boring. Up until chapters 30-38 things were VERY boring. And each chapter is around 15 pages sometimes a little less sometimes a little more. The characters also were not very realistic. You have some very "sex-driven" doctors in the book and no one getting on to them for raping young nurses. The officer in charge of their station (or whatever it's called) doesn't do ANYTHING about it.
Also, sex is just a HUGE theme of the story... AND IT DOESN'T CLICK. The story is not made better by the references made, over and over and over. I bet in the first 30 chapters the words sex, rape, or anything involving that stuff was used at east once in every three paragraphs
It felt like the writer thought he could be cool by putting that and a lot of strong language constantly in his book, and it didn't work. AT ALL.
All that to say, the ending was good, the murder was solved the plot was completed, but the reasons I just mentioned are why the book doesn't get a 5 or even a 4 star rating. (sorry Ed)
The end was very fast paced and easy to "gobble" up, but the rest was NOT. I felt like I was trudging through Antarctica in the freezing cold winter fighting the wind, and then at the very end the wind stopped and I was able to make a fire and feel good again.
So, if this sounds interesting totally read the book It is available on Netgalley, so if you want to read it before it comes out, hurry!
but.. i will never read this book again. EVER...
Maybe $2... New. Not used.
I received a free copy from Net Galley for a review. Well, I don't know if it was for a review. They were just nice.
This was a buddy read with none other than "Miranda Reads."
Wow. What a boring read. But fast paced ending.
Starting this book I knew nothing about Ed Ruggero. The author. I still know nothing about Ed Ruggero. The author.
All I know is this book has not been released yet, so I'm special. Nah, actually it was on Netgalley, and I just happened to be able to get a copy for 60 days, and for free. It took me 27 of those days to read this book. Wow. About 10 of those chapters were read in the last 30 minutes before this review was written
The story takes place during some war, I am not a history person, so I forget what War was fought against the Germans. That's the war that's taking place right now I'm pretty sure it's WW2 cause Hitler's involved, but I have no idea. (sorry)
Anyway it follows arund a man named Harkins while Harkins investigates a murder, and tries to find out "Who done it."
I'm really sorry I have no quotes, I read it using Netgalley, and for some reason I couldn't highlight in the book... Lame, I know.
Anyway... The book, interesting as the plot was, was very boring. Up until chapters 30-38 things were VERY boring. And each chapter is around 15 pages sometimes a little less sometimes a little more. The characters also were not very realistic. You have some very "sex-driven" doctors in the book and no one getting on to them for raping young nurses. The officer in charge of their station (or whatever it's called) doesn't do ANYTHING about it.
Also, sex is just a HUGE theme of the story... AND IT DOESN'T CLICK. The story is not made better by the references made, over and over and over. I bet in the first 30 chapters the words sex, rape, or anything involving that stuff was used at east once in every three paragraphs
It felt like the writer thought he could be cool by putting that and a lot of strong language constantly in his book, and it didn't work. AT ALL.
All that to say, the ending was good, the murder was solved the plot was completed, but the reasons I just mentioned are why the book doesn't get a 5 or even a 4 star rating. (sorry Ed)
The end was very fast paced and easy to "gobble" up, but the rest was NOT. I felt like I was trudging through Antarctica in the freezing cold winter fighting the wind, and then at the very end the wind stopped and I was able to make a fire and feel good again.
So, if this sounds interesting totally read the book It is available on Netgalley, so if you want to read it before it comes out, hurry!
but.. i will never read this book again. EVER...
Maybe $2... New. Not used.
March 4, 2020
One of the main reasons that I decided to read this book was because the author was a former military officer. I am really into military history, especially Civil War and WWI/WWII. My dad was also in the military and I grew up with military history.
I thought this one sounded like it would bring a lot of history to life mixed into a historical mystery. I also like that this book was going to be sent it Italy during the war instead of the traditional France or England.
This book ended up being quite a different read than I was expecting. So many historical mysteries lean toward the fluffy side, but this one was decidedly more gritty.
The first thing that I noticed about this book was that it started really slow for me. The last quarter of the book was much faster paced but the beginning was a bit of a struggle for me to get through. But I felt invested enough in the story to keep reading. There was a lot of sex/rape in the story which was a little startling and at times distracting but again not completely off putting.
While the book might have started slow, I think it was so develop the backstories and establish the time period and setting so that the reader would know what was going on. That was why I didn’t totally give up on it even if it was on the slow side. It was also very well researched and the author’s knowledge of WWII and military history/ranks is extensive, as I would expect from this author.
As for the mystery itself, I enjoyed it and thought the Eddie was a likable enough detective and certainly competent in his abilities even if he doesn’t believe that himself. When he is put on the case he thinks someone more competent will take it over but in the end he is expected to lead the investigation. I enjoyed watching him put the clues together and solve the mystery. I believe this is going to be a series and I think it will be a fun one to read and see how Eddie evolves in upcoming books.
So where does that leave me for a rating? Well I ended up going with 3 stars, it was decent debut but it needs a little polishing when it comes to pace but other than that it would be an enjoyable read for fans of WWII history and lovers of mysteries!
See my full review here
I thought this one sounded like it would bring a lot of history to life mixed into a historical mystery. I also like that this book was going to be sent it Italy during the war instead of the traditional France or England.
This book ended up being quite a different read than I was expecting. So many historical mysteries lean toward the fluffy side, but this one was decidedly more gritty.
The first thing that I noticed about this book was that it started really slow for me. The last quarter of the book was much faster paced but the beginning was a bit of a struggle for me to get through. But I felt invested enough in the story to keep reading. There was a lot of sex/rape in the story which was a little startling and at times distracting but again not completely off putting.
While the book might have started slow, I think it was so develop the backstories and establish the time period and setting so that the reader would know what was going on. That was why I didn’t totally give up on it even if it was on the slow side. It was also very well researched and the author’s knowledge of WWII and military history/ranks is extensive, as I would expect from this author.
As for the mystery itself, I enjoyed it and thought the Eddie was a likable enough detective and certainly competent in his abilities even if he doesn’t believe that himself. When he is put on the case he thinks someone more competent will take it over but in the end he is expected to lead the investigation. I enjoyed watching him put the clues together and solve the mystery. I believe this is going to be a series and I think it will be a fun one to read and see how Eddie evolves in upcoming books.
So where does that leave me for a rating? Well I ended up going with 3 stars, it was decent debut but it needs a little polishing when it comes to pace but other than that it would be an enjoyable read for fans of WWII history and lovers of mysteries!
See my full review here
August 28, 2020
During the chaos of an air raid Dr. Myers Stephenson is murdered while running towards shelter. MP Eddie Harkins is just finishing up a long shift when he gets waved into the field hospital just outside of Palermo, Italy. By chance, Eddie finds himself in charge of the investigation. When he begins asking questions of the hospital's staff he finds out that the place is in complete disarray. Doctors are drunk while on duty, nurses are being harassed and attacked, one even died recently under suspicious circumstances. Sensing he has fallen into a bigger mess than he can handle, Eddie is relieved to find that his brother, a chaplain paratrooper, as well as and a good friend from back home are both at the hospital and form a fast team to attempt to uncover what is really going on at the US Army's 111th Field Hospital. "Blame the Dead" is unlike any WWII historical fiction book I've red before. So many of these books are written from the female point of view and involve some sort of espionage on their part - this was a refreshing perspective. A whodunit mystery with a historical setting, "Blame the Dead" acts as a history lesson for those of us who aren't familiar with military protocol during the war, what life was like for the nurses working in the field as well as a glimpse into life in Italy during this time. Thank you to NetGalley & Tom Doherty Associates for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2020
My two favorite genres are history and mystery, so this was the perfect combination! In the summer of 1943, a bloody summer in Sicily following the Allied invasion, Eddie Harkins is a former Philadelphia beat cop who is now serving in the Military Police. He is assigned, having been the first cop on the scene, to the murder of an Army doctor, who turns out to have been hated by all, with good reason. The nurses of the Army Field Hospitals are overworked caring for wounded GIs and also subject to assault themselves by their own doctors/soldiers. Is it possible that one of them murdered the disliked doctor, or is there a spy among them, most likely a German POW working in the hospital, who was responsible to avoid being caught at his spying? Or is the murder connected to the active black market business? Ruggero does an incredible job of making the whole scene come alive, making us feel the miserable working and living conditions tolerated by the heroic nurses and doctors, and of course by the soldiers themselves.
This is an excellent book, and I hope it's the first of a series based on Harkins' adventures as the Allies move through Italy and work their way to Berlin to end the war.
This is an excellent book, and I hope it's the first of a series based on Harkins' adventures as the Allies move through Italy and work their way to Berlin to end the war.
January 28, 2020
This book is a history lesson, a page-turning mystery, and a piece of human drama all wrapped up in one. Stuck in a war zone yet trying to do the right thing, Harkins is a man who will run and run to connect the dots to the murderer. He has a good sense of who the ultimate villain is early on in the book, but the evidence alludes him. This is a plus in the reading. It made the book go quickly as the hunt became more palpable as the threads started to become well intertwined. My only criticism is that the ending is stretched out a little more than my liking.
Well-researched and with a good feeling of the emotions of war for all participants, Blame the Dead is thriller that I would definitely recommend.
4 out of 5 stars.
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2020/01/28/bl...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
Well-researched and with a good feeling of the emotions of war for all participants, Blame the Dead is thriller that I would definitely recommend.
4 out of 5 stars.
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2020/01/28/bl...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
March 26, 2020
Finally!! A book based in WWII that was different! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Eddie Harkins, military police, is the first person to arrive at what appears to be a murder. From there the author takes you on a journey to find out who killed the doctor that everyone hated. You have the nurses he terrorized, the German prisoners of war, and all the other people who worked in the hospital, as suspects. The authors description of the hospital and what it goes through during war very realistic. Such a different historical fiction novel. Solid 4⭐
Eddie Harkins, military police, is the first person to arrive at what appears to be a murder. From there the author takes you on a journey to find out who killed the doctor that everyone hated. You have the nurses he terrorized, the German prisoners of war, and all the other people who worked in the hospital, as suspects. The authors description of the hospital and what it goes through during war very realistic. Such a different historical fiction novel. Solid 4⭐
March 3, 2020
This book is a well-written and interesting take on a unique aspect of WWII focusing on a murder at a field hospital and the basically untrained beat-cop-turned-detective trying time solve the case.
There’s a distracting amount of side stories & characters, so be prepared to focus. It’s vulgar (lots of unnecessary sex stuff) and sad - not surprisingly - but worth picking up if you’re a WWII buff or a fan of police work or murder mysteries.
There’s a distracting amount of side stories & characters, so be prepared to focus. It’s vulgar (lots of unnecessary sex stuff) and sad - not surprisingly - but worth picking up if you’re a WWII buff or a fan of police work or murder mysteries.
May 4, 2020
The More Of Blame The Dead I Read, The More I Disliked The Book!
When I initially read the Amazon Book Description of Blame The Dead I was sure this was going to be a book that I was really going to enjoy. This expectation was influenced largely on my being a big fan of murder mysteries set during WWII in general, and specifically on the many 5 and 4 star ratings given by those who had already read the book.
Well, the contents of my copy of Blame The Dead was either totally different from others who read it or our differing opinions is a good example of the saying ‘“to each his (her) own.”
My negative feelings toward this book intensified the more I read of it for the following reasons:
...I found the author’s writing skills — in terms of narrative prose, dialogue, creating atmosphere and, in particular, developing believable and interesting characters — to be seriously subpar from what I’ve come to expect from a good author;
...While the plot concept had potential, the execution of the plot was too slow moving and, too often, became repetitive;
...The little action and excitement that occurred was limited throughout the book except for the last 30-40 pages; and what did occur was often predictable and came so late in the book that I was beyond caring what happened. By this point, my excitement came from knowing that I was almost done and could move on to my next books.
No doubt my review is going to be met with skepticism and doubt, given the book’s many favorable reviews. However, if it helps even one reader from making the mistake I did, I’ll feel that my review served its purpose.
When I initially read the Amazon Book Description of Blame The Dead I was sure this was going to be a book that I was really going to enjoy. This expectation was influenced largely on my being a big fan of murder mysteries set during WWII in general, and specifically on the many 5 and 4 star ratings given by those who had already read the book.
Well, the contents of my copy of Blame The Dead was either totally different from others who read it or our differing opinions is a good example of the saying ‘“to each his (her) own.”
My negative feelings toward this book intensified the more I read of it for the following reasons:
...I found the author’s writing skills — in terms of narrative prose, dialogue, creating atmosphere and, in particular, developing believable and interesting characters — to be seriously subpar from what I’ve come to expect from a good author;
...While the plot concept had potential, the execution of the plot was too slow moving and, too often, became repetitive;
...The little action and excitement that occurred was limited throughout the book except for the last 30-40 pages; and what did occur was often predictable and came so late in the book that I was beyond caring what happened. By this point, my excitement came from knowing that I was almost done and could move on to my next books.
No doubt my review is going to be met with skepticism and doubt, given the book’s many favorable reviews. However, if it helps even one reader from making the mistake I did, I’ll feel that my review served its purpose.
May 6, 2022
IMO, this was a pretty good "first time out" novel. Some of the reviewers here on Good Reads thought it was slow, involved and resorted to too much talk of sex, VD, etc. (Did they read the book?) The whole sex part, was part and parcel to the story, good, bad, or indifferent. I look for WWII novels and will pretty much read anything that has Nazi emblems on it or mentions WWII. Not sure why, I wasn't alive then, but it is a very interesting time which to write about. Anyway, I've got Comes the war on the bedside table now, so I may not be so kind after that. In the meantime, go for it, this book is worth taking a look at.
July 5, 2020
This review is for my friends Brittany and Anamaye-
This book was not my usual genre (historical fiction), but it kept me engaged with the mystery plot(s) Page turner. Murder. Little bit of romance. Good read. 👍🏼
This book was not my usual genre (historical fiction), but it kept me engaged with the mystery plot(s) Page turner. Murder. Little bit of romance. Good read. 👍🏼
December 6, 2023
James Benn does this so much better with his Billy Boyle series.
April 18, 2020
I’m not sure what about this book caught my interest when I was offered a copy for review, but I’m glad I took a chance on something outside of my usual fantasy and sci-fi genres. I do occasionally read historical fiction, but not typically about WWI (or any war, really). At any rate, I’m glad I picked this up, as it was a compelling read and kept me intrigued during these crazy times we’ve all found ourselves in.
Harkins is no Sherlock Holmes – in fact, there are times when I wanted to shake him and tell him to stop being such a bull-headed ass. But that’s not a bad thing. He’s earnest and hard-working and doing his best during a situation he’s ill-prepared to handle. A good portion of the book highlights the trials nurses on the front were forced to deal with (in addition to the hardships of war), including sexual abuse from doctors (much of which I imagine actually happened often) and Harkins is at first almost willingly oblivious. But thanks to a run-in with a childhood friend of his, he begins to see the truth in her story and the stories of the other nurses. He goes through a lot of growth as a man and become a champion for the nurses, even if he’s still not the best detective.
If you’re interested in detective stories, especially one set during WWI, then I think you’ll enjoy this. If this isn’t your regular cup of reading tea, I would still suggest you give it a chance if something about the premise interests you. I don’t automatically turn my nose up at books that aren’t fantasy or sci-fi, but I do naturally gravitate towards them. This was a nice reminder to myself to continue to look for books in other genres!
Harkins is no Sherlock Holmes – in fact, there are times when I wanted to shake him and tell him to stop being such a bull-headed ass. But that’s not a bad thing. He’s earnest and hard-working and doing his best during a situation he’s ill-prepared to handle. A good portion of the book highlights the trials nurses on the front were forced to deal with (in addition to the hardships of war), including sexual abuse from doctors (much of which I imagine actually happened often) and Harkins is at first almost willingly oblivious. But thanks to a run-in with a childhood friend of his, he begins to see the truth in her story and the stories of the other nurses. He goes through a lot of growth as a man and become a champion for the nurses, even if he’s still not the best detective.
If you’re interested in detective stories, especially one set during WWI, then I think you’ll enjoy this. If this isn’t your regular cup of reading tea, I would still suggest you give it a chance if something about the premise interests you. I don’t automatically turn my nose up at books that aren’t fantasy or sci-fi, but I do naturally gravitate towards them. This was a nice reminder to myself to continue to look for books in other genres!
July 13, 2020
“Blame the Dead” by Ed Ruggero is a murder mystery set in Sicily, 1943 when allied armies were fighting across the island in the struggle to defeat the Germans. It is a well-written and engrossing story with interesting characters. Most compelling is the historical context of what Army nurses and doctors serving in Mobile Advanced Surgical Hospital near to the frontlines faced every moment of each day as the war raged on.
The story begins as Lt. Eddie Harkins arrives at such a hospital unit to investigate the death of a surgeon, Captain Meyers Stephenson, shot in the back of his head during a Luftwaffe attack. Since everyone was down in silt trenches or running for cover, no one saw the crime committed.
Harkins who walked a beat in Philadelphia had only few years on the job before enlisting after Pearl Harbor , beings his investigation with the handicap of not having much experience in murder solving. He quickly realizes he may be in over his depth, dangerously so.
The author gives the reader quite a seasoning to his bubbling plot. For one, the murdered man was a lecher who groped nurses never let a “No” stop his advances. This was no comedic rogue offer such as the Hawkeye” type character as in the MASH the series of old; Stephenson was more like Harvey ( he did not commit suicide) Weinstein. Furthermore, a nurse had committed suicide, it was rumored among the other nurses, after she became pregnant by Stephenson. There were many suspects, no real evidence, a Colonel in command of the unit who is uncooperative and an investigator who is told by his superiors to wrap it up ASAP.
The story is not twisty, but has a lot to keep the reader involved. Mr. Ruggero gives a good sense of what it was like in a war - ravaged country, already poor, now nearly destroyed by modern warfare. The rigors, weariness and courage of the medical personnel who work To save shattered lives in swirling dust and sweltering heat make this novel stand out.
He peoples the book with fine characterizationS , a bit of romance and a taut climax in the middle of a German counterattack.
I recommend “Blame the Dead” who like mysteries with a different setting around an excellent drama.
The story begins as Lt. Eddie Harkins arrives at such a hospital unit to investigate the death of a surgeon, Captain Meyers Stephenson, shot in the back of his head during a Luftwaffe attack. Since everyone was down in silt trenches or running for cover, no one saw the crime committed.
Harkins who walked a beat in Philadelphia had only few years on the job before enlisting after Pearl Harbor , beings his investigation with the handicap of not having much experience in murder solving. He quickly realizes he may be in over his depth, dangerously so.
The author gives the reader quite a seasoning to his bubbling plot. For one, the murdered man was a lecher who groped nurses never let a “No” stop his advances. This was no comedic rogue offer such as the Hawkeye” type character as in the MASH the series of old; Stephenson was more like Harvey ( he did not commit suicide) Weinstein. Furthermore, a nurse had committed suicide, it was rumored among the other nurses, after she became pregnant by Stephenson. There were many suspects, no real evidence, a Colonel in command of the unit who is uncooperative and an investigator who is told by his superiors to wrap it up ASAP.
The story is not twisty, but has a lot to keep the reader involved. Mr. Ruggero gives a good sense of what it was like in a war - ravaged country, already poor, now nearly destroyed by modern warfare. The rigors, weariness and courage of the medical personnel who work To save shattered lives in swirling dust and sweltering heat make this novel stand out.
He peoples the book with fine characterizationS , a bit of romance and a taut climax in the middle of a German counterattack.
I recommend “Blame the Dead” who like mysteries with a different setting around an excellent drama.
July 3, 2021
This author has quite a long list of published books, quite a number of non-fiction books, none of which I've read. I first heard about the 2nd book in this new series, & decided to start with the first historical novel, which focuses on the US campaign in Italy, & Sicily in particular, & on a murder and problems in an advance medical unit & hospital.
I read about 1/3 of the way through book to start, which included far more details of war & campaigns than I really want, even though I'm sure it adds a great deal to the realism of warfare. Faced with short deadlines to finish and other books I'd rather read, I skipped a chunk in the middle & read on, sometimes flipping back to find more missing info. There certainly is lots of human interest in the story.
I read about 1/3 of the way through book to start, which included far more details of war & campaigns than I really want, even though I'm sure it adds a great deal to the realism of warfare. Faced with short deadlines to finish and other books I'd rather read, I skipped a chunk in the middle & read on, sometimes flipping back to find more missing info. There certainly is lots of human interest in the story.
March 1, 2020
I was approached by a publicist via e-mail asking if I was interested in reviewing the historical mystery, Blame The Dead by Ed Ruggero. The promotional material emphasized Ruggero's military background as a West Point graduate and an army officer. It also mentioned women's issues and the role that women played in the military during WWII. I realized that I hadn't read any WWII novel by an author like Ruggero. I also had never read a mystery in which the setting was a field military hospital in wartime. So I requested a digital ARC which I received free of charge via Net Galley.
I saw a review on Goodreads that dismissed this novel because the protagonist was an ordinary member of the MP (military police). Given the author's knowledge of the military, I didn't think it likely that he'd made that kind of mistake. The reviewer pointed out that the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) would be investigating. So I hunted down the History of CID and discovered that in August of 1943, when Blame The Dead took place, criminal investigations in the U.S. Army were still the province of local MPs. Never accuse an author of inauthenticity unless you've done the research to support your claim. It was actually very easy for me to find the source with the correct information about military investigations during the period.
There were a number of people committing crimes at various levels of severity in Blame the Dead. Since the main reason why I read mysteries is to see justice done, I was disturbed that one offender got away with serious crimes. Some readers may consider this character sympathetic, but I couldn't deal with the injustice. That was my only significant problem with this book.
I felt that Blame the Dead realistically portrayed the period, and the military hospital context. It showed the impact of routine sexual harassment and assault on women. It also showed the impact of poor leadership, corruption and abuse of authority. The resolution was a bit too noir for me, but I thought it was well-written.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
I saw a review on Goodreads that dismissed this novel because the protagonist was an ordinary member of the MP (military police). Given the author's knowledge of the military, I didn't think it likely that he'd made that kind of mistake. The reviewer pointed out that the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) would be investigating. So I hunted down the History of CID and discovered that in August of 1943, when Blame The Dead took place, criminal investigations in the U.S. Army were still the province of local MPs. Never accuse an author of inauthenticity unless you've done the research to support your claim. It was actually very easy for me to find the source with the correct information about military investigations during the period.
There were a number of people committing crimes at various levels of severity in Blame the Dead. Since the main reason why I read mysteries is to see justice done, I was disturbed that one offender got away with serious crimes. Some readers may consider this character sympathetic, but I couldn't deal with the injustice. That was my only significant problem with this book.
I felt that Blame the Dead realistically portrayed the period, and the military hospital context. It showed the impact of routine sexual harassment and assault on women. It also showed the impact of poor leadership, corruption and abuse of authority. The resolution was a bit too noir for me, but I thought it was well-written.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
February 24, 2020
Although this historical fiction story takes place during World War II just after D-Day, U.S. Army personnel of all ranks and genders stationed abroad may take an interest in it. The author has done much research regarding the characters he chose, with some having similarities to actual ones. I found it very informative and at times even shocking. How much different would the scenarios be if our country was now in a similar volatile & temporary situation on foreign soil?
The story closes in on a U.S. field hospital in Sicily near Palermo where there's a shortage of both doctors and nurses. The hospital is located just outside the battle area, where major surgeries are performed under tents. Personnel have shifts that go around the clock and beyond, with time for sleep only taken when one is near collapse from exhaustion. A German POW who is a top surgeon is forced to be utilized as a physician because of his medical specialty operating on wounded GIs.
An MP is passing through the area when a surgeon is murdered at close range. As there are no detectives in the area, the MP with his only background being a Philadelphia cop, is reassigned as the lead investigator reporting to the Assistant Provost. He learns the benefits of having a local, who speaks fluent Italian, as his driver during the investigation. The MP learns that at the time it was common for some military doctors to look at nurses as their own private harem. Complaints by nurses of physical and sexual abuse by doctors are not taken seriously.
The page-turning ending of the story ups the rating from a 4 to a 5.
The story closes in on a U.S. field hospital in Sicily near Palermo where there's a shortage of both doctors and nurses. The hospital is located just outside the battle area, where major surgeries are performed under tents. Personnel have shifts that go around the clock and beyond, with time for sleep only taken when one is near collapse from exhaustion. A German POW who is a top surgeon is forced to be utilized as a physician because of his medical specialty operating on wounded GIs.
An MP is passing through the area when a surgeon is murdered at close range. As there are no detectives in the area, the MP with his only background being a Philadelphia cop, is reassigned as the lead investigator reporting to the Assistant Provost. He learns the benefits of having a local, who speaks fluent Italian, as his driver during the investigation. The MP learns that at the time it was common for some military doctors to look at nurses as their own private harem. Complaints by nurses of physical and sexual abuse by doctors are not taken seriously.
The page-turning ending of the story ups the rating from a 4 to a 5.
December 26, 2019
I received a free ARC of Blame the Dead by Ed Ruggero from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
The first in a new series, this book is set in Sicily during the second world war, in an American army field hospital.
Eddie Harkins, an MP who was a Philadelphia beat cop before the war, is the first MP on the scene as a body is found. He is not a detective and is looking forward to handing off the case to someone more experienced, when he is told he needs to lead the investigation.
He quickly finds himself chasing down multiple leads, constantly worried that he doesn't know how to investigate, and becoming aware that something is very rotten at this hospital. The hospital top brass are clearly trying to close him out, witnesses are being moved to other locations so that he can't interview them and the nurses are wary of talking as they are being treated very badly by the doctors and others in charge.
Throw in the fact that something is amiss with a POW, and an emotional family backstory, and you have the ingredients for a good action novel.
I particularly liked the way the characters are portrayed, and the descriptions of the area. You get a vivid mental picture of what is happening.
I enjoyed this book and will be looking for the next in the series once it is available.
The first in a new series, this book is set in Sicily during the second world war, in an American army field hospital.
Eddie Harkins, an MP who was a Philadelphia beat cop before the war, is the first MP on the scene as a body is found. He is not a detective and is looking forward to handing off the case to someone more experienced, when he is told he needs to lead the investigation.
He quickly finds himself chasing down multiple leads, constantly worried that he doesn't know how to investigate, and becoming aware that something is very rotten at this hospital. The hospital top brass are clearly trying to close him out, witnesses are being moved to other locations so that he can't interview them and the nurses are wary of talking as they are being treated very badly by the doctors and others in charge.
Throw in the fact that something is amiss with a POW, and an emotional family backstory, and you have the ingredients for a good action novel.
I particularly liked the way the characters are portrayed, and the descriptions of the area. You get a vivid mental picture of what is happening.
I enjoyed this book and will be looking for the next in the series once it is available.
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