"The First Wave" -James R. Benn

Billy Boyle is a crass, selfish detective from Boston who doesn't want to be in the army, doesn't want to be in Europe, and doesn't want to be fighting a war; frankly, he's not too likeable, which is exactly what makes him realistic. This is the second installment in a series of World War II mysteries in which Boyle finds himself solving a murder in a time of war, never failing to mention the irony.

The First Wave takes place in North Africa with the Vichy French alliance up for grabs. It was slow getting started but once the murder took place, it picked up in both mystery and history. The first book in the series was much more of a typical British murder mystery. This one is a weaker mystery but more historically rich. Take your pick...

Read Also:

I haven't yet read Susan Elia MacNeal's Maggie Hope series, Mr. Churchill's Secretary but it is a suspense novel which takes place during WWII. Yes, I realize this is soooo specific but whatever.

I'd also recommend Lori Wick's Every Storm, your perfect, and...

Pam Jenoff's The Kommandant's Girl, your less than perfect look at WWII.