Book Review: Officer of the Court

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Officer of the Court     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Bill Mesce
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Military   WW II   Legal Setting
Series: Harry Voss # 2
Bantam, Sep 2001, $23.95, 352 pp.

In 1943 in the Orkneys, two pilots find the murdered body of American army Lieutenant Armando Grassi on the empty beach. The Criminal Investigation Corps Captain Woody Kneece begins the investigation of why a soldier stationed in Greenland was found on an island just north of Scotland. Woody leaves DC, stopping in New Jersey to talk with Staff Judge Advocate Major Harry Voss, who recently worked with the deceased in Europe.

Woody asks a surprised Harry to accompany him to Greenland and the Orkneys because the former says he is just a country cop not used to being north of Chapel Hill. Though he hates returning to Europe and leaving his wife and two children behind, Harry agrees to help with the investigation. They fly to Greenland where they begin a case that soon turns quite dangerous for both investigators.

The return of Voss (see the fabulous WW II tale THE ADVOCATE) is a reason for fans of historical and military mysteries to rejoice. In his second tale, Harry remains a viable real person as the audience gets a glimpse of his family before he flies across the Atlantic. The who-done-it is enthralling but the why is even more intriguing as Bill Mesce provides readers with another strong novel that paints World War II in an intriguing but different light.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner