In November 1942 the Allies are poised to liberate Algeria from the Vichy French regime, a client state of Nazi Germany. This is is hoped, will squeeze Rommel's Afirka Korps between two forces and sweep him from North Africa. But no one knows whether the French will greet the Americans as friends or foes. Based on family connections rather than experience, Billy Boyle, a young Irish-American cop from Boston, has become General Dwight D. Eisenhower's personal investigator. His first case started in England and took him to Occupied Norway. To his own surprise--and that of others--Billy proved to be a better detective than any one had expected.