The Imitation Army

Notorious Irish mobster John Mason is on the run from the Boston police. Wanted for art theft and bank check forgery, he escapes by enlisting in the U.S. Army under an assumed name, only to find himself transferred to London and plunged into a world of deception and intrigue. Seconded into a top-secret unit, tasked with the translation of decoded German messages, he uncovers a Nazi plot to accumulate vast amounts of wealth by stealing priceless works of art. He sees an opportunity for someone with his unique set of skills. Can he foil their evil plans with only a handful of his old Boston gang smuggled in to aid his cause? Can he avoid capture not only by the Nazis but also by David Axelis, the Boston detective, hot on his heels and determined to make him pay for a previous life of crime? As Book One in the series ends, John and his compatriots arrive on French shores controlled by Germany and now face threats from both Nazis and French resistance fighters who might mistake them for German troops. And back in London, authorities await their return…if they survive.

“As a native Bostonian familiar with Irish mobsters, I was intrigued by this book. And it is worth reading. The whole notion of the imitation army is incredible. I think the book has great action and intrigue, well-developed characters, and interesting views of real history.” — Wanda Adams Fischer via Reedsy Discovery