FUREY’S WAR

This is an excellent story of small town Wangamba Australia’s Chief of Police Jack Furey and small slice of time during WWII. On his 100th birthday while in a nursing home, Furey reminisces of the arrival of the US Air Force in his backwater community. The new base with the “Yank” flyers only adds an additional layer of problems to an area already stressed with the return of “Digger” Australian soldiers from the battle in El Alamein, as well as ongoing concerns between locals and the Aboriginals.

The murder of soldier home on leave and Furey’s investigation of the crime unveil a well developed cast of characters and the unsavory underbelly of life in Wangamba. Issues involving race, prostitution, adultery, abortion, gossip, and the influence of the Catholic Church all combine to add depth to a well paced police procedural story.

A lot of important issues were packed into this short novel, many difficult to read as societal norms were very different in the 1940s. But through this vividness we receive a clear snapshot of the realities of time and place. I found it to be a worthwhile read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, T.W. Lawless & Kay Bell, and Campanile Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Retired police sergeant Jack Furey is celebrating his 100th birthday, and he’s not happy about it. Unable to speak following a stroke and estranged from his son, all he wants is to reunite with his beloved, late wife.

After a visit from an old friend, he finds himself reliving the past. Suddenly, it’s 1942 and the US troops are about to descend on the town of Wangamba, Australia, where Jack is expected to maintain law and order. When an Australian soldier on leave is murdered, he has to work out who was responsible and why.
Gripping

i really enjoyed reading this book, I liked the use of time travel and found the characters really interesting. The plot is really well done and it was fun to read.

What I like about this book is how we enter the mind of Jack Furey. A man who is unable to speak following a stroke and just wants to be with his wife. We are taken back to 1942 and a time when he was trying to resolve a murder, where there were conflicted loyalties and where we discuss how much his wife means to be with him. Would really recommend and just a beautiful story from start to finish.

Furey's War is a thoroughly enjoyable narrative of mystery and suspense with add hint of history. It opens up another perspective on WWII happenings of which we may not otherwise be made aware. On the backdrop of "homefront" maneuvers, is this war of Furey's that is, we can say is, "within a war". The reader will find themself in the outback town of Wangamba, Australia where US troops have descended to "lay low" until the "move out" order to join Aussie forces in conquering the enemy.

There is no end of scuffles and action for the ever vigilant, WWI hero, Sergeant Furey, to keep the lid on in his "war" against the those who'd have the audacity to stir up trouble on his watch and mess with the peaceful running of the town.

Added to the mix is a murder and two infants, one in critical condition and the other, rather already in advanced state of decomposition. These keep Sergeant Furey and his two constables hopping (and puking) to apprehend the culprits.

Furey's mind is a constant whirl of thought that floods the pages, compelling the reader to turn them hurriedly to keep pace. The twists and turns and surpizes keep the reader in constant state of, guess, as much as it does Sergeant Furey. There are lovely bits of humorous sarcasm in this tale, which stem from Furey's prolific mind and eases tension now and again without letting go too much bite. One such choice chuckle being,

"The old biddy is for once in her life, lost for words. It's a pity it's not a permenant arrangement. She stands there, gulping air like a beached guppy."

I love it!!

It is all good, clean humor yet also exposes some of the depravity of the human nature in regards to prejudice, greed, small town busybodies, and the like: all part of the converging sum total that stokes Sergeant Furey's war and ongoing 'headache'.

Most of the story is actual flasback, especially to the time period of WWII, yet inclusive of a life lived for 100 years. A full life that culminated in a continued sort of war...until its conclusion.

Post story end of this 585 page narrative is a list of other books by the authors.

~Eunice C. - Reviewer/Blogger~

July 2021

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy I received from the publisher.

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This little book packs a punch. I was in for a ride I didn't expect!

Told as a flashback, Furey's War is a historical fiction; more police procedural than it is war fiction. World War II is a backdrop for the story with Americans building a military base in Wangamba (North Queensland) in anticipation of the Japanese arrival. There's some power play between the two nations, murder, abortion, prostitution, the catholic church, and race. A WWI vet, Sergeant Jack Furey, hands are full with crime-solving at the same time living through nightmares from "his war". I enjoy how he resolves each mystery and Australian slang keeps it interesting and fun to read.

Thank you Campanile Publishing and Netgalley for my digital copy.

Australian husband and wife team, T W Lawless and Kay Bell have co-written Furey's War. Set in 1942 in North Queensland, Police Sargent Jack Furey has to keep law and order whilst American and Australian soldiers are based in the region. First a new born baby is found in a box on a doorstep, then a baby’s remains are discovered and a murder is committed. Jack investigates and applies his strict moral code causing angst and grief for his family. The story is told in flashback mode as Jack is in a nursing home and about to celebrate his hundredth birthday. An enjoyable historical fictional account of aussie life during the war and the loveable protagonist who seems a bit too woke for his times. Despite the saccharine ending and contrary centurion, this is a most enjoyable read, with a three-and-a-half-stars rating. With thanks to Campanile Publishing and the authors for a poof copy for review purposes.

A good murder mystery with well developed story and characters. I found the book to be very interesting and it held my attention. A good read for all.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Furey’s War by T.W. Lawless and Kay Bell is a hundred-year-old man’s look back at his life in 1942, in Wangamba, Australia. Police Sergeant Jack Furey is one of three police officers keeping order in a small town in wartime. American troops are setting up a temporary camp and Australian soldiers are either going to war or returning on leave. Keeping the two groups separate proves to be an almost impossible undertaking. It seems that the only one who wants peace in Wangamba is himself. His only encouragement comes from his wife and young son who keep him grounded. When an Australian soldier on leave is murdered, Furey finds that solving this crime will be a difficult investigation. The town politicians are not always honest, the clergy is making his life miserable, the bickering between the two sides of the military is constant. There are more questions than there are answers when it comes to solving the murder. Furey’s War is a look at a small town police officer struggling to keep the peace in a place that does not seem to want peace. I enjoyed reading this mystery: the characters are multi-faceted and the plot is well-paced. Highly recommended. Thank you to Campanile Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.