Watches of the Night
Sally Wright
Reviewed by Wendy Runyon
University archivist, Ben Reese, has been harboring a grudge of sorts
for over 15 years. He served as a scout during World War II,
putting himself in dangerous situations, sometimes leading teams of
technicians in to obtain important documents and technology behind
enemy lines. On one such mission, he encountered a colonel with a
shady past and questionable methods. He had buried his suspicions
for the sake of his bride and his health after the war, needing to
focus on his own life and recovery from his war injuries. When
his Scottish friend, Kate Lindsay, asks for his help in uncovering who
mailed her the eye of her husband, who had died in the war some 16
years earlier, dark memories of Ben’s own time on the front line
resurface.
Despite the fact that his job at the university is hanging by a thread,
Ben sets out to reach into his past in hopes of finding the truth to
what happened those many years ago. While he does what he can to
uncover clues in the United States, Kate puts her own investigative
skills to use in Scotland, searching out a medic who may know something
about the unexpected gift. Only, someone else has other ideas,
wanting the secrets of the past to remain buried. This someone
will go to any length to protect those secrets, including committing
murder. Kate and Ben must watch their step the closer they get to
the truth.
Watches of the Night is the fifth book in Sally Wright’s Ben Reese
mystery series. The novel is set in the early 1960’s, not long
after the building of the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s decision to send
advisors to Vietnam. The author takes the reader back to 1945
through remembrances, which offer the reader a glimpse into Ben’s
harrowing past during the Second World War, a time that was often harsh
and brutal. It was also a time of great heroism, where men risked
their lives for their comrades in arms, fighting with all they had to
survive.
The characters are well developed, from the minor characters to the
more prominent ones. Kate Lindsay, a suspense/thriller novelist
herself is both intelligent and resourceful. She balances Ben
Reese’s character well. He is no slouch himself, quick on his
feet and in mind. His love for horses and his strong sense of
doing what is right make him even more endearing. According to
the acknowledgments at the end of the book, the character of Ben Reese
is based on a real life person, John Reed, who also was an archivist
and had been a scout during World War II.
Author Sally Wright has written a compelling mystery novel. Her
writing style flows easily as she paints a beautiful picture of the
landscapes her characters encounter, including Ohio, Kentucky, Scotland
and Italy. She packs a lot of detail into her story; however it
never feels overwhelming or too busy. It is obvious the author
did her research and aimed for accuracy in even the smallest of
details. It was curious that phone conversations were presented
as being only one-sided although the novel is written in third person
and jumps in points of view from one character to another.
Watches of the Night makes for interesting reading. It is
suspenseful while at the same time maintaining a steady pace that
allows readers to take in all the details and stay on top of the events
as they unfold. For series readers who may wonder if this book
can be read out of order, the answer is yes. It seems to stand
well on its own. Sally Wright has demonstrated that she is a
talented writer, and I look forward to reading the earlier books in the
series as well as reading future books.
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