The Devil's Pact

Sicily, 1943 - to fight the Nazi rearguard, old foes like the Mafia must become new friends for Jack Tanner and his crew...July 1943: with North Africa secured, the Allies launch an invasion of Sicily, and the 2nd Battalion, King s Own Yorkshire Rangers are in the van of the assault on the Italian beaches.But promotion to Company Commander has brought him fresh trouble for Jack Tanner. Not only has his new Battalion Commander decided to make his life as difficult as possible, they soon find themselves battling against some of the toughest, most determined troops in the Wehrmacht.In the bitter fighting that follows, Tanner witnesses a new reality. Rule books are thrown away. Previously outlaws, the Sicilian mafia are now supposedly fighting on the side of the Allies, but instead are making the lives of ordinary Italians a misery.As Tanner and his crew battle their way across the battle-scorched islands, it becomes clear that it is not just the Mafia who are playing dirty. In the quest to force Italy out of the war, brutal choices have been made and in the process the difference between right and wrong has become horribly blurred.Forced to question the cause for which they have fought so long, Tanner and his trusted sidekick, Sykes, find themselves embroiled in a deeply personal fight, in which they have to use all their resolve, skill and experience if they are to stand any chance of survival James Holland was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and studied history at Durham University. A member of the British Commission for Military History and the Guild of Battlefield Guides, he also regularly contributes reviews and articles in national newspapers and magazines and appears on national radio. His many books include Fortress Malta, Italy's Sorrow, The Battle of Britain and his fictional WW2 series featuring Jack Tanner.His interviews with veterans of the Second World War are available at the Imperial War Museum and are also archived on www.secondworldwarforum.com.He lives near Salisbury with his wife, son and daughter.

Readers of Robert Harris, Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett will love this all-action, high-octane wartime thriller from bestselling author and historian James Holland. With its authentic and vivid depiction of war, its gut-punchingly realistic battle scenes and its amazing characterisation, this is one not to miss!

'Absorbing and thoughtful as well as tense and exciting' -- Daily Telegraph
'A rollicking good and authentic read' -- * Reader review
'Fantastic - couldn't put it down' -- * Reader review
'Terrific writing' -- * Reader review
'Great writer, great book. Buy anything by Holland and you will not be disappointed. Excellent!' -- * Reader review
'I have read all 5 books and they keep you enthralled from start to finish every time' -- * Reader review
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Sicily, 1943: TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY, DIRTY DEALS MUST BE DONE...

With North Africa secured, the Allies launch an invasion of Sicily, and the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Rangers are in the vanguard of the assault on the Italian beaches.

But promotion to Company Commander has brought fresh trouble for Jack Tanner. Not only has his new Battalion Commander decided to make his life as difficult as possible, but they soon find themselves battling against some of the toughest, most determined troops in the Wehrmacht.

In the bitter fighting that follows, Tanner witnesses a new reality. Forced to question the cause for which they have fought so long, Tanner and his trusted sidekick, Sykes, find themselves embroiled in a deeply personal fight, in which they have to use all their resolve, skill and experience if they are to stand any chance of survival...

Have you read the other Jack Tanner adventures? Discover The Odin Mission, Darkest Hour, Blood of Honour and Hellfire now!

Auteur

James Holland is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. The author of a number of best-selling histories including most recently Brothers In Arms and Normandy '44, he is also the author of nine works of fiction and a dozen Ladybird Experts.

He is the co-founder of the annual Chalke Valley History Festival which is now in its twelfth year, and he has presented - and written - many television programmes and series for the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic and the History and Discovery channels.

With Al Murray, he has a successful Second World War podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, which also has its own festival, and is a research fellow at St Andrew's University and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He can be found on Twitter as @James1940 and on Instagram as @jamesholland1940.