I’m finishing up The Jedburghs by Will Irwin and I’m torn.
On one hand, the story of three man teams of Americans, French and British soldiers pulled from the most exciting and diverse backgrounds (stuntmen, actors, writers artists, etc) who are dropped into Brittany (Normandy) from D-Day up until the Allied breakout of August 1944 to train and supply French guerrillas (called the Maquis) to disrupt German operations in occupied France. It’s a thrilling story that becomes much more relevant in its portrayal of how truly difficult things can be for an army occupying a foreign country.
On the other hand however, the writer; Will Irwin cannot write, he’s a former Special Forces operator and current military contractor and he writes the entire work like an after-action report. His lack of skill as a wordsmith is truly frustrating, constantly fighting with the excellent subject matter in what seems to be an attempt to make the most dry, un-amusing piece on the subject possible.
