Great historical fiction thriller read! Highly recommend it to fans of the genre and those looking to expand their reading circle. Purchasing for library.

"Behind the Lines" was an enjoyable story about what life might have been like for a British soldier in WWI. All things considered, Peter Rawley was having a "good" war. As an officer in an artillery unit, he and his men were not expected to attempt to cross no-man's land and capture German trenches like the infantry grunts. The job was still dangerous, as the German artillery was pounding the British lines as much as the British were pounding the Germans, and there was plenty to do when on the line even if the battery was not actively engaged. Other than one fellow officer, Rumbald, who was pompous, uncouth, and a shirker, Rawley liked the other officers and men in his unit. He did not mind the unpleasantries of military life. Moreover, he met a British Army nurse, Berney Travers, who eventually became his fiancée. However, fate intervened and turned the tables on him. He got into a fight with a fellow officer, who was accidentally killed during the fight. Having killed a fellow officer, and afraid that the military authorities would not believe it was an accident, Rawley became a deserter. The majority of the story focuses on his efforts to survive after deserting his unit. Life as a deserter was much less pleasant and more perilous. Rawley was forced to confront moral dilemmas, having to do things he normally would have never considered doing, and having to decide to what lengths he was willing to go to survive. He also displayed considerable ingenuity and he was adept at taking advantage of fortuitous opportunities. Will Rawley survive the war? Will he see Berney again? You will have to read the story to find out.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

A war story with a difference and a very enjoyable one too. It’s the story of Peter Rawley who reluctantly goes AWOL after he accidentally kills a fellow officer and decides he has no option but to go on the run. He meets up with some other deserters and what follows is a vivid account of life on the Western front. It’s all very boy’s own adventure-ish, but cleverly plotted and well-paced with an unusual story-line. I’ve certainly not read about deserters in this way in any other war book. The horror and confusion of war are authentically and vividly portrayed as is the banter between the men - soldiers and officers alike. What doesn’t work so well is the romance, which is very clichéd indeed, but overall this is a really readable and engaging story and I’m glad to see it reissued for a new audience.