I first read this book along with all the other books of the series about 20 years ago. This book with The Hour of the Donkey are IMHO the best. The Hour of the Donkey is set as the German panzers are pushing the French and English armies back at the start of the war. The '44 Vintage is set soon after D Day. Both give a good feeling for the chaos felt by troops on the ground and the "44 Vintage introduces the reader to Butler and Audley the central characters of the series.
As wartime adventure stories go it is hard to think of better.
As wartime adventure stories go it is hard to think of better.