In an unusual segue in this series, Elena Standish and her family visit Washington DC. The reason for the visit is her maternal grandparents 60 year wedding anniversary.

Elena is surprised by the, seemingly, widespread support for Hitler. Much is discussed about the political situation but, of course, there is a murder.

Elena ends up in the midst of the investigation and is determined to clear the name of her grandfather, who is much a stranger to her. In the midst of this, Elena also meets another agent of MI6 and the two of them join forces to solve the crime and to find out some vital information that the murdered young woman may have had access to.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Elena visits Washington DC…

A Darker Reality is the third book in Anne Perry’s still young Elena Standish series, and I hope there are many more to come. Elena is the child of a British diplomat and his American wife, whose parents, Wyatt and Dorothy Baylor, are a wealthy and connected couple with a large estate just outside Washington DC. Elena grew up with her family in various European capitals, and the first two books in the series are set on the Continent, in the uncomfortable years preceding World War II. In A Darker Reality, however, she has journeyed with her parents to the United States for the celebration of the Baylor’s sixtieth wedding anniversary.

It’s Elena’s first trip to the US, and she welcomes the chance to further her budding career as a photographer, not least by documenting the fabulously attired guests at her grandparents’ upcoming party. But it turns out to be her shadow MI6 career that really matters when another guest is killed. Lila Worth, whom Elena had just met and really connected with, turns out to have been a fellow British agent. What follows is a story of conflicting loyalties as Elena’s grandfather is arrested for the murder, and she struggles to clear his name, while simultaneously being deeply disturbed by the right-wing “Free America” proclivities he shares with many of his friends and colleagues.

I found A Darker Reality to be a thoroughly enjoyable read that tackles the small-scale personal issues of dealing with family members with differing political views, and also the broader sympathetic attitudes of some Americans to the rise of Hitler and National Socialism in Germany. Both are oddly (and sadly) relevant today and Perry handles them well. I also enjoyed watching Elena mature as the book progresses. And although the action is set in America, we still get glimpses of familiar characters from the first two books, like Elena’s spy agency boss and colleagues, and her other grandfather, Lucas Standish, who just happens to be the retired, but still influential, former head of MI6. On the fun side, there’s a cameo appearance by Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt to savor. Finally, of course, there’s the intriguing Captain James Allenby, also, like Lila and Elena, a British agent. (There do seem to be an awful lot of MI6 folks wandering around DC in this book…) I wonder if we will see James again in the future – and hope we do.

I don’t give many five-star ratings, but I found A Darker Reality’s fictional mystery and historical background to be both equally impressive. So five-stars it is. And my thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

The clouds gather!

Elena Standish though still fragile and smarting over her past mistakes, even if it was seven years ago, is growing stronger. Her world shattered when she was dismissed from the Foreign Office because she’d been involved with a traitor. And then came Berlin! Elena is the granddaughter of Lucas Standish who’d been the head of MI6 during the First World War.
It’s now Spring 1934. Elena and her parents are currently visiting her grandparents on her mother’s side, Wyatt and Dorothy Baylor, in Washington, DC. There’s to be a grand party, celebrating her grandparents sixtieth wedding anniversary. Elena volunteers to take photos. Still working for MI6, she been developing her skills as a newspaper photographer.
Her grandparents move in the upper echelons of Washington society. It’s amongst their friends Elena notices the troubling attitudes towards others—immigrants, non Aryans, and minority groups.
Some present belong to the Free America Party. Speaking to a couple of these adherents Elena is shocked by their positive references to Hitler. This is puzzling to Elena, particularly after her first hand, close call with the Nazis in Berlin twelve months prior. Elena also meets a Captain James Allenby introduced to her by a lively glamorous woman, Lila Worth. Tragedy strikes when Lila is discovered shot dead in the car park. And then her grandfather Wyatt is accused. Elena is determined to prove him innocent. The mysterious Captain Allenby, an attaché in Trade with the British Embassy is there to help her. All roads seem to turn back to scientific discoveries that are happening with MI6 a shadowy presence.
I loved watching Elena’s intelligence come into play, her attachment to her family, her determination and growth as an MI6 operator.
As Lucas has said looking at the gathering storm under the new German leadership,
“We can’t afford anything but the truth. It may be nothing very much, little more than a shadow in the sky—”
This stanza of Elena’s life, after Berlin, brought face to face with, to her mind, the shocking reactions of many in the United States as Germany under Hitler gains ascendency, is sobering. Shocks that
vibrate so close to home for Elena. (Equally as sobering in today’s ideological climate as well.)
Another rather startling Elena Standish tale from Perry!

A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Anne Perry has two long running and successful series to her name, The Elena Standish novels are a completely new era and setting. The time is the period between the world wars. Fascism is on the ascendence in Germany, and has vocal supporters in the UK and the US as well. Elena’s father’s family are British diplomats and spies. Her mother’s family are American industrialists. Brought up in England, Elena is much closer to her father’s family, particularly her grandfather. Readers of the first two novels in the series will not need the back story explanation of her career and that of her father and grandfather.

Some of the plot points in this novel seemed contrived, and I wasn’t as engrossed in the characters as I was in the first two books in the series. I’ll probably give the next one a try, though. It was a pleasant enough read.

A Darker Reality by Anne Perry is the third novel in the spy thriller series of British Intelligence Secret Agent Elena Standish. It can be read as a standalone but the first two books are worth reading too. Elena is visiting her American grandparents when a woman is killed at their anniversary party. Her grandfather is the prime suspect. With the help of MI6 agent James Allen (hopefully he comes back) Elena tries to get to the truth. What makes this a tense filled book is the year. It's 1934 and Hitler's popularity is growing. Talks of "racial hygiene", splitting the atom to make an atomic bomb and Elena's commitment to her country make for an unexpected twisty ending.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

An error in personal judgment led to Elena Standish losing her position in the Foreign Office. She has redeemed herself working for MI6, but other than her father and paternal grandfather no one else knows about her occupation. To the rest of the family she is a photographer who sells her work to publications. On a trip to Washington, DC to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of her maternal grandparents, she prepares her camera and notebook to document the evening and provide photographs to the guests. She strikes up a conversation with Lila Worth and forms an immediate connection, but before the night is over Lila is dead and Elena’s grandfather is arrested for the murder.

A British Embassy representative, James Allenby, was a guest at the party. He is also an agent for MI6 and Lila was one of his contacts. Her husband was a scientist working on splitting the atom and weaponizing the results. In the 1930s it was a race between Germany, Britain and America and Lila believed that there was a mole in the project who was working for the Germans. Her activities could have attracted attention and led to her death. There is also a rising sentiment of isolationism in America and Elena’s grandfather was a member of Free America, which followed a number of Hitler’s beliefs. He was also an advisor to President Roosevelt and may have been set up because of his beliefs..

Elena is sure of her grandfather’s innocence and works with Allenby to solve Lila’s murder. With Roosevelt’s attendance at the party, security was very tight so the murderer must have been one of the guests. These were all friends of her grandparents, making it difficult for her grandmother to help. Allenby is in touch with London to update MI6 on the situation, but Elena senses that the answers maybe in her notes and photographs. This is Elena’s first trip to America and she doesn’t really know her grandfather, but this is family and she is willing to face unknown dangers to prove his innocence. At a time when America was still suffering from its’ losses in WWI and was not looking to enter another conflict, Anne Perry offers a story that will appeal to fans of mysteries as well as historical fiction and she offers an ending twist that you will never see coming. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Publishing for providing this book for my review.

The trip to the US for her maternal grandparents' anniversary party should have been easy and relaxing for Elena but it turns out to be a nightmare after a murder. This third installment in the series starts off slowly and likely will confuse a new reader. Elena's history working for MI6 with her paternal grandfather is referred to repeatedly but the critical details are hazy even for those who, like myself, have eagerly followed her exploits. In this installment, she makes a friend of Lila at the party, which is attended by President Roosevelt- and then Lila is shockingly run over and killed in the parking lot. Elena funds herself enlisted in the hunt for the murderer - Lila was working for MI6- the photographs she took throughout the party are key to solving the crime. She discovers some shocking things. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I've been a fan but this was less successful for me as a mystery than it was as a look at attitudes in the US in 1934.

Elena Standish is a photographer, but more importantly, an MI6 agent. This is the third tale in the series, but I have not read the first two. Elena is at an anniversary party for her grandparents when one one of the attendees, another MI6 agent, is killed in the parking lot. To that moment, the party was a success, with even President Franklin D. Roosevelt in attendance.
The grandfather is arrested for the murder. This is quite surprising to Elena, and she begins the effort to discover the true killer.
The tale is reasonably well-written. I thought it moved a little slowly, with too much extraneous detail. But, ultimately, it is an enjoyable read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A Darker Reality is the third book in the Elena Standish series by Anne Perry. I am glad that I have read this series from the beginning to fully understand how Elena came to be a spy working for the British Intelligence. Instead of Europe this story takes place in Washington, DC where Elena has come to celebrate her grandparents’ wedding anniversary. Her work as a photojournalist comes into play since she is able to snap many pictures of the special event. Before the event is over a murder by vehicle happens right there on the grounds, a suspect is arrested and Elena begins seeking out the truth.

One of the more interesting aspects of this book is the difference in opinions of what is happening in Germany. Elena has seen much in the previous books of the real events but not everyone else has especially those in attendance. The political ambiguity of the United States during this pre-WWII era is clearly portrayed.

Elena works with another agent, James Allenby. This interaction gives insight into Elena as a character as much as it does in solving the case. The story is well-written with many rabbit trails before the truth is known. I was trying to figure out the guilty party right along with Elena and James.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book for my review.
I did not read the other books in this series.

The book is about a woman, Erena Standish, an M16 spy. She travels from Europe to Washington DC with her parents to go to a 60th anniversary party for her grandparents. The party is in the parents mansion, and the guests are the wealthy and well known, including the President and his wife.

There is a murder, outside the house a woman was run over with her grandpas car. She, Lila Worth, a British spy, was killed. Her grandpa was arrested.

The story takes place 1934 after the Great Depression, but before WWll. Guests were discussing the propaganda being spread by Hitler and not all of the discussions were negative. This was not developed.

Elena must conceal her spy background and carries a camera taking pictures of all the guests. It seemed strange that her friends who she meets at the party are the dead woman and another British spy. He doesn’t add much to the story. In fact there seems to be a lack of development of the murder mystery. At one point there is a mention of nuclear fusion information being sent to Germany. That was it?
It was an interesting story. It went a bit slow to me. However, there is a twist at the end.

In what was supposed to be a celebration, a tragic murder takes place. When her grandfather is accused of the murder, she knows she must do all she can to prove her grandfather didn't do it. But this time she is in America and she doesn't know who to turn to. I like how she introduces the characters with Elena learning more about her American grandparents as the book goes on. Perry weaves the clues throughout the book And still the ending was not what I expected! I really liked this book!

A Darker Reality is the third book in Anne Perry's intriguing and exciting Elena Standish historical mystery series. The mystery itself stands alone, but I highly recommend reading this series in order. If you don't, you will miss Elena's history of how she became an MI6 agent in the years moving toward WWII. It's such a fascinating time in history. Elena's maturity as an agent really comes to life in this book. I didn't want it to end!

In the Spring of 1934, Elena (a photographer and British Intelligence agent) and her parents are in Washington, D.C. to celebrate her maternal grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. A huge party for the couple is in full swing, and Elena is taking photographs of the attendees. Everyone seems to be having a great time...until a death occurs. The beautiful wife of a gifted scientist is found murdered in the family's driveway. To make matters worse, she was allegedly run over by Elena's grandfather's car! Her grandfather, Wyatt Baylor, is arrested for the murder, but he insists he's being set up. Elena is doing her best to defend her grandfather, but barely knows him. She and James Allenby, another MI6 agent, begin to investigate the murder, but it ends up being more than that: just who is sending secret information about nuclear fission to Germany? Is there anyone Elena can truly trust?

I became thoroughly engrossed in this story and sat glued to the pages! Elena becomes more interesting as this series progresses; here she is truly growing into her role as agent. This case was particularly challenging, as Elena was trying to prove that her grandfather was not guilty of the murder, and she really didn't know him. That was difficult enough, but she was also hearing talk from his friends and associates about how great a job Herr Hitler was doing, and there was talk about "racial hygiene". Were these the beliefs of her grandfather, too? One can understand not wanting to get into another war, but talk of racial hygiene right after Dachau Concentration Camp was opened in Germany was quite chilling. Also, the race to be the first world power to split the atom was also disturbing, knowing what was to come. I enjoyed reading more about Elena's relationships with her mother and father, especially her father. He suspects his daughter's activities, but of course can't openly discuss it. Her parents still seem to think of her as a naive young girl who made a stupid mistake about a relationship in the past; hopefully they are getting past that, seeing how Elena was working to prove her grandfather's innocence. I liked her relationship with James Allenby; I wonder if we'll be seeing more of him in the future? Of course, it's always a joy to visit with Lucas, Josephine and Peter Howard. And let's not forget Toby the dog! This book had an unexpected twist near the end that I did not see coming. I'm already impatient waiting for Elena's next adventure!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I had not read the previous Elena books, so I was at a slight disadvantage. That being said, I felt the story was good, but a bit choppy. At times I thought I was reading a draft that was waiting for the rest of the words/story to be filled in.. Some of the character reactions to what others were saying didn't seem right at times. I've loved Anne Perry's Thomas & Charlotte Pitt novels, so will keep reading more by her.

I love this series. I tend to look up things discussed in the book to get more background. It makes me think. Elena has traveled to America to visit with her mother's parents. It starts out great until a woman is murdered during her grandparents' party. They arrest Elena's grandfather. As she and her family set out to clear his name, Elena finds out some things about her grandfather. His politics and beliefs do not go with what Elena believes, but she vows to clear his name. Is he really innocent? He belongs to an organization that is powerful and it could put Elena's life in danger. She will risk it anyway to help her family. Will it be enough? I love the twist at the end.

The third book in Anne Perry's Elena Standish series picks up with Elena and her parents sailing to the US to celebrate her grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. Famous and important guests attend the lavish party, including President Franklin Roosevelt and his wife Elinor, Elena's grandfather introduces her to a variety of guests as she photographs them for possible sale to society magazines. Her quick favorite is Lila Worth, the stunning, brilliant and charismatic Austrian wife of an American atomic scientist, with whom Elena hopes to form a deeper friendship.

Before the party ends, Lila is murdered and her grandfather is arrested. Although Elena only met her grandfather three days before the party, she sets out to clear her grandfather of all charges and accusations. The story bogs down in the middle, and I needed to let go of my questioning why an inexperienced young British agent who has never been to The States before is the key figure to working to solve an international espionage case. But the intrigue is fun, Elena shows significant character development and Perry's attention to family relationships help move the story along.

Set in 1934 the book covers a time period between the two World Wars when powerful voices were dedicated to keeping the US and England out of futures wars. Perry explores the US isolationist movement and the workings of spy networks, setting the stage for future episodes that I will look forward to reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for an Advance Reader Copy. Three and half stars.

The third book in this series has Elena Standish and her parents sailing from England to the USA to attend Mrs. Standish's parents anniversary party. Elena has little memory of them so she is excited to meet them. The party will be attended the rich and famous of time. (Even the President and Mrs. Roosevelt attend.)
Elena is a photographer and decides to take her small camera to the party and asked to photograph her grandfather with several of the guests.The party is disrupted by an accident in the parking lot killing a young woman who Elena just met and later learned was a spy for England. Elena herself is a spy with M16 but she is not on assignment. After several days Elena's grandfather is arrested for the murder. Elena then decides it is up to her to prove him innocent.
I really like this series. Anne Perry is one of my favorite authors and for the first time that I can remember ends this book with a kind of a cliff hanger. Don't be afraid to read this book because most of the loose ends are tied up but MS Perry leaves enough unsaid to continue the next book exactly where this one ended.

I think this book of the Elena Standish series, A Darker Reality, is my favorite. While visiting her American Grandparents in the US, and celebrating her grandparents sixtieth wedding anniversary, a beautiful woman is killed with the prime suspect being her Grandfather. She vows to find who killed the woman but doesn’t know any of the party attendees.
There was just enough mystery to keep the story moving without all the murder gore so Was a good quick easy read. But then Anne Perry is one of my favorite authors.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book.
#Netgalley #BallentineBooks

The third book in the Elena Standish series does not disappoint! Once Elena finds herself embroiled in a whodunit and in the US of all places. The twists and turns that this story takes are captivating. This is truly one of the best historical fiction and mystery series I have ever read. Thank you so much to #NetGalley, Anne Perry, and her publisher for a requested ARC for my honest opinion.

This book is set in 1934, that tricky portion of time between the two World Wars. The United States has been through one war, the Spanish Flu and a devastating recession. No one wants to be involved in more blood and gore. Hitler is on an ascendant path and he has many admirers on the Continent, the United Kingdom and the United States. Many of the powerful voices are not whispers but loud declarations of support. A very genteel horrifying time. Perry exposes the bias and hypocrisy of Washington’s rich and powerful while weaving a well thought out murder mystery.

There is significant character development as well as attention to family relationships which supports the story and my understanding of Elena Standish, the main character’s growth. Being cast in an impossible situation she tries to fight the reality of ruin that is facing her family. She has been thrown “in the middle of things, part of the family, and of the event, whether she wished to be or not.”

The book, true to its time, held my attention and was a solid edition to the Elena Standish series. The ending was left in limbo. Surely Perry could have closed the door a bit more. What next? Three and a half stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for a copy.

A Darker Reality is the third title in Ms. Perry’s Elena Standish series and it is definitely worth reading. Those who enjoy the Maggie Hope or Maisie Dobbs series will want to give the Elena Standish stories a try. They are best read in order. That having been said, this third novel may be my favorite.

In A Darker Reality, Elena is in Washington DC; the earlier books were set in Europe. She has traveled there with her parents in order to attend her maternal grandparents’ sixtieth anniversary party. While there, she meets the absolutely stunning, charismatic and intelligent Lila Worth. Lila’s fate, what she was doing and who she was propel much of the narrative. How do Elena’s grandfather, Elena and others become embroiled in these events? No spoilers, so no more.

The novel takes place before WWII but when Germany is showing its ugliest side. How do events there connect with the story? What is America’s role in the history that is unfolding? Pick up the book to find out.

Readers will learn about an isolationist movement in the novel. And yes, there are parallels with more current events in the U.S.

Elena is a photographer. This feels like an apt metaphor for her keen way of viewing the world and those around her. She is a most likeable protagonist.

I think that this series may be my current Anne Perry favorite. For those who don’t know, she has also written the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mysteries, the William Monk stories, the Daniel Pitt investigations and a series of Christmas novellas. She also has a series that begins just prior to WWI. All are worth exploring.

I highly recommend this title to those who enjoy good characters, good plot and good pacing. I also enjoy some of the truths that are in Ms. Perry’s sentences.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.