Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Question of Betrayal by Anne Perry Series: Elena Standish #2
Published by Ballantine on September 8, 2020
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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On her first mission for MI6, the daring young photographer at the heart of bestselling author Anne Perry's thrilling 1930s mystery series travels to Mussolini's Italy to rescue the lover who betrayed her.
Britain's secret service, MI6, has lost contact with its informant in northern Italy, just as important intel about the future plans of Austria and Nazi Germany is coming to light. And young Elena Standish, to her surprise, is the only one who can recognize MI6's man--because he's her former lover. Aiden Strother betrayed her six years before, throwing shame on her entire family. Now, with so much to prove, Elena heads to Trieste to track down Aiden and find out what happened to his handler, who has mysteriously cut off contact with Britain.
As Elena hears word of a secret group working to put Austria in the hands of Germany, her older sister, Margot, is in Berlin to watch her childhood friend get married--to a member of the Gestapo. Margot and Elena's grandfather, the former head of MI6, is none too happy about the girls' travels at this tumultuous time, especially when a violent event at home reminds him that even Britain is growing dangerous. As his own investigation collides with his granddaughters', what's at stake in Europe becomes increasingly frightening--and personal.
After reading the first book in the series, Death in Focus, I was well aware just how gripping this one could get since Elena is now participating in British espionage work in the pre-dawn of WWII when the Nazi government is growing in power in Germany, Fascism is rife in Italy and the world is like a cauldron ready to boil over. With attention to historical detail, thoughtful character development, and a well-paced twisting suspense plot, Anne Perry’s latest left me wanting the next book as soon as I clicked onto the last page.
A Question of Betrayal does not make a good standalone and is more like a continuing story after the introductions and harrowing events of Death in Focus. Elena has survived a desperate adventure and learned a great deal about herself and some of the big family secrets. She is coming into her own and now she faces her first mission. And, what a doozy it is. She must locate an operative embedded deep in Nazi affairs in Trieste and get him out with what he knows- oh and he’s the man who betrayed her and his country which ended her foreign office career. Aiden caused her to doubt herself and many others to doubt her as well and now he’s her mission. She still has doubts whether he is the real deal or a clever double agent, but his handler is missing and Aiden, with what he knows, is in the wind.
Just that opening dialed up the tension quickly. But, Elena’s story is not the only plot thread. Like the first book, this one offers a mystery involving her grandparents who used to be up to their ears in missions during the first war and Elena’s MI6 handler. They are looking for a murderer and betrayer back home. And, then there is Elena’s fashionable, put together older sister Margot who goes to Berlin to support a dear friend who is marrying a bright, young Nazi officer and Margo hears disturbing things while she is there. The plot threads took the reader to different places, but didn’t distract because they were all different aspects of the same conflict.
I didn’t mind the three separate threads because I loved all the characters from older, but not past it, Lucas and Josephine working on their friend’s murder, to lonely but capable Peter Howard who was taking flack from his boss at MI6 while knowing he might ruin a friendship with Lucas for sending his granddaughter Elena into peril, to Margot who is learning a lot about her family and also herself as she finds her place figuring out her role in all that is going on, and then Elena who must face down her past and locate an operative whose cover has been blown in a city loaded with Nazi and Fascist intriguers. I love how each character’s thoughts and motives are meticulously drawn so the reader gets to know the main characters intimately.
The book starts out setting things up and getting the reader inside the characters, but by the end, there have been several acutely dangerous moments that can be subtle or overt action with a final breath-stealing climax.
As I said at the beginning, the series is strong and riveting for me. I can’t wait to see what spy adventure comes next for the Standish family as the storm clouds of war gather over the world. I think it will appeal to both historical mystery and historical thriller fans in this turbulent pre-WWII period.
About Anne Perry
Anne Perry (born Juliet Hulme) is a British historical novelist.
Juliet took the name “Anne Perry,” the latter being her stepfather’s surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several categories of genre fiction, including historical murder mysteries and detective fiction. Many of them feature a number of recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt, who appeared in her first novel, and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in her 1990 novel The Face of a Stranger. As of 2003 she had published 47 novels, and several collections of short stories. Her story “Heroes,” which first appeared the 1999 anthology Murder and Obsession, edited by Otto Penzler, won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Short Story.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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anne’s name sounds familiar to me but i’m not sure i have read any of her work. i love this character and it does sound like one i would enjoy too
She’s written a boat load of Victorian era mysteries, some Edwardian and WWIs so you’ve probably seen those. Love this latest series. 🙂
This is definitely a genre that I’d like to get more into eventually.
When you do, Anne Perry is one of the best in the genre. 🙂
I read a bunch of the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt books in the mid 1980s. I can probably figure out how far I got by how many were published by then. lol. I’d like to read them again and go on with the sort of spin-off series.
Probably. That will keep you as busy as reading all the In Death series. Haha! Worth it, though, on both counts.
I should check out this series. I most of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt books years ago, but kind of fell out of Perry’s books. I’ve been wanting to try her more “modern” historical mysteries for awhile now. This sounds like a great series. I am glad you are enjoying it!
This series is only at book two and it is the ’30s so probably a good place to jump in. 🙂
This sounds good. My sister would like it too.
It was sensational, Laura. Glad to put you onto one your sister might enjoy. 🙂
Sounds like an intense, and suspenseful series! I’ll have to check out the first book of the series.
Yes! It starts out as a sleeper and then gets you all tangled up in a nail-biter finish. 🙂
I don’t usually read this genre but after reading your review it has me reconsidering my stance.
Haha! Glad to tempt you over, Nadene. 🙂