A Darker Reality

A personal trip turns perilous for Elena Standish after the murder of a British spy forces her to face dark family secrets in this exciting 1930s mystery by bestselling author Anne Perry.

On her first trip to Washington, D.C., Elena Standish finally gets to visit her American mother’s wealthy parents and their magnificent home. Elena’s grandparents are marking a milestone anniversary by throwing an elaborate party with the influential friends of her grandfather, a prominent political industrialist, in attendance. Even President and First Lady Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are there, and Elena takes pride in capturing the illustrious guests with her camera.

But the festivities come to a sudden and tragic end when one of the guests, Lila Worth, is run over by a car in the driveway just outside the mansion. Elena believes that Lila was trying to tell her something right before her death, and when a call from her employer back home, MI6, confirms that Lila was a British spy, Elena pairs with a fellow agent to find out what vital information the young woman may have had in her possession.

Soon an arrest is made in Lila’s murder, and to Elena’s horror the accused is none other than her grandfather, who claims that his political enemies are trying to frame him. But who are these enemies, and how can Elena defend this man she barely knows? Nevertheless, determined to clear his name and save her family from disgrace, she delves into the details of her grandfather’s investments, discovering that his business secrets run deep. As her investigation continues, Elena wonders if she can trust anyone in this threatening new world order.

“A good historical mystery is like a balancing act [and Anne Perry] gets the balance just right. It would be easy to believe that Elena Standish really did exist, and that the books are actual biographical stories. Perry proves once again why she is among the top writers of historical mysteries.”—Booklist