In the start of an all-new mystery series set in pre–World War II Europe, an intrepid young photographer carries her dead lover’s final, world-shattering message into the heart of Berlin as Hitler ascends to power.“Thrilling . . . reminiscent of works by Eric Ambler and Graham Greene.”—The Wall Street Journal On vacation from London on the beautiful Italian coast, twenty-eight-year-old Elena … coast, twenty-eight-year-old Elena Standish and her older sister, Margot, have finally been able to move on from the lasting trauma of the Great War, in which the newly married Margot lost her husband and the sisters their beloved brother. Touring with her camera in hand, Elena has found new inspiration in the striking Italian landscape, and she’s met an equally striking man named Ian. When Ian has to leave unexpectedly, Elena—usually the more practical of the sisters—finds she’s not ready to part from him, and the two share a spontaneous train trip home to England. But a shocking sequence of events disrupts their itinerary, forcing Elena to personally deliver a message to Berlin on Ian’s behalf, one that could change the fate of Europe.
Back home, Elena’s diplomat father and her secretive grandfather—once head of MI6, unbeknownst to his family—are involved in their own international machinations. Worried when Elena still hasn’t returned from Italy, her grandfather starts to connect the dots between her change in plans and an incident in Berlin, where Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich are on the rise. It seems the message Elena delivered has forced her into a dangerous predicament, and her grandfather’s old contacts from MI6 may be the only people who can get her out alive—if Elena can tell the difference between her allies and her enemies.
New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry merges family secrets with suspense on the world stage, as darkness bubbles under the surface of a Europe on the brink of change. In these complicated times, Elena emerges as a strong new heroine who learns quickly that when nothing is certain, she can rely only on herself.
Praise for Death in Focus
“Masterful! It’s exceedingly rare for an author to have the talent to blend classic elements of a thriller with compelling family dynamics and geopolitical intrigue, but Anne Perry pulls it off like the consummate pro that she is. And, on top of all that, Death in Focus is written in her unique literary voice. I guarantee you’ll love Elena Standish. Brava!” —Jeffery Deaver, author of The Never Game
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Masterful! It’s exceedingly rare for an author to have the talent to blend classic elements of a thriller with compelling family dynamics and geopolitical intrigue, but Anne Perry pulls it off like the consummate pro that she is. And, on top of all that, Death in Focus is written in her unique literary voice. I guarantee you’ll love Elena Standish. Brava!
This tale of love, danger, betrayal and murder keeps you turning pages to the last astonishing paragraph. Elena Standish is intriguing — in a world fast turning upside down, she is resourceful, brave, and achingly real as she encounters a Germany marching toward world war. Death in Focus is the debut of another great Perry series. Her best yet? You decide!
Anne Perry is a master of historical fiction. The Victorian Mystery series, the WWI books and now we are treated to pre-WWII intrigue. She draws you in with an unwitting female character who gets caught up in the pre-war intrigue of MI-6 and the machinations of Hitler.
This is the first novel in Anne Perry’s Elena Standish series. I have quite a number of books by this author, but had only read the second Daniel Pitt book so far. I loved it, so I was eager to listen to this one. I just love starting a new series!
I listened to the audio book of this novel. At first I found it to be rather slow, both the story AND the narrator. Susan Lyons read soooo slowly. But since I paid for it, I was determined to listen. I am so glad I did! After about a third of the way into the story, it began to pick up. Halfway through I found myself driving the long way home so I could listen more! It ended up being a riveting story. Anne Perry is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
The book takes place after World War I and during the rise of Adolf Hitler. It was a fascinating time in history, and frightful. When the “Final Solution” was discussed, I felt my stomach clench and my heart ache. I’ve been to Auschwitz…it hurts your soul. The description of a book burning was painful. Ms. Perry really invokes the feeling of dread for what is to come.
I eagerly await the next installment.
Fabulous book. Tense and surprising.
I always quickly buy any Anne Perry book. All her stories are original, interesting, and well written. Her most recent book, (Death in Focus).is set in 1933 the main character is Elena Standish. If you enjoy reading about strong, intelligent women, you must try these books. They are excellent.
I had to remind myself this was fiction.
Love anything by Anne Perry!
So detailed, well researched, made this period in our history come alive though unhappily so, as it was an ugly & evil time. I am fascinated by the mind that so produces a story so complex, entertaining yet thought provoking, using historically accurate realities from a many-years-later perspective. A page turner w/unexpected twists.
Not one of Anne Perry’s best but still worth the read.
I like all Anne Perry books
I loved this book. For anyone growing up in an immigrant family during this time period, it is fascinating. The richness of the characters makes the story very real.
Fans of this genre will love reading this book. I can review it in one word: PERFECTION.
Great new series from Anne Perry. Timeline is pre WW2 and integrates England and Germany’s changing relationship.
An excellent start to a new series by the prolific Anne Perry. This one features English photographer Elena Standish, who winds up in Berlin in 1933, just as Hitler consolidates his power.
Did not enjoy it as much as the Pitt series but still thought it was good.
I have a friend who loves Anne Perry’s writing, so I decided to read this author’s most recent book, an historical espionage novel set in pre-WWII Europe. The main character, Eleanor Standish, is a photographer who becomes entangled in a plot to assassinate a prominent Nazi and soon finds herself hunted for a crime she hasn’t committed. Perry’s characters are beautifully drawn, so much that her rendering of their inner thoughts slows the action at times. If you demand fast-paced action, this novel won’t repeal to you.
I enjoyed the story very much despite my occasion impatience with Eleanor. Like all ingenues, her cluelessness can be annoying. But being intelligent, she corrects mistakes and changes course quickly—with one major exception that may prove fatal …
I had high hopes for this new series. I have read all of her books and know that she can branch out from her current series to give us another great one. I still, however, prefer the Pitt series, of both generations. When I saw that she was starting a series set between the wars with a female protagonist I was ready to enjoy it. Sad to say the chemistry wasn’t there for me. I just didn’t care for any of the characters the way I had in the other series. By the halfway point I simply wanted to jump to the end and then find my next mystery to read.
This is very rare for me and I’m certain that the fault lies with me rather than with the author. I’ll be happy to read more about Daniel Pitt but I’m not a fan of Elena Standish.
My thanks to the publisher Ballantine and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Death in Focus by Anne Perry is a wonderful new series set on in 1930’s and featuring a young woman named Elena Standish, a photographer, quite a good one. He biggest failing is that she is young and inexperienced and so, makes embarrassing mistakes. She is in Amalfi with her sister Margo, a war widow who has not really gotten over her husband’s death. Elena is there covering an economics symposium. There she meets a young man, Ian Newton, an economics reporter, with whom she is immediately taken. One things leads to another and she decides to leave for Paris a day or two early, with Ian, without Margot. Along the way things happen. She ends up finding herself in a spot of trouble, never certain whom she should trust. In the end, long kept family secrets are uncovered and much danger is averted and Elena may have found herself a new career.
Being a huge fan of Anne Perry’s I was excited to start this journey with her, and now that I have I look forward to accompanying her to its conclusion. Elena is a wonderful character who leaps before she looks sometimes, but is resilient and is able to think on her feet. She is the daughter of an English diplomat so foreign countries are not new to her…an advantage. She is the granddaughter of the retired head of MI 6, a fact of which she is not yet aware. Intrigue is bred into her bones. She is the ideal heroine for many adventures she is yet to have. I am very excited about this series. I highly recommend Death in Focus.
I received a free ARC of Death in Focus. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #deathinfocus
I received a free electronic ARC copy of this British suspense novel from Netgalley, Anne Perry, and Random House – Ballantine. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.
Anne Perry brings us another excellent suspense series! Death in Focus is the first in a series featuring Elena Standish, hopeful photographer, set in the pre-WWII year 1933 in England, Germany and a bit of France and Italy. Elena is the focus of our story and we see her often through the eyes of her grandfather, Lucas. She is the youngest child of Charles and Katherine Standish, granddaughter of Lucas and Josephine Standish.
The Great War was very hard on the Standish family. Margot, the eldest of the grandchildren of Lucas and Josephine lost her new husband during the closing battles of WWI. She is the adventurous of the Standish sisters, a bit forward and independent. Then was son Mike, killed in action the same day as Margot’s husband. Grandparents Lucas and Josephine did their part in the conflict -Josephine decoding messages, and Lucas with the then totally secret MI6, Military Intelligence. Their involvement was, of course, clandestine so the family was not aware of their sacrifices and because Lucas stayed with MI6 and eventually ran it, Charles had only a vague idea of his father’s post-war employment with the government. Charles works in the diplomatic corp and wife Katherine, an American, plays the diplomats other-half very well. Then we have Elena. Elena is the more sedate, grounded daughter of the Standish clan. Or so most of them thought…
This is an excellent tale. As always, Anne Perry puts us in those shoes, on that train, wearing that red dress. We feel the hunger, the fear, the frustration. This is a book that is hard to put down. Anne Perry is an author to binge on. One or two books are never enough to satisfy. I need to read them all…