A Darker Reality

An Elena Standish Novel, Book 3

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Susan Lyons

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

A personal trip turns perilous after the murder of a British spy in Washington, DC, forces Elena Standish to face dark family secrets in this exciting 1930s mystery by best-selling author Anne Perry. 

On a family trip to Washington, DC, Elena Standish is delighted to visit her mother's parents for their anniversary and celebrate with influential friends of her grandfather, a prominent scientist. Even Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt will attend the party. But the event comes to a sudden and tragic end when one of the guests, Lila Worth, is run over by a car in the driveway outside. Elena realizes that Lila had been trying to tell her something, and when a call from Peter Lucas back home at MI6 confirms that Lila was a British spy, Elena pairs with the American secret service to find out what vital information the young woman had in her possession. 

To further complicate Elena's trip, her grandfather is arrested for the murder. Desperate to clear his name and save her family from disgrace, she looks more deeply into her grandfather's scientific life and discovers that Lila had been desperately trying to keep the latest developments in nuclear fission out of the Nazis' hands. Her grandfather's business secrets run deep, it appears, and as Elena begins to question his loyalties, she wonders if she can trust anyone in this dark new world order.

©2021 Anne Perry (P)2021 Recorded Books

Continuing story of young female agent for MI5 During run up to World War II

I very much enjoy Anne Perry. My favorite are the William Monk novels. These are good too although not quite as satisfying - they occasionally feel a little rushed when it comes to attention to detail. Very involving, nonetheless. I will say the narrator, while generally very good, makes little to no effort to differentiate who is speaking. Once or twice I had to back up and try again to see if I could figure it out. I look forward to the next volume.

Darker Dilemma

Loved started reading Anne Perry's books again. Have read all the past Monk and Pitt novels twice. So
glad she is writing a new generation of modern, international ,super-spy mysteries as only she can. Also, the narrator was very enjoyable.

Expected More

I think the story would have been more enjoyable if the narrator was not so monotone. Davina Porter would have bought life to the character. Elena is very annoying - she is too emotional and too self conscience. The most exciting part of the book was the ending when she discovers the truth. I waited a long time for this episode and was not what I expected. I went back to an old friend in Charlotte and Thomas Pitt (reread).

a disappointment

I was really looking forward to the third Elena Standish novel but this book was a genuine disappointment. The crime that must be solved happens right away and then for the rest of the book nothing happens. All the characters just talk to each other about the accused. "He couldn't have done it! Do you think he did it? I can't believe he did it! How could you think he did!?" It was relentlessly boring. And Elena, as a supposed MI6 agent, forgot all of her training (if she ever had any) and behaved like the bewildered young society girl she presents as. I usually am generous in my assessments as my only real goal is distraction and entertainment when I listen to a book, but this one had me shouting at the speakers in my car to "get on with it already!"

Meh

I have Loved most of Anne Perry’s novels and the first Standish story was terrific, so I pre-ordered this one, not knowing at the time I pre-ordered who the narrator was. This story is a yawn by comparison with the first Standish novel. All the characters have done during the first fifteen chapters is whine, worry, wring their hands, and None of them have done ANYthing remotely interesting - what a disappointment AND I’ll not suffer through another Susan Lyons affected narration. Even speeding up her up narration to 1.3 speed did not help.

Very Slow

Not only is the story slow but the narration is spoken at a slow pace—but then there wasn’t much to get excited about. I enjoyed previous books in this series so I am very disappointed in this one.

Repetitive

Very repetitive. Way too much description of characters' thinking a not enough plot.
Too bad because I like the main characters.

Too much about fashion!

Would be much better without sooo many laborious descriptions of dresses and scenery. Woul be a good book if abridged.

Dragged on and on.

I have been a fan for decades. I have enjoyed The Monk and The Pitt Series as well as her World War I series. I love the concept of the Eleanor Standish series. It is especially timely as she points to several scary parallels between WW II and what we see happening now, Eleanor is interesting. Honestly, it’s the pace of the story. It doesn’t fit the concept. It drags. One has to go through the character’s interminable reflections asking the same questions over and over and over again. It felt like a novella that needed to be stretched out. I noticed this in the second book as well, but wanted to give the series one more try. I won’t buy the 4th. Again, I am sorry because I think Ms. Perry usually is something I look forward to, but two in a row is to much:(

Great book

I never write reviews. This book was an attention getting novel from start to finish. I really enjoy Anne Perry’s style of writing.
Great job Ms. Perry