historical-research, historical-places-events, historical-fiction, espionage, double-agent, 1930s, British, family-dynamics, friendship

She thought he was a traitor who turned his back on her and on England. Now she is being asked to face him again under even more difficult circumstances in the backdrop of a pending world war. In another well researched historical mystery with entanglements in family and more, the author has provided us with another devious mystery and possibly a cautionary tale. The story is as convoluted as the politics of the era and the characters are only too believable. It held my attention even after I finished it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Random House Publishing /Ballantine Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this story. It was so interesting and I led me to research different things going on in that time. Hitler is on the rise and so things are going on in England, Italy and Germany that are suspect. Elena is asked to go to Italy by MI6 to get one of their men out of there with a very important list. Elena is really the only one who can identify him as he was her lover years before. Elena's sister, Margot, goes to Germany for a friend's wedding. She is marrying a Nazi. Margot hears conversations that are very frightening. Their grandfather, former head of MI6, is told by an old friend about something going on with a highly placed person in MI6. The friend is murdered and it is up to Lucas to figure out what he was working on. When Margot comes back from Germany and tells Lucas what she has learned, he is able to piece things together. Elena has made contact with her man, but is he friend or foe? Is he working both sides? She needs to figure it out before she and others lose their lives.

3.5 This is a good series by the indomitable Anne Perry, but I gave this a lower than normal rating because of the silliness of the main character Elena. Elena is supposed to be working for the British Govt. as a intelligence agent but the way she is portrayed makes her seem silly, ineffectual and lacking in common sense, which is very unlike Perry's usual writing style.
The plot is good and the other characters are sound, but I just couldn't get over Elena's stupidity and it really brought the whole thing down in my opinion.

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.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had first read the one previous to it. This one alluded frequently to the last book, and because I had not read it, I found this story line somewhat confusing. Typical of Anne Perry‘s characters, there were fleeting shadows in the eyes, very level gazes, elegant turns of the head, tiny quirks of the lips and lots of introspection about things the reader has not been made privy to. It was fairly slow moving until the end, when everything was turned upside down and we went careening towards a surprise ending.

A Question of Betrayal is the second novel of the great Anne Perry's newest series, Elena Standish. I'm a fairly new fan of Ms. Perry and I've loved every book of hers I've read so far. The first installment of this series, Death in Focus, was fantastic, so I had high hopes for this one. I wasn't disappointed; in fact, I was totally blown away!

MI6, Britain's secret intelligence service, has lost total contact with their agent who's in deep cover in Trieste, Italy. That's always a bad thing, but it's even worse now because a secret group is working for Germany to take over Austria, and Britain desperately needs the information he is gathering. Elena Standish, on her first mission for MI6, is sent by her handler Peter Howard to go to Trieste to find the agent and bring him home. Why Elena? The missing agent is Aiden Strother, her former lover who betrayed her six years ago. Peter believes she is the only one who will recognize Aiden if he's disguised, plus he will trust her. While Elena is on her perilous mission, her older sister, Margot, goes to Berlin for the wedding of her dearest friend, who is marrying a young officer in the Gestapo. And back in England, their grandfather Lucas is dealing with danger on the homefront. Who in this dangerous world can be trusted?

This story was an absolutely brilliant thrill ride full of intrigue. Elena is coming into her own as a new MI6 agent. She may be new, but she's no stranger to these dangerous times. I enjoyed watching her confidence grow as she's on her own for this mission. I wasn't a big Margot fan in the first book, but here she's one of the most compelling characters; her observations are deeply insightful. Lucas is extremely worried about his beloved granddaughters, but he's pulled into more intrigue back at home by a friend who has serious questions about secret funding to Germany. He's helped by his wife Josephine, who was a brilliant codebreaker during the Great War. Peter is becoming more fascinating each time he's in the picture. And Aiden? Well, he's a wildcard. No spoilers here!

Besides the characters, it's the great feeling of dread Ms. Perry is able to invoke that makes this novel so wonderful. It's set in 1933: you know what happened in WWI, but it's knowing what's coming that brings a chill to your bones. When German officers discuss the new Dachau prison, I felt sick to my stomach knowing the reality of it. Ms. Perry also reminds us how our enemies are sometimes much like us in our hopes and fears. And she perfectly describes the beauty that surrounds us even in the worst of times. Absolutely brilliant.

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.

Second book in this new series, you get much more of the characters if you read the first one before this one. Fast paced with almost all of Elena's family involved in this edition. It's 1933 Hitler just coming into real power for Germany, everyone thinking another war couldn't happen again, or trying to keep peace no matter what the cost. Lots of adventure, multiple characters each involved in their own part of this story. Keeps you turning the pages once it gets going, enjoyed very much. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this adventurous read of history.

I enjoyed this second book in the Elena Standish series. A young British woman follows in her grandfather’s footsteps and works for MI6 as an agent between the world wars. This episode takes her to Trieste to extract an agent who may or may not be a traitor to England. Interesting characters and spy action.

On a mission for MI6, Elena Standish is sent to Trieste to contact an agent that they have lost contact with and get him home with any information that he has. Aiden Strother, her former lover, had betrayed Elena six years earlier and brought disgrace to her and her family. For all of that time she had believed him to be a traitor, but now she has learned that it was only his cover. He has been working with the Fatherland Front as Hitler gains power. Now they believe that his cover has been blown and it is Elena’s job to warn him. After finding him and revealing her mission, he is not quite ready to leave until a meeting that goes wrong sets them both on the run.

Elena’s grandfather Lucas was the former head of Intelligence during WWI. He still has contacts in MI6 and is approached by a friend with concerns regarding money being funneled through MI6 to support the Fatherland Front. As Hitler moves closer to annexing Austria, there are those who support his efforts rather than face another war. Lucas’ fears are confirmed when his friend is murdered. Elena’s sister Margot has also returned from a wedding in Berlin where she witnessed conversations that referred to the Fatherland Front and hinted at action against Austria. Elena knows that their information is vital in the fight against the Front, but Aiden has betrayed her in the past. Even though he has rekindled old feelings there are times that she is still unsure of him.

This is the second story in Anne Perry’s Elena Standish series. It is a story of suspense and murder with a lead character whose confidence grows as she faces a changing Europe. Fans of her Monk and Pitt series will find themselves equally pleased with this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Publishers for providing this book for my review.

This is the second book in this fresh new series featuring Elena Standish a young photographer from England and her immediate family who are or were involved in the Secret Service which they have kept secret from each other.

I adore this author's books and especially her characters but Elena does not measure up to her sister, Margot, and her grandfather, Lucus. I really enjoyed how these three characters each offered info to the story which helped resolved the mystery of this story.

So I put down another book in order to read this one as I have become enamored with Anne Perry's books. I read my first when I was young and her writing has never ceased with keeping me captivated and involved in the story. A very well writteen book that has a wonderful heroine. Thoroughly enjoyed and had a hard time putting it down.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set in the early 1930’s when Hitler and Mussolini are just coming to power and Austria’s leadership is weak at best, Elena Standish still works for MI6 although something had clearly happened previously that tarnished her reputation. Peter Howard is her handler at MI6 and Aiden Strother, another MI6 operative, is her former lover. Strother had walked away from Elena six years earlier, an apparent traitor to England. Howard sends Elena to Trieste, Italy to reconnect with Aiden because she is the only person who can identify him and bring him back, or at least retrieve information that only he has. At the same time, Elena’s sister, Margot, travels to Berlin to see a childhood friend wed a member of the Gestapo. While there, she overhears talk of what plans are being laid for what is to come. The sisters’ grandfather is the former head of MI6 and while none too happy about his granddaughters’ travel, he has his own investigation as he continues to covertly maintain contact with the spy organization. Sound confusing? Not really. As the different threads of the story converge, one is taken on a journey full of suspense, political upheaval, and national loyalty. Apparently this is the second book in a series featuring Elena and her sister, Margot. I say it this way as Elena is the central character in this book. This is only the second book I have read by Anne Perry, but it will not be the last. My thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

In her newest series, Anne Perry moves into the twentieth century. Her writing style is less formal and it makes this novel a quick easy read. Elena Standish, grand-daughter of the former head of MI6 is now working for them. As Europe is in turmoil pre-WWII, Elena must go to Italy to bring out a deep undercover member of the MI6 team and his information regarding pro Hitler factions in Austria. Elena is putting country before herself because this agent, Aiden Strother, is a former lover who not only humiliated her 6 years earlier but put her career in jeopardy.

As a young and relatively new agent, Elena must not only locate Aiden in Trieste, but let him know his cover is blown and get him and his information out of Italy and safely back to England. In the meantime, her grandfather learns of intrigue within the ranks of MI6. Her older sister, Margot, travels to Germany to the wedding of a childhood friend and daughter of Britain’s German ambassador who is marrying a member of the Gestapo. The situation for all concerned is a powder keg waiting to explode.

I look forward to reading more books in this series. I received this book as an advance reading copy from the publisher..

Anne Perry's Elena Standish series has become one of my favorite new series. Set in 1930s Europe, the series follows Elena as she joins Britian's MI6 and works to stop the growing Nazi party. "A Question of Betrayal" is the second in the series, and it was even better than the first.

In this second book, Elena is sent to Europe to recover a double agent who is in trouble. The fact that the agent in trouble is also her former lover adds drama to the story. What I have loved about both Elena Standish novels is that Elena does not seem to trip into any of female stereo types about needing to be saved by a romantic love interest. She very much stands on her own two feet and proves herself on her own. The ending this story, like the first, was also a surprise which is delightful since so many books seem to have such predictable endings.

Another wonderful element to the series is the strong cast of supporting characters with interesting side-plots. Elena's grandfather was the former head of the MI6 and works to solve a related murder during this novel. Elena's sister Margot attends the wedding of a childhood friend to a rising Nazi party member in Berlin, and hears information also related to the story.

While this is the second book in a series, each book is absolutely a stand along and satisfying read. You could easily read this book without having read the first and very much enjoyed the story.

I really loved this book and series. As a huge fan of the Maisie Dobbs and Bess Crawford series which take place during the same historical period, I have been sad that there are no release dates for future books including these characters. Now that I have found the Elena Standish series, I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series!

I have been a huge fan of Anne Perry for many, many years. I enjoyed this book and I really like this heroine. But I feel her books are a little lighter than they have been in the past. But still a really good read.

Elena Standish's career as a MI6 agent in pre-WWII times is nearly over before she gets started. Her foolish heart betrayed her as she fell in love with, Adian Strother, a fellow MI6 agent who is suspected of being a traitor. How could she be trusted with another assignment?

Peter Howard, her boss in MI6, decides to take a chance on her. He reveals that Aidan is actually still working for MI6, but in deep cover with the Nazis in Trieste, Italy and is in grave danger. Elena is the only one who knows what he looks like and can get him and the critical information of their plans out of the country. Elena has much to prove to the agency and to her grandfather, Lucas Standish, the former head of MI6.

Lucas still has many connections in the MI6 and a plot of treason and money laundering has been entrusted to him from a longtime friend. With murder and deceit, it's difficult for Lucas to uncover the full extent of this far-reaching plan. The information that Elena has been sent to retrieve becomes all the more critical.

I enjoyed reading this fast-paced storyline and the twists that occurred throughout. As the reader, I was swept along in the danger of Elena's mission. Along the way I learned more about Elena and her relationship with Aidan, her family, and some fellow spies that make the story rich and left me wanting to find out what happens next.

I was given a ebook copy in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Right now there seem to be many books, both fiction and non fiction, dealing with World War II. Like many of these books, Anne Perry has all of her main characters involved in some sort of spying. Our main character, Elena, is sent to Trieste to rescue a British agent who had been her lover and had betrayed her years before. Was he a British agent or was he a German agent? Elena must find out who Aiden is and get him to safety.

Anne Perry is a famous author of several mystery series dealing with the Victorian era, so this new series is a departure for her. Being the second book in the series, I had wondered if the book would rely on many of the events in the first book. I had nothing to worry about. This mystery could and did stand on it's own. Lots of action kept me interested in the plot and characters and wondering what would happen next and who these people really were.

All in all this is an interesting mystery with a very popular topic and setting.

In her second book in this spy series, Anne Perry brings Elena and Margot into their prime. No longer naive girls playing at spies, they are now mature women, having learned from the errors made in book one, and making more subtle, discerning sense of the motives of the people surrounding them. How does one unearth a double agent? Even the most experienced have difficulty as we learn here, and the women remain far from experienced. Yet they push on, through difficulties, through mixed emotions, even to the death. Have no fear, the intrepid heroines are well and hardy, hopefully queuing up for book 3. Once again, Ms. Perry brings the historical world to vivid life, and the dangers that life poses will have the reader turning pages eager to know what happens next in this world where one does not know whom to trust. Brilliant as always.
#AQuestionofBetrayal #NetGalley

A book with my twists and turns in this mystery with British spies in Germany and facing many to rescue the lover who betrayed her.

Anne Perry is a prolific writer of historical mysteries.  Long term fans have gotten to know the Pitts in two series.  They have also spent time with Monk, Hester and Rathbone and have read seasonal mysteries featuring these characters and those around them.  In addition, Ms. Perry wrote a four book series set in the period leading up to WWI.  In her latest entry in her newest series, Ms. Perry writes yet another most excellent story of intrigue, love, betrayal and loyalty; all these in the build up to WWII.  A Question of Betrayal follows last year's Death in Focus, the start of a new and fresh series by this author.


A Question of Betrayal may be read as a standalone but will be most enjoyed by those who read last year's first in the series.  Again, readers watch as (a now wiser) Elena works for the intelligence service, sent with her camera and wits to Trieste to rescue an agent and secure vital information.  The man she is to rescue is someone from her past.  No spoiler here...read the book and you will soon find out.  Although, readers feel secure that Elena should emerge safely as the last page is turned, Perry manages to make the book suspenseful.


Elena's older sister Margot has a greater role to plan in this title as compared to the first.  What she learns will tie in to the case that Elena is working on and also connects to a close friend of their grandfather.  Her trip to a friend's wedding in Germany as the power balance is shifting is vividly brought to life.


The story is set as the Nazis build up power.  Many want to prevent this and yet is it possible?  Ideals matter to these characters as readers will see.  They turn the pages as they  spend time in Trieste, Berlin and Britain in this wide ranging story.


Following a long and successful career, I admire Ms. Perry for setting out to do something new.  The result is nothing less than splendid.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.