What do you think?
Rate this book
Elena Standish #4
A Truth to Lie For
A lethal new weapon endangers all of Europe--unless Elena Standish can rescue an ingenious scientist from Hitler's clutches--in this action-packed mystery by bestselling author Anne Perry.
It is summer 1934, and Hitler is teetering on the edge of supreme power. Any small step forward could vault him toward European domination. When Britain's MI6 gets word that a German scientist has made a breakthrough in germ warfare, they send Elena Standish on a dangerous mission to get him out of Germany before he's forced to share his knowledge and its devastating power with Hitler's elite.
But the British soon learn that it's more than just time that Elena is working against. The new head of Germany's germ warfare division is an old enemy of Elena's grandfather Lucas, the former head of MI6. And he's bent on using any means to avenge his defeat at Lucas's hands twenty years before.
What starts as an effort to save Europe from the devastation of disease soon becomes an intensely personal fight. With Elena's every decision challenged, this compelling mystery takes a searing look at what it means to do what's right in a world rife with so much evil.
It is summer 1934, and Hitler is teetering on the edge of supreme power. Any small step forward could vault him toward European domination. When Britain's MI6 gets word that a German scientist has made a breakthrough in germ warfare, they send Elena Standish on a dangerous mission to get him out of Germany before he's forced to share his knowledge and its devastating power with Hitler's elite.
But the British soon learn that it's more than just time that Elena is working against. The new head of Germany's germ warfare division is an old enemy of Elena's grandfather Lucas, the former head of MI6. And he's bent on using any means to avenge his defeat at Lucas's hands twenty years before.
What starts as an effort to save Europe from the devastation of disease soon becomes an intensely personal fight. With Elena's every decision challenged, this compelling mystery takes a searing look at what it means to do what's right in a world rife with so much evil.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2022
244 people are currently reading
3824 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
353 books3,371 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
March 10, 2023
Elena Standish is an Agent for MI6 in 1934. Hitler came to power the year before; and his plans for war are already underway.
Two German Scientists have created a germ warfare, that if implemented, would have severe consequences throughout Europe. Elena has been tasked to fly into Germany and "persuade" one if not both of these Scientists to return to England with her along with their Research.
Meanwhile, the "Night of the Longknives" has already been organized to take place in Munich. Hitler, himself, will fly there from Berlin to participate in this wide scale massacre of the "Brownshirts." One of these is Hitler's earliest comrades in the fledgling Nazi Party, Ernst Rohm.
Once again, Ms. Perry does not disappoint her readers when she writes these historical fiction novels.
Two German Scientists have created a germ warfare, that if implemented, would have severe consequences throughout Europe. Elena has been tasked to fly into Germany and "persuade" one if not both of these Scientists to return to England with her along with their Research.
Meanwhile, the "Night of the Longknives" has already been organized to take place in Munich. Hitler, himself, will fly there from Berlin to participate in this wide scale massacre of the "Brownshirts." One of these is Hitler's earliest comrades in the fledgling Nazi Party, Ernst Rohm.
Once again, Ms. Perry does not disappoint her readers when she writes these historical fiction novels.
September 3, 2022
Elena’s latest MI-6 assignment takes her back to the beginning of her career- back to a Germany darkening under the Nazi Party takeover of the country and build up to war. Anne Perry has long been a favorite author of historically authentic, complexly charactered, and well plotted mysteries, but this latest series featuring Elena Standish crosses over into thriller territory with Elena’s espionage work and I’m all anticipation.
A Truth to Die for is the fourth book in a series of strongly connected books that don’t make for good standalones.
Elena’s up against her most dreaded assignment yet. She must return to Berlin and extract a scientist working on germ warfare right out from under the nose of the formidable Gestapo who are watching the scientists closely. She encounters familiar faces and this is good because when the plan goes awry and she must improvise, Elena needs all the help she can get.
Elena shares the narration and storylines of this latest with her grandfather who ran MI-6 during WWI and has a more active role than simply consultant or teacher in this one, and also a German Gestapo officer, Hans Beckendorff, whose loyalties are more than divided though climbing through the ranks swiftly after the brutal ‘Night of the Long Knives that made him see the actuality doesn’t live up to the earlier rhetoric. And, the future will likely bring more and worse.
The last book, A Darker Reality, was a mixed bag for me so I went into this one warily. But, the annoying immature behavior in Elena that shocked me after the first two books was blessedly absent and this was back to a woman who is vulnerable and learning, very afraid, but still putting herself on the line against dangerous opponents. My stomach was in knots so many times as it looked like Elena was about to get caught or I wasn’t sure whose side someone near her was on. Hans’ situation snug up against Hitler and the powerful men around him had me equally tense. Elena’s grandfather is usually at home in his house and providing advice to the current British espionage workers, but this time, an old enemy sets him on a more active course.
The plot marched on at a steady fast pace as it swapped scenes and narrators and kept the reader on the edge of the seat. There were moments that were there to show just how high the stakes are even though this is pre-war time. The ending had me unable to put the book down until I got to the finish and even then I was tingling for the next installment and what comes next.
More espionage thriller than mystery set in an interesting and tension-filled time of the world in the 1930’s with the shadow of WWII growing bigger and darker on the horizon, an intrepid young woman went from clever amateur photographer and failed foreign office worker to a valuable British spy. I love this world and the series and recommend it highly to historical mystery fans who like some spy action.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will appear on The Reading Frenzy Sept 9th.
A Truth to Die for is the fourth book in a series of strongly connected books that don’t make for good standalones.
Elena’s up against her most dreaded assignment yet. She must return to Berlin and extract a scientist working on germ warfare right out from under the nose of the formidable Gestapo who are watching the scientists closely. She encounters familiar faces and this is good because when the plan goes awry and she must improvise, Elena needs all the help she can get.
Elena shares the narration and storylines of this latest with her grandfather who ran MI-6 during WWI and has a more active role than simply consultant or teacher in this one, and also a German Gestapo officer, Hans Beckendorff, whose loyalties are more than divided though climbing through the ranks swiftly after the brutal ‘Night of the Long Knives that made him see the actuality doesn’t live up to the earlier rhetoric. And, the future will likely bring more and worse.
The last book, A Darker Reality, was a mixed bag for me so I went into this one warily. But, the annoying immature behavior in Elena that shocked me after the first two books was blessedly absent and this was back to a woman who is vulnerable and learning, very afraid, but still putting herself on the line against dangerous opponents. My stomach was in knots so many times as it looked like Elena was about to get caught or I wasn’t sure whose side someone near her was on. Hans’ situation snug up against Hitler and the powerful men around him had me equally tense. Elena’s grandfather is usually at home in his house and providing advice to the current British espionage workers, but this time, an old enemy sets him on a more active course.
The plot marched on at a steady fast pace as it swapped scenes and narrators and kept the reader on the edge of the seat. There were moments that were there to show just how high the stakes are even though this is pre-war time. The ending had me unable to put the book down until I got to the finish and even then I was tingling for the next installment and what comes next.
More espionage thriller than mystery set in an interesting and tension-filled time of the world in the 1930’s with the shadow of WWII growing bigger and darker on the horizon, an intrepid young woman went from clever amateur photographer and failed foreign office worker to a valuable British spy. I love this world and the series and recommend it highly to historical mystery fans who like some spy action.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will appear on The Reading Frenzy Sept 9th.
October 28, 2022
It's 1934 Germany and Hitler is ready to take over as much of Europe as possible. Two scientists have made strides in deadly germ warfare. One of them makes the antidote while the other the toxin. MI6 agent Elena Standish is tasked with returning to Berlin to help one of these two scientists escape; another agent will help the other scientist. In addition to Elena's storyline we have that of Hans Beckendorff, a young German Gestapo officer who seems to be moving quickly up the ranks. He's married to a British women, whose father is the cultural attaché at the British Embassy, and they have a baby girl only a few months old.
This was a fantastic story of political intrigue and suspense along with a moral message. I was on the edge of my seat for both storylines. Would Elena get the scientist out of Germany? Are the people helping her really helping or are they double agents? Is Hans really going to go along with his superior officer and Hitler's plan? If he doesn't, what will happen to Hans and his family? I look forward to Elena's next mission but I also want to see Hans again.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Ballantine Books via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
This was a fantastic story of political intrigue and suspense along with a moral message. I was on the edge of my seat for both storylines. Would Elena get the scientist out of Germany? Are the people helping her really helping or are they double agents? Is Hans really going to go along with his superior officer and Hitler's plan? If he doesn't, what will happen to Hans and his family? I look forward to Elena's next mission but I also want to see Hans again.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Ballantine Books via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
October 1, 2022
Readers of Anne Perry’s latest series featuring Elena Standish have seen through three previous novels how she was transformed from a young photographer into one of the most valuable recruits of Britain’s MI6. Her latest adventure entitled A TRUTH TO LIE FOR is set just prior to the onset of WWII as Hitler’s Germany is on the verge of becoming the evil powerhouse that will threaten both Europe and the rest of the world.
Peter Howard, the man who personally brought Elena under the wing of MI6, calls her into his office to discuss a mission he needs her for that will easily be the most dangerous of her young career. He needs her to go to Germany and help extract someone from Berlin. The person she is charged with obtaining is a German scientist named Hartwig who is one of two scientists that have made breakthroughs in the area of germ warfare --- something Germany could utilize to dominate in any skirmish as well as posing an enormous threat to regular citizens. Sort of like the precursor to the atomic bomb and how it was utilized at the end of WWII.
A second agent, Alex Cooper, will be on a separate mission to extract the second scientist. Elena, travelling under the name of Ellen Stewart, is more than happy to do what she can for her country as well as her MI6 group that her grandfather Lucas Standish was once the head of. Peter Howard actually discusses the mission with Lucas and they recognize that there may be more difficulty in obtaining the second scientist, a man named Fassler, because he is a Jew. Peter Howard wisely states that: ‘So many German Jews think of themselves as being completely assimilated in the German culture. German first and Jewish second.’ He also notes how this can easily become a fatal mistake to make.
The second plotline running through A TRUTH TO LIE FOR involves a young German soldier named Hans Beckendorff who works directly for one of Hitler’s most trusted colleagues, General Paulus. Hans has dynamic ideas about how to ferret out those who are disloyal to the Fuhrer and his tactics are not only followed but also welcomed by Hitler himself. Young Hans, however, is swift enough to figure out that he was selected for this duty not because of his abilities and loyalty to Hitler and Germany but mainly because his father-in-law is the British Ambassador stationed in Germany. The writing on the wall for Hans’ future is apparent to him and he must figure out just how far he is willing to stay in his current role while he has second thoughts about Hitler and the direction his Germany may be taking.
Elena lands in Germany and is set to meet up with various assets who are prepared to assist her --- a man working at the hotel she is staying at named Dieter and a German Jew named Jacob who is set to on the mission with her to obtain Professor Hartwig. They are successful in finding and approaching Hartwig, who is open to going with them if it means he can get out of Germany. However, it will not be easy for them to move around especially when they get caught directly in the crosshairs of the uprising later named The Night of the Long Knives, whereby allegedly traitorous members of Germans ‘brownshirts’ are brought down by Hitler and his men. Amongst those caught, tortured, and killed is a man named Rohm who was once thought to be loyal to Hitler and his cause. It was thanks to the theories provided by young Hans that put Rohm in a new light for Hitler, one that cost him his life.
The blending of the two storylines in A TRUTH TO LIE FOR works unbelievably well. Typically, I look for the moral message of any story from author Anne Perry and found I did not have to search to far for it in this tale, especially with the opportunity to witness the birth of what would become the infamous Third Reich. What was especially interesting with this novel is how Elena Standish takes a backseat, and that is not necessarily a bad thing, to young Han Beckendorff who firmly picks up the mantle as the moral center of this tale. The end result is a story that is at times unbearably suspenseful, especially at the point where Hans makes a stand in a big way, and the political intrigue and spy games feels as if Brad Thor were writing the text. Kudo to Anne Perry, who not only never disappoints but also continues to surprise readers with a number of tricks up her sleeve in a story that pushes the envelope and succeeds on nearly every level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Peter Howard, the man who personally brought Elena under the wing of MI6, calls her into his office to discuss a mission he needs her for that will easily be the most dangerous of her young career. He needs her to go to Germany and help extract someone from Berlin. The person she is charged with obtaining is a German scientist named Hartwig who is one of two scientists that have made breakthroughs in the area of germ warfare --- something Germany could utilize to dominate in any skirmish as well as posing an enormous threat to regular citizens. Sort of like the precursor to the atomic bomb and how it was utilized at the end of WWII.
A second agent, Alex Cooper, will be on a separate mission to extract the second scientist. Elena, travelling under the name of Ellen Stewart, is more than happy to do what she can for her country as well as her MI6 group that her grandfather Lucas Standish was once the head of. Peter Howard actually discusses the mission with Lucas and they recognize that there may be more difficulty in obtaining the second scientist, a man named Fassler, because he is a Jew. Peter Howard wisely states that: ‘So many German Jews think of themselves as being completely assimilated in the German culture. German first and Jewish second.’ He also notes how this can easily become a fatal mistake to make.
The second plotline running through A TRUTH TO LIE FOR involves a young German soldier named Hans Beckendorff who works directly for one of Hitler’s most trusted colleagues, General Paulus. Hans has dynamic ideas about how to ferret out those who are disloyal to the Fuhrer and his tactics are not only followed but also welcomed by Hitler himself. Young Hans, however, is swift enough to figure out that he was selected for this duty not because of his abilities and loyalty to Hitler and Germany but mainly because his father-in-law is the British Ambassador stationed in Germany. The writing on the wall for Hans’ future is apparent to him and he must figure out just how far he is willing to stay in his current role while he has second thoughts about Hitler and the direction his Germany may be taking.
Elena lands in Germany and is set to meet up with various assets who are prepared to assist her --- a man working at the hotel she is staying at named Dieter and a German Jew named Jacob who is set to on the mission with her to obtain Professor Hartwig. They are successful in finding and approaching Hartwig, who is open to going with them if it means he can get out of Germany. However, it will not be easy for them to move around especially when they get caught directly in the crosshairs of the uprising later named The Night of the Long Knives, whereby allegedly traitorous members of Germans ‘brownshirts’ are brought down by Hitler and his men. Amongst those caught, tortured, and killed is a man named Rohm who was once thought to be loyal to Hitler and his cause. It was thanks to the theories provided by young Hans that put Rohm in a new light for Hitler, one that cost him his life.
The blending of the two storylines in A TRUTH TO LIE FOR works unbelievably well. Typically, I look for the moral message of any story from author Anne Perry and found I did not have to search to far for it in this tale, especially with the opportunity to witness the birth of what would become the infamous Third Reich. What was especially interesting with this novel is how Elena Standish takes a backseat, and that is not necessarily a bad thing, to young Han Beckendorff who firmly picks up the mantle as the moral center of this tale. The end result is a story that is at times unbearably suspenseful, especially at the point where Hans makes a stand in a big way, and the political intrigue and spy games feels as if Brad Thor were writing the text. Kudo to Anne Perry, who not only never disappoints but also continues to surprise readers with a number of tricks up her sleeve in a story that pushes the envelope and succeeds on nearly every level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
August 1, 2022
I was thrilled to see that another book by Anne Perry was available, as I've bought and read almost everything of hers over the decades. She has truly branched out into another century of characters, though some are interconnected with protagonists in one of her first, long-running series, with Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.
This particular series focuses on Elena Standish, a young Englishwoman who, in the interwar period of time, works as an agent for MI6, of which her grandfather was the head of durring and after WWI. Hitler has been on the rise for some time, and she and other agents are doing their best to hinder his intensification of Germany's war effort, as well as monitoring the use of concentration camps and tightening his noose around German Jews and other "subhuman" races. Elena is gradually becoming used to making difficult decisions in her line of work, and this case of hers now is no exception. She too has changed and grown over the past few years, and her family, who knows little about her work (only her grandfather is aware of he MI6 connection), sees her growth and increasing confidence in herself and the work she is doing surreptitiously for England.
We are also reunited with characters introduced in the past briefly, and their part to play is greatly expanded in this book. Seeing how some Germans who first were rapturous about what Hitler could do for their country, and themselves, to be honest, yet over time began to doubt the methods used and the peoples so terribly discriminated against, those people had to reach within themselves to prioritize what was most important to them and their country, and act accordingly.
I really enjoyed this book, as I have Perry's others, and hope this newer series can continue for a long time.
Thanks to NetGalley fro providing me an ARC of this work; the opinions expressed are all my own.
This particular series focuses on Elena Standish, a young Englishwoman who, in the interwar period of time, works as an agent for MI6, of which her grandfather was the head of durring and after WWI. Hitler has been on the rise for some time, and she and other agents are doing their best to hinder his intensification of Germany's war effort, as well as monitoring the use of concentration camps and tightening his noose around German Jews and other "subhuman" races. Elena is gradually becoming used to making difficult decisions in her line of work, and this case of hers now is no exception. She too has changed and grown over the past few years, and her family, who knows little about her work (only her grandfather is aware of he MI6 connection), sees her growth and increasing confidence in herself and the work she is doing surreptitiously for England.
We are also reunited with characters introduced in the past briefly, and their part to play is greatly expanded in this book. Seeing how some Germans who first were rapturous about what Hitler could do for their country, and themselves, to be honest, yet over time began to doubt the methods used and the peoples so terribly discriminated against, those people had to reach within themselves to prioritize what was most important to them and their country, and act accordingly.
I really enjoyed this book, as I have Perry's others, and hope this newer series can continue for a long time.
Thanks to NetGalley fro providing me an ARC of this work; the opinions expressed are all my own.
September 16, 2022
Who can you trust?
Despite her troubles with her last assignment Elena is once again called on by MI6 to take part in an operation. This time it’s back in Berlin (a place Elena escaped by the skin of her teeth) to escort a German chemist out from under the Reich’s nose. He’s part of the German chemical warfare program. The head of the division is a sworn enemy of Marcus Standish, Elena’s grandfather and previous head of M16. If he identifies and captures Elena, Marcus is in no doubt of the outcome.
Of course problems arise. Things don’t go to plan. Elena is forced to contact a previous source for help. She ends up driving across Germany in her efforts to fulfil her mission.
Does Elena’s character develop? Not really. She’s on some sort of plateau. She still has ground to makeup. It will take time for MI6 to forget her past challenges. But then they’re all members of the same old boys’ network.
This German intervention was harrowing for Elena, and as equally ghastly for us. She did show courage and agility of thought. Maybe she’s come further than I’ve given her credit for.
A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Despite her troubles with her last assignment Elena is once again called on by MI6 to take part in an operation. This time it’s back in Berlin (a place Elena escaped by the skin of her teeth) to escort a German chemist out from under the Reich’s nose. He’s part of the German chemical warfare program. The head of the division is a sworn enemy of Marcus Standish, Elena’s grandfather and previous head of M16. If he identifies and captures Elena, Marcus is in no doubt of the outcome.
Of course problems arise. Things don’t go to plan. Elena is forced to contact a previous source for help. She ends up driving across Germany in her efforts to fulfil her mission.
Does Elena’s character develop? Not really. She’s on some sort of plateau. She still has ground to makeup. It will take time for MI6 to forget her past challenges. But then they’re all members of the same old boys’ network.
This German intervention was harrowing for Elena, and as equally ghastly for us. She did show courage and agility of thought. Maybe she’s come further than I’ve given her credit for.
A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
July 8, 2022
Elena Standish is a member of MI6, recently tasked with the extraction of a German scientist who is being forced to work for the Gestapo in their germ warfare development. Hans Beckendorff is a member of of the Gestapo, who begins to question his inescapable role in the organization after the events of “Night of the Long Knives”.
“A Truth To Lie For” was a fast paced tale full of action and steeped in political intrigue.The parallel narratives worked well; they kept me guessing until the very end. Would they escape? Is he a double agent? I was slightly disappointed there was no epilogue, leaving me guessing as to the fate of Hans and his family. There was also the hint of a romance that was never, understandably, fully explored; perhaps there will be a sequel? All in all, strong characters, a solid plot, and several emotional threads made this an enjoyable read.
I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for the opportunity to review this book before its September 20, 2022 release.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving my opinion voluntarily.
“A Truth To Lie For” was a fast paced tale full of action and steeped in political intrigue.The parallel narratives worked well; they kept me guessing until the very end. Would they escape? Is he a double agent? I was slightly disappointed there was no epilogue, leaving me guessing as to the fate of Hans and his family. There was also the hint of a romance that was never, understandably, fully explored; perhaps there will be a sequel? All in all, strong characters, a solid plot, and several emotional threads made this an enjoyable read.
I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for the opportunity to review this book before its September 20, 2022 release.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving my opinion voluntarily.
September 18, 2022
A Truth to Lie For is the fourth book in Ann Perry's exciting Elena Standish series. You will be better served starting with the first book and reading in order. The story stands alone, but you'll want to follow Elena's growth. Also, characters from previous books make an appearance here. I swear this series just gets better as it goes along.
In 1934 Germany, Hitler is becoming more powerful. Elena Standish is now an MI6 agent, and her missions are becoming more complex. Germany is working on germ warfare, and one of its scientists has made a breakthrough. Britain cannot risk allowing Hitler's elite forces getting their hands on this devastating research, so MI6 sends Elena to retrieve the scientist to keep him away from German forces. Unknown to Elena, her grandfather, the former head of MI6, is also sent to Germany. The new head of Germany's germ warfare division is an old enemy of Lucas, and wants revenge for being defeated by Lucas many years before. Will Elena and Lucas be able to stop Germany from spreading death across the continent?
It's been satisfying watching Elena grow from an insecure, disgraced girl to a competent British intelligence agent. Not only does she have to travel to Germany to keep the Nazis from getting their hands on a potentially horrific bioweapon, but she also knows that if she's unsuccessful she will have to kill the scientist she's meant to retrieve. When Elena needs to obtain a vehicle to spirit the scientist away, she turns to American newspaper journalist Jacob, a man who helped her escape Germany during a previous mission. Jacob is a great character and I was glad that he was included in the story. I hope we have an opportunity to meet up with Jacob in future books. Elena's storyline was exciting, but it was overshadowed by a parallel story featuring Hans Beckendorff, a young Gestapo officer who worked for Paulus, the man who is Lucas's old enemy. Hans was married to a friend of Elena's sister and had a beautiful young baby. He loved them both dearly, and when they were threatened by Paulus he became disillusioned with what was happening in Germany. He was also disillusioned when he met Hitler and observed his erratic behavior. The dilemma Hans was dealt had me riveted to the pages. The most exciting portion of the story concerned the Night of the Long Knives, an actual event that took place in 1934. I had heard that phrase before, but wasn't aware of what exactly it was. Hitler was concerned that the Brownshirts, who numbered in the millions, were becoming too powerful. Hitler's SS guards were ordered to purge the Brownshirts, including their leader, Ernst Röhm, and others who were believed to be dangerous. It was a massacre; hundreds were killed. I love how Ms. Perry incorporates actual historical events in her books and blends her characters in seamlessly. I'm guaranteed a thrilling story, plus I actually learn something. I hope I don't have to wait long for Elena's next mission!
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.
In 1934 Germany, Hitler is becoming more powerful. Elena Standish is now an MI6 agent, and her missions are becoming more complex. Germany is working on germ warfare, and one of its scientists has made a breakthrough. Britain cannot risk allowing Hitler's elite forces getting their hands on this devastating research, so MI6 sends Elena to retrieve the scientist to keep him away from German forces. Unknown to Elena, her grandfather, the former head of MI6, is also sent to Germany. The new head of Germany's germ warfare division is an old enemy of Lucas, and wants revenge for being defeated by Lucas many years before. Will Elena and Lucas be able to stop Germany from spreading death across the continent?
It's been satisfying watching Elena grow from an insecure, disgraced girl to a competent British intelligence agent. Not only does she have to travel to Germany to keep the Nazis from getting their hands on a potentially horrific bioweapon, but she also knows that if she's unsuccessful she will have to kill the scientist she's meant to retrieve. When Elena needs to obtain a vehicle to spirit the scientist away, she turns to American newspaper journalist Jacob, a man who helped her escape Germany during a previous mission. Jacob is a great character and I was glad that he was included in the story. I hope we have an opportunity to meet up with Jacob in future books. Elena's storyline was exciting, but it was overshadowed by a parallel story featuring Hans Beckendorff, a young Gestapo officer who worked for Paulus, the man who is Lucas's old enemy. Hans was married to a friend of Elena's sister and had a beautiful young baby. He loved them both dearly, and when they were threatened by Paulus he became disillusioned with what was happening in Germany. He was also disillusioned when he met Hitler and observed his erratic behavior. The dilemma Hans was dealt had me riveted to the pages. The most exciting portion of the story concerned the Night of the Long Knives, an actual event that took place in 1934. I had heard that phrase before, but wasn't aware of what exactly it was. Hitler was concerned that the Brownshirts, who numbered in the millions, were becoming too powerful. Hitler's SS guards were ordered to purge the Brownshirts, including their leader, Ernst Röhm, and others who were believed to be dangerous. It was a massacre; hundreds were killed. I love how Ms. Perry incorporates actual historical events in her books and blends her characters in seamlessly. I'm guaranteed a thrilling story, plus I actually learn something. I hope I don't have to wait long for Elena's next mission!
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.
October 12, 2022
Germany, 1934. Hitler and the Nazi party continue to move toward complete power. Elena Standish, now working for MI6, has been sent on a mission to Berlin. Her assignment, assist a scientist to get out of the country before the enemy can use his knowledge for themselves. To complete her mission it will take everything she has learned and more. And to save herself and protect what is most important to her, she must learn just how resourceful and courageous she can be.
Perry’s plot weaves several distinct storylines together in order to give you a sense of the political strain of the times, as well as the personal struggles of the characters involved. The writing and language help to evoke a Germany on the brink, and Perry brings one of history’s most crucial events to life. The Night of the Long Knives encompassed a series of politically motivated executions ordered by Hitler in order to consolidate his power. In recreating this event, Perry provides a real sense of the disorder, the frenzy, and the fear that infected everyone and everything.
As in prior installments in this series, Elena Standish makes a compelling protagonist. She is undeniably intelligent, sensitive, and caring. But, over the course of the series she has not grown with regards to inner strength or self confidence. In short, she dithers her way through just about every situation. Surprisingly, the character that most captured my attention was Hans Beckendorff. With Hans, Perry has created the personification of a rising Gestapo officer in Hitler’s new regime. His story furnishes a great deal of insight into what was probably the mindset of many within Germany during this turbulent time.
While, for the most part, the pacing was good, the were points in the story where it could have been better. As I mentioned previously, the character of Elena had a habit of questioning her motives, second guessing her decisions, and holding back when it came to taking action. This often resulted in significantly bogging down the narrative as it flitted back and forth along with Elena’s inner monologue.
Set amidst the tensions of a world on the brink of WWII, A Truth to Lie for is an effective story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Perry’s plot weaves several distinct storylines together in order to give you a sense of the political strain of the times, as well as the personal struggles of the characters involved. The writing and language help to evoke a Germany on the brink, and Perry brings one of history’s most crucial events to life. The Night of the Long Knives encompassed a series of politically motivated executions ordered by Hitler in order to consolidate his power. In recreating this event, Perry provides a real sense of the disorder, the frenzy, and the fear that infected everyone and everything.
As in prior installments in this series, Elena Standish makes a compelling protagonist. She is undeniably intelligent, sensitive, and caring. But, over the course of the series she has not grown with regards to inner strength or self confidence. In short, she dithers her way through just about every situation. Surprisingly, the character that most captured my attention was Hans Beckendorff. With Hans, Perry has created the personification of a rising Gestapo officer in Hitler’s new regime. His story furnishes a great deal of insight into what was probably the mindset of many within Germany during this turbulent time.
While, for the most part, the pacing was good, the were points in the story where it could have been better. As I mentioned previously, the character of Elena had a habit of questioning her motives, second guessing her decisions, and holding back when it came to taking action. This often resulted in significantly bogging down the narrative as it flitted back and forth along with Elena’s inner monologue.
Set amidst the tensions of a world on the brink of WWII, A Truth to Lie for is an effective story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
September 2, 2022
I enjoyed this continuation in the Elena Standish series. There are two characters who are followed in separate timelines. I really enjoyed Hans’ story. It was more engaging and he had more serious personal choices to make now that it’s 1934 in Germany and Hitler is becoming more powerful.
Elena’s story was rather a rehash of past adventures and she didn’t make any more forward moves in her character. Still, a fun read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Elena’s story was rather a rehash of past adventures and she didn’t make any more forward moves in her character. Still, a fun read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
February 27, 2023
An easy read of a fictional account of Hitler's early years. MI6 wants to capture and evacuate 2 German scientists, one who is creating a germ killing gas, and the other who is creating the anecdote. A female spy is chosen for the job to capture one. The plot of their escape is the basis for the novel, along with a young German Gestapo captain who is employed to uncover all of Hitler's enemies. This captain loves his wife and daughter who was recently born. As he gets to meet Hitler personally and also work under his superior officer he is faced with the decision of what his beliefs for his country are. So nice to read a newly published work with no offensive language or explicit sexual descriptions. Just a good mystery.
November 27, 2022
Elena Standish of 1930s MI6 is involved in another dangerous mission in Berlin. Very well done. Would have read it straight through in one day but life kept distracting me😊
June 1, 2023
I have been reading Anne Perry mysteries for 44 years and I never thought I would give a book written by this author a rating of 1 star. I an frustrated / angry about two main issues with the book. This is supposed to be an Elena Standish novel. She appears in about 20% of the book and is then being rescued by a handsome man because she is dumber than a box of rocks. She fails to deliver both of the men she is supposed to smuggle out of Germany. My larger complaint concerns the Nazi / German "history" involved in the story. The action is set in 1934 General Johan Paulus is in charge of the germ warfare programs for the Nazis. In North America, it was not the government but a dedicated individual who initiated a bioweapons research program. Sir Frederick Banting, the Nobel-Prize-winning discoverer of insulin, created what could be called the first private biological weapon research center in 1940, with the help of corporate sponsors. Soon afterwards, the US government was also pressed to perform such research by their British allies who, along with the French, feared a German attack with biological weapons,***************even though the Nazis apparently never seriously considered using biological weapons.****************** WE WERE DOING GERM WARFARE RESEARCH WHILE THE NAZIS WERE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Holocaust Encyclopedia. Thus the idea of a germ warfare program in Germany before Hindenburg had died and Hitler finally became Führer is specious!!!!!!! Then the use of the name Paulus out of all possible German sir names is a bad choice. There was a prominent German General named Wilhelm Paulus. He is best known for commanding the 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad (August 1942 to February 1943). The army became completely surrounded by the Russians and despite Hitler's orders to fight to the death, Paulus surrendered in Stalingrad on 31 January 1943. That same day he was informed of his promotion to field marshal by Hitler. Hitler expected Paulus to take his own life, repeating to his staff that there was no precedent of a German field marshal being captured alive. While in Soviet captivity during the war, Paulus became a vocal critic of the Nazi regime and joined the Soviet-sponsored National Committee for a Free Germany. ********* If you were writing a novel about a fictional American General in WWII would you name him Eisenhower or Patton - why not call the head of the non-existent germ warfare program Schmidt or Becker. Even if you are writing a novel about WWII there ought to be some judgment involved. Then we have the event called the Night of the Long Knives. Ms. Perry writes as though the event happened on one night in Munich. The actual event occurred from June 30, 1934 – July 2, 1934. The SA, 9 abbreviation of Sturmabteilung German: “Assault Division”), also known as the Brownshirts, were a paramilitary organization whose methods of violent intimidation played a key role in Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. The SA was founded in Munich by Hitler in 1921 out of various roughneck elements that had attached themselves to the fledgling Nazi movement. From January 1931 it was headed by Ernst Röhm, who dreamed of building the SA into Germany’s main military force. The SA had grown to 3,000,000 members by 1934. The statement that Hitler feared the power of the SA is repeated at least 10 times: The SA was 30 times the size of the German Arm!!!!!!!! LIE!!!! The German army had been restricted by the treaty of Versailles to a maximum number of 100,000 troops. Apparently Ms Perry believes that the Nazis followed the rules. In December 1933 the army staff decided to increase the active strength to 300,000 men in 21 divisions. Brittanica. THE SA WAS10 TIMES LARGER THAN THE REGULAR ARMY, NOT 30. DESPITE THE BOOK'S ERRORS, HITLER NO LONGER TRUSTED THE BROWNSHIRTS TO OBEY HIS ORDERS.................. The book states that Hitler personally shot Röhm on the night of the 30th. ANOTHER LIE!!!!!!!! On 30 June 1934, Hitler and a large group of SS and regular police flew to Munich and arrived between 06:00 and 07:00 at Hanselbauer Hotel in Bad Wiessee, where Röhm and his followers were staying. With Hitler's early arrival, the SA leadership, still in bed, were taken by surprise. SS men stormed the hotel and Hitler personally placed Röhm and other high-ranking SA leaders under arrest. ARREST!!! The SS found Breslau SA leader ******Edmund Heines******* in bed with an unidentified eighteen-year-old male SA senior troop leader.
Goebbels emphasised this aspect in subsequent Nazi propaganda, justifying the purge as a crackdown on moral turpitude. According to Erich Kempka, in a 1946 interview, Hitler ordered both Heines and his partner taken outside of the hotel and shot. Meanwhile, the SS arrested the other SA leaders as they left their train for the planned meeting with Röhm and Hitler. Although Hitler presented no evidence of a plot by Röhm to overthrow the regime, he nevertheless denounced the leadership of the SA. Arriving back at party headquarters in Munich, Hitler addressed the assembled crowd. Consumed with rage, Hitler denounced the SA as perpetrating "the worst treachery in world history". The crowd, which included party members and many SA members fortunate enough to escape arrest, shouted its approval. Joseph Goebbels, who had been with Hitler at Munich, set the final phase of the plan in motion. Upon returning to Berlin, Goebbels telephoned Göring with the codeword kolibri ("hummingbird") to let loose the execution squads on the rest of their unsuspecting victims. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler commander Sepp Dietrich received orders from Hitler to form an "execution squad" and go to Stadelheim Prison in Munich where Röhm and other SA leaders were being held under arrest. There in the prison courtyard, the Leibstandarte firing squad shot five SA generals and an SA colonel. Several of those not immediately executed were taken back to the Leibstandarte barracks, given one-minute "trials", and shot by a firing squad. Röhm himself, however, was kept prisoner. Hitler was hesitant in authorising Röhm's execution, perhaps because of loyalty or embarrassment about the execution of an important lieutenant; he eventually did so, and agreed that Röhm should have the option of suicide. On 1 July 1934, SS-Brigadeführer Theodor Eicke (later Kommandant of the Dachau concentration camp) and SS-Obersturmbannführer Michael Lippert visited Röhm. Once inside Röhm's cell, they handed him a Browning pistol loaded with a single cartridge and told him he had ten minutes to kill himself or they would do it for him. Röhm demurred, telling them, "If I am to be killed, let Adolf do it." himself." Having heard nothing in the allotted time, Eicke and Lippert returned to Röhm's cell and find him standing, with his bare chest puffed out in a gesture of defiance. Eicke and Lippert then shot and killed Röhm. Although most of those killed during the Night of the Long Knives were members of the SA, other victims included close associates of Vice Chancellor Franz von Papen, several Reichswehr (German Army) members – one of whom, General Kurt von Schleicher, was formerly Chancellor of Germany – and their associates; Gregor Strasser, Hitler's former competitor for control of the Nazi Party; at least one person killed in a case of mistaken identity; and several victims killed because they "knew too much". The regime did not limit itself to a purge of the SA. Having earlier imprisoned or exiled prominent Social Democrats and Communists, Hitler used the occasion to move against conservatives he considered unreliable. In Berlin, on Göring's personal orders, an armed SS unit stormed the Vice-Chancellery. Gestapo officers attached to the SS unit shot Papen's secretary Herbert von Bose without bothering to arrest him first. The Gestapo arrested and later executed Papen's close associate Edgar Jung and disposed of his body by dumping it in a ditch. The Gestapo also murdered Erich Klausener, the leader of Catholic Action, and a close Papen associate. Papen was unceremoniously arrested at the Vice-Chancellery, despite his insistent protests that he could not be arrested in his position as Vice-Chancellor. Although Hitler ordered him released days later, Papen no longer dared to criticize the regime and was sent off to Vienna as German ambassador. In January 1933 Hindenburg dismissed Schleicher and made Hitler chancellor. A year and a half later, on the “night of the long knives,” Schleicher was murdered by Hitler’s SS (Schutzstaffel) in his Berlin flat. Page 305 of the large print edition states that "Kurt Von Schleicher who had been second in power to Hitler and his rival" He was also murdered in the purge. WHEN AND IN WHAT WAY WAS SCHLEICHER EVER SECOND IN COMMAND TO HITLER?????? ...............................MS. PERRY ASSERTS THAT 100'S OF SA WERE MURDERED IN ONE NIGHT. Author Richard J. Evans states that at least 85 people were killed and more than 1000 were arrested. Ian Kershaw also cites the number of deaths at 85. Kershaw notes that "some estimates...put the total number killed at between 150 and 200." William L. Shirer writes in his Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, that "The White Book of the Purge, published by émigrés in Paris claims 401 deaths, but lists only 116 of them. At the 1957 trial in Munich the figure 'more than 1,000' was used." Both of those figures are much higher than the ones most historians of the period rely on, and that Shirer himself was not necessarily citing the figures as accurate, but was simply relaying them in his book. The most recent study on the matter lists by name 89 people who were definitely killed, as well as two other cases of whom it is unclear whether they were murdered during the events or slightly earlier or later.................................... WHERE ARE THE FACT CHECKERS AND EDITORS????? If I can find the data to contradict much of the book in an hour what was the publisher doing?????????? There may be a good explanation concerning the quality of this book. It was first published on April 14, 2022. Anne Perry died on April 10, 2023 at age 84. She suffered a heart attack in 2022, from which she never recovered. I blame the publisher and those who assisted Ms. Perry in her writing for allowing her last book to be such a disaster. Such a sad end to a life which included committing murder in her teens to selling over 26 million books and gaining respect as an author. Kristi & Abby Tabby
Goebbels emphasised this aspect in subsequent Nazi propaganda, justifying the purge as a crackdown on moral turpitude. According to Erich Kempka, in a 1946 interview, Hitler ordered both Heines and his partner taken outside of the hotel and shot. Meanwhile, the SS arrested the other SA leaders as they left their train for the planned meeting with Röhm and Hitler. Although Hitler presented no evidence of a plot by Röhm to overthrow the regime, he nevertheless denounced the leadership of the SA. Arriving back at party headquarters in Munich, Hitler addressed the assembled crowd. Consumed with rage, Hitler denounced the SA as perpetrating "the worst treachery in world history". The crowd, which included party members and many SA members fortunate enough to escape arrest, shouted its approval. Joseph Goebbels, who had been with Hitler at Munich, set the final phase of the plan in motion. Upon returning to Berlin, Goebbels telephoned Göring with the codeword kolibri ("hummingbird") to let loose the execution squads on the rest of their unsuspecting victims. Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler commander Sepp Dietrich received orders from Hitler to form an "execution squad" and go to Stadelheim Prison in Munich where Röhm and other SA leaders were being held under arrest. There in the prison courtyard, the Leibstandarte firing squad shot five SA generals and an SA colonel. Several of those not immediately executed were taken back to the Leibstandarte barracks, given one-minute "trials", and shot by a firing squad. Röhm himself, however, was kept prisoner. Hitler was hesitant in authorising Röhm's execution, perhaps because of loyalty or embarrassment about the execution of an important lieutenant; he eventually did so, and agreed that Röhm should have the option of suicide. On 1 July 1934, SS-Brigadeführer Theodor Eicke (later Kommandant of the Dachau concentration camp) and SS-Obersturmbannführer Michael Lippert visited Röhm. Once inside Röhm's cell, they handed him a Browning pistol loaded with a single cartridge and told him he had ten minutes to kill himself or they would do it for him. Röhm demurred, telling them, "If I am to be killed, let Adolf do it." himself." Having heard nothing in the allotted time, Eicke and Lippert returned to Röhm's cell and find him standing, with his bare chest puffed out in a gesture of defiance. Eicke and Lippert then shot and killed Röhm. Although most of those killed during the Night of the Long Knives were members of the SA, other victims included close associates of Vice Chancellor Franz von Papen, several Reichswehr (German Army) members – one of whom, General Kurt von Schleicher, was formerly Chancellor of Germany – and their associates; Gregor Strasser, Hitler's former competitor for control of the Nazi Party; at least one person killed in a case of mistaken identity; and several victims killed because they "knew too much". The regime did not limit itself to a purge of the SA. Having earlier imprisoned or exiled prominent Social Democrats and Communists, Hitler used the occasion to move against conservatives he considered unreliable. In Berlin, on Göring's personal orders, an armed SS unit stormed the Vice-Chancellery. Gestapo officers attached to the SS unit shot Papen's secretary Herbert von Bose without bothering to arrest him first. The Gestapo arrested and later executed Papen's close associate Edgar Jung and disposed of his body by dumping it in a ditch. The Gestapo also murdered Erich Klausener, the leader of Catholic Action, and a close Papen associate. Papen was unceremoniously arrested at the Vice-Chancellery, despite his insistent protests that he could not be arrested in his position as Vice-Chancellor. Although Hitler ordered him released days later, Papen no longer dared to criticize the regime and was sent off to Vienna as German ambassador. In January 1933 Hindenburg dismissed Schleicher and made Hitler chancellor. A year and a half later, on the “night of the long knives,” Schleicher was murdered by Hitler’s SS (Schutzstaffel) in his Berlin flat. Page 305 of the large print edition states that "Kurt Von Schleicher who had been second in power to Hitler and his rival" He was also murdered in the purge. WHEN AND IN WHAT WAY WAS SCHLEICHER EVER SECOND IN COMMAND TO HITLER?????? ...............................MS. PERRY ASSERTS THAT 100'S OF SA WERE MURDERED IN ONE NIGHT. Author Richard J. Evans states that at least 85 people were killed and more than 1000 were arrested. Ian Kershaw also cites the number of deaths at 85. Kershaw notes that "some estimates...put the total number killed at between 150 and 200." William L. Shirer writes in his Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, that "The White Book of the Purge, published by émigrés in Paris claims 401 deaths, but lists only 116 of them. At the 1957 trial in Munich the figure 'more than 1,000' was used." Both of those figures are much higher than the ones most historians of the period rely on, and that Shirer himself was not necessarily citing the figures as accurate, but was simply relaying them in his book. The most recent study on the matter lists by name 89 people who were definitely killed, as well as two other cases of whom it is unclear whether they were murdered during the events or slightly earlier or later.................................... WHERE ARE THE FACT CHECKERS AND EDITORS????? If I can find the data to contradict much of the book in an hour what was the publisher doing?????????? There may be a good explanation concerning the quality of this book. It was first published on April 14, 2022. Anne Perry died on April 10, 2023 at age 84. She suffered a heart attack in 2022, from which she never recovered. I blame the publisher and those who assisted Ms. Perry in her writing for allowing her last book to be such a disaster. Such a sad end to a life which included committing murder in her teens to selling over 26 million books and gaining respect as an author. Kristi & Abby Tabby
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2022
The most suspenseful book in the series to date.
August 30, 2022
Of all of Anne Perry’s series, currently this one featuring Elena Standish is my favorite. For those who don’t know she has also written books about Thomas and Charlotte Pitt and their son Daniel Pitt has his own series. In addition, there are the Monk books, the Christmas novellas, a WWI series and some standalones. Clearly, Ms. Perry is a busy novelist.
The Elena Standish stories take place in the lead up to WWII. The period is well portrayed. Elena has been the subject of four books and, in my opinion, they just keep getting better. Readers will admire Elena. She is brave but that does not mean that she is not scared; this makes her seem quite human.
In this entry, Elena is sent back to Berlin. It is a city where she previously faced great danger so she is aware of the high stakes. Her mission is to extract a scientist who has knowledge of and works in a germ war program. Will she be successful? As this is a series, readers read hoping for the best.
I enjoyed spending time with Elena and those around her. I especially like her paternal grandparents.
It was hard for me to read this novel without thinking about current events. The germ warfare plot may make readers think of Covid. Some of the ways in which Hitler is described will (sadly) remind some of U.S. politicians. I don’t know if this perspective was intentional on the author’s part but perhaps it was.
Those who enjoy books by authors like Susan Elia MacNeal are sure to like the Ella Standish novels. Best read in order but one could dip in anywhere.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Elena Standish stories take place in the lead up to WWII. The period is well portrayed. Elena has been the subject of four books and, in my opinion, they just keep getting better. Readers will admire Elena. She is brave but that does not mean that she is not scared; this makes her seem quite human.
In this entry, Elena is sent back to Berlin. It is a city where she previously faced great danger so she is aware of the high stakes. Her mission is to extract a scientist who has knowledge of and works in a germ war program. Will she be successful? As this is a series, readers read hoping for the best.
I enjoyed spending time with Elena and those around her. I especially like her paternal grandparents.
It was hard for me to read this novel without thinking about current events. The germ warfare plot may make readers think of Covid. Some of the ways in which Hitler is described will (sadly) remind some of U.S. politicians. I don’t know if this perspective was intentional on the author’s part but perhaps it was.
Those who enjoy books by authors like Susan Elia MacNeal are sure to like the Ella Standish novels. Best read in order but one could dip in anywhere.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine for this title. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2022
In this latest installment of the Elena Standish mysteries, the protagonist, with a new identity as Ellen Stewart, is being sent back into Germany to find and extricate one of Hitler’s scientists who is developing Germany’s germ warfare program. The story is set in 1934 as Hitler is on the ascendant and surrounded by his goons, Rohm, Goring, Goebbels, Himmler, and others who are all jockeying for power. There is a secondary story involving a young German Lieutenant, Hans Beckendorff, working under General Paulus who is looking to settle a long simmering embarrassment against Elena’s Grandfather, Lucas Standish, the former head of of Britain’s M16. Lots of players, lots of action, intrigue, soul searching and nail biting tension. Amidst the horrors of Hitler’s fanaticism, there are also people stepping up, making hard decisions, risking their lives to save others.
One of the aspects of Perry’s stories is that her characters are fallible and things don’t always go to plan. Mistakes are made and segues become the norm. If you are looking for a plan that goes off without a hitch, not happening. If you are expecting things to move in a linear direction with a perfect ending well we don’t always get what we want. As is so often the case, the ending is abrupt but leaving no doubt that we will see more of Elena Standish.
Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.
One of the aspects of Perry’s stories is that her characters are fallible and things don’t always go to plan. Mistakes are made and segues become the norm. If you are looking for a plan that goes off without a hitch, not happening. If you are expecting things to move in a linear direction with a perfect ending well we don’t always get what we want. As is so often the case, the ending is abrupt but leaving no doubt that we will see more of Elena Standish.
Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.
June 12, 2022
I have to admit that I’m always eagerly awaiting the next book from Anne Perry and I would have a hard time deciding which series I like best. This author has a great gift to slowly develop her characters so that you really get to know the person. Somebody you can relate to with their strength and weaknesses.
I do think it is best to read this series in order to get the full effect.
The time period is 1934. Elena is less than thrilled when requested to go Berlin and help a scientist leave Germany. With her last visit to Berlin when she narrowly escaped with her live still vivid in her mind she still feels it her duty to comply with the request. The tension in Berlin has intensified since her previous stay and it doesn’t take long for the assignment to turn into a bit of disaster.
Ending up in the middle of Hitler’s power struggle with the organizers of the Brown Shirts is complicating things.
Anne Perry does a great job portraying the feel of that time period in Germany. The mixed feelings the Germans have. Some see Hitler as their savior; others recognize the cruelty that is going on and try to distance themselves from what is happening.
Again this is a winner.
I do think it is best to read this series in order to get the full effect.
The time period is 1934. Elena is less than thrilled when requested to go Berlin and help a scientist leave Germany. With her last visit to Berlin when she narrowly escaped with her live still vivid in her mind she still feels it her duty to comply with the request. The tension in Berlin has intensified since her previous stay and it doesn’t take long for the assignment to turn into a bit of disaster.
Ending up in the middle of Hitler’s power struggle with the organizers of the Brown Shirts is complicating things.
Anne Perry does a great job portraying the feel of that time period in Germany. The mixed feelings the Germans have. Some see Hitler as their savior; others recognize the cruelty that is going on and try to distance themselves from what is happening.
Again this is a winner.
May 28, 2022
In this fourth installment of the Elena Standish series, the young spy returns to WWII-era Germany to rescue a scientist. It's hair-raising. Absolutely hair-raising. Even though I know this is "only" a story, my heart raced at every single car chase and airplane flight. I can't imagine being a spy.
Fortunately, Anne Perry can. I've been reading her books since the 1990s and she never disappoints.
Added to Elena's professional adventures are her matters of the heart. She is still beating herself up about falling in love with the wrong guy-- a traitor--several years before this story occurs.
As with all of Anne Perry's series I recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment.
You never know what's around the corner for Elena Standish so I'm looking forward to Book #5.
Fortunately, Anne Perry can. I've been reading her books since the 1990s and she never disappoints.
Added to Elena's professional adventures are her matters of the heart. She is still beating herself up about falling in love with the wrong guy-- a traitor--several years before this story occurs.
As with all of Anne Perry's series I recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment.
You never know what's around the corner for Elena Standish so I'm looking forward to Book #5.
June 17, 2023
I have enjoyed the other books in this series but found this one frustrating. Elena does not accomplish much on her mission; both men she is sent to get out of Germany end up dead. She seems I’ll-prepared for the mission she is sent on (as does her grandfather when he flies to Germany to see Paulus; both are supposedly well trained agents but go into dangerous situations with seemingly no plans!!). The ending felt very abrupt. Overall, I found this book to be a bit of a letdown and not nearly as well-written as other Anne Perry books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2024
Wow this was a very tense and exciting action of car chases and Hitler and death squads. This was happening in Germany before WWII. It's a really great written book, with spy's, Nazi's, and fugitive scientists, trying to get out Germany. I highly recommend this book.
October 20, 2024
-In an excellent 4th novel in the Elena Standish series which takes place in the early 1930’s after Hitler’s initial rise to power, Elena is given an assignment by the head of MI6, Peter Howard, which will take her back into Germany where she almost lost her life on a previous mission.
-The author has us follow not only Elena as she enters Germany where she’s still wanted by the authorities for murder, but another character, Hans Beckendorff, who is a member of the Gestapo, and works under a man very close to Hitler himself, General Johann Paulus. Hans is in an unusual situation. He’s a member of the Gestapo and loyal to Hitler, even meeting him and being praised by him, while his wife is the daughter of Roger and Winifred Cordell of England. Roger is the cultural attache at the British Embassy, while also being a member of MI6, and known by the Germans of that affiliation.
-In this story, the Germans are working on germ warfare and have supposedly made inroads due to the efforts of two men. One is Professor Hartwig, who is coming close to creating an antidote to certain viral strains, and the other is Professor Fassler, who is focusing on perfecting a particular viral strain so that it’s lethal to humans. Elena is tasked with getting Hartwig out while another agent, Alex Cooper, is tasked with spiriting Fassler out of the country. Because those two men are so important to the German war strategy, they’re heavily watched, and despite that, Elena, who we now follow, must devise a plan to escape the country with Hartwig and bring him over the German border.
-She is given a false name as she’s still wanted under her previous name. There are agents who are part of MI6 working in Berlin, and they are there to assist her, but the plans of escape must be her own. It’s apparent to her that she can’t do this on her own, and she reaches out to people that she knows she can trust. There are Jews who live in Berlin, and who are helping other Jews leave the country, and they had helped her before. She reaches out to them in order to locate a Jewish man that she knows will be able to guide her, as he knows the country well. His name is Jacob, and he’s a journalist who has been reporting on the deteriorating condition in Germany, but his knowledge of escape routes throughout the country is extensive.
-While she’s devising a plan with Jacob to get Hartwig out of the country, we follow Hans, as he gets involved more heavily with Hitler and is praised by Hitler for his loyalty to Hitler and his cause. Paulus, in particular, finds him very trustworthy and it’s at first, puzzling, considering the connection that he has through his wife to the Cordell family, who also happen to be friends with Margot Standish, Elena’s sister. We also learn that Lucas Standish, Elena’s grandfather and the former head of MI6, had seriously outwitted Paulus after The Great War, which resulted in many deaths on the German side and Paulus then being heavily demoted. Now that Paulus is again on the rise, he dreams on getting revenge against Lucas Standish and the British for what he went through, and Hans wonders if it’s Hans’ connection to the Cordells, and through them, Lucas Standish, that makes Paulus put Hans in high regard.
-The juxtaposing of what Hans goes through with doing Hitler’s bidding, some of which is horrible to Hans’ sense of right and wrong, along with the troubles that Elena experiences as she meets with many impasses as she tries to execute her plans of escape with Hartwig, make for tense moments on both fronts. The difficulty of a successful escape by Elena with Hartwig seems to grow as time passes and the alert goes out by the German authorities of the Professor’s disappearance. As for Hans, his worst fears come true and he’s drawn more heavily into the killing spree that Hitler has orchestrated to rid himself of rivals.
-Although this whole series is excellent, this is probably one of the better stories in the series. The many problems that the main characters encounter and their responses make this a very exciting novel in the series.
-The author has us follow not only Elena as she enters Germany where she’s still wanted by the authorities for murder, but another character, Hans Beckendorff, who is a member of the Gestapo, and works under a man very close to Hitler himself, General Johann Paulus. Hans is in an unusual situation. He’s a member of the Gestapo and loyal to Hitler, even meeting him and being praised by him, while his wife is the daughter of Roger and Winifred Cordell of England. Roger is the cultural attache at the British Embassy, while also being a member of MI6, and known by the Germans of that affiliation.
-In this story, the Germans are working on germ warfare and have supposedly made inroads due to the efforts of two men. One is Professor Hartwig, who is coming close to creating an antidote to certain viral strains, and the other is Professor Fassler, who is focusing on perfecting a particular viral strain so that it’s lethal to humans. Elena is tasked with getting Hartwig out while another agent, Alex Cooper, is tasked with spiriting Fassler out of the country. Because those two men are so important to the German war strategy, they’re heavily watched, and despite that, Elena, who we now follow, must devise a plan to escape the country with Hartwig and bring him over the German border.
-She is given a false name as she’s still wanted under her previous name. There are agents who are part of MI6 working in Berlin, and they are there to assist her, but the plans of escape must be her own. It’s apparent to her that she can’t do this on her own, and she reaches out to people that she knows she can trust. There are Jews who live in Berlin, and who are helping other Jews leave the country, and they had helped her before. She reaches out to them in order to locate a Jewish man that she knows will be able to guide her, as he knows the country well. His name is Jacob, and he’s a journalist who has been reporting on the deteriorating condition in Germany, but his knowledge of escape routes throughout the country is extensive.
-While she’s devising a plan with Jacob to get Hartwig out of the country, we follow Hans, as he gets involved more heavily with Hitler and is praised by Hitler for his loyalty to Hitler and his cause. Paulus, in particular, finds him very trustworthy and it’s at first, puzzling, considering the connection that he has through his wife to the Cordell family, who also happen to be friends with Margot Standish, Elena’s sister. We also learn that Lucas Standish, Elena’s grandfather and the former head of MI6, had seriously outwitted Paulus after The Great War, which resulted in many deaths on the German side and Paulus then being heavily demoted. Now that Paulus is again on the rise, he dreams on getting revenge against Lucas Standish and the British for what he went through, and Hans wonders if it’s Hans’ connection to the Cordells, and through them, Lucas Standish, that makes Paulus put Hans in high regard.
-The juxtaposing of what Hans goes through with doing Hitler’s bidding, some of which is horrible to Hans’ sense of right and wrong, along with the troubles that Elena experiences as she meets with many impasses as she tries to execute her plans of escape with Hartwig, make for tense moments on both fronts. The difficulty of a successful escape by Elena with Hartwig seems to grow as time passes and the alert goes out by the German authorities of the Professor’s disappearance. As for Hans, his worst fears come true and he’s drawn more heavily into the killing spree that Hitler has orchestrated to rid himself of rivals.
-Although this whole series is excellent, this is probably one of the better stories in the series. The many problems that the main characters encounter and their responses make this a very exciting novel in the series.
October 1, 2022
Readers of Anne Perry’s series featuring Elena Standish have seen her transform from a young photographer to one of the most valuable recruits of Britain’s MI6. Her latest adventure, A TRUTH TO LIE FOR, is set just prior to the onset of WWII as Hitler’s Germany is on the verge of becoming the evil powerhouse that will threaten Europe and the rest of the world.
Peter Howard, who personally brought Elena under the wing of MI6, calls her into his office to discuss a mission that will be the most dangerous of her career thus far. He needs her to go to Germany and help extract someone from Berlin. Hartwig is one of two scientists who have made breakthroughs in the area of germ warfare, which could allow Germany to dominate in any skirmish and pose an enormous threat to its citizens. Another agent, Alex Cooper, will try to take down the other scientist, Fassler.
Traveling under the name Ellen Stewart, Elena is more than happy to do whatever she can for her country and for MI6. Peter actually discusses the mission with Elena’s grandfather (and the former head of MI6), Lucas, and they recognize that it might be more difficult to catch Fassler because he’s a Jew. Peter wisely states, “So many German Jews think of themselves as being completely assimilated in the German culture. German first and Jewish second.” He also notes that this could be a fatal mistake.
The second plot line running through A TRUTH TO LIE FOR involves Hans Beckendorff, a young German soldier who works directly for one of Hitler’s most trusted colleagues, General Paulus. Hans has dynamic ideas about how to ferret out those who are disloyal to the Führer, and his tactics are not only followed but also welcomed by Hitler himself. Hans, however, is savvy enough to figure out that he was selected for this mission not because of his abilities or his loyalty to Hitler and Germany, but mainly because his father-in-law is the British Ambassador stationed in Germany. The writing on the wall for Hans’ future is apparent to him, and he must figure out just how far he is willing to stay in his current role while having second thoughts about Hitler and the direction that his country may be taking.
Elena lands in Germany and is set to meet up with various assets who are prepared to assist her --- Dieter, who is working at the hotel where she is staying, and a German Jew named Jacob, who will help her track down Hartwig. They are successful in finding their target, and he is open to going with them if it means he can get out of Germany. However, it will not be easy for them to move around, especially when they get caught directly in the crosshairs of the uprising that comes to be known as the Night of the Long Knives, in which allegedly traitorous members of the German Brownshirts are brought down by Hitler and his men.
The blending of these two storylines works unbelievably well. This time, Elena Standish takes a backseat (which is not necessarily a bad thing) to Hans Beckendorff, who firmly picks up the mantle as the tale’s moral center. The result is a novel that is at times unbearably suspenseful, especially when Hans makes a stand in a big way, and the political intrigue and spy games feel as if Brad Thor was writing the text. Kudos to Anne Perry, who never disappoints and continues to surprise readers with a number of tricks up her sleeve in a story that pushes the envelope and succeeds on nearly every level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Peter Howard, who personally brought Elena under the wing of MI6, calls her into his office to discuss a mission that will be the most dangerous of her career thus far. He needs her to go to Germany and help extract someone from Berlin. Hartwig is one of two scientists who have made breakthroughs in the area of germ warfare, which could allow Germany to dominate in any skirmish and pose an enormous threat to its citizens. Another agent, Alex Cooper, will try to take down the other scientist, Fassler.
Traveling under the name Ellen Stewart, Elena is more than happy to do whatever she can for her country and for MI6. Peter actually discusses the mission with Elena’s grandfather (and the former head of MI6), Lucas, and they recognize that it might be more difficult to catch Fassler because he’s a Jew. Peter wisely states, “So many German Jews think of themselves as being completely assimilated in the German culture. German first and Jewish second.” He also notes that this could be a fatal mistake.
The second plot line running through A TRUTH TO LIE FOR involves Hans Beckendorff, a young German soldier who works directly for one of Hitler’s most trusted colleagues, General Paulus. Hans has dynamic ideas about how to ferret out those who are disloyal to the Führer, and his tactics are not only followed but also welcomed by Hitler himself. Hans, however, is savvy enough to figure out that he was selected for this mission not because of his abilities or his loyalty to Hitler and Germany, but mainly because his father-in-law is the British Ambassador stationed in Germany. The writing on the wall for Hans’ future is apparent to him, and he must figure out just how far he is willing to stay in his current role while having second thoughts about Hitler and the direction that his country may be taking.
Elena lands in Germany and is set to meet up with various assets who are prepared to assist her --- Dieter, who is working at the hotel where she is staying, and a German Jew named Jacob, who will help her track down Hartwig. They are successful in finding their target, and he is open to going with them if it means he can get out of Germany. However, it will not be easy for them to move around, especially when they get caught directly in the crosshairs of the uprising that comes to be known as the Night of the Long Knives, in which allegedly traitorous members of the German Brownshirts are brought down by Hitler and his men.
The blending of these two storylines works unbelievably well. This time, Elena Standish takes a backseat (which is not necessarily a bad thing) to Hans Beckendorff, who firmly picks up the mantle as the tale’s moral center. The result is a novel that is at times unbearably suspenseful, especially when Hans makes a stand in a big way, and the political intrigue and spy games feel as if Brad Thor was writing the text. Kudos to Anne Perry, who never disappoints and continues to surprise readers with a number of tricks up her sleeve in a story that pushes the envelope and succeeds on nearly every level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
October 1, 2022
Readers of Anne Perry’s series featuring Elena Standish have seen her transform from a young photographer to one of the most valuable recruits of Britain’s MI6. Her latest adventure, A TRUTH TO LIE FOR, is set just prior to the onset of WWII as Hitler’s Germany is on the verge of becoming the evil powerhouse that will threaten Europe and the rest of the world.
Peter Howard, who personally brought Elena under the wing of MI6, calls her into his office to discuss a mission that will be the most dangerous of her career thus far. He needs her to go to Germany and help extract someone from Berlin. Hartwig is one of two scientists who have made breakthroughs in the area of germ warfare, which could allow Germany to dominate in any skirmish and pose an enormous threat to its citizens. Another agent, Alex Cooper, will try to take down the other scientist, Fassler.
Traveling under the name Ellen Stewart, Elena is more than happy to do whatever she can for her country and for MI6. Peter actually discusses the mission with Elena’s grandfather (and the former head of MI6), Lucas, and they recognize that it might be more difficult to catch Fassler because he’s a Jew. Peter wisely states, “So many German Jews think of themselves as being completely assimilated in the German culture. German first and Jewish second.” He also notes that this could be a fatal mistake.
The second plot line running through A TRUTH TO LIE FOR involves Hans Beckendorff, a young German soldier who works directly for one of Hitler’s most trusted colleagues, General Paulus. Hans has dynamic ideas about how to ferret out those who are disloyal to the Führer, and his tactics are not only followed but also welcomed by Hitler himself. Hans, however, is savvy enough to figure out that he was selected for this mission not because of his abilities or his loyalty to Hitler and Germany, but mainly because his father-in-law is the British Ambassador stationed in Germany. The writing on the wall for Hans’ future is apparent to him, and he must figure out just how far he is willing to stay in his current role while having second thoughts about Hitler and the direction that his country may be taking.
Elena lands in Germany and is set to meet up with various assets who are prepared to assist her --- Dieter, who is working at the hotel where she is staying, and a German Jew named Jacob, who will help her track down Hartwig. They are successful in finding their target, and he is open to going with them if it means he can get out of Germany. However, it will not be easy for them to move around, especially when they get caught directly in the crosshairs of the uprising that comes to be known as the Night of the Long Knives, in which allegedly traitorous members of the German Brownshirts are brought down by Hitler and his men.
The blending of these two storylines works unbelievably well. This time, Elena Standish takes a backseat (which is not necessarily a bad thing) to Hans Beckendorff, who firmly picks up the mantle as the tale’s moral center. The result is a novel that is at times unbearably suspenseful, especially when Hans makes a stand in a big way, and the political intrigue and spy games feel as if Brad Thor was writing the text. Kudos to Anne Perry, who never disappoints and continues to surprise readers with a number of tricks up her sleeve in a story that pushes the envelope and succeeds on nearly every level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Peter Howard, who personally brought Elena under the wing of MI6, calls her into his office to discuss a mission that will be the most dangerous of her career thus far. He needs her to go to Germany and help extract someone from Berlin. Hartwig is one of two scientists who have made breakthroughs in the area of germ warfare, which could allow Germany to dominate in any skirmish and pose an enormous threat to its citizens. Another agent, Alex Cooper, will try to take down the other scientist, Fassler.
Traveling under the name Ellen Stewart, Elena is more than happy to do whatever she can for her country and for MI6. Peter actually discusses the mission with Elena’s grandfather (and the former head of MI6), Lucas, and they recognize that it might be more difficult to catch Fassler because he’s a Jew. Peter wisely states, “So many German Jews think of themselves as being completely assimilated in the German culture. German first and Jewish second.” He also notes that this could be a fatal mistake.
The second plot line running through A TRUTH TO LIE FOR involves Hans Beckendorff, a young German soldier who works directly for one of Hitler’s most trusted colleagues, General Paulus. Hans has dynamic ideas about how to ferret out those who are disloyal to the Führer, and his tactics are not only followed but also welcomed by Hitler himself. Hans, however, is savvy enough to figure out that he was selected for this mission not because of his abilities or his loyalty to Hitler and Germany, but mainly because his father-in-law is the British Ambassador stationed in Germany. The writing on the wall for Hans’ future is apparent to him, and he must figure out just how far he is willing to stay in his current role while having second thoughts about Hitler and the direction that his country may be taking.
Elena lands in Germany and is set to meet up with various assets who are prepared to assist her --- Dieter, who is working at the hotel where she is staying, and a German Jew named Jacob, who will help her track down Hartwig. They are successful in finding their target, and he is open to going with them if it means he can get out of Germany. However, it will not be easy for them to move around, especially when they get caught directly in the crosshairs of the uprising that comes to be known as the Night of the Long Knives, in which allegedly traitorous members of the German Brownshirts are brought down by Hitler and his men.
The blending of these two storylines works unbelievably well. This time, Elena Standish takes a backseat (which is not necessarily a bad thing) to Hans Beckendorff, who firmly picks up the mantle as the tale’s moral center. The result is a novel that is at times unbearably suspenseful, especially when Hans makes a stand in a big way, and the political intrigue and spy games feel as if Brad Thor was writing the text. Kudos to Anne Perry, who never disappoints and continues to surprise readers with a number of tricks up her sleeve in a story that pushes the envelope and succeeds on nearly every level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
November 20, 2022
Another entry in the Elena Standish series which has been okay for me. I much prefer the Daniel Pitt series. But anyway, less a mystery more a spy thriller and though full of suspense to keep readers engaged Elena just seems stuck like she's not really learning from her mistakes and coasting on her family name. She's sent to Berlin again to get a scientist, Hartwig, working of germ warfare out, while another spy is getting his counterpart, Fassler, out. She's sent because she's the best. If she's their best I'm amazed our side won the war. I mean the mission in this book was a double failure. Maybe she'd be better off decoding at Bletchley since hands on spying is going so poorly for her? In order to get Hartwig out of Germany she gets a car and her old friend Jacob to help drive them out and he is shot and killed as they speed away from a roadblock. Then she's are given another asked to get the second man Fassler out after his agent was injured. This time they try driving again and when the police show up they find a farm that convientley has a farmer who's friends with Jacob. He also just happens to have a plane handy that's gassed up and surprise Jacob can fly it and despite being a basic biplane it can fit three adults in. How perfect for them. The plane runs out of gas just before they get to Denmark and Fassler dies in the crash making Elena 2 for 2 on failing her mission. Thought she was the best? Hoped to see some growth in her but I see very little from the Elena from book one. The best part of the book was the secondary plotline involving the son in law of Roger Cordell. Hans is a Gestopo officer under Paulus who is one of Hitler's top men. Paulus is an enemy of Lucas Elena's grandfather. Lucas goes to Berlin following the infamous Night of the Long Knives to kill Paulus. Instead Paulus has Hans bring Lucas to him and threatens to kill Hans' wife and baby if he doesn't kill Lucas in front of him. Hans ends up shooting Paulus instead and flees with his family to England. Hans showed more growth and maturity in this book than Elena has the entire series. I wonder how the top brass will look at Elena after the double failure of this mission. Maybe Elena is only seen as the best because a lot of the Nazis are shown as sort of Hogan's Heroes types when they most definitely were not. I'll stick with the series but I wish it was the sister not Elena who was the spy since she seems to have the common sense and maturity her little sister continues to lack.
June 26, 2025
A suspenseful espionage novel, set before WW2. It's the 4th in the series, and some of the background may have made more sense if I'd read the prior books, but this did well as a stand-alone.
Elena's given the job of getting a top-ranking scientist out of Germany before Hitler makes him complete his work on germ warfare.
I enjoyed all the characters in this - Jacob's humor, several characters' dedication and sacrifice. I even unexpectedly liked one character who made an unpredictable choice. Several of them were quick-thinking on their feet.
I could feel Elena's grief over how some of these events happened.
It is interesting to me that two of these characters each separately chose to take a single favorite book with them on these perilous trips. If you had to take one book with you, but abandon the rest, what would you take? For one of them, it was Dante's "Inferno" and for the other it was Chesterton's "The Ballad of the White Horse."
Elena seemed to trip an awful lot.
I felt Elena had a weak motive to return to Berlin when she did. I don't know why she particularly had to report to Dieter rather than leave the country just then.
"He was wise enough and seasoned enough to understand that his life in itself was not valuable. The value came in what he could accomplish with it."
I disagree. I would say life has inherent value, even without anything we accomplish, but we can add value to it by what we do. We are valuable to those people who love us for simply existing, and we are valuable to the God Who made us, Who put His divine imprint on us that we are made in His own image. That gives our lives inherent value. We can do more with our lives, but we cannot take that value from them.
I've seen this attitude before in other Anne Perry books, the devaluing of human life to the point that sometimes even the "good" guys take lives unnecessarily, more blatant than perhaps in this story.
There are some chilling parallels, but as too many people claim parallels that are only distantly weak, that's probably enough said about that.
Favorite quotes:
"Why was he orchestrating such terror?"
~ "believed it was because there was such fear in his own soul."
"He needed her to love him, he needed it desperately, because he did not love himself."
Elena's given the job of getting a top-ranking scientist out of Germany before Hitler makes him complete his work on germ warfare.
I enjoyed all the characters in this - Jacob's humor, several characters' dedication and sacrifice. I even unexpectedly liked one character who made an unpredictable choice. Several of them were quick-thinking on their feet.
I could feel Elena's grief over how some of these events happened.
It is interesting to me that two of these characters each separately chose to take a single favorite book with them on these perilous trips. If you had to take one book with you, but abandon the rest, what would you take? For one of them, it was Dante's "Inferno" and for the other it was Chesterton's "The Ballad of the White Horse."
Elena seemed to trip an awful lot.
I felt Elena had a weak motive to return to Berlin when she did. I don't know why she particularly had to report to Dieter rather than leave the country just then.
"He was wise enough and seasoned enough to understand that his life in itself was not valuable. The value came in what he could accomplish with it."
I disagree. I would say life has inherent value, even without anything we accomplish, but we can add value to it by what we do. We are valuable to those people who love us for simply existing, and we are valuable to the God Who made us, Who put His divine imprint on us that we are made in His own image. That gives our lives inherent value. We can do more with our lives, but we cannot take that value from them.
I've seen this attitude before in other Anne Perry books, the devaluing of human life to the point that sometimes even the "good" guys take lives unnecessarily, more blatant than perhaps in this story.
There are some chilling parallels, but as too many people claim parallels that are only distantly weak, that's probably enough said about that.
Favorite quotes:
"Why was he orchestrating such terror?"
~ "believed it was because there was such fear in his own soul."
"He needed her to love him, he needed it desperately, because he did not love himself."
September 19, 2022
Elena Standish’s grandfather was the head of MI6 during WWI. Following in his footsteps, she is now an intelligence operative as Hitler has risen to power in 1934. Her current assignment takes her to Berlin, where she needs to extract one of two scientists who have been working on germ warfare. While one has been developing the weapon, Hartwig has been working on the antidote. Another operative will extract the second scientist while Elena extracts Hartwig. Once she arrives in Berlin, she realizes that her time is limited and she will need help. On a past assignment she had been saved by Jacob, a Jewish American journalist, who may be her only hope to now succeed.
Paulus is a Gestapo officer who oversees the chemical weapon’s development and has access to Hitler. His subordinate is Hans Breckendorff, a new father who is married to the daughter of the British cultural attaché. While Paulus may sometimes praise Hans, he is cold, calculating and using him as the fall guy if his actions displease Hitler. Hans is flattered at first, but soon realizes that his position may be putting his family in danger.
As Elena, Jacob and Hartwig flee Berlin, the safest place to hide may be in Germany, an unexpected choice. Pausing for rest in Munich, they find themselves in the center of the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler’s purge of Rohm and his followers. The raid in Munich is the result of Hans’ investigation of officers’ loyalties. While Anne Perry��s A Truth to Lie For follows two separate stories, it is Paulus who ties them together. While Elena fears discovery after her previous assignment, she must prevent Paulus from developing his weapon. Hans must also decide what is right when faced with Paulus’ threats. This is the fourth entry in the Elena Standish series and fans will be happy to see her return. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing this book for my review.
Paulus is a Gestapo officer who oversees the chemical weapon’s development and has access to Hitler. His subordinate is Hans Breckendorff, a new father who is married to the daughter of the British cultural attaché. While Paulus may sometimes praise Hans, he is cold, calculating and using him as the fall guy if his actions displease Hitler. Hans is flattered at first, but soon realizes that his position may be putting his family in danger.
As Elena, Jacob and Hartwig flee Berlin, the safest place to hide may be in Germany, an unexpected choice. Pausing for rest in Munich, they find themselves in the center of the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler’s purge of Rohm and his followers. The raid in Munich is the result of Hans’ investigation of officers’ loyalties. While Anne Perry��s A Truth to Lie For follows two separate stories, it is Paulus who ties them together. While Elena fears discovery after her previous assignment, she must prevent Paulus from developing his weapon. Hans must also decide what is right when faced with Paulus’ threats. This is the fourth entry in the Elena Standish series and fans will be happy to see her return. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing this book for my review.
September 22, 2022
I’m Hooked. “A Truth to Lie For” is gripping, suspenseful, and unputdownable.
“A Truth to Lie For” by Anne Perry is the fourth book in the Elena Standish series, but it works as a standalone.
This is historical thriller with plenty of suspense and mystery thrown into the mix. The story takes place in 1934, and Elena is an MI6 agent sent to Germany to smuggle a German scientists out of the county. There are two scientists who want to escape. Their research is horrendous and terrifying.
Perry uses multiple points of view. The one I found intriguing was Hans Beckendorff, a young Gestapo captain, who plays a major role in “The Night of the Long Knives” which established Hitler and allowed him to consolidate his power in Germany.
What I liked:
This story is a slow burn. One of those tales that sets up several story lines then builds and builds the tension and suspense until you are on the edge of your seat, reading until two am. (Yep, I confess.)
After experiencing a worldwide pandemic, I found the possibility of germ warfare terrifying. Most of the characters, even the German scientists, risk their lives to prevent massive destruction.
The reader gets a peek inside the German mindset. Hans and others see Hitler as a savior, bringing order and respect to Germany. I found this point of view at once understandable, naïve, and disturbing.
Perry pulls off several surprising twists that made me think, “Yeah, that’s how it should be.”
What I wasn’t crazy about:
I enjoyed this book and don’t have any dislikes. The narrative grabbed me on page one.
If you haven’t read other books in the Elena Standish series, I’d suggest giving this a try or you could start with the first book. Since this book was my entry into the series, I plan on reading the others.
If you like your thriller to start out action packed, the beginning is slow paced as Perry sets up the characters and events. I think this makes the suspense stronger.
If you like historical thrillers, this is excellent.
A big thank you to NetGalley for an ACR copy of Anne Perry’s “A Truth to Lie For.”
“A Truth to Lie For” by Anne Perry is the fourth book in the Elena Standish series, but it works as a standalone.
This is historical thriller with plenty of suspense and mystery thrown into the mix. The story takes place in 1934, and Elena is an MI6 agent sent to Germany to smuggle a German scientists out of the county. There are two scientists who want to escape. Their research is horrendous and terrifying.
Perry uses multiple points of view. The one I found intriguing was Hans Beckendorff, a young Gestapo captain, who plays a major role in “The Night of the Long Knives” which established Hitler and allowed him to consolidate his power in Germany.
What I liked:
This story is a slow burn. One of those tales that sets up several story lines then builds and builds the tension and suspense until you are on the edge of your seat, reading until two am. (Yep, I confess.)
After experiencing a worldwide pandemic, I found the possibility of germ warfare terrifying. Most of the characters, even the German scientists, risk their lives to prevent massive destruction.
The reader gets a peek inside the German mindset. Hans and others see Hitler as a savior, bringing order and respect to Germany. I found this point of view at once understandable, naïve, and disturbing.
Perry pulls off several surprising twists that made me think, “Yeah, that’s how it should be.”
What I wasn’t crazy about:
I enjoyed this book and don’t have any dislikes. The narrative grabbed me on page one.
If you haven’t read other books in the Elena Standish series, I’d suggest giving this a try or you could start with the first book. Since this book was my entry into the series, I plan on reading the others.
If you like your thriller to start out action packed, the beginning is slow paced as Perry sets up the characters and events. I think this makes the suspense stronger.
If you like historical thrillers, this is excellent.
A big thank you to NetGalley for an ACR copy of Anne Perry’s “A Truth to Lie For.”
August 13, 2022
A young English spy, Elena Standish began working for MI6 in the 1933 as Hitler grabs more and more power and Europe teeters toward war. In "A Truth to Lie For" Elena is sent back to Berlin to extract a German scientist from under the Nazis' noses. Understandably apprehensive, Elena barely escaped with her life after her last visit to Berlin. Since then, she's had three more assignments, gaining confidence and skills, but still understands her limited experience means she relies on emotion too often.
Other characters who were introduced in previous books make appearances, but without the cozy family feel of earlier books in the series. Instead, Perry gives a deep look at the rising tension in Berlin and Hitler's power struggle with Rohm and the other leaders of the Brown Shirts. In a secondary storyline, Hans Breckendorff, a young officer in the Gestapo who married a Standish family childhood friend, is coerced to prove his loyalty by his boss who heads the Nazi intelligence section.
With her strong characters, Perry helps her readers understand how people can become enamored with charismatic leaders to the point that they ignore the danger of granting absolute power. Working to prevent Germany from advancing germ warfare, Elena gets caught up in aftermath of the Night of the Long Knives (when Hitler massacres the Brown Shirt leadership). Forced to improvise as she goes, she fights to protect her allies and fulfill her mission.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy. I enjoyed "A Truth to Lie For," especially Perry's deep dive into the political scene of Germany between the two world wars. But I was disappointed that Perry didn't wrap up the storylines. Instead, we are left waiting for the next installment.
Other characters who were introduced in previous books make appearances, but without the cozy family feel of earlier books in the series. Instead, Perry gives a deep look at the rising tension in Berlin and Hitler's power struggle with Rohm and the other leaders of the Brown Shirts. In a secondary storyline, Hans Breckendorff, a young officer in the Gestapo who married a Standish family childhood friend, is coerced to prove his loyalty by his boss who heads the Nazi intelligence section.
With her strong characters, Perry helps her readers understand how people can become enamored with charismatic leaders to the point that they ignore the danger of granting absolute power. Working to prevent Germany from advancing germ warfare, Elena gets caught up in aftermath of the Night of the Long Knives (when Hitler massacres the Brown Shirt leadership). Forced to improvise as she goes, she fights to protect her allies and fulfill her mission.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy. I enjoyed "A Truth to Lie For," especially Perry's deep dive into the political scene of Germany between the two world wars. But I was disappointed that Perry didn't wrap up the storylines. Instead, we are left waiting for the next installment.
August 15, 2022
Elena Standish works for MI6, which her grandfather Lucus used to head. She is now being asked to go to Nazi Germany to bring out a germ warfare scientist, Hartwig. Her colleague Cooper will be bringing a second scientist Fassler, who is a Jew. Meanwhile, in Berlin, the daughter of British Ambassador, Cordwell, is married to an SS man, Hans, and they have just had a new baby, Madeleine. Hans works for Paulus, a rabid Nazi who had run into some problems with Lucus after WWI. Hans has been presented to Hitler by Paulus, but it isn't clear whether Paulus has been protecting himself or helping Hans. However, they do tell Hitler than they need to do something about the brown shirts.
Elena arrives in Berlin and meets her contact (who is acting as a bell hop), and manages to find Jacob, the American journalist who had helped her the previous year, and he agrees to help her. Jacob finds a car with Elena's money, and they manage to get Hartwig and get away from Berlin and go for Munich. Unfortunately, there is a huge group of brown shirts there at their hotel, and Hans and Paulus are there to arrest and or kill many of them. Elena, Jacob, and Hartwig get separated for awhile, but eventually get out of Munich. As they are about to leave a road block someone recognizes Hartwig. They shoot at the car as it races away. When Jacob finally manages to get hidden away, they find that Hartwig had been hit and was dead in the back seat. They hide his body in the woods and decide to go back to Berlin, where they are told that Cooper has been badly injured and Elena now needs to get Fassler out. Meanwhile, Hans makes a quick and dangerous decision which puts him and his family in extreme danger.
The book is filled with excitement, danger, and heroism. It is a great addition to the series!
Elena arrives in Berlin and meets her contact (who is acting as a bell hop), and manages to find Jacob, the American journalist who had helped her the previous year, and he agrees to help her. Jacob finds a car with Elena's money, and they manage to get Hartwig and get away from Berlin and go for Munich. Unfortunately, there is a huge group of brown shirts there at their hotel, and Hans and Paulus are there to arrest and or kill many of them. Elena, Jacob, and Hartwig get separated for awhile, but eventually get out of Munich. As they are about to leave a road block someone recognizes Hartwig. They shoot at the car as it races away. When Jacob finally manages to get hidden away, they find that Hartwig had been hit and was dead in the back seat. They hide his body in the woods and decide to go back to Berlin, where they are told that Cooper has been badly injured and Elena now needs to get Fassler out. Meanwhile, Hans makes a quick and dangerous decision which puts him and his family in extreme danger.
The book is filled with excitement, danger, and heroism. It is a great addition to the series!
Read
September 19, 2022A Truth to Lie For by Anne Perry is another of Perry’s Elena Standish stories surrounding British spying during World War II. Elena is still very inexperienced and in some ways that benefits her when the higher-ups are selecting someone for a mission. This time her innocence and blonde hair are definitely in her favor. The mission is to take a scientist out of Germany. He is instrumental in developing germ warfare, which is a problem, and he wants out. Elena is to make contact and figure out a way to get him out. Her contact is a porter at the hotel at which she is staying, and he will get her to the target, then she is on her own. She knew what she had to do. She contacted Jacob, a reporter who had helped her the last time she was in Berlin, to see if he could get her an untraceable car. Then they could be on their way, hopefully before the Nazis noticed they were gone.
This is a good series, although this is not the best of the books in the series. Many of the things that happened were unreal and painted the Nazis as stupid rather than the reality. The mission did not end well, but Elena got home all in one piece. She is an excellent character, well-written and intelligent. Her grandfather, Lucas, was also in this story, and visited Berlin precipitating a second storyline. The general plot was good, with the Lucas’ portion of the story ringing true. It was Elena’s journeys that didn’t ring true. It was, however, an entertaining story, full of interesting characters and the opportunities to get to know them.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC Of A Truth to Lie For by Ballantine, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Ballantine #AnnePerry #ATruthToLieFor
This is a good series, although this is not the best of the books in the series. Many of the things that happened were unreal and painted the Nazis as stupid rather than the reality. The mission did not end well, but Elena got home all in one piece. She is an excellent character, well-written and intelligent. Her grandfather, Lucas, was also in this story, and visited Berlin precipitating a second storyline. The general plot was good, with the Lucas’ portion of the story ringing true. It was Elena’s journeys that didn’t ring true. It was, however, an entertaining story, full of interesting characters and the opportunities to get to know them.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC Of A Truth to Lie For by Ballantine, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Ballantine #AnnePerry #ATruthToLieFor
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews