Greetings, fellow Audiophiles!
Welcome to my new column of musings about the audiobooks I’ve been listening to each week!
This week I finally got around to starting A Truth to Lie For, the fourth and latest Elena Standish book by Anne Perry. My problem? I didn’t remember enough of the prior three books to be able even to remember the basic premise of the series. So, I decided there was nothing to do but to listen to the first three books all over again. It was well worth the extra 35 1/2 hours. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and excitement that came with listening to 45 1/2 hours straight of Elena Standish!
This series takes place in the early years of 1930s Europe with the shadow of the Second World War looming large. It is the most recent of Perry’s several series of historical mysteries; the author is particularly known for her multiple series set during different times during the nearly 64 years of the reign of Queen Victoria.
Elena Standish
In the Elena Standish series, as Hitler takes power in Germany the rest of Europe hopes that if they just ignore the problem of a militarized Germany that Hitler will just go away. Only a few wary people seen in England as “warmongers” get prepared, including Lucas Standish, former head of British military intelligence, known as MI6.
Death in Focus: Book 1
The series starts with Death in Focus, centered around professional photographer Elena Standish. Elena happens to be the granddaughter of Lucas Standish, though she doesn’t know Lucas’s alter identity connected to MI6. The discovery of a murder leads to a mad dash across Europe, more murders, treachery, a frenetic book burning in Berlin, and the start of openly sanctioned Jewish oppression, culminating in a tense escape from Germany.
A Question of Betrayal: Book 2
A Question of Betrayal sees Elena face her dark past when she gets sent to retrieve an important MI6 agent in Italy.
A Darker Reality: Book 3
Elena and her parents visit the United States for her maternal grandparents’ 60th anniversary in A Darker Reality. In the midst of the gala, a fellow guest gets murdered, and Elena’s American grandfather gets arrested for the crime. In order to free her grandfather from jail, Elena ends up having to investigate the murder to find the real killer, a job fraught with danger and opposition from many.
A Truth to Lie For: Book 4
In the most recent book of the series, A Truth to Lie For, Elena returns to Germany to help a scientist escape the country, both to keep his research on germ warfare out of the hands of the Nazis and to preserve the man, a Jew, from the abuse at the hands of the Nazis.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books by Anne Perry that I have listened to, and the Elena Standish series stands out to me as being especially exciting and full of drama in addition to being strong historical mysteries. Lately, the genre of historical fiction has been full of books set between the two world wars and during World War II. I consider the Elena Standish series to be among the best. The books contain plenty of historical detail to set the scene for us. I even learned some details from history that I wasn’t familiar with. In addition, these books contain the plot twists that Perry is so skilled at creating, and that keeps listeners on the edge of our seats.
Susan Lyons: Audiobook Performer
Before I wrap up my week’s musings, I must write about the audio performance. Susan Lyons brings this audiobook series to life using a mixture of effective techniques. She performs characters from various regions, giving them realistic accents. Lyons also utilizes a wide range of energy and timing, sometimes slowing down her performance to give listeners the feeling that she is holding back while also creating a sense of suspense. Lyons gives a strong performance in making this series of audiobooks even more exciting than merely reading it on one’s own would do.
And now, having listened to the four books in the Elena Standish series and being reminded just how much I love the books by Anne Perry, I predict that we shall soon have a marathon of these delightful historical fiction mysteries. Fellow audiophiles, come join me on my journey through the Victorian era with William Monk and Hester Latterly next!
