Death in Focus

“Readers who love historical mysteries know that some of the most dramatic stories are set in the interim between the two world wars. . . . Anne Perry stakes a strong claim to that unstable terrain in Death in Focus.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Perry is a master of the British historical novel, this time leaving the Victorian era behind and delving into a new, but volatile century. . . . Elena Standish . . . promises to be a heroine of the first order.”—New York Journal of Books

“This tale of love, danger, betrayal and murder keeps you turning pages to the last astonishing paragraph. Elena Standish is intriguing—in a world fast turning upside down, she is resourceful, brave, and achingly real as she encounters a Germany marching toward world war. Death in Focus is the debut of another great Perry series. Her best yet? You decide!” —Charles Todd, author of The Black Ascot

“[Anne Perry] has found the perfect time period to showcase a family’s impassioned defense of democracy and social justice in the face of rising totalitarianism. . . . Obvious comparisons to Charles Todd’s Bess Crawford and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs are warranted, but this novel also hearkens back to Helen MacInnes’s classic spy thrillers and Mary Stewart’s romantic suspense novels. At turns heartbreaking and action-packed, this gripping and superbly written story proves Perry still has what it takes.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Readers will root for the forceful, independent Elena, who will appeal to Maisie Dobbs fans. Perry knows how to ratchet up the international intrigue. . . . [A] promising series launch.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Elena’s many narrow escapes and Perry’s immersive re-creation of Nazi-era Europe will keep readers enthralled by this series debut. The numerous characters working behind the scenes both for and against Elena—her beloved grandfather, for example, who is the former head of MI6—are well drawn, but it is the smart, gritty heroine herself who will ensure that readers eagerly anticipate the next in the series.”—Booklist

“Death in Focus, the start of a new series, is reminiscent of works by Eric Ambler and Graham Greene. Cameo appearances by historical figures including Winston Churchill and Joseph Goebbels enhance this thrilling work whose heroine proves fully up to . . . hair-raising challenges. . . . Perry conjures the mixed emotions and misplaced optimism of a period when many Establishment figures were desperate to avoid another world war.”—The Wall Street Journal