Title:	A Darker Reality
	Author:	Anne Perry
	Published:	September 21, 2021, Ballantine Books
	No. of Pages:	320
	Cover Price:	$28.00 Hardcover, $13.99 Kindle

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A Darker Reality is the third installment in the Elena Standish series by bestselling author, Anne Perry. Elena and her parents travel to Washington, DC to visit her mother’s wealthy parents who are hosting an anniversary party. Since Elena’s grandfather is a major player in the political scene of the times (1930s), even President Roosevelt and the first lady are attending the party. Unfortunately, a woman who Elena just meets and likes very much, is murdered when someone runs her over with a car. Her grandfather is blamed and arrested on suspicion of murder. Elena discovers that Lila Worth, the murder victim, was a British spy, working for the same M16 that Elena works for. Because Elena’s cover is that she is a professional photographer, she uses her time at the party to take pictures of the guests; her photographs help her clear her grandfather of the murder, but she also investigates to find the real murderer.

Anyone who reads Anne Perry knows that she does her research, and the scenarios in her books are true to historical facts. Perry’s skills at storytelling are brilliant, and readers will find it impossible to put her novels down. Perry is also excellent when it comes to developing her characters. Elena and the other main characters seem real and readers will be able to easily relate to them.

All told, this third installment of the Elena Standish series is an excellent read. This is definitely a series to watch. Anyone who hasn’t read the previous novels will certainly want to pick them up. Perry does, however, put enough information in this novel so that it can be read as a standalone novel.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.