Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings

It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:

• Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
• The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an eBook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring an upcoming read, A Question of Betrayal by Anne Perry.  The excerpts shared are from a hardcover version borrowed from the library.

 

Beginning: Chapter 1

"What did you say?" Elena asked incredulously.  She could not believe what she just heard.

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Page 56:  There was a look of rueful understanding in Stoney's face.

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My thoughts:  This is Anne Perry's latest Elena Standish novel, part of her historical mystery series set in pre-World War II Europe.  The protagonist is a courageous young photographer who finds herself crossing paths with Britain's MI6.  The first book in the series was released in 2019, and the third book will be published in 2021.

With two books available now, it's not too late to get started reading this intriguing series--and the wait for the next book isn't too long.

Book 1:  Death in Focus

Book 3:  A Darker Reality, details will be available at a later date

  

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From GoodReads:  On her first mission for MI6, the daring young photographer at the heart of this thrilling new mystery series by bestselling author Anne Perry travels to Mussolini's Italy to rescue the lover who betrayed her.

Britain's secret intelligence service, MI6, has lost contact with its informant in northern Italy, just as important information about the future plans of Austria and Nazi Germany is coming to light. And young Elena Standish, to her surprise, is the only person who can recognize MI6's man--because he is her former lover. Aiden Strother betrayed her six years before, throwing shame on her entire family. Now, with so much to prove, Elena heads to Trieste to track down Aiden and find out what happened to his handler, who has mysteriously cut off contact with Britain.

As Elena gets word of a secret group working to put Austria in the hands of Germany, her older sister, Margot, is in Berlin to watch a childhood friend get married--to a member of the Gestapo. Margot and Elena's grandfather, the former head of MI6, is none too happy about the sisters' travels at this tumultuous time, especially when a violent event at home reminds him that even Britain is growing dangerous. As his own investigation collides with his granddaughter's, what's at stake on the continent becomes increasingly frightening--and personal.

Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Europe, New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry crafts a novel full of suspense, political intrigue, and the struggle between love and loyalty to country

 

 

 

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This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.    

 

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #86 and Teaser Tuesdays

   It's Tuesday . . . time to share book excerpts with:
         

• First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea, where bloggers post the first paragraph(s) of a book they are currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

• Teaser Tuesdays hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading, where bloggers post two (2) random “teaser” sentences--no spoilers allowed--to try to entice others to seek out these books.

Today I'm featuring the opening and a teaser from an upcoming read, A New York Christmas by Anne Perry, a book I borrowed from the library. 

 

Jemima stood at the railing on the upper deck of the great ocean liner and gazed across the limitless sea.  She had just turned twenty-three and was beginning what promised to be the first real adventure of her life.

It was December 1904, and she was crossing the Atlantic to New York, where she would stay for at least a month.  Mr. Edward Cardew had invited her to travel as a companion to his daughter, Delphinia, who was to marry Brent Albright, the son of Rothwell Albright, Mr. Cardew's international business partner.  It would be the society wedding of the year. 

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Teaser:  "Jemima was startled at the mention of Maria's name, especially coming from Harley.  She had assumed none of the Albrights wished to speak about her." ~ p. 39

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What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

 

My thoughts:  It's about time I read a Christmas story this year.  The beautiful cover, which depicts Central Park on a snowy day, really drew me to this particular book.  

 

 

What are you reading now or planning to read soon?

 

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #86 and Teaser Tuesdays was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com.  This post cannot be republished without attribution.