Two of the crime fiction books I'd reserved that arrived this month had King Edward VIII as a bit of a common theme.
The Traitor Among Us by Anne Perry is the 5th in a brilliant series featuring photographer and MI6 agent Elena Standish and set in the build up to WWII. When a retired MI6 agent is found dead near Wyndham Hall MI6 needs to know what he was investigating and who knew.
It is known that the owners of Wyndham Hall are possible fascist sympathisers and as Margot -Elena's sister is about to become engaged to Lady Wyndham's brother it seems a good plan for her to be invited to a house party there to see what she can find out. Margot and the Wyndham family have no idea she is a spy but when several accidents happen after the family meet up with the future Edward VIII and his mistress Wallace Simpson it becomes obvious that someone suspects what she is and is trying to stop her finding out their plans.
Mike Ripley is the author who took on the job of writing some more Albert Campion Stories after Margery Allingham died. Campion was the main character in many stories where he helped the police solve various crimes.
This book is set in 1970 but much of the story refers back to 1935 with a secret visit to a Suffolk archaeological dig by the future Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson.
In this story Campion finds himself pretending to be a film advisor to an Italian film company supposedly filming the visit of Edward and Mrs Simpson's visit to the Dig. In reality the story is different and involves non-existent treasure, the murder of an Italian girl back in 1935 and the disappearance of a newspaper reporter at the same time. No one is quite who they seem in this story and it's the end of the book before the we find out exactly what happened in 1935 and in 1970.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Both sounds like great reads
ReplyDeleteCathy
Both books sounds a good read-thanks for sharing. Catriona
ReplyDeleteInteresting that royal figures continue to fascinate as fictional characters, what with these offerings and qe2 solving mysteries at Windsor.
ReplyDeleteThese both look good. Thanks for the reviews
ReplyDeleteOh, I love all of the Anne Perry books! I'll have to check my library for the latest in this series. Thanks for the reminder, Sue!
ReplyDeleteI would love both of these. I was sorry when Anne Perry died recently -- she wrote some wonderful books. The Campion sounds good, too.
ReplyDeleteEEEk - didn't know she had died - so no more of her two series - sad.
DeleteThe story twists and turns make a mystery outstanding. Brilliant authors do this well and not everyone has this talent. You chose well.
ReplyDeleteThose sound very interesting. I love Anne Perry.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.