Title: No Graves As Yet
Author: Anne Perry
First published January 1, 2003
384 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780345484239 (ISBN10: 0345484231)
Rating: 3.68
Overview
Anne Perry, the bestselling author of Victorian novels, takes us on a journey to the golden summer of 1914 in her new book, No Graves As Yet. In a time when wealth and power brought security to the English people, a peace that would lead to war was settling in.
Cambridge professor, Joseph Reavley, is summoned from a student cricket match to learn that his parents have died in an automobile crash. His brother, Matthew, an officer in the Intelligence Service, reveals that their father was carrying a mysterious secret document with the power to disgrace England forever and destroy the civilized world.
Now, the document has vanished. As England’s seamless peace begins to crack, Joseph is burdened with a second tragedy; the murder of his most gifted student, Sebastian Allard.
With the distance between the death of the student and the assassination of an Austrian archduke by a Serbian anarchist shortening, Joseph is left with unanswered questions. Anne Perry’s No Graves As Yet is a haunting masterpiece that reminds us that love and hate, cowardice and courage, good and evil are always a part of life, even on the eve of the greatest war the world has ever known.
About the Author
Anne Perry, originally named Juliet Hulme, is a renowned English author of historical detective fiction. She is most famous for her series featuring Thomas Pitt and William Monk.
In her teenage years, she was involved in the murder of her friend’s mother and served a five-year sentence. After her release, she changed her name to Anne Perry and began her career as a writer.
Perry’s first book under this name was published in 1979. Her writing mainly falls under the categories of historical murder mysteries and detective fiction.
She has created many recurring characters, such as Thomas Pitt and William Monk, who have appeared in her novels for years.
Perry has published 47 novels and various collections of short stories as of 2003. Her work has been recognized with several awards, including the Edgar Award for Best Short Story in 2001 for her story “Heroes,” which was first published in the 1999 anthology edited by Otto Penzler.
Perry was also featured in Ben Peek’s novel, which explores the concept of truth in literature.
Editoral Review
No Graves As Yet, a historical mystery novel by Anne Perry, takes place in England just before the start of World War I. Perry is a renowned author of historical fiction and mystery, with a reputation for excellent characterization and intriguing plots.
This novel is no exception to her stellar reputation. The novel follows the story of two brothers, Joseph and Matthew Reavley, both of whom are involved in the war effort as officers, and their familys attempts to uncover a plot against the Crown.
The plot starts with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian Empire, and takes the form of a mysterious letter that Joseph receives hinting at a conspiracy that could have disastrous consequences for England. Perry uses the historical setting of the novel to explore the tensions of the time, including the political and social upheaval that would eventually lead to the Great War.
She also highlights the human cost of war and the ways in which it can change people’s personalities and moral compasses. The characters in the novel are well-developed and engaging, particularly the Reavley brothers, who have very different personalities and approaches to life.
The setting is also richly described, with a focus on the countryside and small towns of northern England. The plot of the novel is intricate and full of twists and turns, with the Reavley family facing numerous challenges as they try to uncover the conspiracy against England.
Perry keeps the reader engaged with a steady pace and plenty of suspense, never letting the story lag or become predictable. However, at times, the novel can be overly focused on the details of the conspiracy and the politics of the time, which may be overwhelming for some readers.
Additionally, while Perry does an admirable job of exploring the emotional toll of war on soldiers and civilians, some may find the novel’s sentimentality to be overwrought. Despite these minor flaws, No Graves As Yet is an excellent novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and mystery novels alike.
Perry’s skillful writing and attention to detail make this an immersive and rewarding read. Whether you are a history buff or simply looking for an engaging story, this novel is well worth reading.
Overall, I give No Graves As Yet a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. While there are some issues with the novel, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction or mystery novels.
