What do you think?
Rate this book
The Clifton Chronicles #1
Only Time Will Tell
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2011)From the internationally bestselling author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in an ambitious new series that tells the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.The epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life begins in 1920, with the words “I was told that my father was killed in the war.” A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle, who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he’s left school. But then an unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys’ school, and his life will never be the same again.
As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?
This introductory novel in Archer’s ambitious series The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler’s Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only Time Will Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2011
About the author
Jeffrey Archer
490 books11.5k followersJeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,463 reviews
September 3, 2011
I haven't read Jeffrey Archer for years, and now I wonder why. This new series featuring Harry Clifton, son of a dockworker (or is he the son of an upper crust owner of a huge shipping line?), and his climb through the British public school system is going to be a delight if this first one of five is any indication. Make no mistake, this is not a Pulitzer, but it is good, solid storytelling, with bold characters, a world wide setting, and a story that has enough twists, turns, and sneaky heart-stoppers to definitely merit the label "page turner."
The story involves Harry, as he grows from an angelic choirboy into an intelligent, hardworking young man faced with the difficult choice of going to Oxford upon graduation from the US equivalent of high school, or joining the armed forces as Britain enters the war against Hitler. His romance with the sister of his best friend, together with some of the aforementioned story twists makes his choice even more difficult. Harry's mother, a hard-working widow, who takes a series of back-breaking jobs to help with Harry's expenses, is harboring a secret about Harry's parentage. This secret, if revealed could destroy lives, and Archer skillfully weaves his story around it.
My only problem with the book was the absolutely sucker punch ending. I was left gasping, yelling "Don't do that to me!!." I will be among thousands lined up to get my hands on the second book in the series to find out what happens next. The Clifton Chronicles promises to keep us all enthralled for several years to come.
The story involves Harry, as he grows from an angelic choirboy into an intelligent, hardworking young man faced with the difficult choice of going to Oxford upon graduation from the US equivalent of high school, or joining the armed forces as Britain enters the war against Hitler. His romance with the sister of his best friend, together with some of the aforementioned story twists makes his choice even more difficult. Harry's mother, a hard-working widow, who takes a series of back-breaking jobs to help with Harry's expenses, is harboring a secret about Harry's parentage. This secret, if revealed could destroy lives, and Archer skillfully weaves his story around it.
My only problem with the book was the absolutely sucker punch ending. I was left gasping, yelling "Don't do that to me!!." I will be among thousands lined up to get my hands on the second book in the series to find out what happens next. The Clifton Chronicles promises to keep us all enthralled for several years to come.
October 9, 2011
Sometimes you read a book everyone else seems to loveLoveLOVE and then wonder if you bought the same book everyone else did because as far as you're concerned, it stank. For me, that would be this book.
The author goes to great lengths to convince us that yes, the Main Character is indeed a brilliant child/man with unseen depths and superb intellect. We must believe this because of the great lengths other characters go to ensure that the Main Character has the means to build on his future, and the same supporting characters are always engaged in conversation talking about how brilliant Main Character is and conspiring to make sure a tiny kid does not know that everyone is working in collusion to get him to accept opportunities unavailable to other, lesser children of his socioeconomic class. Since Main Character is brilliant, but would refuse the help of those who love him.
I haven't come across that sort of blatant ass-kissing of a fictional character since I read Stephanie Meyer's homage to the Supreme Glorious Awesome Majestic Sparkleness that is His Magnificence, Edward Cullen. Also known as the Twilight books.
The story seems disconnected and very patched together. The overlapping time-lines from the perspective of multiple characters make for tedious reading. The author attempts to end every chapter with some sort of mysterious tease, clearly intended to make the reader curious but it gets annoying after a bit because it always ends in predictable anti-climax.
I will not be reading the rest of the series. If I had to sum up my opinion of this book in one sentence, it would be "Honey, could you pass me the Excedrin?".
The author goes to great lengths to convince us that yes, the Main Character is indeed a brilliant child/man with unseen depths and superb intellect. We must believe this because of the great lengths other characters go to ensure that the Main Character has the means to build on his future, and the same supporting characters are always engaged in conversation talking about how brilliant Main Character is and conspiring to make sure a tiny kid does not know that everyone is working in collusion to get him to accept opportunities unavailable to other, lesser children of his socioeconomic class. Since Main Character is brilliant, but would refuse the help of those who love him.
I haven't come across that sort of blatant ass-kissing of a fictional character since I read Stephanie Meyer's homage to the Supreme Glorious Awesome Majestic Sparkleness that is His Magnificence, Edward Cullen. Also known as the Twilight books.
The story seems disconnected and very patched together. The overlapping time-lines from the perspective of multiple characters make for tedious reading. The author attempts to end every chapter with some sort of mysterious tease, clearly intended to make the reader curious but it gets annoying after a bit because it always ends in predictable anti-climax.
I will not be reading the rest of the series. If I had to sum up my opinion of this book in one sentence, it would be "Honey, could you pass me the Excedrin?".
January 7, 2021
1.25 ✨
Personal note :- Read synopsis before buying a book , no matter what just read the synopsis and save money
Yeah so moving on , I feel cheated after I read this critically acclaimed book by Jeffrey Archer ( which not to forget is his best book ) and I happen to not like it , and I am wondering did I read the same book as everyone ?
I am sorry peeps , if you loved this book , excuse me you may not be able to bear it !
What I didn't like? ( pretty much everything)
1. STORY LINE / PLOT
✏ *Thinking about all the cliche tropes* isn't this the same story we read everywhere ? The same cliche trope , the same dialogues , the same situation , I mean Mr. Archer I excepted something new and i have full right to feel cheated ! Story gets monotonous to the core, author could have simply finished the book in a trilogy manner but now there are 6 more books in the series, the plot is lost, the story too predictable. And I don't think I want to waste any more time reading this shit ,*BOOK*. Almost every predictable situation is there. The all sacrificing mother. A villain/bully in the hostel, and the girl's father who would go to any length to prevent the marriage.
2. CHARACTERS
✏*adding Harry Clifton to my list of worst protagonist* I would have given it a 2 star if the characters were any good , but no no , Mr. Archer was determined to bore us with these stupid and boring characters going to lengths to prove their worth or whatever ! I live for drama but if the characters do anything stupid and bore me with their mindless conversation I have no other choice than to mentally kill them
dislike them. Like I don't know how many times the readers were told that Harry Clifton is smart and poor , smart and poor , I mean we get it in first 5 times but if you keep mentioning it for 50 times , I don't know. ( Was he running out of content). And I personally feel sorry for all the side characters and I can't say more about them , they didn't had life except thinking about Harry Clifton .
3. It was supposed to be a mystery thriller?
✏ I came here for a good mystery book and I got , predictable twists and dicey situations , obvious and annoying cliffhanger , *I yawned 1000 times* revelations , and the worst ending .
*Goodreads telling me there are 6 more books *
Well I am definitely not gonna read the rest of the six books because I don't care about Harry Clifton anymore.
Bye !!!
I am going to listen to Watermelon sugar , because my priorities are clear.
Personal note :- Read synopsis before buying a book , no matter what just read the synopsis and save money
Yeah so moving on , I feel cheated after I read this critically acclaimed book by Jeffrey Archer ( which not to forget is his best book ) and I happen to not like it , and I am wondering did I read the same book as everyone ?
I am sorry peeps , if you loved this book , excuse me you may not be able to bear it !
What I didn't like?
1. STORY LINE / PLOT
✏ *Thinking about all the cliche tropes* isn't this the same story we read everywhere ? The same cliche trope , the same dialogues , the same situation , I mean Mr. Archer I excepted something new and i have full right to feel cheated ! Story gets monotonous to the core, author could have simply finished the book in a trilogy manner but now there are 6 more books in the series, the plot is lost, the story too predictable. And I don't think I want to waste any more time reading this
2. CHARACTERS
✏*adding Harry Clifton to my list of worst protagonist* I would have given it a 2 star if the characters were any good , but no no , Mr. Archer was determined to bore us with these stupid and boring characters going to lengths to prove their worth or whatever ! I live for drama but if the characters do anything stupid and bore me with their mindless conversation I have no other choice than to
dislike them. Like I don't know how many times the readers were told that Harry Clifton is smart and poor , smart and poor , I mean we get it in first 5 times but if you keep mentioning it for 50 times , I don't know. ( Was he running out of content). And I personally feel sorry for all the side characters and I can't say more about them , they didn't had life except thinking about Harry Clifton .
3. It was supposed to be a mystery thriller?
✏ I came here for a good mystery book and I got , predictable twists and dicey situations , obvious and annoying cliffhanger , *I yawned 1000 times* revelations , and the worst ending .
*Goodreads telling me there are 6 more books *
Well I am definitely not gonna read the rest of the six books because I don't care about Harry Clifton anymore.
Bye !!!
I am going to listen to Watermelon sugar , because my priorities are clear.
August 28, 2019
4,25 sterren - Nederlandse paperback gevonden in de minibieb in Venlo 🍒🍒🍒
Quote uit het boek : “Harry je bent de snelste kranten bezorger ooit.” “Dank u meneer.” 🌸🌸🌸
Prachtig geschreven boek over Harry, bekeken en beschreven vanuit meerderde personages. Het begint in 1920. Tijdsbeeld en verhaallijn mooi op elkaar ingespeeld. Alleen dat open eind... daar baal ik altijd zo van. 🌹🌹🌹
Quote uit het boek : “Harry je bent de snelste kranten bezorger ooit.” “Dank u meneer.” 🌸🌸🌸
Prachtig geschreven boek over Harry, bekeken en beschreven vanuit meerderde personages. Het begint in 1920. Tijdsbeeld en verhaallijn mooi op elkaar ingespeeld. Alleen dat open eind... daar baal ik altijd zo van. 🌹🌹🌹
December 22, 2020
I cannot believe that I'm saying this but wow, I loved this Jeffrey Archer book! I received this book as a present around three or so years ago, and it has been sitting in my bookcase, possibly gathering a bit of dust, ever since. You see, I never would have picked up this book normally, as for me, the plot came across as being a bit samey, and frankly, I thought it was going to be dull. Oh hell, I hate it when I'm wrong!
Shall I put Jeffrey Archer in my guilty pleasures pile? I think it might be an idea.
This book is all about the plot. It is intriguing to the very last page, and I appreciate the way all of the characters weave in and out each others lives with such ease. The character development, I cannot fault. They are all so vividly developed, and I found I could empathise and even relate to some of them quite easily.
The writing flowed eloquently, and at times, maybe a little too much, but this was saved by the masterful storytelling. I could have devoured this book in a day, if it wasn't for other commitments, such as, you know.. real life. I was halfway through this book, when I ordered the next book in the series The Sins of the Father but unfortunately, according to Amazon, this will not be delivered for five days. Will I cope until then?
Only time will tell.
Shall I put Jeffrey Archer in my guilty pleasures pile? I think it might be an idea.
This book is all about the plot. It is intriguing to the very last page, and I appreciate the way all of the characters weave in and out each others lives with such ease. The character development, I cannot fault. They are all so vividly developed, and I found I could empathise and even relate to some of them quite easily.
The writing flowed eloquently, and at times, maybe a little too much, but this was saved by the masterful storytelling. I could have devoured this book in a day, if it wasn't for other commitments, such as, you know.. real life. I was halfway through this book, when I ordered the next book in the series The Sins of the Father but unfortunately, according to Amazon, this will not be delivered for five days. Will I cope until then?
Only time will tell.
March 31, 2018
Morgen wird sofort band zwei gekauft 🤗
August 25, 2016
What a fantastic book. Not just in plot, but in nuance too. This was the first book I read by Jeffrey Archer, but I have every intention of reading many more after this one.
This book is set up so that each section is from one person's perspective. Harry, Maisie, Jack Tar, Hugo, Giles and Emma all get a section. (Harry gets the first and last section. Maisie gets an extra few pages in the prologue.) Sounds like a common set up, but here is where it gets really interesting: each section starts with a first person narrative as the first chapter. The remaining chapters are told by a third present omnipresent narrator still focused on that character. The narrator occasionally provides some insight into what the other people currently in the scene are thinking. The best part, in my opinion, is that these narrations overlap. I have seen books where each section tells the next part of the story, and I have seen books where each section tells the same story from multiple perspectives. Each narration, while covering part of the same story, also moves the story forward. The beautiful part of this was that the overlapping parts focused on the things that THAT character found important or were relevant to that character.
Therein lies the proof of amazing writing and a thorough understanding of how people think. These characters are extremely well developed. We are even given a chance to look into the world through the eyes of the book's villain. Each character's story fills in gaps left in previous issues because either that character didn't think it was that important or because the previous narrator didn't know. This gives the story a mild sense of mystery and a huge sense of the inter-connectedness of people.
This is a story about coincidences, about what people will do for love, about how life can go full circle, and how people get their due. This is a story about friendship, about the way different events are important to different people, and about how the actions of others - that we don't even know about - can affect so many aspects of our lives. This is a story about unfortunate circumstances, about class bigotry, and about redemption. This is a beautifully written book.
Review of Clifton Chronicles #2 The Sins of the Father:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...
This book is set up so that each section is from one person's perspective. Harry, Maisie, Jack Tar, Hugo, Giles and Emma all get a section. (Harry gets the first and last section. Maisie gets an extra few pages in the prologue.) Sounds like a common set up, but here is where it gets really interesting: each section starts with a first person narrative as the first chapter. The remaining chapters are told by a third present omnipresent narrator still focused on that character. The narrator occasionally provides some insight into what the other people currently in the scene are thinking. The best part, in my opinion, is that these narrations overlap. I have seen books where each section tells the next part of the story, and I have seen books where each section tells the same story from multiple perspectives. Each narration, while covering part of the same story, also moves the story forward. The beautiful part of this was that the overlapping parts focused on the things that THAT character found important or were relevant to that character.
Therein lies the proof of amazing writing and a thorough understanding of how people think. These characters are extremely well developed. We are even given a chance to look into the world through the eyes of the book's villain. Each character's story fills in gaps left in previous issues because either that character didn't think it was that important or because the previous narrator didn't know. This gives the story a mild sense of mystery and a huge sense of the inter-connectedness of people.
This is a story about coincidences, about what people will do for love, about how life can go full circle, and how people get their due. This is a story about friendship, about the way different events are important to different people, and about how the actions of others - that we don't even know about - can affect so many aspects of our lives. This is a story about unfortunate circumstances, about class bigotry, and about redemption. This is a beautifully written book.
Review of Clifton Chronicles #2 The Sins of the Father:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...
February 7, 2017
Apparently, this is a bestseller - a book that loads of people around the world have devoured. And I get why that is because it is a pretty straight-forward, easily read story about several families, several destinies and several points of view that entwine. Especially the beginning of this historical family saga had me intrigued because it tells enchantingly about these three boys and their struggles on a boarding school.
However, as my reading progressed the story became more and more redundant and predictable, and especially towards the end it felt like Jeffrey Archer included historical aspects to the story just for the sake of accentuating the history that was going on simultaneously to the characters' lives. It didn't feel natural for him to suddenly talk about Churchill and his actions up to the Second World War.
Also, this is one of those books that you should read for its story, not for its writing. Not that there's anything absolutely wrong with the writing, but at times it becomes moralizing, and all the way through it is written in a language that is easily and quickly read.
All in all, the beginning of this novel intrigued me, but having now finished it I don't think I'm going to continue reading this long family saga. It just didn't impress me enough, even though I will say that this first book was definitely an entertaining read.
However, as my reading progressed the story became more and more redundant and predictable, and especially towards the end it felt like Jeffrey Archer included historical aspects to the story just for the sake of accentuating the history that was going on simultaneously to the characters' lives. It didn't feel natural for him to suddenly talk about Churchill and his actions up to the Second World War.
Also, this is one of those books that you should read for its story, not for its writing. Not that there's anything absolutely wrong with the writing, but at times it becomes moralizing, and all the way through it is written in a language that is easily and quickly read.
All in all, the beginning of this novel intrigued me, but having now finished it I don't think I'm going to continue reading this long family saga. It just didn't impress me enough, even though I will say that this first book was definitely an entertaining read.
December 4, 2014
A heart warming story set back in the early 1900’s which follows a young lad named Harry Clifton as he faces the many obstacles throughout his life’s journey to manhood. There are also several strong characters in this book with chapters devoted to their own narration. It was an enjoyable tale and hard to put down. Also recommended is Jeffrey Archer’s classic novel ‘Kane & Abel’ an extraordinary book not to be missed.
May 10, 2012
It is very frustrating to assign stars on GR. Seems to me that "It's ok" should be smack in the middle followed by "I liked it" and "I loved it." This book was OK. Average. Predictable but entertaining beach read or exercise, driving story. I listented to it and it made my 3 miles on the treadmill bearable and that is what I want in an audiobook. It was well written because Archer is incapable of writing poorly. My major beef is that we get to the end AND IT JUST STOPS. I realize that there are 5 sequels coming, but most authors do write books that can stand alone, even though there are sequels. This goes for relatively new authors such as Suzanne Collins. Archer, having been around since the year of the flood, knows better. Shame on him.
Shame also on St. Martin's Press who get an F for editing. The protagonist in this book is arrested in the U.S. at the beginning of WW II and the cops read him his rights!?!? I think not. The Miranda rule made its debut 20 years AFTER the war ended. Methinks that Archer and his editors have been watching too much Law and Order!
Shame also on St. Martin's Press who get an F for editing. The protagonist in this book is arrested in the U.S. at the beginning of WW II and the cops read him his rights!?!? I think not. The Miranda rule made its debut 20 years AFTER the war ended. Methinks that Archer and his editors have been watching too much Law and Order!
August 24, 2014
Only Time Will Tell (The Clifton Chronicles) by Jeffrey Archer was an enjoyable book.
I listened to this book and the narrator was really good and very well suited to the story.
I really enjoy family sagas and this was no exception with its well formed characters, a flowing and twisting tale and a little social history to keep the reader entertained.
This book reminded me a little of Downton Abbey and I think readers who enjoyed that series will really enjoy the clifton Chronicles.
I was a little disappointed with a couple aspects of the story but overall an enjoyable read. I will probably in time download the second book as it was easy listening.
I listened to this book and the narrator was really good and very well suited to the story.
I really enjoy family sagas and this was no exception with its well formed characters, a flowing and twisting tale and a little social history to keep the reader entertained.
This book reminded me a little of Downton Abbey and I think readers who enjoyed that series will really enjoy the clifton Chronicles.
I was a little disappointed with a couple aspects of the story but overall an enjoyable read. I will probably in time download the second book as it was easy listening.
July 4, 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, but it has ended up being one of my favourite reads this year (and I must admit I've had a pretty good run of mostly four and five star reads in 2018). It's the first of seven books, the opening of what promises to be a sweeping story following two families over 100 years. From page one I was completely caught up in this story, following an incredible cast of characters for just over 20 years in this first volume.
Harry Clifton is wonderful, and is more or less the main character, but they were all fascinating, even Hugo Barrington, who may be one of the most horrible yet believable villains I've ever come across. He reminds me of someone I once knew actually, just in a more extreme way, with much more money at his disposal! I also think Old Jack Tar is my favourite character in the book, though I don't want to give anything away as to why that is. I just loved him.
And excellent book, I'm looking forward to starting The Sins of the Father in the morning -- well, later in the morning, since I have stayed up until 2 am to finish reading this!
Harry Clifton is wonderful, and is more or less the main character, but they were all fascinating, even Hugo Barrington, who may be one of the most horrible yet believable villains I've ever come across. He reminds me of someone I once knew actually, just in a more extreme way, with much more money at his disposal! I also think Old Jack Tar is my favourite character in the book, though I don't want to give anything away as to why that is. I just loved him.
And excellent book, I'm looking forward to starting The Sins of the Father in the morning -- well, later in the morning, since I have stayed up until 2 am to finish reading this!
March 3, 2015
Jeffrey Archer at his finest, beginning a heptalogy sure to entertain throughout. Harry Clifton comes from a poor family, where every benefit is earned and each hardship a hurdle. When he meets Giles Barrington he soon forges a life-long friendship, even if they come from different social circles. Clifton forges ahead to make a name for himself, while living under the shadow of never having met his father. While Clifton presumes Arthur Clifton died on the battlefields, the truth is known to a select few that he was involved in a horrific workplace incident, at the hands of Hugo Barrington. The reader also learns of Clifton's mother, Maisie, who seeks to put a troubled past out of her mind and make a name for herself, all while concerned that Harry might discover the truth about his father. As the story progresses, Harry continues to be scholastically sound, but his heart remains weak when it coms to young Emma Barrington, sister of Giles and eldest daughter of Hugo. Harry and Emma build a love deeply rooted in honesty, but may face insurmountable challenges because of one lie. As Harry deals with revelations on his wedding day, he flees and finds himself in a web of lies and legal troubles on the shores of New York, as the reader stares into the abyss at the wonderful cliffhanger left at the end of the tale. Archer begins the series with a splendid foundation, sure to offer many offshoots in the coming books.
The book has the flavour of Follett's Century series and Rutherfurd's multi-generational novels, where the reader must pay attention not only to the story, but also the collection of characters and their nuances. Archer singles himself out by using seven narrators to tell the same story from their own point of view. These narratives add more to the story in a powerful and progressive manner. This is sure to keep readers wondering what lies ahead, the test of a well-crafted novel. So far things flow nicely and the characters come to life in true Archer fashion. However, no one is safe and no storyline is sure to remain on the straight and narrow.
Kudos Mr. Archer for this wonderful introduction, with a number of great cliffhangers and dramatic twists. Bring on the next volume, posthaste.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The book has the flavour of Follett's Century series and Rutherfurd's multi-generational novels, where the reader must pay attention not only to the story, but also the collection of characters and their nuances. Archer singles himself out by using seven narrators to tell the same story from their own point of view. These narratives add more to the story in a powerful and progressive manner. This is sure to keep readers wondering what lies ahead, the test of a well-crafted novel. So far things flow nicely and the characters come to life in true Archer fashion. However, no one is safe and no storyline is sure to remain on the straight and narrow.
Kudos Mr. Archer for this wonderful introduction, with a number of great cliffhangers and dramatic twists. Bring on the next volume, posthaste.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
December 22, 2017
My Rating: 4.4/5
I never imagined that Only Time Will Tell would be this good. Jeffrey Archer have wrote a thought through story which has a great story and great characters. The writing and prose is simple and precise. The dialogue is extraordinary. I loved all the characters in the novel. I didn't hate even a single one. My most favorite would be Old Jack. I just fricking love that character. I loved the setting and the phase more than anything. I couldn't even put the book down. The twists and some stuff are really solvable, though. But still the book is really really Awesome. I loved it and I will read the next one.
Thank you for reading the review.
I never imagined that Only Time Will Tell would be this good. Jeffrey Archer have wrote a thought through story which has a great story and great characters. The writing and prose is simple and precise. The dialogue is extraordinary. I loved all the characters in the novel. I didn't hate even a single one. My most favorite would be Old Jack. I just fricking love that character. I loved the setting and the phase more than anything. I couldn't even put the book down. The twists and some stuff are really solvable, though. But still the book is really really Awesome. I loved it and I will read the next one.
Thank you for reading the review.
August 21, 2020
Only Time will Tell is the first part of the seven volume Clifton Chronicles series. It is a lengthy,sprawling saga which is a fairly mixed bag.
It spans twenty years,from World War I to the start of World War II. War is a familiar theme in Archer's work,as he himself was a child of World War II.
Harry Clifton was told that his father was killed in World War I.But later discovers there is more to the story. Could he be the son of someone else,not as poor as he himself was ?
The story again has lots of improbable events.There are black and white characters and the villain is pure evil. One good thing,however,the book is not similar to Kane and Abel.
Archer's prose isn't all that stylish. There are some compelling moments,but at times the book is also a drag.There is plenty of filler material.It took me a good long while to read.
Archer pulls a clever trick towards the end,the book ends in a cliff hanger. If the reader wants to find what happens next,he has to buy the second book in the series,The Sins of the Father.
It spans twenty years,from World War I to the start of World War II. War is a familiar theme in Archer's work,as he himself was a child of World War II.
Harry Clifton was told that his father was killed in World War I.But later discovers there is more to the story. Could he be the son of someone else,not as poor as he himself was ?
The story again has lots of improbable events.There are black and white characters and the villain is pure evil. One good thing,however,the book is not similar to Kane and Abel.
Archer's prose isn't all that stylish. There are some compelling moments,but at times the book is also a drag.There is plenty of filler material.It took me a good long while to read.
Archer pulls a clever trick towards the end,the book ends in a cliff hanger. If the reader wants to find what happens next,he has to buy the second book in the series,The Sins of the Father.
December 26, 2014
I read this on my husband 's recommendation. He really enjoyed it and went on to read the next in the series. I liked it but not as much. I was not comfortable with the way the wedding was handled and thought the whole thing was melodramatic. I also found the way so many miscellaneous adults were working behind the scenes to make sure the young Harry achieved his destiny was unrealistic and overdone. On the other hand the book was well written, some of the characters we're very well done and I feel a spark of interest in Harry's future. Luckily for me my husband has bought all the books so I have them available as soon as I am ready.
December 27, 2011
This saga is the first in what is to be at least a three-book set (quite possibly more) entitled the Clifton Chronicles, centered around the character Harry Clifton. Relatively plotless, the story was however so engaging it was difficult to put down, with the interesting technique of revealing the tale little by little from different character's points of view. We hear from Harry's mother Maisie, his best friend Giles, Gile's sister Emma, Gile's father Hugo, Harry's friend "Old Jack", and from Harry himself on a couple of different occasions. Spanning the period between the world wars (roughly 1920-1940) and set in Britain, this first book traces Harry’s school career to his likelihood of entering the Navy as it seems war with Hitler is on the horizon. The struggles of his mother to finance Harry’s upbringing (his father is dead) are particularly engrossing, and the intrigue of Harry’s father’s circumstances add an element of suspense to this entertaining novel, which ends with a bombshell of a cliffhanger! Like most readers, we can hardly await the second installment!
October 27, 2016
First of all, let me state clearly that two stars means I think this book is OK! Whether you should read it or not ought to depend upon your mood and what you are looking for. It is not poorly written and will satisfy those readers who love series, love adventure stories, love plot-oriented books and love solving a puzzle. What kind of a puzzle? You know in fact very early on who the central character's father is, but what keeps you reading is to discover how the author is going to weave together all the details to make an entertaining story that makes sense. Each of the central characters tells you what they know and what has happened to them personally. With each retelling of the story you get a few more details, but there is a lot of repetition. In this respect it works very well as an audiobook because the repetition means you are not going to miss important details.
Deep things to think about, deep character portrayal, lots of historical details are not what you will find served in this book. Action and finding out what is going to happen, that is what you read the book for.
The story is set in Bristol, England right before the Second World War. We look at the life of dockers, stevedores and a successful family owning a shipping line. We follow three boys at boarding school. The book is about their friendship, their different social classes and different goals.
The narration of the audiobook was absolutely superb. The primary narrator is Roger Allam, with shorter sections by Emilia Fox. She reads the female first person narratives. Allam does American and English dialects wonderfully. He does the upper class and the lower class characters so you hear each one’s social class in how they speak. He speaks very clearly and with strength so you miss nothing. When he impersonates Churchill, I couldn't help but smile. The narration could not have been better.
The book ends with a cliffhanger, so you buy the next book.
********************
Currently (2016-10-15) this is free at both audible.co.uk and audible.com . The author has added another to the series, and thus this, the first book in the series, is free. I am unsure how long it will be free or if this is only available to those with a subscription. I have no idea if it is good, but I figured why not try it!
http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Fiction/F...
or
http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/FRE...
Deep things to think about, deep character portrayal, lots of historical details are not what you will find served in this book. Action and finding out what is going to happen, that is what you read the book for.
The story is set in Bristol, England right before the Second World War. We look at the life of dockers, stevedores and a successful family owning a shipping line. We follow three boys at boarding school. The book is about their friendship, their different social classes and different goals.
The narration of the audiobook was absolutely superb. The primary narrator is Roger Allam, with shorter sections by Emilia Fox. She reads the female first person narratives. Allam does American and English dialects wonderfully. He does the upper class and the lower class characters so you hear each one’s social class in how they speak. He speaks very clearly and with strength so you miss nothing. When he impersonates Churchill, I couldn't help but smile. The narration could not have been better.
The book ends with a cliffhanger, so you buy the next book.
********************
Currently (2016-10-15) this is free at both audible.co.uk and audible.com . The author has added another to the series, and thus this, the first book in the series, is free. I am unsure how long it will be free or if this is only available to those with a subscription. I have no idea if it is good, but I figured why not try it!
http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Fiction/F...
or
http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/FRE...
July 22, 2020
It is certainly a great read, but Jeffrey Archer fans will know that this isn't his best work. The series starts off exceptionally - the first two books are great; books 3 & 4 drag a bit but end superbly as always, and the remaining three in the series are almost as good as the initial two. The India angle in book 6 is unnecessary; it is a forced addition to make the book longer.
Overall, though I've read way better books by Archer, I've still read worse by other authors. So the yardstick being as high as it is for Jeffrey, the series is still decent and worth a one-time read. However, it does have what almost every book of Archer seems to have nowadays: a business angle, a politics angle, and an artist angle. So no repeat value for the series, unlike his Kane & Abel, Not a penny more, and of course, his short stories.
********************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, " Readers Forever! ", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun.
Overall, though I've read way better books by Archer, I've still read worse by other authors. So the yardstick being as high as it is for Jeffrey, the series is still decent and worth a one-time read. However, it does have what almost every book of Archer seems to have nowadays: a business angle, a politics angle, and an artist angle. So no repeat value for the series, unlike his Kane & Abel, Not a penny more, and of course, his short stories.
********************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, " Readers Forever! ", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun.
February 13, 2018
Wahnsinn, was für eine Reise! Ein wirklich tolles Hörbuch und eine mega sympathische Geschichte.
Spiel der Zeit ist nicht unbedingt mein Genre... Ein historisches Familiendrama... Und doch hat es mir aufgrund des flotten Schreibstils und der fantastischen Charaktere richtig gut gefallen. Lediglich ein paar kleine Spannungsflauten drücken meine Bewertung um einen Stern, denn es wurde zu oft ein und die selbe Geschichte aus verschiedenen Perspektiven erzählt. Abgesehen davon fand ich es wirklich toll! Und dann auch noch dieser Cliffhanger. Aaaaah. Gott sei Dank hab ich die nächsten Teile schon hier.
Spiel der Zeit ist nicht unbedingt mein Genre... Ein historisches Familiendrama... Und doch hat es mir aufgrund des flotten Schreibstils und der fantastischen Charaktere richtig gut gefallen. Lediglich ein paar kleine Spannungsflauten drücken meine Bewertung um einen Stern, denn es wurde zu oft ein und die selbe Geschichte aus verschiedenen Perspektiven erzählt. Abgesehen davon fand ich es wirklich toll! Und dann auch noch dieser Cliffhanger. Aaaaah. Gott sei Dank hab ich die nächsten Teile schon hier.
February 7, 2017
I loved Harry's story of love, loyalty, strife, friendship and his persistence for excellence. Jeffrey Archer hits it out of the park with this epic tale of a young boy trying, with the help of his friends and family, to make his life something no less than extraordinary. What an excellent beginning to a wonderful adventure. I am definitely going to start immediately with book two that covers Harry's young adult life. The narratives by both, Roger Allam and Emilia Fox were spot on and helped to push this book to a five star for me.
January 3, 2024
I would say it’s a pretty good start to a seven book series. The author introduces several interesting characters. Harry/Tom, especially, is quite a fascinating main protagonist. This novel is no doubt a page turner. The last 3 chapters contain several unexpected plot twist that kind of left me somewhat speechless. The author is quite the storyteller & I am looking forward to reading the remaining six novels in the Clifton Chronicles.
December 21, 2014
This book now has a spot in my top 100 reads of all time. Going into this I didn't think that I would like it. It was so different from what I usually read. However I am very glad that I went ahead and read this! I loved this book so much. It is so dear to my heart. I honestly have no complaints about this book. That may seem hard to believe but it's true.
Every character was well thought out and interesting. They each held their own in their chapters and I actually liked them all equally(apart from the dastardly villain that is).
The plot was engaging and original and kept my interest the entire time. The writing flowed beautifully and the author writes everything so masterfully that I had no choice but to devour this amazing book.
I normally am a little skeptical when people rave like crazy in a review, but I suppose I am now joining their ranks.
I would definitely recommend this novel. Thanks to Saint Martins Press and Jeffery Archer for hosting the giveaway that allowed me to experience the magic that is Mr. Archers writing.
July 7, 2016
I really enjoyed this. Archer did such a great job in setting up a solid story while creating memorable characters. So excited to get to the rest in this series... one benefit to waiting so long to start this series is not having to wait for the next book. Happy dance!
May 20, 2024
يقف بعض الأشخاص معك في محنتك، فيما يتركك أشخاص آخرون وحيداً. قليلون فقط من يأتون إليك ويصبحون أكثر قرباً منك.
May 6, 2018
In "Only Time Will Tell," Harry Clifton believes that he will end up working at the docks like his father, whom he never met, and his uncle. When his singing talents allow him to land a scholarship to a super fancy school, his fate will change. Filled with family secrets and stories of the different ways life can take us, this book was the great kick off to what promises to be an exciting series!
I love characters that you can root for! Harry is the definitive underdog character. He is being raised by a single mother in a time where this was not common. Harry seems content to follow his father's footsteps. He isn't that interested in school and then fate intervenes and sends him on a different path.
I also really liked the setting. I loved the juxtaposition through Harry's relatively calm, no frills life with his mother and the lives of Harry's newfound friends at his new school. They are so different from each other but are still able to find common ground and really solidify their friendship. There are also some secret connections throughout the book that I'll go into more detail on below.
The biggest reason I enjoyed this book is all of the family secrets. Oh, there are some doozies in here. I don't want to give anything away but there are a lot of secret connections between Harry and some of the other characters in the book and I loved seeing them unraveled throughout the book.
Overall, this was an intriguing start that will definitely keep me reading!
I love characters that you can root for! Harry is the definitive underdog character. He is being raised by a single mother in a time where this was not common. Harry seems content to follow his father's footsteps. He isn't that interested in school and then fate intervenes and sends him on a different path.
I also really liked the setting. I loved the juxtaposition through Harry's relatively calm, no frills life with his mother and the lives of Harry's newfound friends at his new school. They are so different from each other but are still able to find common ground and really solidify their friendship. There are also some secret connections throughout the book that I'll go into more detail on below.
The biggest reason I enjoyed this book is all of the family secrets. Oh, there are some doozies in here. I don't want to give anything away but there are a lot of secret connections between Harry and some of the other characters in the book and I loved seeing them unraveled throughout the book.
Overall, this was an intriguing start that will definitely keep me reading!
November 9, 2019
Book 1 of 7 in The Clifton Chronicles series. This is a historical fiction, or maybe even a family drama saga, based in the 1920s to 1940s time frame in England. It is all about a little boy Harry Clifton, who is from a poor family. His father (a dock worker) is killed under mysterious circumstances at work, and his mother struggles to take care of the family, but she is a hard working and determined woman, and she wants Harry to have a better future than to be a dock worker like his father. Harry wins a choral scholarship at a prestigious blueblood school for the upper crust of society, and he manages to make some friends. He later finishes school and has to choose between Oxford or joining the military as Britain is entering WW2.
I highly enjoyed the audiobook version, I do recommend it.
I think Archer is a gifted storyteller. I found the 7 characters rotating points of views and overlapping timelines to be tedious and repetitive, and it interrupted the natural flow of allowing the plot to move forward. It kept retelling the same story but from a different character's perspective, so I had to go back in time to listen to the same story over and over. If this had been told in a straight forward continuous flow, my rating would be much higher! Archer does very well in character development.
At the end, I feel invested in these characters, I watched little Harry grow up, and I am curious enough to move on to the next book in the series, called The Sins of the Father.
I highly enjoyed the audiobook version, I do recommend it.
I think Archer is a gifted storyteller. I found the 7 characters rotating points of views and overlapping timelines to be tedious and repetitive, and it interrupted the natural flow of allowing the plot to move forward. It kept retelling the same story but from a different character's perspective, so I had to go back in time to listen to the same story over and over. If this had been told in a straight forward continuous flow, my rating would be much higher! Archer does very well in character development.
At the end, I feel invested in these characters, I watched little Harry grow up, and I am curious enough to move on to the next book in the series, called The Sins of the Father.
November 21, 2015
Archer has the great gift of being able to write very complex stories - with many characters, changing points of view, important historical background, and repeated surprises - and keep the whole thing under his total control. I felt complete confidence that Archer had command of the story at every stage, right up until the last of many shocking events, which of course sets the stage for the next book in this family saga. This is a fairly long book which I nevertheless read straight through on a 5 hour train ride and then two more hours in bed. I think the series will compare well with his previous very successful efforts.
November 18, 2016
“Some people stand by you in your darkest hour, while others walk away; only a select few march toward you and become even closer friends.”
September 23, 2019
A very enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,463 reviews