Only Time Will Tell

The Clifton Chronicles, Book 1

By: Jeffrey Archer

Narrated by: Roger Allam, Emilia Fox

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

From the internationally bestselling author Jeffrey Archer comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in the ambitious Clifton Chronicles 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 engrossing 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 listeners 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 listener nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.

©2011 Jeffrey Archer (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Archer delivers another page-turning, heart-stopping saga, with delightful twists, and a surprise ending… readers will surely wait for the next with bated breath.” —Publishers Weekly

“General readers as well as Archer fans will enjoy this unforgettable tale, which abounds with cliff-hangers that propel its intriguing and intricate plot.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“What appears at the outset to be a straightforward coming-of-age tale becomes, by the end, a saga of power, betrayal, and bitter hatred. The novel ends on a deliberately dark note, setting the stage for the sequel…An outstanding effort from a reliable veteran.” —Booklist (starred Review)

Be ready to get Hooked

Be ready to be hooked and be prepared to buy the full series. Well written series that keeps you captivated with the suspense Jeffrey Archer builds throughout the books. Because he leaves you with a cliffhanger at the end of each of the books in the series, Archer tantalizes you into continuing the chronicle of the lives of the Cliftons and Barringtons, by picking up the next book in the series.

Exciting, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable...

Lead character too perfect

This was a good audio book, but not a great one. The main character is so flawlessly "a good person " that it makes the entire story not seem plausible. Narrator excels.

Awesome story shites real yo I am throughly amused

mr. Archer is a very good storyteller as well as very entertaining and I love the time period set in this book

Loved the story and characters.

Great story. I love the way the author Tells the story through different characters. Keep my attention. I can't wait to start the next in the series.

No Suspense

What disappointed you about Only Time Will Tell?

The story was too predictable. I like stories that give you enough clues to figure it out towards the end or else go "oh yeah, I should have guessed that". I listened to this book on audible. I immediately knew who the killer was. The story lines that were meant to distract from the real killer were unbelievable and boring. There was only one part of the story that actually surprised me and when the those details were revealed I thought "that is so ridiculous". This is not typical Archer work.

great book, hope next 4 will be too

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrators (like to have a female and male) Characters were very well developed. Story line flowed. Loved how all the characters were woven together. The book definitely kept my attention and I was able finish it in 2 days! I was thrilled to hear a 2 minute interview with the author at the end of the book explaining his plans for the next 4 books of this series.

Setup for a series

Not enough depth to the characters but a very compelling book. The story starts to pull you in, then switches to another character and repeats time through their pov. It is very well written and great literature. I just felt like I missed some of the character development.

Different

Absorbing and different. The focus on each character pulled me into the plot.

Superb!

I just recently discovered this marvelous author and am thrilled! He was recommended to me as a master of crime/mysteries but after I read all the reviews, I was convinced that I should start with reading his "Chronicles". There are five books in the Clifton Chronicles series of which this is the first. Archer is an accomplished artist of his craft. He plans his plot, always a step ahead of the reader, dots and expands the characters so vividly that each becomes alive and he draws the reader right into each episode with hardly a moment to take a breath. You can't go wrong selecting Archer as your next read!

First time reading an Archer Book

I enjoyed part 1 of the Clinton Chronicles. Rarely do you find as many likeable characters who are flawed, yet the main character is without fault, except for a very foolish decision at the conclusion of the book. It's almost out of character. And that's why I didn't give the book 5 stars. It seems to be a ploy to make one want to read part 2. And guess what? It worked!