Be Careful What You Wish For

The Clifton Chronicles, Book 4

By: Jeffrey Archer

Narrated by: Alex Jennings

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Bestselling author Jeffrey Archer's Be Careful What You Wish For opens with Harry Clifton and his wife Emma rushing to hospital to learn the fate of their son Sebastian, who has been involved in a fatal car accident. But who died, Sebastian or his best friend Bruno?

When Ross Buchanan is forced to resign as chairman of the Barrington Shipping Company, Emma Clifton wants to replace him. But Don Pedro Martinez intends to install his puppet, the egregious Major Alex Fisher, in order to destroy the Barrington family firm just as the company plans to build its new luxury liner, the MV Buckingham.

Back in London, Harry and Emma's adopted daughter wins a scholarship to the Slade Academy of Art where she falls in love with a fellow student, Clive Bingham, who asks her to marry him. Both families are delighted until Priscilla Bingham, Jessica's future mother-in-law, has a visit from an old friend, Lady Virginia Fenwick, who drops her particular brand of poison into the wedding chalice.

Then, without warning, Cedric Hardcastle, a bluff Yorkshireman who no one has come across before, takes his place on the board of Barringtons. This causes an upheaval that none of them could have anticipated, and will change the lives of every member of the Clifton and Barrington families. Hardcastle's first decision is who to support to become the next chairman of the board: Emma Clifton or Major Alex Fisher? And with that decision, the story takes yet another twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Be Careful What You Wish For showcases the master storyteller's talent as never before—when the Clifton and Barrington families march forward into the sixties, in this epic tale of love, revenge, ambition and betrayal.

©2014 Jeffrey Archer (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“No family saga would be complete without a villain, and this book has a good one, a well-drawn and believable character whose motivations are understandable. This thoroughly engaging old-school, multigenerational saga harks back to the work of Malcolm Macdonald, Belva Plain, and Irwin Shaw.” —Booklist

“Archer knows how to dole out tiny crumbs of suspense right up to the last page, which ends with...a really excellent cliffhanger.” —Washington Post

“The most gripping of the Clifton Chronicles yet. The tension and the build-up are terrific, and kept this reader on the edge of his seat.” —The Observer (UK)

This series should have remained a trilogy.

I started this series with the first because I LOVE Jeffery Archer books. The first installment clearly stated that this would be a trilogy. It seems that he has decided to stretch it out to five(?) books. All the plots twists and cliffhangers worked previously but this one... Hmm. Overall, I liked it, but not as much as the previous installments. In the past books, I was really surprised were things went; the story worked well. This one, I saw exactly where the story was going to end, not too many surprises. I hope the next one comes out sooner and that it is the end of the series.

super story

loved it.I listen to story every chance I got good story good story good story

on the edge of my seat

loved it . I was setting on the edge of my seat. to the very end cannot wait for the next book.

Never End

Any additional comments?

This sequel has been wonderfully entertaining. I am captured by Archer's easy style. The Clifton's have been an enjoyable journey for me. There are harsh realities in life. Ere the carrot run over by the car. He wasn't killed, but, he will be a vegetable for the rest of his life. With the characters and time frames of the Clifton Chronicles, the relevant persons must ultimately die off. That will be a shame. This is number 4 and I have been captured by all of them.

Compelling!!!

This series (The Clifton Chronicles) is so very well written and the audio production so well performed that it is extremely difficult to stop listening. I highly recommend them, and thank you Jeffrey Archer!

A blockbuster! Waiting for the next book!!!

Where does Be Careful What You Wish For rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the Clifton Chronicles, I would say this was one of the best so far. I really enjoyed it and it kept me riveted.

What other book might you compare Be Careful What You Wish For to and why?

I have nothing to compare this to as the Clifton Chronicles are unique to themselves.

What about Alex Jennings’s performance did you like?

I love Alex Jennings and his performance was a welcome addition to my enjoyment of this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found myself hating Pedro Martinez and what he stood for. There is a real "good guy bad guy" element to this story... There is the Emma Clifton and at the other end of the spectrum, you have an evil scumbag who has no scruples and no humanity.

Any additional comments?

The ending of this book was as sudden and unexpected as that of The Best Kept Secret and leaves no doubt that Mr. Archer is already working on Book 5 of the Clifton Chronicles. Bring it on!!!

can't wait to listen to book 5

Every book so far in this series has been amazing! The bad thing is that I can't "put them down". The plots, personalities & surprises never end. The joys, trials & tragedies never end either. Jeffrey Archer has captured the loyalty of this listener!

I'm a fan

narrator did a remarkable job withthe various accents. a few too many plot lines..

Wonderful narration-

I have enjoyed all of the Clifton Chronicles in Jeffrey Archer's series. I have to say that for me, Alex Jennings provides the most brilliant narrations. His change in dynamics, accent and tone help make the dialogue very compelling!

Critical Thinking Required!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is just one of the Clifton series that I would recommend to anyone that loves a mystery. Jeffrey Archer spins a wonderful story that spans years and that is so full of twist and turns that it keeps you anticipating the next chapter in the characters lives.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sebastian is my favorite character because he is so real and so unassuming!

What does Alex Jennings bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Alex Jennings does a great job of defining the characters through his interpretations of each conversation and interaction between characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely!

Any additional comments?

I cannot wait to read the next in the series - I must know what has happened to the characters and the ship!