Best Kept Secret

The Clifton Chronicles, Book 3

By: Jeffrey Archer

Narrated by: Alex Jennings

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Archer, the Clifton Chronicles continues with Best Kept Secret.

1945, London. The vote in the House of Lords as to who should inherit the Barrington family fortune has ended in a tie. The Lord Chancellor's deciding vote will cast a long shadow on the lives of Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington. Harry returns to America to promote his latest novel, while his beloved Emma goes in search of the little girl who was found abandoned in her father's office on the night he was killed. When the general election is called, Giles Barrington has to defend his seat in the House of Commons and is horrified to discover who the Conservatives select to stand against him. But it is Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emma's son, who ultimately influences his uncle's fate.

In 1957, Sebastian wins a scholarship to Cambridge, and a new generation of the Clifton family marches onto the page. But after Sebastian is expelled from school, he unwittingly becomes caught up in an international art fraud involving a Rodin statue that is worth far more than the sum it raises at auction. Does he become a millionaire? Does he go to Cambridge? Is his life in danger? Best Kept Secret, the third volume in Jeffrey Archer's bestselling series, will answer all these questions but, once again, pose so many more.

©2013 Jeffrey Archer (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Alex Jennings and Emilia Fox's dual narration captures a range of intriguing characters and a variety of English accents…the narrators' polished performance of the family's escapades keeps the listener engaged.” —AudioFile Magazine

“Archer's storytelling combines history, romance and intrigue, and the audiobook is outstandingly read by Alex Jennings and Emilia Fox.” —Inside Jersey

“[Archer's] well-drawn characters are outstandingly portrayed by readers Alex Jennings and Emilia Fox.” —The Star-Ledger

Over used plot but done well

Jeffrey Archer does a good job of keeping the reader engaged when the same old bad guys seem to be prevailing. But I do tire of this genre.

Come to me said the spider to the fly

Entharling.... I wondered how Mr.Archer would continue to draw me into the web of intrigue...The way he introduces characters and weaves another story line is masterful. I almost felt like I was being led into the story.... I would exclaim out loud at some the disastous turns....so on I go the next book in the series. After all, these have become 'my people'.

The Cliftons Just Cannot Get a Break

I agree with the other reviewers, this 3rd book seemed like filler.

Giles Barrington's whole MP campaign ran too long.

*Spoilers*

And after all that has happened with Harry and Emma, Seb would just run off?
Perhaps this was a ploy to create another villain for future books that involves the next generation?

Finally, what kind of an ending was that?!?!
And yes, like a pawn, I will “read” book 4.

Outstanding, compelling.

The entire series is compelling. My walks for longer and longer so I could hear more!

Not Archer's Best

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

I might recommend this series to a friend, but I would warn them that so far this book is the weekest link in the chain. I look forward to the next book in the hopes that Archer will tie things up a little better.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like Harry Clifton. He is the most real of the characters to me. I like it that he is a book writer, too!

If you could rename Best Kept Secret, what would you call it?

No Pain, No Gain Part 1

Any additional comments?

One of the things I love about Archer is how he cleverly brings things around in the end. His book are usually nicely wrapped packages, full of suspense. During this book I kept wondering, "Where's the big story?"
I still love how Archer writes and I will still read the next installment, but I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed this time around.
Listening to the book was no problem -- I enjoyed the narrator. If I had been reading the book I would have had more trouble with the lack of intrigue.

Disappointing Third Installment

The first book in this series was excellent. The story and narrator were great. The second was good and so I looked forward to the continuing story of the Cliftons.and Barringtons. Too bad the story drifted away from them and into another direction. I finished the book, but was relieved to be done with it and from the description of the next book, it appears all of the characters I disliked the most will be featured. Too bad. I'm done.

So good

I was not ready for this book to be over. So I must get ‘Be Careful What you Wish for.’ Archer is such a awesome author. There never seems the right place to put the book down. I am on the 3 of the Clifton Chronicles and will stop when I finally finish the last on. I do think it best to read them in order. Each one picks up where the last one leaves off. I hope Alex Jennings reads all of them.

good, but recycled

What did you love best about Best Kept Secret?

It kept me interested. However, I was disappointed to discover some subplots are recycled from previous works. A little "Kane and Abel", a little "Prisoner of Birth", and one chapter was nearly verbatim from "Sons of Fortune". Can you plagiarize yourself?

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I felt very invested in what happened to everyone in the story, kept me coming back whenever I had a moment to listen

The Series you can't put down....

This is a series of stories where you hang on every word, waiting for characters to return, crying with others and occasionally laugh at the British humor that carried them through some of the worlds most difficult times.

The characters are rich, the storylines compelling. You will want to rush to the next chronicle.

Great

Love the Clifton Chronicles series can't wait to listen to the next in the installment.