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

Plot without characters

I enjoyed the previous two books and was disappointed with this third installment. Unlike some of the other reviewers, however, my disappointment was not with the abrupt ending. It was with the novel itself. The story 'reads' like a plot outline -- with absolutely no character development whatsoever even by Jeffrey Archer's standards. So Character A, for example, will go from being a difficult child to a model adolescent with absolutely no explanation as to what brought the change about. Character B, besotted with his wife and willing to forsake all else at her request, is able to move on from his infatuation at the drop of a dime. Of course, the infatuation seems absurd from the start since Character C, the wife, is a cartoonish Cruella Deville without a single redeeming quality -- and the fact that Character B fell madly in love with her seems, well, out of character. In this novel, the characters are all lowercase and act however they have to at that moment in order to move The Plot along. And, believe me, The Plot moves...at dizzying speed and in all kinds of preposterous directions. It's almost like if Archer is thinking of what will happen next as he types! In fact, I am not even sure what "the Best Kept Secret" was meant to be since the story line regarding what I THOUGHT was "the secret" does not get resolved. In fact, it is not even mentioned in the last 50 or more pages of The Plot. (Could it be that the audible production did leave a section out?) If you are a Jeffrey Archer fan, by all means, download it. It's not deep, but it is kind-of entertaining. I am sure I will buy the next one.

IT'S BRILLIANT

If you could sum up Best Kept Secret in three words, what would they be?

I read/listen to many books that don't capture me and every time Archer just gets it right. The way he is detailed without lingering too long over something. He brings tension from the start and holds you always wanting more. I find his knowledge of so many aspects of life outstanding and I find him highly intelligent. I have loved the Chronicles and cant wait for the next.

He really is exceptional. Well I think so.....

What did you like best about this story?

the tension and details

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

I thought it was ready brilliantly and his accents and change from character to character was so distinguishable. Excellent

WHAT A GREAT SERIES

Jeffrey Archer has once again written a great series. As great as Kane and Able.

Shame on Jeffrey Archer

After eagerly waiting for this part to be published,I finished listening to this book last night and I was furious for the reasons mentioned by other reviewers-We don't know what secret Archer had a mind; I understood that this was a trilogy so the ending was a shock; I thought it would have more to do with Emma and Harry; it was just all over the place. I was glad I had lived in England because the whole political scene, which went on too long, would have been confusing. I may or may not purchase the next part. The narrators did a good job.

Should have stopped at two

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I was frustrated that I had spent the time listeneing to this story

If you’ve listened to books by Jeffrey Archer before, how does this one compare?

Felt like it was at a level well below the others

What three words best describe Alex Jennings and Emilia Fox ’s performance?

Average to fine

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

It's not too bad.

There have been some bad reviews about this book. I found it to be in line with Mr. Archer's others in the series and the performance was just as good. Remember, this is part of a series and there needs to be a build up for the story line. Trust me if you like the Clifton Chronicles this is a must.

Out of nowhere, the book ended. Ridiculous ending

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I really enjoyed the series until the end of this book which smacked of the "publisher is on my case, I better finish it." If there is another book in the series I could accept the ending... but barely.

Any additional comments?

I had not noticed previously but in this book Archer's technical knowledge lacks the depth to describe some aspects of the book.

Good listen for train rides

Story kept my interest with plot twists. Characters while somewhat predictable and idealistic, they are all like able. Good listen for long train rides.

Continuing On

Just another book with more tragedies, but the smuggling story was good. There are times when the author gets into minutia.

Another great book with another astonishing ending

Great characters and fast moving plot and incredible endings that make you want the next one now.