Only Time Will Tell

Bristol boy Harry Clifton is something extraordinary. Born into a family of illiterate dockworkers, raised as an orphan by a mother who waits tables to support the family, he nonetheless has extraordinary talents that will take him well out of that world. Backing him up is Old Jack Tarr, the dock’s night watchman with his own secrets to keep. On the other side is Hugo Barrington, heir apparent to the shipping empire that employs Harry’s family and the father of Harry’s best friend, who has his own reasons for wanting to see Harry, and his indomitable mother Maisie, utterly destroyed.

The first in a planned five-part series, this novel already as an epic feel to it, covering nearly nineteen years of Harry’s life and involving a show more series of mysteries and machinations. What really happened the night Arthur Clifton disappeared, never to be seen again? And was he Harry’s father at all? How far will Hugo Barrington go, and can he succeed against the combined efforts of Maisie, Old Jack, and Harry’s other supporters? And looming over the novel’s end, will Harry and his schoolmates be drawn into war against Germany? There’s a very old-fashioned feel to the novel and I found it utterly compelling. I had it on audiobook and found myself lingering over the dishes so I could keep listening to it in my iPod. show less

Compulsively readable. A sprawling epic with a large supporting cast. Sure, there are issues with plot and characterization but that stuff simply does not matter. The only thing that does matter is turning the page to see what happens next. Archer is a master of this type of tale and this first installment quickly draws the reader in and, at the end, leaves them wanting more, (drums fingers on arm of chair while waiting for library hold on books 2 and 3).

I haven't read Jeffrey Archer for years, but this one makes me wonder why. This new series featuring Harry Clifton, son of a dockworker (or is he the son of an uppercrust 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 show more 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. show less

Many authors have tried to tell stories from multiple character perspectives. Unfortunately, most times it creates more problems than it solves. Not so with Jeffrey Archer's Only Time Will Tell. In this case, the sum of the storytelling is far greater than the parts. Archer weaves a tale filled with twists and turns along with new insights with each character's new perspective. Rather than bogging the flow of the story down, Archer is able to enhance the overall story and provide a level of depth to each character than would be impossible otherwise. And it's a look at pre-WW2 England as well.

How good is Only Time Will Tell? So good that I can't stop thinking about Harry and Emma. So good that I have to pick up the sequel right away. show more That's pretty darn good. show less

Brilliant as usual! I have to say though, that the method of story telling was completely different than his usual, and I can't remember reading a book written in this interesting manner before. There is "the" story- told from each character's point of view. I can see that maybe the retelling of the same story several times might annoy some readers, but I found it fascinating. Each character has his own take on a situation and reacts accordingly. Reading the story felt just like doing a jigsaw puzzle. My daughter is reading the same book now and did say that she was confused. I told her, as I found out, that if you just keep reading- the knots will work themselves out.

Based in Bristol, England between WWI and WWII. The story itself is show more interesting, and fortunately the sequel will be out in just a couple of weeks. show less

This is my 2nd Jeffrey Archer book and it sucked me in even faster than the first one. A little cliche on the who's the father and how did one of them die but the book is so much more. The child's illiterate poor 1920's mother sacrifices everything so her son can go to a better school and have a better life. The character development is amazing and the plots twists, while maybe easy to guess, still draw you on the strength that you feel for the characters.

This book is the first in a series so there is a large cliff hanger at the end which I find annoying but you'll be sure that I'm looking for the next book at the 2nd hand shop

While reading the complimentary copy of "Only Time Will Tell" that I received from Goodreads First Reads, I continuously suffered the torment of not telling my spouse (who never ever wants to hear one word of a book before he picks it up) the wonderful news of this extraordinary story line. But, the read was so very good that I repeatedly toyed with encountering the great wrath of the pure virgin reader throughout. The brilliantly developed characters are fascinating, the complex plot line is beautifully woven, and the book is so thrilling that it kept me reading (to my employer's dismay) later each night. Yes, the ten foot tall person who wrote "Kane & Abel" is alive and doing extremely well in "Only Time Will Tell." As someone show more memorably said to me before I read "Kane & Abel," I am now envious of each of you who have not yet experienced the joy of such a read. show less