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    Only Time Will Tell
    Only Time Will Tell
    Only Time Will Tell
    Audiobook12 hours

    Only Time Will Tell

    Written by Jeffrey Archer

    Narrated by Roger Allam and Emilia Fox

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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 reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateAug 30, 2011
    ISBN9781427211477
    Author

    Jeffrey Archer

    Jeffrey Archer, whose novels include the Clifton Chronicles, the William Warwick novels and Kane and Abel, has topped bestseller lists around the world, with sales of over 300 million copies. He is the only author ever to have been a #1 bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries). A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer, and they have two sons, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

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    Reviews for Only Time Will Tell

    4/5

    679 ratings64 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This was a good story written in an interesting style. There were several parts each with the title of one of the characters. Each part began with a chapter telling the story in the first person. The remaining chapters of the part was in the third person, but in the point of view of that same character. The next part repeated at least part of the story already told, but in the point of view of another character. More of the story was revealed as well. There was good mystery and intrigue with well-developed characters. I found it well worth reading and enjoyable, but was disappointed with the cliff-hanger ending. I do not find myself invested enough in this story to continue reading the many sequels which I anticipate will also lead to such endings.
    • 5/5
      I love family sagas and this one by Jeffrey Archer does not disappoint. His writing is excellent and keeps you interested right up to the last page where a cliffhanger awaits and makes you want to pick up the next book immediately in order to find out what happens next. The cast of characters are very believable and a varied bunch; some are rich, some are poor, some are nice, some are evil, some you love and some you hate. The main characters have chapters dedicated to their side of the story and by the end of the book, we know all about them and what's going on in their life. This is one series that I definitely will read one book after another as it engrosses you and won't let you go. If you haven't started it yet, you don't know what you're missing but if you do, you won't regret it.
    • 3/5
      Only Time Will Tell is the first audiobook I've listened to in years, and it was part of the in-flight entertainment offered on my recent overseas trip.It has a playing time of 12 hours 30mins compared to a page count of 400 pages which was interesting and is also the first in a series called Clifton Chronicles with the next called The Sins of the Father.The story follows the life of Harry Clifton, beginning with him as a young boy from a working class family in the 1920's, living with his Mum, believing his Father died in the war. His beautiful singing voice doesn't go unnoticed and earns him a scholarship in an elite boy's boarding school where he becomes best friends with a boy from a wealthy family which changes the course of both families forever.This is a family saga, with family secrets gradually revealed in a careful and delicate way. I've read other family saga novels that seemed to have a quicker pace but this could have been because I was reading the stories and not listening to them; it was hard to tell.There weren't any great twists or big reveals that caught me off guard or characters that I absolutely fell in love with, although there is a very likeable character Jack Tarr who dispenses some wisdom throughout Harry's journey.All in all, a likeable tale, but not one that will linger in my memory for long.
    • 5/5
      Another fantastic Jeffrey Archer epic tale.The life of Harry Clifton is intertwined with so many others, and through the stories of Maisie, his mum; Harry himself; Hugo Barrington; Old Jack; his best friend Giles; and Giles' sister Emma the story unfolds - yet becomes more of a tangled web as it does so.A fabulous book!
    • 3/5
      I was hoping for something that was lighter. This is just not the type of book I wanted to read at this time so I found it uninteresting;
    • 5/5
      Only Time Will Tell is the first book in The Clifton Chronicles series. It is historical fiction at its best. Archer is a master story-teller who weaves together unlikely characters and situations. This book reminds me of Steinbeck's [East of Eden] with the Barringtons and the Cliftons. The story begins shortly after the end of the Great War and ends with the beginning of the WWII. What a cliff-hanger. I can hardly wait to get the 2nd book, [Sins of the Father]. 5 Stars!
    • 4/5
      First line:~ This story never would have been written if I hadn’t become pregnant~Amazon clearly knows their marketing! Offer a free book, the first of a series, and get people interested just before the next book is to be released! The 6th book of the Clifton Chronicles is being released on the 25th of Feb and by offering me a freebie they got me hooked on the series.I read a lot of reviews from professionals after I read this book and I have to say, disagree with these so-called “experts”. Most of them found the book lacking in manyareas. However, I really, really enjoyed it and have already recommended it to quite a few people. I found the characters believable and likeable, except for the ones we are supposed to dislike! I was connected to the main characters, Harry, his mother, his best friends and his lover. I found the intrigue of the mysterious aspects of the story to be compelling and I could hardly put the book down. Archer has a writing style that works for me. Fast paced, realistic dialogue, good character development, excellent descriptive prose. Archer tells this story from multiple points of view. The protagonist, Harry Clifton; his mother, Maisie; Harry’s best friend Giles Barrington; Hugo Barrington, the Antagonist and Giles father; Old Jack Tar, an older man and very good friend of Harry’s; and Emma Barrington, Harry’s lover and fiancée. Because of this, the story winds back and forth in time but never does it seem repetitive. Because each character has so much to add to the story, rather than boring me, I found it was an enriching experience that gave me more insight into the characters and what makes them tick. I found myself deeper and deeper into the story really caring about the characters and what was happening to them.Clearly I like family sagas! One summer, my early 20’s, I read all 16 novels in Mazo de la Roche’s Jalna series and practically cried when I came to the end and there was nothing more to read about this family. Wonder what will happen when I get to the end of book seven in the Clifton Chronicles?I can’t wait to start “The Sins of the Father’. I give this one 4.0 stars
    • 3/5
      Easy read, very strong character development, a family saga involving class, status, crime, money, etc. I am looking forward to reading the next in the trilogy
    • 3/5
      The epic tale of Harry Clifton's life begins in 1920, with the chilling words, 'I was told that my father was killed in the war'. But it will be another twenty years before Harry discovers how his father really died, which will only lead him to question: who was his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who worked in Bristol docks, or the first born son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?My Thoughts:This book I have loaned from work and all my collegues have said how good it is. I have never read any JA books and have never felt inclined too but will give anything ago.I did find this book a bit of a yarn. It wasn’t half as good as what I expected and from how they all raved at work about it I felt a little let down. What surprised me the most is that the story is a family saga which because I know very little about JA books, I wasn’t expecting the story line. I always imagined JA to write very complex stories about politics. How wrong I was !The story is told in sections focuses on each of the main characters. The first part of each section is told from the point of view in the first person then switches to the third person. This irritated me as I would have enjoyed the book more if the sections were told by the characters in the first person.I did find that Harry the main character seemed to fall on his feet and things seemed to fall into place quite easily. This I felt made the story quite sugary and even with that very last line I feel that in the next book things will work out ofr Harry again.Overall this book was an OK read but a sort of OK storyline but I really felt let down and found the book not as special and exciting as my friends at work did.
    • 5/5
      Only Time Will Tell is the first book in The Clifton Chronicles series. It is historical fiction at its best. Archer is a master story-teller who weaves together unlikely characters and situations. This book reminds me of Steinbeck's [East of Eden] with the Barringtons and the Cliftons. The story begins shortly after the end of the Great War and ends with the beginning of the WWII. What a cliff-hanger. I can hardly wait to get the 2nd book, [Sins of the Father]. 5 Stars!
    • 5/5
      The main character himself makes the book. The readers done fantastic job.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book of three in the Clifton Chronicles. This part of the epic tale follows Harry Clifton from his birth in 1920 to university days. Archer is a great storyteller and the story if filled with lots of twists and turns. Hugely entertaining! It ends with a cliffhanger, which is fine for me because I intend to continue with the series.This was an audiobook read by Roger Allam, possibly better known as Inspector Thursday, Endeavour's boss (the young Morse). He is the best narrator I've heard. I'd listen to him read a telephone directory. I may decide on the print version for the second in the series because Hallam only did this one. There was also an interesting interview with the author at the end when he said the novel is autobiographical.
    • 4/5
      A good novel which was entertaining and touching, though I'm not sure it would have achieved 'International Bestseller' status were it not penned by Jeffrey Archer? There are repetition issues as different characters remember the same incidents over and over again, but all in all an enjoyable read and I may be tempted to read the sequel in due course.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book in the series telling the story of the Clifton family. It starts with young Harry who has always been told his father died in WWI but knows the dates don't fit.We are taken with him as he gets older and the problems both in the family and to gain an education.Each section of the book is taken from the viewpoint of a different person's perspective. This means we can see things from two different points of view.As time goes on secrets from the past begin to unwind with consequences which can't be undone.A well written book which makes me look forward to the next in the series.
    • 1/5
      Slow and plodding. Having the same story written from multiple points of view magnifies the effect. It's not offensively bad but the story is hackneyed and contrived and the villain cartoonishly evil. All the plot twists are signalled better than trains on the railway and the protagonist is just sickeningly perfect, a Mary Sue to equal all others I've seen, except this one from a legitimate (?) author.
    • 5/5
      Loved it.. only problem - it's number one in a series.. have to wait until spring of 2012 for the next installment... EXCELLENT!
    • 3/5
      As with any art, the appreciation of it is purely subjective. All we can do is filter the art through our own perspective and perceptions, or own knowledge and experience. And so any review of a work of literature, as with a review of any art, is merely one individual’s opinion.Alas, with Jeffrey Archer’s much-beloved Clifton Chronicles series, I found myself underwhelmed. Having said that, I can also understand why some readers are much-enamoured of Archer’s style and saga.For me, I found the boy protagonist just too good to be true. He’s a golden boy. He can do no wrong, or when he does it turns out to be some profound life lesson. His character, as I found with all of the characters which populate Only Time Will Tell were little more than paper dolls Archer moved around on his predictable storyboard. There was really nothing new here.The plot wasn’t particularly new, nor was it modified to give an old subject fresh perspective. The ending was such an obvious, hit-the-reader-over-the-head cliffhanger, that I actually burst out laughing. And it wasn’t with delight.Was it entertaining reading? In the mindless pulp sense of the term, yes. Was it memorable or great literature? For me, definitely not. Would I read another in the series? Only if I were desperate for something to read.
    • 4/5
      Written solidly in the tradition of the English Novel. The early part of the book reminds me some of "Of Human Bondage", but not so maudlin. I found the novel engaging ( I read it right through ). The chronicle style with the story told from several points of view, worked well for this story. I wasn't bogged down by excessive repetition. The story is filled with "romantic novel" convolutions of relationships and events, some not quite so believable.

      I chuckled at the end as I can see I am "in" for another chronicle. Overall interesting and a good read.
    • 4/5
      Only Time Will Tell” is the opening volume in a new series from Jeffrey Archer. It covers the life of Harry Clifton, an English boy whose life starts out rather simply and then follows as he goes on to more interesting things.

      The plot starts when we take up Harry’s life starting around six, when he escapes the mundane life by getting a scholarship to a boarding school. The first half of the book takes full advantage of pretty much every cliche you’ve ever heard about English boarding schools — outgrown clothes, family sacrifice to buy required attire, sadistic prefects, social snobbery, cruel mockery, best friends acquired instantly, caning, critically important exams, crime blamed on the wrong party, nobility of character leading to brink of disaster, wise advice from a odd old man...

      The pace picks up as the story progresses. Harry’s mother struggles to find employment, becomes a tea-shop waitress, finally buys a tea shop (which then burns to the ground) and then resorts to prostitution... all to keep her boy in school. Harry finds love (but discovers they cannot be together), and prepares himself as his beloved Britain prepares for war once again.

      Although it is pretty clear that Archer has a good understanding of the class culture and attitudes of Britain between the two wars, this is not the type of historical fiction that will immerse readers in the times. Rather we only get brief glimpses of clothes, movies, cars and food, as they are woven into a well-constructed plot.

      The writing is slick, clear, smooth, drawing the reader along from page to page, but the thing driving this story is the plot. Archer knows how to dole out crumbs of suspense right up to the last page, which ends with an excellent cliffhanger, clearly meant to push the reader into purchasing Volume 2.


      This is a review of an ARC received in a First-Reads giveaway.
    • 4/5
      I chose this title because it was FREE on my Kindle Paperwhite. I am always apprehensive to try a new author, but I REALLY liked this book.

      Harry Clifton has been raised by his widowed mother, his Uncle, and grandparents. He has always been told that his father died in the war. He knows this isn't true, but the secret has never been revealed to him as to what actually happened. Did he run off? Or did something more sinister happen?

      The story that unravels is not for the faint of heart...because of his voice, Harry is given an unexpected gift of a scholarship to the boys' school. His fate might not end up being the shipyard after all...many secrets and lies are revealed throughout Harry's journey to adulthood.

      When his wedding is ruined and life as he knows it is changed, Harry finds a way to prepare himself for the upcoming war. While on a ship learning the ins and outs of being an officer, the ship that he is on is attacked and sinks. Harry survives the ordeal, and sets to assume a new identity...however, the identity he has chosen belongs to an alleged murderer...so Harry's first steps in America begin with handcuffs...

      Can't wait to read the next book in the Clifton Chronicles...



    • 4/5
      I was under the mistaken impression that this was a thriller when I picked up the Kindle & audiobook as a Whispersync freebie a few years ago. Instead, it's a historical fiction family saga (and does have some thrilling moments, especially towards the end!) set mostly in between-the-wars Bristol. 4* for the audiobook edition, but I think only 3½ for the book itself.

      I liked the use of two narrators, Roger Allam and Emilia Fox, and both did a fine job narrating.
    • 4/5
      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).
    • 4/5
      Only Time Will Tell is the first book in a series called The Clifton Chronicles which is expected to cover about 100 years of the Clifton family. The story begins in 1920 in Bristol, England where we are introduced to Maisie, the widow of Arthur Clifton and the mother of young Harry. Harry loves to spend time at the dockyards and wants to become a sailor. He has a beautiful voice and is eventually offered a scholarship to St. Bede’s, a posh boarding school, where he becomes best friends with the aristocratic Giles Barrington. What we don't know is that the week before her wedding to Arthur, Maisie spent the night with Hugo Barrington, Giles father. She has always assumed Harry is Arthur's son, but she can't be sure. The first two thirds of the book deal with Harry's life at the boarding school and his struggle to overcome his social position. He also spends a lot of time with a man who becomes his mentor, Old Jack Tar. Old Jack lives in a railway car at the docks and knows much of Harry's history, as well as the real story surrounding his father's death.If you like a big, bold family history that spans generations in a soap opera style you are going to enjoy this book. It's narrated by several different people and each section starts off with a name and a time frame. For example, Harry Clifton – 1920-1933, Maisie Clifton – 1921-1936, Hugo Barrington – 1925-1936, etc. This means that some of the same incidents were woven in multiple sections of the book and from different perspectives. I enjoy this style but it may slow the story down for some readers.I thought it was a fascinating look at what life in England was like between two different classes of people, in the period between World War I and the outbreak of World War II. This book primarily introduces characters, relationships, and conflicts that will be more fully developed in the remaining Clifton Chronicles (currently seven). The second book, Sins of the Father, picks up immediately after the first book. I listened to Only Time Will Tell in audio, narrated by Roger Allam and Emilia Fox, who were so outstanding I decided to listen to Book 2 in audio as well. I'm looking forward to spending the spring with the fascinating Clifton Chronicles.
    • 5/5
      This is the first book in a new series, and it promises to be great. The story is compelling and full of surprises and memorable characters. The setting is England and will be a saga spanning 100 years and reaching as far as New York. Harry Clifton is the central character.

      Jeffrey Archer is a great author with a readable style. It was a page-turner for me. I read it in just a few days reading only in late evening. The story weaves a complex web of events and characters together in ever-emerging ways. Just when you think you have things figured out, up pops a surprise. Wonderful storytelling. Be sure you get started on this book when it comes out next month, and keep up with each new book in the series. I can't wait to see what happenes next!
    • 3/5
      I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this book through Goodreads.
      I enjoyed this book and it's readability factor. The story reminded me quite a bit of a John Jakes novel. It was just a nice gentle story with a few small twists along the way. I appreciated the fact that most of the conflicts in the story were resolved fairly quickly. I was afraid that I would have to wait until the end of the trilogy for some of the details to be written.

      Sometimes it was a bit too soap opera like for me and I can almost predict what will be the eventual outcome of the romance between Harry and Emma. I also thought it was interesting that Archer named his lead character Harry. Was I the only one that kept thinking of the more famous "Harry" during Harry Clifton's school days?

      I'm sure I will read the next two books in the series just because it was enjoyable enough. The cliff hanger was actually a pretty good one.

      I would rate this 3.5 stars.

      (I wish GoodReads would give us the 1/2 star option)
    • 5/5
      A great yarn, told from different perspectives. A refreshing change from many of the books I have recently read, and I can't wait to continue the Clifton Chronicles to find out what happens next! Will definitely change my reading plans next year as I continue this trilogy. I'd forgotten how good a story teller Jeffrey Archer could be.
    • 4/5
      I received a free audio copy through Nook Audio a few months ago and it was a really good story. I am now ready to read the second in the series and I know it will be good. I would recommend this book to people who like history, war, and family drama. The book is a little slow going in the beginning to introduce the people and family in the story, but half way in it will pick up and once your in the story than it gets better from there.
    • 5/5
      I read this because first of all a friend loaded four of the books onto me just before Christmas, and secondly, because I have read some Jeffrey Archer novels and short stories quite a long time ago and enjoyed them.Crimes are committed and there is mystery but this book is on the very edge of the crime fiction genre (you will see from my labels that I have allowed myself to label it "not crime fiction"). To my mind it is more a historical saga focussing on the life of Harry Clifton.Harry is always told his father was killed in the Great War, but he himself was born in 1920, so he knows that just can't be true. Harry has "the voice of an angel" and that becomes his passport into a choral scholarship and a good education. Harry is a quick, intelligent child, who endears many people to himself, and behind the scenes they contribute to the costs of keeping him at school. And then what really happened to his father has left many people feeling guilty and they also keep a watchful eye on his progress. Ironically Harry's life becomes inextricably linked to the lives of the family who have done him the most damage.So here I am having enjoyed the first in the Clifton series and with the second ready at hand. The ending of the first has left me hooked to know what happens in the second.
    • 4/5
      Archer is a master of the rags to riches story and he completely enthralled me with this one. Harry Clifton is the lad who goes from poverty to attending a premiere boys school and eventually Oxford. He must face extreme obstacles along the way--not only is his mother widowed and poor, but he has a powerful enemy working behind the scenes to see that he does not succeed. One the one side there is Harry, his determined mum--Maisie, a mysterious figure called "Old Jack" who Harry befriends at the dockyards, and Harry's best friend at school, Giles. These people will do anything to see Harry succeed, but they often don't know the forces on the other side that are working against them. A deep, dark secret lies at the heart of it all and as the story moves along the reader--and Harry--get closer to knowing the truth. There is a lot of tension and drama as Harry takes two steps forward toward success, only to suffer setback after setback as his nemesis works against him.This story was chock full of drama and I keep wanting to read on to find out how Harry was going to succeed when the odds were so stacked against him. It ends with a twist that sets the story up for sequel. Fans of family dramas and stories about people overcoming the odds by using their brainpower with the help of their friends will greatly enjoy this one.
    • 5/5
      The first of the "Clifton Chronicles", this book has certainly captured my interest. It begins the story of two families in Britain in the years between the world wars, as we are introduced to Harry, his mother, best friend, girl friend, and others important to his story. Although Harry is the central character, I became really interested in his mother's story -- that's how well these characters have been developed. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I think cliffhanger endings are a cheap trick in a series.