Only Time Will Tell

By Jeffrey Archer

Ambitious and addictive, Only Time Will Tell is the first novel in Jeffrey Archer’s The Clifton Chronicles, beginning the epic tale of Harry Clifton, a working-class boy from the docks of Bristol.

It is 1920, and against the backdrop of a world ravaged by conflict, Harry’s story begins with the words ‘I was told that my father was killed in the war’. Harry’s existence is defined by the death of his father and he seems destined to a life on the docks until a remarkable gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys school and entry into a world he could never have envisaged.

Over the course of twenty years, as the Second World War and the fight against Hitler draws nearer, Harry will learn the awful truth about his father’s death and of his own connections to a powerful shipping family, the Barringtons. And in doing so, he will change his destiny forever . . .

Richly imagined and populated with remarkable characters, The Clifton Chronicles will take you on a powerful journey, bringing to life one hundred years of family history in a story neither you, nor Harry, could ever have dreamt of.

Continue the bestselling series with The Sins of the Father and Best Kept Secret.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Release date: May 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9780230760387

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.

Reviews for Only Time Will Tell

[KendrickKirk · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I detest these partial stories meant to induce us to read following episodes, which I will not be doing.

[shannon.dolgos · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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...

[nwieme-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it.. only problem - it's number one in a series.. have to wait until spring of 2012 for the next installment... EXCELLENT!

[mjwebb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[amaraki-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining in its description of life in north England in the 1930's, however, the plot was quite predictable. A hook at end that I should have seen coming if I had bothered to think about it. I am still undecided on whether I liked the narration being split between all the various characters.

[paul_s-289480 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

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.

[fiverivers_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Yudith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this reading, but I am not able to find the second and third parts. (Translated from Spanish)

[Yeff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent series of short stories, with incredible tales, full of grace and amusing. An easy read that ties together unusual ends. (Translated from Spanish)

[snotbottom-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[shannon.doutt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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...

[leslie398 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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, who both did a fine job narrating.

[scolgo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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).

[rascalstar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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!

[iambookish-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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)

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[nevans1972 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[debs4jc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[terribooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[whirled_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Only Time Will Tell may be concerned with the British aristocracy and its secrets, but it holds no delusions of grandeur. This book - the first of Jeffrey Archer's 'Clifton Chronicles' series - is entertaining historical fiction, pure and simple. Archer makes engaging use of multiple narrators to introduce working class hero Harry Clifton, whose encounters with the wealthy Barrington family profoundly change his life. Its twists and turns are sometimes obvious, yet the book remains the sort of light and engaging page-turner that Archer's legion of fans have come to expect. Great fun.

[tony2704 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Story told from multiple points of view. I liked it so much i was straight on to the net to order the sequel. The twists in Archers writing never cease to keep you wondering

[pmaurer_11 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Multi book story, told from multiple points of view. Story told and retold from the perspective of many characters, which got somewhat tiresome. Interesting story, but I could have done without the retelling.i plan on reading the subsequent books in this story.

[csayban · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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. That's pretty darn good.

[geejays-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable and like all Archer books an easy read.

However, it is by no means anywhere up to the standard of previous books, such as Kane & Able.

In any case now onto Book 2 now.

[fremdeb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jeffrey Archer is a wonderful storyteller. I enjoyed this first in the Clifton Chronicles series just as much as I have his other titles. If you like stories involving generations of families and their intertwining lives, you should definitely read Jeffrey Archer. Highly recommended.

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The beginning of a family saga that starts off with Harry Clifton and his origins as son of a single mother and mysteries surrounding his father. We follow his childhood as he comes under the influence of various mentors who urge him to make the most of his musical talent and intelligence. His friendships and the solid adults who watch out for him help to balance the forces against him that seem truly evil as they escalate. This is a quick and easy page-turner, ending with a cliff-hanger that leaves the reader hungering for the next installment.

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The first book in a series introduces to young Harry Clifton, a young boy from a poor family who shows an extraordinary gift for learning things quickly and is thus sent off to increasingly more prestigious schools while his single mother Maisie scraps by a living to pay for his education in any way she can. Unbeknownst to Harry, his mother had a one-time fling with a wealthy local who may or may not be Harry's real father. To stir up the pot a little bit more, when Harry first attends boarding school, he quickly becomes best friends with Giles Barrington, the legitimate son of Harry's possible father.

Considering I've heard so much about Jeffrey Archer's remarkable prowess as a writer, I found that this book was not by any means mind blowing or out of the ordinary. The boarding school setting, the English countryside, the society/genteel manners versus the underclass, the poor boy making good, and so forth all feel like common enough themes in both literature and TV/movies that this book will feel a bit like echoes of other works. Apparently it's also semi-autobiographical as well, with Archer noting that the inspiration for Maisie was his own mother. That fact, along with many aspects of the story's plot/characters, reminded me a bit of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield.

Despite the somewhat clichéd melodrama, the book was interesting and compelling enough as well as decently written, even if it's not great literature. The characters are engaging, especially Maisie Clifton, although they are sometimes a bit one-sided. For instance, Harry is the quintessential good guy while Hugo is horrible all around; even his section doesn't give you much to go by in terms of allowing you to see his good side or to pity him/sympathize with him somewhat.

Speaking of sections, this book is told from various characters' points of views, sometimes overlapping years as a different character will shed new light on a situation that we already saw through someone else's eyes. I didn't mind the multiple re-tellings of certain events/periods in time from various viewpoints as we learn something new/different each time, but I greatly disliked like that Archer switches back and forth between first person and third person point-of-view with each new character's section. I found the first person parts the most compelling and wished he would have done more of those. But either way, I think it would have been better just to stick with either first person or third person and be done with it.

The love story between Harry and Emma seemed a bit tacked on to me and was not given enough time to fully develop realistically. Towards this part of the book, I was not sure whether I would continue on with the series, although I felt that would be most likely. But when Archer, cunning man that he is, ended with a cliffhanger, I knew I would immediately move on the next book in the series!

On a final note, Roger Allam and Emilia Fox both did very well at reading the book for the audio version.

[emkemi23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[librarian1204 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It has been awhile since I read an Archer book and I was pleased to win and read this one. The beginning book in a family saga is well done. The characters are engaging. Since each character tells the story from their point of view, sometimes it felt as if I was just re-reading. Look forward to see where this series will go from here.