The second volume of the multigenerational family saga begun in Only Time Will Tell (2011) begins in 1939. Brit Harry Clifton, trying to run from his past, has adopted the identity of an American who was lost at sea, but Harry doesn't bargain for the dead American being wanted for murder. Meanwhile, Emma Barrington, Harry's lover (and the mother of his child), abandons her upper-crust life to journey to America, where, she believes, Harry is still alive. The novel spans the WWII years, but the war serves more as a backdrop to the story (although it plays rather a larger role in Harry's portion). Like Only Time Will Tell, the narrative unfolds through alternating points of view the first section is Harry's, the second Emma's, and so on and it isn't until we're most of the way through the novel that we are able to fill in the blanks. An excellent sequel to an ambitious novel and a definite indicator that this series could be destined for big things. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Something old (print publicity, television advertising) and something new (social-network advertising aimed to capitalize on Archer's 100,000 Facebook friends) will help drive the 300,000 first printing into eager readers' hands.--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist

Archer (Only Time Will Tell, 2011, etc.) continues The Clifton Chronicles with hero Harry Clifton still in harm's way. New readers will catch up early on. World War II: Harry is convicted in state (not military) court for military desertion. Next a hoary clich: a genial, wise old convict protects new prisoner Harry, the fresh fish. Characters receive alternating segments. First, Harry is sent to trial and prison. Then Emma Barrington, whose relationship to Harry is murky, departs England for the U.S., leaving behind a child Harry doesn't know has been born. Next comes Giles Barrington, Emma's brother and Harry's best friend. Despite period colloquial references, the prose has been Flesch-Kincaid-scrubbed to business-grade level. That aside, Archer can plot a story. Harry gets out of prison, along with his old convict buddy, by volunteering for a military special operations group, only to reappear near story's end to single-handedly capture Nazi Field Marshal Kertel's Nineteenth Armoured Corps. Emma learns Sefton Jelks, Wall Street attorney, was paid by a wealthy client to finagle Harry into prison. Jelks later is complicit in the theft of Harry's The Diary of a Convict, which becomes a bestseller under another convict's name. Giles becomes a hero at Tobruk, a prisoner of war, and then escapes. Emma and Gile's grandfather, Sir Walter, dies, and his ne'er-do-well son Hugo takes over the family business. He promptly runs the company aground but receives his comeuppance. Finally, the cast gathers in post-war England, where a paternity case is settled once and for all. An amusement suitable for airplane or beach reading. ]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

This latest installment in Archer's Clifton Chronicles series follows the multiple trials, tribulations, and sometime triumphs of working class Englishman Harry Clifton, his lady love Emma Barrington, and their numerous respective family members as they struggle, fight, and love their way across three continents during World War II. The tale is told from the point of view of several characters, and Alex Jennings and Emilia Fox provide narration that ably captures those characters, and render myriad voices and international accents--everything from from New York City cabbies to German officers and the stiff-upper-lipped British aristocrats. Fox particularly shines in chapters recounting the adventures of the stalwart Emma, who sets out on a mission to learn the fate of her lover that takes her from the comfort of her English homeland to the wilds of New York City. Fox skillfully brings this plucky, never say die character to life in this fast, entertaining summer listen, perfect for long drives or relaxing days in the sun. A St. Martin's hardcover. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In the second installment (after Only Time Will Tell) of Archer's five-volume saga, Harry Clifton, a Bristol dockworker's son, and Giles Barrington, the assumed heir to the Barrington estate, seek to enlist in World War II despite various obstacles. Harry joins the Merchant Navy and, after a German U-boat sinks his ship, is among a group rescued by an American cruise liner. He attempts to escape his past by assuming another sailor's identity but, as a result, lands in an American jail serving a six-year sentence. Meanwhile, the color-blind Barrington finagles his way into the British army, and Emma Barrington, Harry's intended, gives birth to a boy whose parentage, like Harry's, is a mystery. As usual, Archer permits his characters to drive the plot, enriching its multiple layers with their own perspectives. He also introduces semiautobiographical elements: Harry authors a series of diaries while serving as prison librarian, and in the concluding chapters, a debate regarding the Barrington Shipping fortune's legitimate heir demonstrates Archer's intimate knowledge of parliamentary procedures. VERDICT Although the plot twists and cliff-hangers seem sensational in spots, Archer's panache and sharp repartee maintain the excitement and sheer fun of reading this literary master. [See Prepub Alert, 10/31/11.]-Jerry P. Miller, Cambridge, MA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.