The Sins of the Father

The Clifton Chronicles #2

by Jeffrey Archer

Sins of the Father


Jeffrey Archer

It is only days before Britain declares war on Germany. Harry Clifton, hoping to escape the consequences of a family scandal, and realizing he can never marry Emma Barrington, has joined the Merchant Navy. When a German U-boat sinks his ship, Harry and a handful of sailors are rescued by the SS Kansas Star, among them an American named Tom Bradshaw. That night, when Bradshaw dies, Harry seizes a chance to bury his past—by assuming the man’s identity.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Historical, Thriller, Drama

415 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Jeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.

He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).

Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.

Reviews

[Lori Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this second installment of Archers Clifton Chronicles. Being already invested in these characters enabled me to enjoy this even more than the first. Movin' on to book three...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the second novel in the seven-book series, 'The Clifton Chronicles.'

In the first book, Only Time Will Tell, Englishman Harry Clifton was about to marry his great love, Emma Barrington, when a surprise revelation derailed the wedding. Turns out Emma's father - shipping heir Hugo Barrington - probably sired Harry as well, back in the days when Harry's mother was an impulsive young woman.

World War II was about to break out and a downcast Harry went off to join the British Navy. His ship was sunk and Harry was rescued by a U.S. ocean liner. When an American sailor named Tom Bradshaw died, Harry - wanting to escape his family drama - assumed Bradshaw's identity. This was a mistake! On landing in New York 'Tom Bradshaw' (Harry) was arrested for killing his brother.....and Harry's people were notified that he died at sea.

As The Sins of the Father opens Harry is in New York, about to be tried for murder. A powerful attorney named Sefton Jelks, who has a secret agenda, arranges a plea deal and Harry is sentenced to six years in prison. While he's incarcerated Harry makes friends with a fellow inmate, deals with a sadistic guard, works in the prison library, keeps a diary, and is a model prisoner.....all of which leads to some important opportunities and events.

Meanwhile, back in England Emma Barrington gives birth to Harry's son. She also figures out that Harry might not be dead and - leaving the baby with relatives - goes to New York to investigate. Emma is an exceptionally clever, resourceful woman who finds out what she needs to know.....and eventually helps take down some avaricious men. I love Emma!!

Concurrently, Maisie Clifton (Harry's mother) works in a hotel restaurant and enrolls in classes to learn how to read and write. In the course of the story Maisie deals with Stan - her vicious bully of a brother; and Hugo Barrington - who's determined to buy the bombed out lot that once housed Maisie's tea shop. Maisie also acquires a couple of very respectable admirers. :)

WWII is now in full swing and Giles Barrington (Emma's brother and Harry's best friend), who'd rather party than fight, nevertheless joins the Wessex Regiment. Giles turn out to be a brave and capable soldier whose experiences on the battlefield - and in a POW camp - are impressive and compelling.

As for Hugo Barrington - he's still a ruthless, selfish man who lies, cheats, steals, and uses people. Hugo would do anything to get his way, even if it hurts his own family. When Hugo's father - Sir Walter Barrington - dies, Hugo becomes head of Barrington Shipping, which doesn't bode well for anyone.

The story contains a variety of interesting secondary characters, including: a prison warden; a literary agent; a book publisher; a butcher; a teacher; Emma's New York relatives; a Polish aristocrat; a private detective; German officers; and more.

By the end of the book there's a question about the rightful heir to the Barrington title and fortune: Is it Hugo's legitimate son Giles; or Hugo's (presumably) illegitimate son Harry? This is the cliffhanger that ends the narrative.

The book has a sort of 'fairy tale' vibe since the 'good guys' - though they face much uncertainty and hardship - generally prevail. And the 'bad guys' - who tend to be stereotypes (brutal bully; unscrupulous lawyer; greedy businessmen; etc.) - usually get what they deserve. In addition, who would believe Harry, who has an upper-class British accent, is an American? Still, I like the story so I'm willing to suspend disbelief (a little).

Fans of intricate family sagas and/or soap operas would probably like 'The Clifton Chronicles' and I strongly recommend this book to them.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK! Jeffrey Archer is the best at leaving you hanging and forcing you to buy his next book. I love this story. His characters wrap through history in this case WW II. When we last left Harry and Giles Harry was presumed dead and buried at sea. Emma has had Harry's son but she just cannot accept Harry is really dead. Indeed he is not as that was another loose end from the last book. He had taken the name and identity of an american sailor who was actually the one that died and was buried at sea. Well unbeknownst Harry Tom Bradshaw is suspected of killing his brother. The story follows the fate of Giles, Harry, Emma, Sir Hugo, and Harry's intrepid mother Maisie. Again in the end he has left a REALLY BIG cliff hanger.

[Nirmalya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lord Archer I do believe it's time to stop writing. The Clifton Chronicle's second book Sins Of The Father was undoubtedly your worst work. The good people are classless, brave, ingenious and courageous whereas the bad ones are class-conscious, inept, upper-class arrogant berks. They are just rehashes of all the old books. If this keeps going on you might take Chetan Bhagat's place in my heart! We have read it a million times before; the lower-class kid who excels at everything and befriends the upper-class lad whose life he transforms, how the Brits stuck it to the Germans, how the Brits are different from the Yanks. I can't explain how disappointed I was with the book. By the end of the book you don't freaking care of Harry's Hugo's son or not. It's becoming harder and harder to believe that this was the same man who gave us Kane and Abel and The Prodigal Daughter.

The thing is I grew up on Jeffrey Archer and I can't not read a new Archer book but it's getting harder and harder to be loyal. Can't say I am really looking forward to part three in the Clifton Chronicles.

[☮Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. It has been a while since I read book #1, Only Time Will Tell, so had forgotten just how much I liked it. I love the characters (the women are just awesome), the family dynamics, the WWII period, all of it. Archer does like to leave you hanging, though, at the end of each book!

It being a series, I'm afraid anything I say will be spoilerish if you haven't read book #1 yet, so I'll just say that if you are considering starting another series, look into this one, the Clifton Chronicles.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my second Jeffrey Archer book, and although I enjoyed it, it didn't have the same impact as Only Time Will Tell. There were some significant plot twists in there, but I already saw the majority of those coming.

There were little side stories going on which really had little significance to the main plot. I get the feeling these were put in to bulk up the book. Unfortunately in parts, I found scenes to be somewhat rushed, and inevitably, this left me leaving me feeling rather dissatisfied.

Despite my negativity, I did read this rather quickly, and Archer certainly has a talent with engrossing his readers, and I'll happily admit, I already have the third book in the series Best Kept Secret on it's way to my letterbox.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I didn't like this book as much the first one, but I still enjoyed it enough to pick up the third book in a while.

[Mj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning - this is a biased review - I am a HUGE Jeffrey Archer fan. Like his other works of fiction, this is a fast-paced, plot-driven book, one you won't want to put down until you're finished reading the entire story. There is never any blood, gore or violence in Archer's books. He just writes a good story with lots of plot twists and turns.

The Sins of the Father is Book 2 in The Clifton Chronicles. It is better if you read - Only Time Will Tell Book 1 first for better understanding and hence more enjoyment of Book 2.

If you haven't tried Jeffrey Archer before, I highly recommend trying this new series. You'll discover why Jefrrey Archer is Britain's top selling author. Even if you only read the classics or what is often termed "literature", give this series a try for a darn good, well-written story that keeps you wanting more. I myself can't wait for the next one.

[Tahani Shihab · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ما زلت أملك ورقة واحدة تحت كمي”.

جيفري آرشير.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in "The Clifton Chronicles" picks up where volume one, Only Time Will Tell, left off. Our protagonist, Harry Clifton, has sailed to America as World War II is about to start. His ship is sunk by a German U-boat. Harry and the ship's third officer, Tom Bradshaw, are rescued by an American cruise liner, the SS Kansas Star. When Bradshaw dies Harry decides to assume his identity in order to escape his past. In doing so he finds that he has gone from the frying pan into the fire. Turns out that Bradshaw is wanted for the murder of his brother and Harry winds up in prison. Family and friends in England are told that Harry died at sea.

Emma Barrington, Harry's true love, doesn't believe that Harry is dead. Despite her privileged background she leaves their son behind, gets a job on the SS Kansas Star, and sails to America to find Harry. She shows her intelligence, resourcefulness, and unwavering faith in her endeavor. You would never guess that she grew up in a manor house with servants waiting on her.

Giles Barrington, Emma's brother and Harry's best friend, in the meantime joins the Wessex Regiment and shows his bravery on the battlefield and in a German POW camp. Before the war he may have enjoyed the good life and playing Cricket but when needed he proves to be a leader.

Hugo Barrington continues his part of villain and Maisie, Harry's mother, is wonderful. If you read the first book in the series you know the question is who is Harry's father? Hugo Barrington? Or Arthur Clifton? Who inherits the Barrington title and fortune? Harry? Or Giles? The story ends with a cliffhanger. Presumably the answer will be revealed in book three, Best Kept Secret. Overall I enjoyed this book despite it being more soap opera than historical fiction.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, and it is NOT a stand-alone. The Clifton Chronicles are, as you may have guessed, a series of books about generations of the Clifton family. This one spans the period of WWII and it was interesting to see it from both the European and American sides.

This book may be kind of sappy, (it's DEFINITELY sappy as compared to my normal reading), and all the characters are pretty much black or white, there are no grays here. That said, I found it to be great fun and I will be continuing on with the series.

[AB · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.4/5

Fantastic Novel!
I loved all the characters (Except Hugo, of course!), I am still so nervous about what's happening. Find an answer for god's sake! I don't know what kind of turns the next novels are going to take. I will be reading the next novel, I hope.

[AnnaG · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pacy plot with many twists, the Clifton Chronicles go through valour, deception, greed and devotion during the Second World War.

[Simon Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel doesn't stand alone - you must read Only Time Will Tell first - and has no more than a couple of chapters of plot relevant to the bigger saga. Or perhaps 1.9 chapters, given that the single thread defining this novel is left incomplete. As a result, this short book is stuffed with exceptionally dull filler.

I know that people are generally advised to "write about what you know", but surely no-one can have failed to have groaned when a Jeffrey Archer protagonist wrote a prison diary. Nor when the same protagonist starts armed forces training. Nor when his first book sells well in North America, allowing a lucrative deal to be sealed for its UK distribution. Nor when a character becomes an MP. Nor when the plot moves to the House of Lords. It's as though Archer has taken Private Eye's Jeremy Longbow as inspiration rather than ridicule.

The one advantage this volume has over its predecessor is that the repetitive structure, and the odd affliction of only the first chapter in each section being written in the first person, has been dropped. All other faults of the first volume remain: the ludicrous co-incidences, the politics bleeding through into the plot, the clichéd characters, and so on. Archer has promised "at least" five books in this series: at this rate, I can't imagine there will be many readers left by the fifth.

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part II of the seven volume Clifton Chronicles.The story of Harry Clifton continues.
He assumes the identity of another man,spends time in prison,writes a book and fights in World War II.

The book starts off with a detailed description of prison life,something that happens in Archer's books quite frequently,since his own time in prison.And it is about a wrongfully convicted man,which Archer believes himself to be,when he was convicted.

But thankfully,it is not all about prison life and the story moves on from there.

Emma Barrington,the mother of Harry's child,goes to the US,looking for him.His friend Giles Barrington also fights in World War II.

The story of the evil villain,Hugo Barrington reaches its conclusion as well. Harry's mother Maisie Clifton is courted by multiple suitors.

The focus remains on the identity of Harry's father,as that would have a bearing on his future.But that identity still cannot be proved,in this book.

Not bad,but rather slow at times.And Archer stretches out the story for another five volumes.I guess I'll read those too.

[Patrice Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This book was won through a Goodreads giveaway!

2nd Disclaimer: If you're looking for a completely unbiased review this is not the place for you!

I have finally completed The Sins of The Father by Jeffrey Archer, the second installment to his Clifton Chronicles. This novel picks up exactly where Only Time Will Tell leaves off with the arrest of Harry Clifton after he assumes the name of Tom Bradshaw. Bradshaw is being accused of murdering his brother and is taken into custody with no reprieve. Before long Harry finds his self in jail after being convinced by his high power attorney that it's in his best interest to take a plea of giulty for desertion so that the state will drop the charges of murder. From then on, the story of Harry moves at warp speed.

The Sins of the Father also follows the progression of Emma Barrington, Harry's only love, and his mother Maisie. The novel shares the point of view of four five focal characters that are integral to the story's progression. Archer recounts the happenings of Hugo Barrington, Emma Barrington, Maisie Clifton, Giles Barrington, and Harry Clifton over the years during War World II. Each character is unforgettable and that is what's most enticing about these novels. I have to know what happens to them. It's not an option not to.

Although Archer's writing can be pretty simplistic and his themes, love, greed, family, are pretty formulaic, I can't help but being a huge fan of his since I reading Kane & Abel. There's nothing complicated about Archer's writing but I don't feel it has to be in order to get it's point across. There're few writers I've read that I can open their books that morning and be done with it by the evening. His characters are always interesting, the situations always seem impossible, and his cliff-hangers leave resolution to be desired. I can't wait to read the next installment in this series The Best Kept Secret. It looks to be just as fun as the last two were.

[ولاء شكري · Rating 4 out of 5]

إن إرسال الرجال إلى موت غير ضروري ليس عملاً قيادياً البتة، وإنما هو مجد باطل.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeffrey Archer at his best in this, the second in the Clifton heptalogy, picking up where he left off. The reader learns a great deal more about some of the key characters that fill the plot lines leading into the Second World War. Harry, who took on another man's identity after a military incident, soon learns that his gamble did not pay off and he finds himself incarcerated in New York. Harry spends that time honing his writing skills in jail and is eventually drafted into battle with US Forces. Meanwhile, Emma is a new mother and learns of Harry supposed 'death at sea' but refuses to believe it. She travels over the Atlantic to investigate for herself, discovering Harry's writing and goes in search of the love of her life. While she is not able to locate him, she soon becomes is literary advocate and continues to track him down, only to discover that Harry's been shipped off to Europe. Giles finds himself on the continent as well, fighting the Germans before he is captured and sent to a POW camp. Hugo, who's been banished from his own family, is causing havoc and sowing his seed with another unwitting woman while still trying to plot the downfall of anyone Clifton. Maisie is his most recent target, as he tries to bully her into selling the land on which her teashop once stood. In the end, he meets his demise, but the question of Harry's paternity takes centre-stage as the Barrington inheritance must be decided. Newly elected Labour Member of Parliament Giles Barrington watches on as the House of Lords debates the rightful heir, even though Harry wants nothing to do with it. Another stellar cliffhanger leaves Archer fans cursing, but applauding all at the same time. Wonderful continuation of the series sure to keep readers up late into the night.

Archer remains a powerful narrator and linguistic sculptor, presenting the reader with a wonderful story that expands with each passing chapter. Renewing the layered narrative approach, the reader is treated not only to numerous plot lines through the eyes of various characters, but also a powerful addition to the central story with each section. The reader may bask in the exciting set of plots on which the novel continues to build. While the story has yet to really focus on a second (or third) generation, Archer had laid the groundwork for this and has a number of storylines ready to blossom. Patience, eager reader, as I am sure it all comes to pass soon.

Kudos Lord Archer for this powerful piece of work. Keep building and you will surely capture the hearts and minds of many more readers before too long.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Rohit Enghakat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be injustice to give this book less than five stars. Continuing with the Clifton family saga, the book gets more interesting with the second volume. More twists and turns with a liberal sprinkling of adventure, this is a delightful story from Archer, the master story-teller. I finished this in a marathon reading session over two days flat, my shortest time yet in a long while. It was so engrossing that you constantly want to know what happens in the next page.

Can't wait to get my hands on the third volume.

[Eddie Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second part of the Clifton chronicles and I have already reviewed part one, Only Time Will Tell, so not much more to say.

Archer is a storyteller; in a more ancient life, he would have told entertained the villagers around the camp fire, with tales of great hunters and mythical beasts.

He uses fantastic locations and events where it's almost impossible not to tell an interesting story: an American prison, WWII etc, but it is all done very skillfully.

A quick and enjoyable read.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a page turner, especially the middle section of the novel. The beginning & end were surprisingly somewhat boring. The book was divided into different parts base on the main characters. I found the chapters on Emma Barrington by far the most fun & interesting to read. Overall, this novel was a pretty good read for a second Clifton Chronicles entry. A must read for JA fans.

[Elisa Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um livro que cobre a Segunda Guerra Mundial, vista pelos prismas respectivos das personagens que acompanhamos do primeiro livro.

Enganos, decepções, malvadezas, morte. Eis os componentes deste enredo familiar e que tantas reviravoltas dá.

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sins of the father is one of those ambiguous titles which may fit more than one character. But the most sinful AND the most fruitful of them is Hugo Barrington. The way the book is written simplifies reading. Each section carries its own motivations and villains. The most enjoyable passages for yours truly were the Maysie Clifton and Hugo ones.

The sins of the father unabashedly panders to being a commercial page turner. Having read a couple of Jeffrey Archer books about 20 years ago, I've come to the thought, having read this book, that the author has simplified his writing to confirm a boost in sales. The story has few surprises, for a historical novel where the main person is supposed dead. This choice may have forced the author when he decided not to make his protagonists suffer too much.

When Harry is incarcerated, I was totally certain that there will be grim accounts of him being subject to amorous advances from customers criminally tougher than Harry. The words rape and butt sex kept coming to me and I wanted such accounts to be dealt through quickly so we can move to saner things. But my fears were unfounded. I can offer no clearer evidence of how sanitized this book is than to mention the lack of prison rape.

Like I said, the writer treats his character with great care. The saddest chapter, IMHO, is the very first one. Each section of the book is dedicated to one character. And these sections consist of tiny arcs where good and bad things happen quickly and successively. The people concerned never suffer much, and if they do, it's not for long. The deaths of Terry Bates, Quinn and doubtlessly, Olga are rushed. I was so sad for Olga. Her motivations are fake, but this fake person suffered the most in the book. For me, her case is even more a waste of life than those fallen in war.

Jeffrey Archer had to write a book with conflict, but he does his utmost to keep rewarding his readers with a flurry of mini happy endings. What's more, the writer pitched a series of happy endings at the end and punctuated the book with a cliffhanger. Return of the King, eat your heart out. This is why I believe that the writer accepted the limitation on his imagination and embraced his book's paucity of originality. I think the author's first notes didn't differ from the final output in quality. And that is not a sin. I recommend this book to people who like to read bestsellers.

[S.V. Divvaakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began reading this book a few days after having read its predecessor. Although it was enjoyable in parts, i must say that i didnt feel all those 'wow' moments I experienced in 'Only Time Will Tell.'
My reasons:
First, you cant appreciate this book without having read the other, so that is already a dependence, a handicap which must be recognised - it is not a level playing field. Second, the Prisoner's Diary bit is already a borrowed theme from Jeffery Archer's non fiction chronicle of his experiences. Third, knowing that there is a third book coming, one could predict the tied vote in Parliament, but it is a let down for someone who may not want to go further with the trilogy only to find out about the vote. It is as though Jeffery has asked us all to wait through a long commercial break. Many may have forgotten the first one by then.

But even accepting commercial logic perspectives, my problem is with the content novelty. Do I detect a struggle to put in a number of smaller stories for the bulk? Strangely, I enjoyed Hugo Barrington more than the protagonists, he remained true to himself until the end.

In any case I did finish it in one sitting, which speaks for the stickiness factor characteristic of Jeffery Archer. But then, when you've read all his books, you can think like him at times and anticipate his twists now. Looking for a real pencil-chewing Sudoku in the next one...

[Samyuktha jayaprakash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the BEST book I have read in the 16 years of my life. Sure I am an archer fan , but my expectations weren't really high after the average only time will tell (with a stunning finish though)
BUT OH MY GOD. I started reading the book at about 4 thinking I would read some chaps during the two hour power cut. Being lazy nowadays - I had convinced myself I am losing my appetite for books. But Archer just proved that my tummy is destined for unseen obesity levels!
Like another reviewer wrote , the book just sucked me in and didn't let me move an inch till the very last page , cursing the author for not writing more and now here I am waiting for the release of the next book.
the sins of father , has everything a Jeffrey Archer book has. right from the prison accounts which are a trademark ever since the author's brief stay in the prison to the war and political aspects which are found in almost all his books. There is also the 'unseen' romance like paths of glory and hell! EVERYTHING that you could ask for.
Harry clifton , Giles Barrington and Emma and Maise and surely Sir walter barrington maybe the most regal and awesome characters created EVER. It is sad how all the friends who help these characters die =( but someone has to die in the was right? :P

P.S - Semi is back to the reading business B|

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need more Harry! I totally understand the title of the book though. More Emma, more Giles this time around definitely more Hugo
Speaking of Hugo...total prick I haven't detested a male character that much in quite some time. And of course, Archer sets the ending so that I have to immediately begin book 3 IMMEDIATELY

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was one rip snorting ride that Jeffrey Archer has given us. I have read so many family sagas from the likes of Trollope, Delderfield, Follett and Susan Howatch, and this series is as good as, if not better than those works.
Called the Clifton Chronicles, this is the story of the Clifton and Barrington families and there are more plot twists and excitement than one person can describe. A fast reading book, this book is divided up into sections based on the Characters in the book and follows them through their respective sections. Chapters are 5-10 pages in length and the book moves quickly (sometimes a bit too quickly) through the World War 2 years and all the intrigue that involves the family.
You really need to begin this series with the first book because, unlike some other authors, Archer moves quickly into action mode and does not recap what happened as thoroughly, as other writers, what happened in the prior book. I had read Book 1 about 2 year ago and found myself floundering a bit at the beginning of this book (the first 20 pages) until I just started reading and not worrying what had happened previously. I now have all the other books in this series, and as soon as I finish this review I will begin Book 3 on my Kindle - these books are that good and the stories are that engrossing! If you have not read Archer he is quite a colorful character in his own right and so it should come as not surprise that his books are great and fun reads.

[Nilesh Jasani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clifton Chronicles should have been a single book and not broken into five - this becomes much clearer with the Sins of the Father. More like any middle sections of even good stories, this book is meaningless for anyone who does not remember the details of events from Book 1. The story moves along but appears without any plot and certainly without any satisfactory end to any of the major intrigues.

On the positive side, witty, charming dialogues continue between largely likeable characters. The truly evil character is meted with appropriate denouement in surprisingly quick and efficient manner. The sub-plots and side-stories continue to hold readers' interest.

Overall, the biggest fear for anyone reading the Chronicles in real time is that by the time the next episode comes out, one would have forgotten so many finer points of the tales. It is likely that anyone reading the entire series in one go may derive more value from this book but as a stand-alone, this is a weak book despite the usual Archerisque writing and characters.

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the Clifton Chronicles series. We catch up with Harry Clifton as he disembarks the Kansas Star in America,only to be promptly arrested for murder.He had assumed the identity of Tom Bradshaw, a Navy officer who perished in the U-Boat attack. And now he's in a mess.
Meanwhile Emma Barrington, Harry's love and mother to his son, has embarked on a quest to find out what happened to Harry. Her quest leads her to the States,where she finds she is truly out of her element as she wends her way through the brash new world that is New York City.
Confused? Well, you need to read the first book in the series, Only Time Will Tell. This is not a stand alone book. You need the background or you will be lost through most of the book.
Lord Archer's attention to detail is a double edged sword. While I appreciate the details that help me understand the ins and out of English society, the droning on and on about who was going to inherit the family title in the last pages made me do some serious skimming. I know he was setting up for the big finish/cliffhanger, but he almost lost me.
I did appreciate the humor in Emma's experiences in NYC.The colloquial and societal differences made for some much needed humor in a tense but drawn out situation, as she tries to find out what happened to Harry.
I look forward to continuing the series. Jeffrey Archer is a master at bringing history to life.
Thank you to St.Martin's Publishing through Goodreads for opportunity to read this. I received this through a Goodreads giveaway.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Clifton Chronicles series by Jeffrey Archer. Following on swiftly from the previous novel I continued this addictive family saga written in true Jeffrey Archer fashion. Great characters, intriguing plots and so so addictive storytelling.

Continuing the story of Harry Clifton we follow his arrival in America where he is arrested for first degree murder, for killing Bill Bradshaw. He is sentenced to death by the electric chair having been found guilty.

This is another very enjoyable read and once again I have no option but to carry on with the next instalment.