Only Time Will Tell cover art

Only Time Will Tell

Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Only Time Will Tell

By: Jeffrey Archer
Narrated by: Roger Allam, Emilia Fox
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $19.11

Buy Now for $19.11

About this listen

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. Read by Emilia Fox, known for her role in Silent Witness, and Roger Allam.

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.

Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Fiction

Critic Reviews

Archer is on top form
I enjoyed the book and marvelled at both its pace and the imaginative cliffhanger ending, whetting our appetite for volume two
This is a cracker of a read. And quite 'unputdownable'. The whole thing about Jeffrey is that he has always had the knack of producing page-turners (Jerry Hayes)
You don’t sell 250 million copies of your books (250 million!) if you can’t keep an audience hooked – and that’s what Archer does, book after book. Archer’s audience will stick with him to the last. They want to know what happens next (Erica Wagner, Literary Editor)
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book. the story was so griping. I first found it a few years ago as a free book. After losing my password I couldn't get on for a long time, but this book has always been on my mind and I'm so happy I'll be able to continue along with the story.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Good storyline but I didn't realise it was part 1....my fault probably but you need part 2 to see how story ends. Terribly British accents of the narrators takes a bit of getting used to as well.

Good Storyline

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A great listen and well read too. Itching to get into Book 2 of the series.

Really enjoyed it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved it. So much in the book, like the characters. Looking forward to volume 2

Really enjoyed the story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I was pleasantly surprised with this title. Found I couldn't stop listening. The story and narration really brought the characters to life. I have now purchased more books in the series and look forward to hearing more of the ongoing saga.

Really enjoyed this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.