Harry Clifton grew up poor in Bristol. He lived with his mom Maisie, his uncle Stan and his grandma and grandpa. Harry was told that his father Arthur was killed in the war, something he later learned was a lie. Stan worked at the dockyard and Harry would always follow him there to watch all of the loading and unloading of the cargo ships. It's at the docks that Harry meets old Jack Tar, just one of the people who change Harry's life.

School soon gets in the way of Harry's time at the docks and when it's discovered that Harry could sing like an angel; his world once again changes, as his voice gives him the chance to advance his station with a choral scholarship at St. Bede's boarding school. At school, Harry meets his two best friends Deakins and Giles.

Maisie wants her son to have every advantage that she never had, but sending Harry to St. Bede's, even with a scholarship will cost a lot of money. Harry is growing up quickly and will soon learn that everything is not as it appears to be.

Only Time Will Tell is the debut book in author Jeffrey Archer's The Clifton Chronicles. This grand, impressive tale takes readers on a magnificent adventure they won't want to end. I was instantly drawn into this intriguing, multi-dimensional story and found myself reading straight through the night to finish the entire book. You can't help but fall in love with Harry and the many characters he meets along the way. Harry was such a little scamp as a young boy and watching him grow up, surmounting the many obstacles in his way, was incredible. Maisie was a hardworking, devoted mother; Jack was a complicated, riveting man who proved to be the father that Harry never had. The extraordinary cast of characters in this novel is numerous, but each one is fleshed out and realistic, warts and all.

Mr. Archer has written a dynamic, entertaining, heart-warming tale that holds you in awe from the very beginning to the cliffhanger ending. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in The Clifton Chronicles and highly recommend Only Time Will Tell, the unforgettable introduction to Harry Clifton's world.

Reviewed by: Tammy