Only time will tell- Perfect tick to its sequel

The famous line of Old Jack Tart-“ not cut from the same cloth”- , perhaps, describes best Hugo Barrington in the novel but it is more suitable in describing this Jeffrey Archer’s ambitious work of Clifton chronicles first part,  ‘Only time will tell’. It is clearly a step above from his other works and reminds he is the master of storyteller with his impeccable narrative that shimmers as silver lining of clouds.

The author drops a tip in the beginning where a woman, Maisie Clifton, gives away herself to a stranger, Hugo Barrington, before her marriage can be a probable contention in the following pages of the novel. It seems right in a half way through the novel, after it spell a cast on Maisie life. Maisie rises her only son, Harry Clifton, after losing her husband in the hull of a dock and battles against Hugo who nurses the fear of Harry inheriting his title and property,thus preventing his son, Giles, who born out of wedlock.

The fate takes little Harry to Old jack Tar who enlightens him with his worldly knowledge that helps him in clearing a choral scholarship to a scholar school and in there he befriends Giles. The story is narrated through the eyes of Harry Clifton till he finishes his high school and after it the story narrated through fellow characters who give dimensions to loosen strings that finally unravels the mystery of Harry’s biological father.

The essence of drama and thrill of finding the other side of coin from each character’s narration only sets a pace to the novel. For instance, the Old Jack’s contribution in Harry’s life little known until he reveals his past life as captain and his acquaintance with Harry’s mother, the headmaster, and Hugo’s father unravels the mystery in Harry’s father's death.

Maisie mother asks every time when her daughter dates a guy-‘what’s his game?’ These exact words we would like to think on the onset of every character’s narration. The transition to each character’s narration is smooth and an easy glide. They take Harry forward from high school to Oxford for his graduation. Example, the narration of Emma, Harry’s lover and the daughter of Hugo, slide along from their first meet to their wedding day, indeed, make a tireless reading.

After knowing reason of his father’s death and finding the biological father, Hugo, on his wedding day can make it believe that Clifton chronicles comes to an end. But it shatters, for good, in the last page when we find out the reason for Harry stranded in New York soon after his naval ship torpedoed by enemies during the outbreak of World War II is a clever twist which lays a cornerstone for the sequel as well as to make us relentlessly wait.