Reading for Me

This week, I read the sixth volume of The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. Set in the 1970s, the novel opens with Emma finally being vindicated in her libel case filed by Lady Virginia. Giles and Seb both find love — one relationship looks very promising while the other is shrouded in questions of espionage and deception. Harry Clifton’s efforts to have a Russian author freed from prison finally have success, but at what cost?

Cometh the Hour is a fast-moving read that keeps the reader engaged. While this volume has many scenes in the English court system, the writing is more interesting than the long political battle that stymied in an earlier novel of the saga. I’m looking forward to reading the final book in The Clifton Chronicles later this month. First, I plan to spend the week reading The House Girl by Tara Conklin as part of My Library Shelf.

As the weekend came to a close, I finished the fifth installment of the Clifton Chronicles and thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience. Mightier than the Sword is set in the 1970s against the backdrop of political turbulence across the globe. This time, the novel does not focus on one character primarily; instead, all four are heavily featured as the Chronicles race to its conclusion.

Harry Clifton decided to use his platform to call for the release of a fellow author who is imprisoned in a Soviet jail for the publication of his controversial biography of Joseph Stalin. Emma struggles to maintain control of Barrington Shipping while fighting a libel case against her nemesis, Lady Virginia. Seb continues his meteoric rise through the British banking system, yet questions if there are more important things in life than just business success. After facing political scandal, Giles finds himself once again in a heated campaign against Major Fisher that just might cost him his position in Parliament as well as his hopes of serving his country as a foreign minister.

Mightier than the Sword is a gripping novel and a great example of Archer’s ability to masterfully weave a story.

It has taken just over a month, but I finally finished the third volume of the Clifton Chronicles. Why such a long read? I experienced severe headaches this summer that made reading impossible. Once the headaches began to subside, the plotline based in on a local election simply could not hold my attention.

Best Kept Secret opened with the settlement of the Barrington estate after Elizabeth’s will was challenged. That was riveting! Much of the book was devoted to Giles’ jilted wife, Virginia, and the introduction of his political opponent, Major Fisher. While both Virginia and Fisher appear to be vital to the direction of the series as a whole, I found their introduction an unwelcome interruption into the narratives of the Clifton and Barrington families.

However, a new generation of Cliftons has been introduced as well — and that story line was much more exciting and interesting. Harry and Emma’s son, Sebastian, has become unknowingly involved with a Nazi sympathizer. Even though the Great War has ended, there are still enemies that must be dealt with. Harry’s adventures in Argentina in an effort to protect and warn Seb were highly entertaining and saved the merit of this third volume in the series.

Although I ultimately was pleased with the cliffhanger that came at the conclusion of the book and I am very anxious to learn who survived the car accident, I plan to take a respite from Archer’s series. I need to find a new spark for my reading life. No worries, I’ll return to the Clifton Chronicles later this year.