You ever pick up a book and realize three hours have vanished? That's the Jeffrey Archer effect. Specifically, it's the effect of the clifton chronicles series in order. If you haven't started yet, you're looking at seven books of pure, unadulterated storytelling. It's basically a soap opera with better prose and a lot more historical gravity.
I remember finding the first one at a train station. I thought, "Oh, another family saga." Fast forward a week, and I'm frantically googling when the next one drops. Archer started this when he was 70. Most people are looking at retirement cruises, but he decided to write a million-word epic. Honestly, the man is a machine.
The Definitive Clifton Chronicles Series in Order
If you're going to dive in, don't skip around. The cliffhangers are brutal. Truly. Archer ends almost every book on a note that makes you want to throw the thing across the room if you don't have the sequel handy.
1. Only Time Will Tell (2011)
This is where it all kicks off in 1919 Bristol. We meet Harry Clifton. He's a poor kid with a voice like an angel and a "father" who supposedly died in the Great War. It’s a classic coming-of-age setup, but with a massive secret about Harry's real parentage hanging over everything.
2. The Sins of the Father (2012)
Picking up right where the first left off (literally, on a boat), Harry is trying to escape his past by assuming a dead man's identity. Bad move. He ends up in a New York jail for a murder he didn't commit. It covers 1939 to 1945.
3. Best Kept Secret (2013)
Post-war Britain. The 1945 General Election is the backdrop here. We get deep into the lives of the next generation, specifically Harry’s son, Sebastian. There’s a tie-break vote in the House of Lords that determines the Barrington fortune. High stakes, basically.
4. Be Careful What You Wish For (2014)
This one focuses heavily on the Barrington Shipping Company. It’s got a corporate thriller vibe. Don Pedro Martinez emerges as a truly nasty villain. You’ll love to hate him.
5. Mightier Than the Sword (2015)
Harry is now a famous author (sound familiar?). He gets involved in the release of a fellow writer from a Soviet gulag. Meanwhile, an IRA bomb plot on a luxury liner keeps the adrenaline high.
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6. Cometh the Hour (2016)
The penultimate book. It’s the Cold War era. We're dealing with the Berlin Wall and spies. Giles Barrington falls for a woman who might be a KGB plant.
7. This Was a Man (2016)
The finale. It wraps up the lives of Harry, Emma, Giles, and Sebastian. It’s emotional. You’ve spent seven books with these people; saying goodbye actually hurts a bit.
Why You Should Care About Harry Clifton
Harry isn't just some blank slate protagonist. He’s Archer’s semi-autobiographical avatar. Both are writers. Both are from the West Country. Both have a certain... let’s call it "determination."
The series works because it’s not just about one guy. It’s about the collision of the Cliftons and the Barringtons. You have the working-class grit of the Bristol docks clashing with the silver-spoon world of shipping magnates. It’s classic British class warfare but handled with a light touch.
Emma Barrington is, in my opinion, the real heart of the series. She’s based on Archer’s wife, Mary. She’s brilliant, resilient, and often the one fixing the messes the men make. Seeing her navigate a male-dominated business world in the mid-20th century is genuinely satisfying.
The Secret Sauce of Archer’s Writing
What most people get wrong about Archer is they think he’s just "airport fiction." Sure, he sells millions, but the structure of the clifton chronicles series in order is actually pretty complex.
He uses multiple perspectives for the same time periods. You’ll read a chapter from Harry’s point of view, then the next chapter covers the same events from Emma’s or Giles’s perspective. It sounds repetitive. It’s not. It adds layers. You see the gaps in what each character knows.
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Archer writes in two-hour blocks. 6 AM to 8 AM. 10 AM to 12 PM. 2 PM to 4 PM. 6 PM to 8 PM. That discipline shows in the pacing. There’s zero fluff. Every scene pushes the plot forward.
Common Misconceptions
- "It’s just a history lesson." Nope. While the history is accurate (mostly), it's just the stage. The drama is what matters.
- "You can read them as standalones." You can, but you shouldn't. You’ll be lost within ten pages.
- "It's only for older readers." Honestly, the Sebastian years in the middle books have a lot of "young man on the make" energy that appeals to anyone.
Moving Beyond the Chronicles
Once you finish This Was a Man, you might feel a void. Don't worry. Archer didn't stop there. He launched the William Warwick series shortly after.
Now, here’s the meta part: William Warwick is the fictional detective created by Harry Clifton within the Clifton Chronicles. Archer literally started writing the books his fictional character was famous for. It’s a bit of a mind-bend, but it works perfectly.
If you like the "quest for justice" and "clever protagonist" vibes of the Chronicles, the Warwick books are the logical next step. They feel like a spiritual successor even if the timeline and characters are different.
Actionable Tips for Your Reading Journey:
- Get the Box Set: It’s usually cheaper than buying them individually, and trust me, you’ll want the next one immediately.
- Keep a Family Tree: The Barrington/Clifton family gets complicated by book four. Most editions have a family tree in the front—use it.
- Audiobooks are Great: If you don't have time to sit and read, the audio versions are narrated by pros like Alex Jennings. They nail the different British accents.
If you’re looking for a series that covers a century of history without feeling like a textbook, this is it. Just start with Only Time Will Tell and let the momentum carry you. You've got about 3,000 pages of family secrets and political maneuvering ahead of you. Enjoy the ride.
To get the most out of the experience, start with a physical copy of Only Time Will Tell so you can easily flip back to the character lists. Once you're hooked, keep the next two volumes on your shelf to avoid the inevitable cliffhanger frustration.