Best Kept Secret

The Clifton Chronicles #3

by Jeffrey Archer, Alex Jennings (Reader)

The third novel in Jeffrey Archer’s compelling saga, the Clifton Chronicles

1945. The vote in the House of Lords as to who should inherit the Barrington family fortune has ended in a tie. The Lord Chancellor’s deciding vote will cast a long shadow on the lives of Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington.

Harry returns to America to promote his latest novel, while his beloved Emma goes in search of the little girl who was found abandoned in her father’s office on the night he was killed.

When the General Election is called, Giles Barrington has to defend his seat in the House of Commons and is horrified to discover who the Conservatives select to stand against him. But it is Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emma’s son, who ultimately influences his uncle’s fate.

In 1957, Sebastian wins a scholarship to Cambridge, and a new generation of the Clifton family march onto the page. After Sebastian is expelled from school, he unwittingly becomes caught up in an international art fraud involving a Rodin statue that is worth far more than the sum it raises at auction. Does he become a millionaire? Does he go to Cambridge? Is his life in danger?

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Historical, Drama, Thriller

11 pages, Audio CD

First published April 30, 2013

About the author

Jeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.

He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).

Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Best Kept Secret was another disappointment. The struggles and achievements of the characters are not developed and far too predictable. Harry needed to be on the New York Times Bestseller List. A few pages later the goal is accomplished. Emma wants to locate her late father’s child. Walla, it’s done. Now she wants to adopt her. Check. Sebastian is having problems socially in school. An incident occurs and abracadabra he is the hero. These examples are endless. Characters unknown to me but probably previously introduced in story lines created in book one are just now resurfacing in book three. So annoying! The politics were boring. Who cares about Giles, the election or the parties? There are far too many characters and many of them are insubstantial. Again, Archer’s characters are unsophisticated, unsurprising and lacking complexity. For example, an Archer villain is a diabolical scoundrel with not one redeeming characteristic. Jeffrey Archer has created a soap opera. The dead woman’s letter written in case the will is contested is presented in the nick of time. One hundred pages to the books end a ridiculous caper emerges. And of course, Archer leaves the reader with yet another cliffhanger, which is notorious technique of a good soap opera. Best Kept Secret is overly dramatic, poorly constructed, unbelievable and sadly lacking depth. I will not be continuing with the Harry Clifton Chronicles.

For more reviews visit my blog: www.opinionatedbookreviewer.blogspot.com

[Anuvab Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a little slower compared to its prequel. However Archer, if anything, understands the business of selling books better than anyone else. This third book is more of an extension of the previous installment, and if anything it may be called the second part of "Sins of the Father", and not exactly a separate book. The story moves on to the next generation of the Clifton-Barrington family and introduces quite a few characters. Written in Archer's patent British style, the master story-teller leaves no stone unturned in making sure his "most ambitious project" lives up to its billing. The book ends in a typical Archeresque manner, leaving the reader hanging on to dear life by a single thread. Yes, that is precisely the feeling you get as the book ends. You will want to curse him for not filling up the six blank pages that follow the last chapter. All together a gripping read, it has all the elements that make for the usual Archer classic, as British as they get. The pace may seem a little too slow at times, and it may lack the narrative flow of the first two novels, but definitely worth a buy for any Jefferey Archer fan.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Weer een snel en vlot verhaal al vond ik het politieke deel minder interessant.

Another quick and fluent story, although I found the political part less interesting.

[Sara Bow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leider etwas schwächer als die ersten beiden Bände 🙈

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part three of the seven volume Clifton Chronicles series.Starts off with the question of who will inherit the Barrington family fortune ?
Will it be Harry Clifton or his friend and brother in law Giles Barrington ?

Harry has to contend with several villains this time.There are the evil machinations of Lady Virginia,the wife of Giles.In addition,the old foe of Harry and Giles,Alex Fischer returns to help Virginia and to oppose Giles in an election.

The later part of the book has Don Pedro,an Argentine master criminal.He traps Sebestain,the son of Harry Clifton,making him an unwitting accomplice in his criminal plan.

This part of the book,involving Sebestain and Don Pedro has much more pace and drama,compared to the earlier part,in which things drag a bit.

Again,the book ends in a cliffhanger.To find out about what happens next,I now have to read the fourth volume in the series,Be Careful What You Wish For.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

When The Sins of the Father ended Hugo Barrington had been killed and the House of Lords had tied on who should inherit his title, and all that therein is. Giles Barrington? Or Harry Clifton? One was unquestionably the legitimate son. The other possibly the first born son.

The third book in the Clifton Chronicle series, which spans from 1945 - 1958, opens with the Lord Chancellor casting the deciding vote. His decision will have a far reaching impact. One will inherit everything. His decision will also impact whether Harry and Emma Barrington can be married.

When Hugo Barrington was killed there was a baby girl left at the murder scene. In Best Kept Secret Emma goes in search for the mystery girl. She believes the girl is her father's daughter. If you met Hugo Barrington in Only Time Will Tell or The Sins of the Father you know why she believes this.

Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emma’s son, takes a front seat in this story. He grows from a young boy to a young man. He will play a major role when his Uncle Giles has to defend his seat in the House of Commons against an old foe. He has moments of greatness and then there are times when you are left shaking your head. There is no doubt he is Harry's son.

The book is a bit like a soap opera but I found it enjoyable as it spans several generations in the lives of different families. There are characters you learn to love and characters you hate. The Clifton's have moments of greatness but there are plenty of events in all of their lives that leave you wondering what will happen next. This story ends on a cliff hanger that left me eager to read the next installment, Be Careful What You Wish For. Someone dies. Who is it?

[Tony Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can shoot me down if you like but I can't help liking Jeffrey Archer. In spite of being a bit of a cad he sure writes a good yarn, and this is no exception. Luckily I was given an advance copy to read and as usual I breezed through it quickly. This is the third episode in the Clifton Chronicles, mostly we follow on with the story of Harry and Emma Clifton, their son Sebastian and their adopted daughter Jessica. Emma develops an academic career and ultimnately joins the Barrington business while Harry becomes a best-selling author. Emma's brother Sir Giles also makes an appearance although his marriage to Lady Virginia doesn't travel well. Yes, another good yarn from Sir Jeffrey, and with an ambiguous ending that leaves us appropriately up in the air for the next book in the Clifton Chronicles.

[☮Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since this is third in a series, anything I say about the characters would be a spoiler. All of these books end in a cliffhanger, and this one is no different. If I so much as indicate who is married or divorced or living or dead, it could ruin things for those yet to read this series. So again, I'll only say how much I'm enjoying the series. I very recently read the author's bio on Wikipedia and never knew what a crazy life Jeffrey Archer himself has lead. Plenty of fodder for his book writing profession there, and he is keeping it interesting.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeffrey Archer certainly likes his cliffhangers, and this book is definitely no different! That ending! This book was good, but probably the weakest, plot wise, in the series so far. It began well enough, but took a different turn on things than I had expected.

I think events passed by way too quickly in this one, bounding forwards without a breath, and this ruined the experience for me. Yes, the man can definitely write, but this one felt rushed, and if anything, a little bland. I'm hoping the next book will be better.

[Tahani Shihab · Rating 5 out of 5]

“يمكن لأي شخص أن يكون فائزًا جيدًا. أما إمارة الرجل العظيم فهي كيف يتعامل مع الهزيمة”.

“إذا واجهتَ مشكلة، فكر بها جيدًا ونم قبل اتخاذك لقرار ربما تندم عليه لاحقًا. فالأشياء دائمًا تبدو أكثر تفاؤلًا في الصباح”.

“لا تنسَ أبدًا أنه إذا أردت إركاع إمبراطورية ما، فعليك البدء بقتل أول الواقفين في الطابور لتولي العرش”.

جيفري آرشير.

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've loved this series so far, though I cannot seem to pinpoint why. This book wasn't quite as good as the first two, and it ended on a much bigger cliffhanger.

At this point, it's starting to seem a little silly because nothing ever goes wrong for the Clifton family. Well, maybe I should say: nothing ever STAYS wrong with the Clifton's-they always somehow seem to come out ahead.

I'm going to try the next one just in case it holds a big surprise, (like all the Clifton's die or something), and then I'll decide whether or not to go on, from there.

[Razvan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying that I almost never write reviews, and if I do, is because I have experienced a rather extreme emotion: either highly impressed or mostly appalled. Sadly, in this book's case, is the latter.

I am[ considering if I might need to use the past tense after this book ] a fan of Jeffrey Archer, always found his books clever, entertaining and highly readable. Although one can get used to his style and characters, it usually still manages to deliver some surprising stunts that, matched whit his writing and sense of pace, save the books from being a waste of time. Well, not this one.

The last book in a trilogy that is at best average is the worst, completely futile and superfluous. obviously money-grabbing scam of a book. I won't reveal any spoilers but I will say that it brings nothing to the story as the cliffhanger at the end of the second book is resolved in less than 20 pages. After that it is just vomiting quixotic reasons to exist, like a phoenix who just doesn't want to die, although its days of glory are long long lost. I could be OK with just your garden variety of life-story in the Jeffrey Archer style [ he is very good at this type of things, just look at "Kane and Abel" and many other examples of "fictional biographies" ] but this is not that. This is an unimaginative, forced and recycled story. One that you know where it is going before it even starts - that is not common with Jeffrey Archer - and it is trite by the time it gets to the middle. Everything seems to happen in an artificial world where even the characters realize the stupidity of their own unlikely behavior and if they were able to break the wall and shout at their creator, they would probably say " Enough with this, sir!" [ If anything, everyone is very polite as it is the custom with old school, honorable british people in the Archer worlds ].

Oh, and the characters! Having killed all the obvious villains in the first two books, Archer finds himself forced to concoct situation out of nothing, force actions that make no sense and wizard possibly normal characters into acting like OCD, out of control, slightly mad, Bond villains, blind to the sure failure of their long and sinuous crusade against the main actors.
But we, the readers, can't be blind, but bothered, disgusted that we are treated with no respect, like we can't tell that there is no bloody sense in anyone's actions, that we've heard it all before [ the wills, the trials, the stocks that change hands to give someone power over a company that was supposed to be owed by the lost daughter of the father of the good guy who actually is married with....blah blah blaaaah ] and that even the bad-guys are just reused and renamed malevolents from his other books [ and not even good/interesting ones! ]. I am not exaggerating when I say that a big part of this book is a shameless plagiarism, even if he is copy/pasteing his own work, it is still the same level of fraud - we are being taken of fools and paying again for the the same product! No, we can not stand for this..yet, having bought the book, what can we really do to show our feelings now?

This book shouldn't exist, it should have been an epilogue in "the sins of our father" and that's that. Don't buy it, don't recommend it, and if you already did, give it the stars it deserves, help some innocent souls to save valuable pounds that can be used for something more valuable, which at this points consist of anything that can be bought anywhere.

[ولاء شكري · Rating 3 out of 5]

في بعض الأحيان يُذهلك بعض الأشخاص بقدرتهم العالية على التعامل مع حقيقة أن وقتهم في هذه الحياة أوشك على النفاد.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

After the major disappointment of this trilogy's predecessor, I decided to take the book by the spine and discard it. I tried, but was unable to be motivated enough to finish this incredibly slow moving story. My rating is based on what I read. There are too many good stories to get to than waste my time on those unworthy. 1 of 10 stars

[Dana Ilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer’s prose is straightforward with minimal description, and at times — at least in the first few chapters — it’s more telling than showing as he fast-forwards a bit in the characters’ lives. After that, the book speeds ahead, introducing and resolving one plot line at a time and leaving me breathless by the end. Archer really knows how to build tension and move the story forward. I’ve enjoyed seeing Harry evolve over time, and I love how Emma is a strong woman not afraid to show her intelligence, take an interest in the family company, and further her education at a time when women weren’t accepted in the boardroom. These are characters I enjoy spending time with, and I just don’t want the series to end.

Best Kept Secret is an exciting addition to the series that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. And even though I knew it was coming (based on the endings of the first two books), I was still shocked by the cliffhanger ending......

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in ‘The Clifton Chronicles’ by author Jeffrey Archer and I am fully absorbed with this series and have all seven books ready to read. Master storytelling, colourful characters and great cliff hangers, typical of Jeffrey Archer.

The story continues with Harry and Emma but a dangerous family enemy is about to re-enter the story. Following on from the previous novel ‘The Sins of the Father‘ and the resolution of the trial Harry is now a successful novelist and his wife Emma, their son Sebastian, and orphaned Jessica are attempting to make a happy life together. But there is trouble brewing when Emma’s brother, Giles gets engaged to a woman who may be more interested in Barrington’s fortune and title than in a long and happy marriage.

This book is more of the same offered up in the previous novels and that’s fine by me. Another excellent read and on to book 4.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my heart! Archer just tugged my strings! Such a storyteller. This series is perfect for audio because I feel like I'm being told a real tale. The format of the first two books ( switching between personalities with different narrators) is not apparent in this book. Some original characters move one, but they are replaced by great new ones. I think my favorite is Lady Virginia, a cunning, manipulative, money hungry minx.
Damn you, Archer!!! Why must you persist in the cliffhanger endings????

[Νατάσα Παυλίτσεβιτς · Rating 5 out of 5]

Φαντάζεσαι να διαβάζεις ένα βιβλίο και να σε αφήνει με cliffhanger? Ο Archer είναι ανελέητος με τους αναγνώστες του! Στο "Κρυμμένο μυστικό" κάποια κεφάλαια θυμίζουν πολιτικό δράμα, κι άλλα κατασκοπικό θρίλερ. Το μόνο σίγουρο είναι ότι δεν το αφήνεις κάτω. Το 3ο μέρος των Χρονικών των Κλίφτον δεν απογοητεύει στο ελάχιστο.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page turner in the Clifton series by J. Archer. The first half of the novel was not all that exciting to read. However, around the halfway point of the book especially the last 1/3, the plots really thickens. Don Pedro was introduced & he makes a very shady very diabolical villain. The plot twist at the end regarding Don Pedro’s son & Sebastian Clifton was quite an unexpected cliffhanger. I’m really looking forward to the next entry of the Clifton Chronicles.

[Živilė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veiksmas po veiksmo ir keliama įtampa.

[Rohit Enghakat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third instalment of the Clifton Chronicles. As usual, the author churns out a thrilling series with new characters added. The third book is more about the life of Sebastian Clifton. It seems like somewhat like a replay of Harry Clifton's childhood. Enter Harry's old foe Alex Fisher who tries to Barringtons' company along with Giles' wife (a new character), almost jeopardising the political career of Giles. Enter Don Pedro (another new character), who plays with the life of Sebastian.

The books in this series always ends with a nail biting suspense which spills over to the next book in the series and you are bound to pick up the next book.

Will take a break here before picking up #4 !!

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some random thoughts about Best Kept Secret.
1) The beginning was as easy as it was interesting to follow.
2) The stakes were nowhere as high this time as in the last book.
3) We see quite less both of Giles and Harry, even if the chapters are titled in their name.
4) As soon as Major Alex appeared the story began to get murky for me personally.
5) The underused mothers of Harry and Giles made me curious about the first Chronicles book.
6) ...until that is when the entire mess of Don Pedro's shenanigans began to bog the pacing down.
7) Harry's leniency with his son's misdemeanors was a surprise.
8) Seb's cretinous tendencies are roughly equal to his passable moments of being a bore.
9) Sir Alan was a late addition to the casting and his purpose was negligible.

Conclusion :- The inclusion of a Spanish villain was quite jarring and it's clear that Jeffrey Archer, a very European and Anglo Saxon author if there was one, wanted to curry favor with the latino crowd. It wouldn't matter much if the relevant sections of his villainy made sense or were exciting. The first two chapters were so perfect but it didn't last. It's been quite some time since I felt detached towards the fortunes and misfortunes of characters in a readable book. I usually care too much, especially in contemporary fiction. That detachment and involvement soon gave way to indifference. The book ended on a cliffhanger. I might however, not rise to the bait and avoid the unavoidable sequel.

[Pooja Jeevagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the beginning of the series...I really did...
I expected a lot from this one, I actually did...
I was surprised when it was confirmed it has moved from a series of three to a series of 5...and in between reading the book, how I hoped it would have been restricted to three...at least it wouldn't have deviated so much...it wouldn't have just kept on people to keep going...
And then, I was speechless, when I realized that the author is planning to increase the series to even 7 or 8...Phew!!

This book starts off well...takes a totally unrelated direction to be honest, then gets back to the decent part...and as usual leaves you with a cliffhanger...I actually have no complains...it's good..written in a way Archer writes best, and ensures you read it back to back, when when the English is not the most contemporary one...but then, it progressed so little from the story point of way...you closed a cliffhanger in the first 10 pages...you brought a new one in last 10 pages...and all in between, you just ensured that the series goes on...

It is decent...but, it could have been so much better :-|

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series. It's a family saga I suppose you could call it but it's not too soap opera-ish that it bothers you. Instead, early on you fall in love with the main characters and then of course you follow their lives and get all tangled up in what happens, always hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. This particular book ends on a cliffhanger and I'm of course going to HAVE to start book 4 today....

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estou a gostar bastante desta série de Jeffrey Archer, mas este volume não me agradou tanto como os outros. Muita política, muita intriga partidária, demasiada explanação sobre a bolsa, acções e afins, que acho que acrescentaram pouco à história.
Ainda assim, a historia segue a bom ritmo, o que faz com que seja agradável e prazerosa a sua leitura.
Next!!

[Sunethra Mahidhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

As tradition, I've been buying the copies of the Clifton Chronicles the day it released. Best Kept Secret, the third out of four of the chronicles was no different. It was even more special because it was a one of a kind autographed by the author himself copy.

The book has an unsual beginning. The demise of Lord Harvey seems mysterious. More like the author deliberately kills him so that Giles Barrington could win the vote.

Following this, Harry and Emma begin their search for adoption. Jessica Clifton, who has an unfortunate character sketch for an introduction brings nothing but joy in the Manor. At this point, the book lacks pace. There are a lot of entry and exit strategies of the characters. The strategies are well planned but are a little confusing. The death of Elizabeth Barrington makes Giles a wise person. The divorce with Lady Virginia seemed like a good luck charm for the Barringtons.

The old Fisher-Clifton-Barrington rivalry is taken to a whole new level as Virginia takes Fisher's side in order to destroy Giles. Fisher stands against Giles for the forthcoming elections. Sebastian Clifton's role as the doted and smart nephew is well appriciated. Thanks to Sebastian's sharp eyes and wit Giles wins the elections.

Just when things seem to fall in place, Sebastian causes a a list of unfortunate events. He gets expelled from school leaving him in a Cat-on-the-wall situation about his admission at Cambridge. He is taken advantage of by his best mate Bruno's father for transferring smuggled artefacts in the name of an import and export trade. The entry of more new characters makes it a little difficult for the reader to relate.

Overall, I would give the book a three on five. If you haven't read the chronicles preceeding this, you will have no idea about what it is all about. Both the book and my review. The author concludes this chronicle leaving the readers deal with their curiosity about what could happen in the lives of these characters in the chronicle to follow.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeffrey Archer forges ahead in the Clifton heptalogy, keeping volume three full of excitement and intrigue. After an eventful vote in the House of Lords on the Barrington family fortune, Harry and Emma are able to move forward with their lives, intertwined as one. They seek to expand their family in a not so traditional manner, perfectly suited for this Archer tale. Giles Barrington continues his life as a Member of Parliament and faces a tough Conservative candidate when the election is called. Alex Fisher has returned and seeks to dethrone the Labour MP, going so far as to attempt to rig the election results. Fisher has been working with Lady Virginia to bring down Giles and his family by whatever means possible. The next generation of Cliftons is ready to step out on their own, namely Sebastian Arthur Clifton son of Harry and Emma. Sebastian's life is filled with ups and downs as he tries to finish school. With a scholarship to Cambridge awaiting him, Sebastian gets mixed up in some unsavoury business, unbeknownst to him. After the Clifton and Barrington families work together to spoil a laundering ring, they place themselves in the crosshairs of a powerful criminal, who is only too happy to wreak havoc at every turn.
Ending with another great cliffhanger, Archer weaves an ever-evolving tale sure to keep the reader begging for the next novel to sate their curiosity.

Archer continues to create a wonderful story, filled with fabulous characters. The plot lines evolve throughout and the characters fit so nicely into Archer's master plan. While some authors who pen multi-generational series lose the reader in a plethora of characters and too many plot lines, Archer reins both in while keeping the excitement level high. The fate of the Cliftons and Barringtons remains a mystery as Archer moves forward, which only adds to the series' greatness.

Kudos, Lord Archer for another stellar piece of work.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Sathya Sekar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mr Archer appears to be seeing too many movies of the 50s and 60s. The dries starred with "Only Time will tell"- and I think Time has told. Mr Archer, its about time you give your pen a rest. Your imagination appears to have dried up and you present one cliche after another for us to swallow. The characters have all become uni-dimensional. There is no spark here, as the one Massie and Old Jack and Emma brought to the first two books. The people have become boring and the plot seems taken right out of a B-grade Hollywood script of the 50s. We now have all the baddies ganging up to train their guns again on the good Barringtons. I wish them luck but sadly, I would not know how they get along. For, I ain't going to spend any more time and money on this series any more.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Another excellent installment in The Clifton Chronicles. I'll skip details about the plot, but I am so invested in these characters. As well as Harry, Emma and Giles still holding center stage, Sebastian Clifton is now older and becoming a more major character. I'm anxious to start the fourth book, but it'll be at least a week or two before I can - so I'll be left wondering about things for a while!

[Eddie Owens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jeff churns these out at two or three books a year and they continue to sell in their millions.

Basically, he's the ultimate storyteller, who doesn't let character development or dialogue get in the way.

Always easy reading and you are never bored for too long, before he chucks in another twist.

Who am I to criticize, when he's sold two hundred million books.