The Recommended Reading Order
The Clifton Chronicles is a continuous, multi-generational saga that follows Harry Clifton from his school days in 1920s Bristol through the end of the 20th century. Because the story is highly serialized and almost every novel ends on a dramatic cliffhanger, you must read this series in strict chronological (and publication) order. Skipping ahead will ruin major plot twists and character developments.
- Only Time Will Tell (2011) – Introducing Harry Clifton's early life, mystery parentage, and scholarship to school in Bristol.
- The Sins of the Father (2012) – Harry's escape to New York, an identity swap, and Emma Barrington's search for him.
- Best Kept Secret (2013) – Following the aftermath of the Barrington family decision, set in the post-WWII era.
- Be Careful What You Wish For (2014) – A corporate battle for control of the Barrington Shipping Line.
- Mightier Than the Sword (2015) – Harry campaigns to free a political prisoner in Siberia while dealing with Lady Virginia's schemes.
- Cometh the Hour (2016) – Tensions rise amid the Cold War, bringing new challenges to the Clifton and Barrington families.
- This Was a Man (2016) – The final chapter that wraps up Harry and Emma's epic journey and brings closure to the saga.
The William Warwick Spin-off Series
If you finish the Clifton Chronicles and want more, you should check out the William Warwick series. Inside the Clifton Chronicles, the protagonist Harry Clifton is an author who writes detective novels featuring a character named William Warwick. Jeffrey Archer later turned this fictional meta-detective into a real series starting with Nothing Ventured (2019). While Warwick is technically a spin-off born from Harry Clifton's imagination, it is a standalone crime series set in a different fictional universe that you can read independently.