Strangers in Time

Charlie Matters' life has always been a fight for survival. Orphaned with no prospects, Charlie steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he can enlist in the battle against the Germans. He miraculously emerges unscathed from the Blitz, but there's no telling when the next bomb will fall, and whether it will be the one to end his life.

Molly Wakefield's dreams of a joyful homecoming are all she's had to hold on to after being evacuated to the countryside via 'Operation Pied Piper' five years before. But when she finally returns to the city, Molly faces a London changed beyond recognition, and the devastating news that neither of her parents are there.

Charlie and Molly's paths converge when they both seek solace at 'The Book Keep', where they find an unexpected ally and protector in the bookshop's owner, widower Ignatius Oliver. But the trio's newfound peace is jeopardized as past secrets catch up with them: Charlie's illicit activities have not gone unnoticed, an ominous shadow has trailed Molly since her return, and Ignatius is burdened by a secret that contributed to his wife's death. Can they help one another survive this turbulent time? Or will they be ripped apart from the last people they hold dear?

Oliver Twist meets the Blitz when powerhouse author David Baldacci turns his pen from thrillers to historical fiction . . . Baldacci beautifully explores the dark side lurking under the London Blitz's romanticized image — Strangers In Time is a beautiful read that will linger long in the memory -- Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club David Baldacci is one of the best authors alive, and every page of Strangers In Time shows why. This riveting novel plunges us into wartime London through three unforgettable main characters who come together to endure the terrifying bombing of a city they love, and at the same time, help each other to unravel the heart-wrenching mysteries of their own families. In Baldacci’s virtuosic hands, this is not only a masterpiece of a historical thriller but also a profound and even poetic exploration of the eternal power of friendship, grace, and love to overcome the harshest cruelty of war, hatred, and evil -- Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of What Happened To The Bennetts A riveting story of secrets, betrayals, and unlikely friendships during World War II. An emotional web that keeps spinning – and keeps you guessing – right until the startling finish -- Mitch Albom, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Liar A totally engrossing novel about war, friendship and the resilience of youth. A book that will stay with you -- Ann Cleeves, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Vera Stanhope and Shetland series If Dickens had written a novel set in the WW2 London Blitz, he could not have bettered this. Captivating, tender, brutal and brilliant -- Peter James, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Roy Grace series David Baldacci’s foray into historical fiction is a meticulously precise account of what it was like to live through the Blitz in London — a visceral reminder that war not only levels social classes, but creates the most unlikely and indefatigable bonds between unlikely souls -- Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name A character-driven tale of three disparate souls whose paths unexpectedly intertwine during the last year of the Second World War. Baldacci's meticulous research is evident in his deep sense of place and time, and bomb-shattered London comes richly alive on the page under his capable pen. Through his own Wish You Well Foundation, which supports literacy, Baldacci has long celebrated the way books can change lives, and in Strangers in Time, it is indeed a bookshop--the lovingly chaotic The Book Keep--that brings together 13-year-old Charlie, 15-year-old Molly, and recently widowed bookstore owner Ignatius Oliver, all of whom are alone and adrift. As German V-1 and V-2 rockets wreak havoc on the city, the three forge a new family, the existence of which is soon threatened by deadly secrets that simmer beneath the surface. Absorbing and deeply researched, Strangers in Time is a celebration of the books that change us, the families we choose, and the capacity we all have to rise from the ashes and find our way home -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter David Baldacci has the audacity to cross boundaries and genres with Strangers in Time, and he does so with aplomb. A rare and terrific exploration of human resilience and courage in the most dire of times, Baldacci drops the reader straight into the shattered remains of London near the end of World War II. Three wildly different but completely wonderful heroes gradually end up forging a friendship that survives on grit, hope, and sacrifice. The plot twists, the details haunt, and the characters feel as real as your heartbeat. I stayed up all night to finish it. A phenomenal read! -- Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs Astor Strangers in Time’s main character, Charlie Matters, is aptly named—this is a beautiful book about the things that really matter in life. David Baldacci deftly shows the reader that when you think you have no one left and the world is quite literally falling down around you, strangers can emerge from the gloom, everlasting bonds can be formed, and you can start to piece your world back together. With an ensemble of endearing and inventive characters, a quirky bookshop and a vivid rendering of wartime London, Strangers in Time is both atmospheric and warm hearted. Ultimately it shows us that, with hope and friendship, humans can survive anything. -- Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan The author does a terrific job of transporting the reader back in time to a tumultuous period of living in London, and readers will practically smell the smoke and feel surrounded by rubble from the shattered buildings. Another great tale from a grandmaster storyteller firstCLUE

David Baldacci is one of the world's bestselling and favourite thriller writers. A former trial lawyer with a keen interest in world politics, he has specialist knowledge in the US political system and intelligence services. His first book, Absolute Power, became an instant international bestseller, with the movie starring Clint Eastwood a major box office hit. He has since written more than fifty bestsellers featuring, most recently, Travis Devine, Amos Decker, Aloysius Archer and Mickey Gibson. David is also the co-founder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across the US.Killer twists. Heroes to believe in. Trust Baldacci.

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