Book Review- only Time will Tell by Jefrey Archer

 Archer’s latest novel is the first part of a generational trilogy centering on Harry Clifton in the gritty city of Bristol, England. His father goes mysteriously missing one day, leaving Harry in the care of his mother, grandparents and drunken Uncle Stan who, like Harry’s father, works on the docks. Only time will tell if Harry will better his lot in life? Fortunately for him, a host of guardian angels hovers — a choir mistress, a generous and forgiving teacher, a considerate prep school master and an eccentric outcast who lives in an abandoned railroad car — doling out words of wisdom.
Blessed with a heavenly singing voice, Harry is accepted to the nose-in-the-air St. Bede’s school. Think Charles Dickens meets Jane Austen. Only time will tell . . . if Harry will be accepted and eventually successful? Thanks to his new best friends and his own “cleverness” at academics, he is, on both accounts.
But here he meets the first villain: Mr. Barrington, his best friend’s father, his mother’s first lover and the boss who had a role in Harry’s dad’s disappearance.
Harry is a caricature in a cast straight from central casting. Despite his ghetto background, everything Harry touches turns to gold. Even when he learns his mother is turning tricks to pay for his education, he loves her even more. In British fashion, the story is driven by the white lies they tell. Heaven forfend the truth be told fully for fear it will offend someone.
And even when the truth comes out (Harry learns he may be the first-born son of the evil Mr. Barrington and heir to his vast estate), secrets remain.
Harry runs away to spare his friends and family from harmful truths and winds up in New York, where his story will continue.
Will that be enough to drive two sequels? Only time will tell.