Dr. Rosemary Wolfe reappears briefly in Jeffrey Archer’s latest installment of The Clifton Chronicles – Cometh the Hour – in the ongoing family saga of the Barringtons (British upstairs) and the Cliftons (the downstairs). Dr. Wolfe, who won her place as a character name appearing first in the fifth book – Mightier Than the Sword – has a short cameo, but enough to make me proud.
As I read his latest book, comparisons of Archer and Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, delighted me. Both keep the action moving by popping back and forth among tense character scenes; both use finite descriptions of places and manners to create the atmosphere; and both authors conveniently tie up plot lines quickly and satisfactorily – despite having to kill off an unsuspecting innocent now and then in shocking end of episode style.
Archer combines the political fervor of the seventies in Great Britain – time of the election of the first woman Prime Minister – with the backrooms of bankers and shipping magnates in developing convoluted plots pitting villains against the good guys, as he continues the family adventures through generations. One of my favorite lines was Archer’s description of two despicable villains – “Gone to ground…they’ll resurface in the spring like all pond life…”
The action is pure fun, and if you haven’t discovered this series, you might consider binge reading from the firs book Only Time Will Tell. I’ve read them all – see my reviews below – and can’t wait for the next, due in November. I can only hope Dr. Rosemary Wolfe will return.
The No Charge Book Bunch 
I will be on the lookout for Dr. Wolfe. We just started this book and have read all the others. I loved Harry as a boy be best. Lets get together at some point! ( just finished, “Ahabs Wife”. It seemed to go on and on and on but had some beautiful passages. Have you read it?) Aloha, Anita
Sent from Samsung tabletNo Charge Bookbunch wrote:
I have not read it – will check it out – thanks. Great to hear from you!
Can’t wait to read it. We’ll hear it actually. Way to go Dr. Wolfe!
Let me know how you like it.