David Baldacci’s stand alone books have all been good. I’ve enjoyed them more than his series. “Strangers in Time” is an excellent stand alone work of historical fiction. His descriptions of WWII London were vivid and I was pulled into the lives of the three main characters. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book certainly exceeded expectations for me. I love a good historical fiction novel, even if that's not what I normally turn to David Baldacci for! Mr. Baldacci hit it out of the park though - this story gave me a new perspective about how WWII was for those in London. I enjoyed the character development, even if I would've liked to have seen more of a substantive, deeper (as much as a 14 & 16 can) relationship form between Charlie and Molly. Some of the plot twists were a little predictable but I think that was the intention and it didn't take away from the story at all. I really liked how Molly and Charlie came from two totally different backgrounds, but through war, end up in VERY similar circumstances. This story will draw you in from the beginning and it is well worth your time to read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC. #StrangersinTime #NetGalley

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a huge fan of the author across his many series and standalones, but last year's Calamity of Souls and this book are quite different from the others I have enjoyed. This historical fiction story set in WW2 England explores the fragility of life, mental health and the potential impacts that unforeseen relationships can have in your life. This was another thought provoking novel, and I thought it really stands out. In some ways and perhaps its because of the setting, but I found this book to be almost Dickensian. What a story teller! 5 stars!

Great writing but just not my cup of tea.
Molly and Charlie meet up.in war wracked London, both parent less. They find refuge
and a somewhat semblance of a family life, for a while, when Oliver, the owner of a bookstore, takes them in as his own. He clothes them and feeds them and tells the authorities they are his wards.
The background of war torn London, food rationing and desperate days makes for a dark read even
with some light moments thrown in for good measure.
The plight of homeless and lost children during war filled days is always a difficult read.
Baldacci does a fine job with great character building and a plot that moves readily along but I just could not lose myself in the story.
I had to work on staying interested and for me, that's not a good read.
Sorry.

David Baldacci can do it all. This historical fiction story is one of the best I’ve ever read. A coming of age story of three people brought together during a deadly period of time. The character work was great you really feel a connection to the characters and this story is just really powerful. A must read.

David Baldacci has always been a “must read” author for me, and while it took a bit longer to hook me, once it did, it did not disappoint. Thank you David Baldacci and NetGalley for the privilege to read this advanced copy of Strangers in Time.

Both heart-wrenching and uplifting, Strangers in Time explores the devastating realities of war, the enduring strength of the human spirit, and the unexpected bonds of friendship forged in the most unlikely circumstances. David Baldacci has crafted a painful, yet beautiful story set in WWII England that will wreck and inspire you in equal measure.

It’s 1944 in England. Charlie Matters is a fourteen-year-old kid from London’s East End who has no parents, dropped out of school, steals to make ends meet and has no prospects for a better life. Molly Wakefield is a child of privilege coming up on her 16th birthday, who has just returned to her London home after spending the last 5 years safely tucked away in the countryside, only to find her parents are missing. Ignatius Oliver is an educated man, the widower owner of a book shop and volunteer air raid warden, helping to keep people safe during German bombing runs over the city. These three strangers are each dealing with heavy loss in their lives, but when they find each other and form an unexpected friendship, their lives all change for the better. However, they each have secrets and a past that might catch up to them at any time. And the only way for them to survive is to trust one another, face some hard truths and take things one day at a time.

This book is an emotional roller coaster, filled with a constant barrage of gut punches that you would expect to knock out these characters. But they keep getting back up and forging ahead. Showing how resilient and strong people can be when being strong is their only choice. And despite the ugliness of the world around them, they refuse to dwell in a state of bitterness and instead choose hope and seek to make new human connections that give their lives meaning. It’s a beautiful and inspirational thing to witness, especially since it would be easier to yell at the sky about how unfair life is and give up. But they don’t. They dust themselves off, acknowledge the pain and then find the best path forward. Which happens to involve transforming the serendipity of these strangers meeting and turning it into the foundation of a new family.

This is another home run novel by the great David Baldacci. And I’m loving the direction he has taken his writing. From last year’s brilliant A Calamity of Souls to this year’s fantastic Strangers in Time, his books are deep diving into history, exploring the human spirit and forcing readers to contemplate the lives we lead. Entertaining, emotional and thought-provoking stories? Sign me up every time!

I was intrigued by the prospect of David Baldacci’s foray into the genre of historical fiction as that ones of my loves. The story and the message are wonderful, but I was disappointed in the writing. I didn’t find it inspiring at all. I must admit that I had not previously read anything by Baldacci and I’m guessing that those that have read his books will not see any issues at all. There were no sentences or phrases that I wanted to reread for the pure joy of the language. Actually, I speed read quite a bit, glossing over many parts. However, I doubt that my opinions here will have any negative impact on Mr. Baldacci’s wild popularity.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this pre publication. I’m sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear.

As always David Baldacci knows how to write a book. This book in based in London in the time period of World War II. The way that this book is written allows you to immerse yourself in the story and have a connection to it. This book is written so well and was such a good read. Would most definitely recommend this book to those who love books set in World War II and any other book by David Baldacci!

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci
Baldacci is one of my favorite authors. This book differs from most of his action/adventure books in that it is about relationships and how we need them in our lives. The London Blitz is the setting. Baldacci captures the horrific nature of living in fear of bombs, hunger, and loss.
Ignatius Oliver, an Air Warden and bookseller with an open mind and even more open heart befriends two teenagers with radically different backgrounds. Molly and Charlie both deal with loss in their own way.
The story illustrates how coming of age in the environment of the Blitz dramatically impacts not only the world-weary Ignatius but accelerates the maturing of the two teens.
Baldacci points out that the downside of loving someone is the possibility or reality of losing them, and the ensuing pain. However, he also points out that the benefits of loving outweigh the detriment of loss.
This was a different Baldacci and an excellent book that I highly recommend.

I am a major fan of David Baldacci. I was disappointed in this latest book. It tells the story of three people from very different backgrounds who become friends as they fight for survival during the time of the Blitz in London in 1944. The main characters are two teenagers and a bookstore owner. I didn't feel the excitement I usually do from Baldacci's books. At times it was slow reading it. It was a story of hope and friendship and that is what kept me reading it.

I enjoy David Baldacci’s mysteries so was interested to read an historical fiction from him. Set in London in World War II, Charlie Matters is a young teen who lives with his grandmother after his parents are killed. Charlie and his mother scrape by; Charlie resorting to petty thievery and odd jobs to survive. Meanwhile, Molly, a very mature 16 year old, returns to London after growing up in the country to find a home with only her housekeeper and no parents present. Molly and Charlie form a friendship with Ignatius Oliver, an air raid warden who also acts suspiciously and secretly.
A story of unusual friendships formed by the horrors and devastation of war and revealing how family can be formed with very different individuals, striving to survive as best they can.
Recommended for readers of historical fiction. Baldacci describes realistically or sometimes the horrific consequences of war but adds hope formed through diverse relationships.

In a genre filled with depressing stories of the devastation caused to Britain--especially London--by the Germans in WWII, David Baldacci's Strangers in Time (Grand Central Publishing 2025) stands out for its realism, emotion, and positive nature in the face of disaster. Fourteen-year-old Charlie lost both parents, now lives with his grandmother, surviving off her meager earnings and his street-smart skills to maneuver war-torn London. They struggle to get by, but do, with grace and the inbred strength gained from trusting and loving each other. Molly, sixteen, grew up in wealth and was sent away when the war started. She returns to her mansion when her father stops sending money for her support and finds both parents missing and her nanny struggling. When all seems lost to both of them, and surviving this desperate world seems unlikely, they first find each other and then are befriended by an elderly bookstore owner who has lost everything important in his life until these two waifs land on his doorstep. Together, they help each other survive the constant bombings, the lack of food, and the chaos of life lived in a warzone. Though there is a deeper plot, the story's strength is the balance it creates between what we gain when we lose in life if we’re strong inside and out and refuse to quit. 

This is a satisfying story about the strength of the human spirit despite impossible odds. It is highly recommended not only for those interested in London at the end of WWII but those interested in man's indomitable nature no matter the odds.

Fifteen year old Molly Wakefield returns to war torn London from evacuation in the country in the middle of WWII to find her mother and father no longer in their prosperous home. Fourteen year old Charlie is making his way through the devastation of his home city without parents or schooling.Widower Ignatious Oliver operates a failing bookshop while serving as an air raid warden. This unlikely trio meet and become fast friends, supporting each other as the life that Molly and Charlie once knew is blown away. Add to that the fact that someone seems to be following Molly as she tries to learn what happened to her parents, Charlie is running from the law, and Oliver may be involved in some nefarious war activities.
I really liked this story.I could not put the book down, curious to see what would happen next to this trio. I am not a huge fan of some of Baldacci’s contemporary series that often strain credulity; I enjoy his standalone books so much more. His recent Calamity of Souls I thought was one of his best.

Beautifully written, with characters that truly come to life, Balducci paints a desolate picture of life during the London attacks in this latest addition to his body of work. Yet, there is hope. The resiliency of and the bond among the three gives them dignity and is heartening despite all the horror. I really appreciated the denouement to see what transpired in these characters’ lives after the war. This is a tale that will remain with me for a long time.

David Baldacci’s latest novel takes a detour from his other books centered on quick action in crime and legal thrillers. Strangers in Time is an historical novel set during the bombings of WWII in London, and the main characters are 14 and 15 years old! I admit I did not know this Baldacci novel would take such a divergent path from his other writings, but fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised.
Charlie Matters lives with his grandmother, following the wartime deaths of his parents, in a one room apartment without much food to survive. Charlie, after dropping out of school, steals what he can and works horrid jobs for a few shillings. Molly Wakefield, however, has been raised in luxury, but upon returning from the countryside where her parents sent her years before, Molly finds only her nanny and a hushed-up story about missing parents. Together the two youths form a bound to survive after mystery men begin to follow Molly, and as Charlie must hide from a police search following the death of one of his friends.
The two teens are thrown together with another person with secrets, widower book-store-owner Ignatius Oliver. Molly and Charlie need Oliver’s help but uncover reasons to suspect him of being less than honest with them. Each chapter ends with yet another shocking tragedy for the duo.
While it often feels like a YA novel by Baldacci, it is in fact very adult in its storyline. London had bombs rain down night after night, with countless deaths and constant fear in 1944. I was very impressed with the prose in this novel as I felt the fear and struggle to survive page after page. It is true that the conversations between Molly and Charlie were often stilted toward the virtuous. If Pollyanna had been there, she would have fit right in with the stoicism and mature forbearing of this pair. For the amount of suffering dealt Molly and Charlie, there was just not enough emotional response from the characters. That, to me, explains the YA feel to the book, and indeed Baldacci has written seven YA novels along with his 50 adult thrillers.
However, I did indeed like Strangers in Time. I was expecting something entirely different and came away from the read admitting that the novel impressed me. I will remember Baldacci’s London long after I have forgotten many of his other thriller stories.
My rating: 4 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Strangers in Time will be published on April 15, 2025.

This book is quite a departure from the genre that I associate with David Baldacci, and I think that he did a great job describing the horrors of the Blitz in London, but moreover, he developed this character driven novel through his 3 main characters.
The book opens when Charley Matters, a 14 year old who has dropped out of school, lost both his parents and lives with his grandmother, who is barely surviving by working in a bakery. He and a couple of other East End boys steal to survive, until one of them dies tragically and Charley feels guilty for the child's death and for stealing from a book store. He returns the money and merchandise, and eventually, the bookstore owner befriends him.
The second character, Ignatius Oliver, the bookstore owner, is a grieving widower, whose wife initially started the bookstore, but has died mysteriously. Ignatius is a gentle, kind man, with compassion for Charley's plight as well as the third character - Molly Wakefield, a well bred 16 year old who was sent to the countryside when the bombing started and after 5 yrs returns to a devastated London.
The author describes the realities of the Blitz, the fear that the people of London experiences racing for the shelters and the unlikely family that the three MC developed. I thought the coincidences were plausible at the time, and that the author developed the bond of the found family and the hope and trust that they developed.
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

I enjoyed watching the unlikely alliance form between Charlie, Molly, and Oliver and continue to unfold through the book. It was tough to read all of the devastating losses they each experienced. I didn’t know much about London during WW2 so this was a bit eye-opening.

I definitely prefer David Baldacci’s modern thrillers. This was a slow starter for me and most of the plot twists felt either pretty predictable or a bit undeveloped. I do appreciate that the book has chapter titles and they’re not just numbered, as I think it sets the stage for each chapter. But it overall felt that there were just too many subplots happening that weren’t explored well enough.

Although this is not my fave David Baldacci novel nor my fave WW2 book, I am glad that I read it. David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to his new releases as I’ve read his full backlist.

This uses the World War 2 element that I was looking for and enjoyed the feel of this book, it worked with the time-period and the characters were everything that I was looking for. It was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the feel of this. It had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the use of the genre perfectly.

Baldacci's latest novel is a wonderfully engrossing story about three strangers whose fates are thrown together during war.
Like the recently released movie, Blitz, this story takes place during the Nazi bombing of London in WWII. The horrors of that time are starkly portrayed as seen through the eyes of Charley- an impoverished fourteen year old who has lost both his parents and his home, Molly, a precocious fifteen year old who was sent to the countryside at the outset of the bombing, but returns to her London home where she finds only the home's caretaker and Ignatius, a widower and bookseller with a secret.
How the three come together and to rely upon one another is expertly told by Baldacci who weaves together the plausible set of coincidences under which their lives intersect. I love Baldacci's use of dialogue to convey both the horrors of war and the hopefulness that the three former strangers still managed to find. I highly recommend this book.

Strangers in Time is set in London during the infamous Blitz, when German planes blasted the city with bombs and later V-2 guided missiles. There are three characters the plots revolve around: Charlie Matters, a 14 year old boy who has lost his family over time to the bombing and survives on his own on the streets looking for food and shelter. Molly Wakefield is 15, and has had a completely different upbringing. living in a big house with servants, fine clothes, and is preparing to study exams to enter university. Ignatius Oliver is a widower who owns a small bookshop that was started by his late wife.

Molly has returned to London looking for her mother and father who have lost contact with her. Molly finds her home intact, but only cared for by her longtime Nanny, who has shared limited information about her parents. After prodding, Molly finds out her mother is in a sanatorium, and her father has disappeared.

Molly and Charlie end up meeting on the streets, and both are befriended by Oliver who wants to help both teens, but is hiding his own secrets and issues. The three are thrust together, each lonely, each trying to survive, and cling to one another as they have no one else.

The story is fast moving, and follows one tragic outcome after another as Molly desperately tries to reunite with her parents, Charlie struggles to find a way out of his desperate situation, and Oliver tries to protect Charlie and Molly from police and other officials who believe the children should be sent to an orphanage.

I want to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book. It is a type of story I would not normally read, but I found the characters compelling and the story, while very sad, in the end heartwarming. I give it 4.25 stars rounded down to 4.