I am a huge Baldacci fan and while this book isn't the usual type book of his I read, I very much enjoyed this story. The Author has a way of developing and fleshing out characters that just truly makes you feel like you are there and very much involved in the story. The descriptions of WWII London were fascinating and a bit horrifying as the fiction melded with history. And while I prefer the Author's thriller books, anyone who likes a well-developed story with characters and settings that come alive will want to read this book. Many thanks to the publisher, Author, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity to read this book. All opinions are mine.

Baldacci’s talent for story telling had me immersed in this historical fiction following three characters with very different backgrounds who form an alliance in London during WWII. Strangers In Time is an engaging story highlighting the resiliency of people and the strength of human connections, especially during trying times. A character-driven story of surviving the fears, loss, and hardships of war, and finding rays of hope through persistence and alliances.

Pub Date: April 15 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StrangersInTime #DavidBaldacci

Author:
David Baldacci

What’s it about?
Strangers in Time by David Baldacci takes readers on an emotional journey through war-torn London during World War II. The story follows two teenagers—Charlie Matters, a young boy surviving the Blitz by any means necessary, and Molly Wakefield, a girl returning to a London she no longer recognizes after years of evacuation. Both are orphaned and adrift, but their lives intersect through a shared bond of loss. In the midst of devastation, they find an unexpected protector in Ignatius Oliver, a grieving man running a bookshop. As the trio navigates the dangers of wartime London, they discover that trust, friendship, and the bonds of family may be their greatest hope for survival.

Favorite Part:
The connection between Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius was the most moving part of the book. Their unlikely bond creates a poignant narrative about the healing power of trust and companionship amidst the horrors of war. I particularly appreciated how their individual struggles were woven together, providing emotional depth to the story. Ignatius' bookshop, The Book Keep, also served as a symbol of hope and refuge, making it one of the most memorable settings in the novel.

Thoughts on Characters:
The characters in Strangers in Time are deeply compelling. Charlie and Molly are both incredibly resilient in the face of adversity, each grappling with their own sense of loss and uncertainty. Their friendship with Ignatius is touching, and his wisdom and warmth bring much-needed stability to their fragile world. Ignatius himself is a character who carries his own weight of sorrow, making him a wonderfully complex figure. I felt connected to each character, as their emotional journeys were depicted with great care, making their growth throughout the novel both believable and moving.

Would You Recommend It?
Strangers in Time is a beautifully written novel that blends historical fiction with profound emotional depth. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories set during times of war, particularly those who appreciate novels about survival, loss, and the power of human connection. Fans of Baldacci’s work will find his storytelling skill on full display here, while readers new to him will be captivated by this moving and thought-provoking tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with the opportunity to review this book.

I love David Baldacci. I love most of his books and I was really excited to see a new book in a genre I hadn’t read from him. Set in 1944, this story follows three strangers who come together to navigate a tumultuous time.

WWII books seem to be everywhere now and Baldacci does a good job of giving the reader a little different information so it doesn’t always feel like the same information repeated from other books.

The characters are well-developed, and each point of view is distinct, offering its own fascinating narrative. The transitions between perspectives are seamless, allowing you to become even more invested in the world, the unfolding drama, and the characters’ struggle for survival.
If you appreciate stories about found families, this book hits all the right notes and delivers an incredible reading experience!

“Strangers in Time” by David Baldacci is this authors newest novel set in WWII London. It revolves around two children ages 13 and 15 who are dealing with traumatic loss. They are befriended by a bookseller who has a secret life and has lost his wife to mysterious circumstances. They are bonded together by their determination to survive, their individual tragedies and the horrific bombings that take place in London during the war.
Mr. Baldacci is a favorite author of mine and I read every one of his books. This is the first time I had difficulty finishing a novel of his. I found the book to be slow, the characters unremarkable, and the story to be like many I have read in other books about this time in history. Fortunately, from reading all the other reviews I am an outlier and everyone else is truly enjoying this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Baldacci is a masterful writer of thrillers and historical fiction. I loved this change of scenery and the brilliant way it was conveyed.

I found this a highly emotional story. Charlie is fourteen and alone in Britain during World War II. Tryhing to survive through stealing quitting school and eventually trying to be a soldier. He has no one. Molly, a teen, who returns from being sent to the country to avoid the bombing of England, can't find her parents when she comes back. Ignatius Oliver owns a bookstore but has lost a wife. Through this sad story, three people meet and become a family as they try to survive the war. The reader learns their dreams, their disappointments in their natural families, but also sees a glimmer of hope as they develop a family among the three of them. The back story of the war is emotional and tear making. I found that this book was depressing but still showed that the human spirit can triumph. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.

I have been reading David Baldacci for a long time, and have always loved his stories. I was a little surprised when I read the premise of this book as it was a little outside of his typical genre. That being said, I think the story itself was really entertaining. I think there were some times when I wasn't totally diving in, as a whole I thought the book was good. I liked the character development and interactions. I liked that it was focused in one central location (London) without trying to go all these different directions. I was a little disappointed in the ending, just because I felt like such an intense story was wrapped up a little quickly. As a whole, I think anyone who is historical fiction fan, this is a for sure read.

Thank you to NetGalley, David Baldacci, and Grand Central Publishing for providing me an advanced reading copy.

This is a standalone set during WWII. The characters are very well written and you understand what was going on in that era. This could be placed in another time and be equally as good. We read about when they met and the characters they interact with and how their lives progressed. Totally worth reading!

Three strangers with completely different backgrounds come together after tragedy struck each of their lives.

This was a captivating story with unique identities for each character and the loved ones of those characters. The characters struggle with grief and secrets. Getting to read about the strong connection they formed within their friendship was beautiful. I was drawn in from the very first page all the way to the very last page. I highly recommend this book.

My favorite character:
-Molly

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read and enjoyed ALL of David Baldacci’s previous novels, I expected this latest effort to be in a similar vein. What a great surprise to discover this human interest novel with two children (ages 13 and 15) as the central characters during the blitz in wartime London. The heartwarming story holds many surprises and twists that compel the reader to continue reading to the end. The writing is such that this reader felt the reality in the bomb shelters as well as the development of the major characters. When reading books, one often wonders what happens to the characters after the book ends and Mr. Baldacci does answer that question for the readers. This novel is highly recommended and I thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

This is an amazing historical fiction book set during the 1940's in war-strewn London. You meet Molly, recently returned from the country where she was sent to safely ride out the war. Charlie who is an orphan and lives with his grandmother in squalor and has quit school at age 12 to try to help his grandma financially by any means necessary. You also meet Ignatius, a book seller who is a shell of his former self without his wife who died under mysterious circumstances. Together, Molly, Charlie and Ignatius become a family of sorts who depend on each other and bring out the best in each other. I did feel like the book wrapped too quickly for my taste, but that could be because I grew attached to the characters and wanted to know more.

The resilience of the British never ceases to amaze me. I thought Baldacci couldn't top Calamity of souls, but the beauty of the writing introduces us to the horror of war. I first traveled to London in 1968 at the age of 19, and only now realize that was only 28 years after the end of the war. That means most of the adults I encountered lived through the war. I was coming home from Israel another country that had just lived through an even more recent war. I have been to Dubrovnik where the guide had lived through that war, and we can daily see the almost complete destruction of Ukraine and Gaza. This book takes us right into the life of some of the survivors of the blitz and we see the destruction through their eyes.
Charlie Matters (and yes he does) begins the book in 1944, an orphan living with is Gran, scrounging for food and things to sell to keep them alive. His father killed at Dunkirk, his mother in a bombing at his school that nearly killed him also. He is smart, wily, honorable and desperate.He steals from book seller Ignatius Oliver, and that will change their lives in many ways. Then Molly Wakefield, a 15 year old returns to London after being sent into the country 5 years ago. The confluence of the intersection of their lives give the 3 of them a found family.
I found myself going, OH No after almost every chapter.
So much is not as it seems, but as the book goes on, little mysteries are solved and we learn more about each of the characters lives. I tried to finish this book in one day, but started too late and fell asleep with just 30 pages left. I hope when the book is published there is an author's note explaining why Baldacci's decided to write a WWII book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the EARC. These are my opinions, and my opinion is, run don't walk to get this book.

David Baldacci’s book, Strangers in Time is a suspenseful and compelling World War 2 novel set in London that revolves around three characters, Molly, Charlie and Oliver. These characters form an unlikely friendship following a devastating loss from each of them. This is a wonderfully descriptive novel that makes the reader feel immersed in the time period.

I am a longtime fan and have read all his books. This is a nice departure from his mystery genre. A good story with characters you like. It brings to life the horrors of the bombing of London by the Germans. I did think the final chapter felt more an afterthought than a conclusion. However I do recommend this book

Having read all of David Baldacci's prior books, I absolutely loved this one. It ties in the usual mystery with a heartfelt, emotional story of 3 strangers who are simply trying to survive the War. With accuracy that he's known for, this book nicely ties it all together at the end, but the ending probably isn't what you'd expect. All in all, I highly recommend this book, as well as all of his others.

David Baldacci never disappoints his readers and it's always a good day when there is a new book from him. This one was really lovely. I felt totally immersed in the time period and the descriptions easily painted a picture in my mind of the setting itself. This is one of the best wartime novels I've read. It is sure to be a smash hit and deservedly so.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I simply loved it and I think everyone who reads it will as well.

A very different book from Baldacci’s mysteries but just as good. Set in London in 1944 during World War ll it shows the struggles of Charlie Matters. He looses his parents then his grandmother and is all on his own. He steals from a struggling bookseller and feels guilty and returns the money. That starts the friendship between him and Ignacio’s and Molly. I loved the story and had a hard time putting it down.

Charlie Matters is only fourteen years old. World War II is in full swing, and Charlie is struggling to survive his homelessness in war-torn London. Every day is a challenge for him – his struggle to find food amidst bombs that are constantly invading the city. His attempts to get food and shelter for survival were not always legal, and he soon found himself in trouble with the police.
Fifteen-year-old Molly Wakefield returns to her London home after having to leave the countryside home where she had been evacuated. When she returns, she finds that her mother is in a nursing facility with dementia, and her father is mysteriously missing. The housekeeper has no idea where he is. Soon after, her London home is bombed, destroying everything she has, leaving her with nowhere to live.
When Molly and Charlie happen to meet, they establish a quick friendship. Ignacious Oliver, the owner of a local bookshop, feels sorry for them and finds a place for them in his home.
Charlie remains in trouble with the police and must continue to hide. Molly discovers that someone has been following her since she returned to London and fears it may have something to do with her missing father.
Ignacious tries to help them, but he has been holding back the truth about his past, which, if revealed, could dangerously affect all of them.
At his very best, Baldacci weaves an edge-of-the-seat story about three people struggling to survive a war that’s tearing their town apart.

David Baldacci’s newest novel, Strangers in Time, is a compelling portrayal of life in London during the bombings of World War II. Set in 1944, the story follows 14-year-old Charlie Matters, who lives with his grandmother after the tragic wartime deaths of his parents and grandfather. Secretly dropping out of school, Charlie makes a living on the streets, resorting to petty theft and taking on grueling temporary jobs to help his grandmother survive day to day.
One day, Charlie steals from a struggling bookseller but, overcome with guilt, returns the stolen money and items. This marks the beginning of his unlikely relationship with Ignacius Oliver, the bookstore owner, who is still grieving the loss of his wife.
Meanwhile, Molly Wakefield, raised in luxury, is sent to live in the countryside by her parents, who want to keep her safe during the war. When Molly returns home, she finds only her nanny and absent parents. Determined to locate her father, Molly crosses paths with Charlie, and the two form a deep bond that grows into a genuine friendship over the following weeks and months. However, when mysterious men begin following Molly, they turn to Ignacius, who seems to be hiding secrets of his own.
Against the haunting backdrop of the Nazi Blitz and its aftermath, Strangers in Time delivers an unforgettable story about the power of human connection during a time of unimaginable fear. Even days after finishing this novel, I find myself reflecting on its characters and themes—a testament to Baldacci's skillful storytelling.
Highly recommended. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.