Much thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci is a historical fiction book that takes place during World War II that really centers around a book shop named The Book Keep, which is owned by a man who recently became widowed, Ignatius Oliver. There are 2 children that befriend the shop owner, Charlie and Molly. The story was full of excitement and energy.

I really enjoyed the book and, of course, the setting in WWII.

Stangers in Time is another great story from David Baldacci, a favorite author. Three individuals from different walks of life meet during wartime and "stand together against all the world could hurl at them." This is a captivating and brutally realistic look at the people who lived in London during the German bombings, and Baldacci puts the reader right there with them. One can almost hear the scream of the bombs and smell the smoke. I liked this novel about a "family" forged together in desperate times of sorrow, fear, and loss. I was given a complimentary copy of the book from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

It's been a really long time since I've read anything by David Baldacci. This is certainly a departure from his works that I read before. This historical fiction takes place in England during WWII.

Three people from completely different lanes of life come together and form a unit made of friendship. One is a young boy who runs the streets hoping to "find" food or items that he can sell for money. One is a teenage girl who has returned from the country where her parents sent her for her own safety. She decides to return home only to discover that neither of her parents are there. The last is a man who has lost his wife and owns a book shop.

This was a very well written historical fiction that will have you wanting to fight along side these incredible characters to insure that they survive. Very touching and consuming. I couldn't put it down. The hardships of war are stark and upfront, but friendship and love is right there, too.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this incredible e-book. All thoughts are my own.

The setting of wartime London was an atmospheric backdrop into a dark time in history. It didn’t matter where you came from or your societal status, nobody was safe from harm be it bombs or desperate people. Everyone made sacrifices in order to survive whether these choices were necessary or forced.

Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius are three characters that will stay with me for the long haul. Even though they came from very different upbringings, these three are brought together by dire circumstances and find empathy for each other along with the greater community. Their stories are compelling and heartfelt and truly offer a positive feeling for the human spirit. Do not miss out on this wonderful story of found family, a bookstore, and great mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

"Ignatius Oliver had come along at precisely the right time for two young people who would lose everything during the greatest armed conflict the world had ever suffered through." Thus sums up the thoughts of Molly Wakefield as she looks back over 40 years to London during the Blitz.

It is 1944 in London and Charlie Matters and Molly Wakefield are both war orphans. Molly's parents are not dead, but they are missing as she returns to a London much changed from the one she left in 1939 as many families sent their young to the relative safety of the countryside. Charlie's parents are dead - his father at Dunkirk and his mother from a bomb in London, not far from his school where she had just dropped him off. They are only sixteen and fourteen when they meet and all they have in common is their losses. But somehow they meet at The Book Keep, a bookshop run by Ignatius Oliver since the death of his wife, Imogen.

And there begins a story of loss and love and family that sees them through to the end of World War II and into the hope of peace. They both find that they, along with Ignatius, are forced to do things they would never have done in a "normal" life, but are forced to do in this upside down world where they live.

The insights into the daily life of Londoners as they hide from the almost nightly bombings and otherwise try to go about their daily business is very revealing and heartbreaking. David Baldacci has written another good one!

What a different kind of book for Baldacci - I have read 40 books of his and this one really stands out. Baldacci has wandered into the realm of historical fiction with this standalone novel. It is the story of three totally different souls during the Blitz of London during WWII. Charlie Matters is a fourteen year old who has lost both parents and is living with his grandmother in the East End in what I can only call a tenement, barely getting enough food to survive and actually sleeping in a closet. Molly Wakefield is a sixteen year old who has recently returned to London having been sent to the countryside as part of the British program to protect children in the major cities from the onslaught of German bombs, only to find her parents gone. Ignatius Oliver is a grieving widower, an air warden, and the operator of a failing bookshop. The three are drawn together in different ways - Charlie winds up in the bookshop one night and steals some money which he returns as his conscience won’t let him keep it. Then Molly and Charlie meet on the street and become friends. And the bookstore becomes the common denominator for the trio. This is a story of the tragedy of the Blitz, the hardships endured by so many as the war raged on for so long, and the resilience of the human spirit in spite of such hardship and despair. Well written, well paced and full of twists that Baldacci always includes in his books, and the ending, fast forwarding some 40-plus years was a nice touch. My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This is my new favorite WWII book! It tells the story of three strangers, different ages and backgrounds, whose lives intersect in an interesting way. The bond they create is so touching as they help each other survive the last year of the war. My favorite quote that sums up their relationship is “We all need someone at certain times in our lives. It makes the inevitable pain lessened and the periods of happiness exalted.”

The author knows how to tell a story and write descriptions to create the images in your head while reading. I loved the short chapters and couldn’t stop reading because I had to find out what happened next! The story gives details and historical facts about the bombings in London. It also focuses a lot on mental health caused by war trauma. There is mention of rape and suicide in the book but both are handled with delicacy. My favorite thing about the book is the bond that forms between the characters as they experience loss of loved ones, the will to survive, and learn to trust and care for each other. It is truly a touching story about humanity. Go out and get a copy today!

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

Interesting story about WW2 1944 London. The two main characters, Charlie and Molly, are teenagers that end up alone with no family. Molly comes from money and privilege and Charlie has struggled with money his whole life. Molly's parents have mysteriously disappeared after she returned from the country and she has to figure out how to survive. A local bookshop owner befriends them and takes them under his wing. The owner, Ignatius Oliver, has his own history with the war and is dealing with the mysterious events surrounding his wife's death. This is a story of family, the one you choose vs. the family you were born into. I enjoyed the second half of the book more as it had more action, but this was a very good WW2 mystery.
#StrangersinTime #NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book is a departure from Baldacci’s usual fare. I have been reading his books for years and was excited to see that he’d written a historical fiction novel. Set in 1944, London, with the backdrop of a bookshop, it’s a great setting for the story. 14-year-old Charlie Matters and 15-year-old Molly Wakefield have had to grow up way too fast. They’ve each seen their share of hardships and loneliness. 

Bookshop owner Ignatius Oliver befriends them. Each of them carry secrets, yet find bonds with one another through the tragedies and experiences in their lives. I found their relationships to be quite heartwarming. Although the story covers many tough topics related to war and loss, I enjoyed the themes of found friendship, resilience, and strength in trials.

I learned something new from this novel as well. Have you ever heard of Paternoster Row? It is the street in London that was the center of the book publishing trade. It was largely destroyed during WWII during an aerial bombing. 

I appreciate what the author was trying to do with this novel, yet it often felt a little far-fetched to me and perhaps geared towards younger readers. I did enjoy it overall and would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed his books in the past and for historical fiction aficionados. 

CA | Contains some instances of profanity. Not frequent.

3.5/5 stars

[Thanks to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful historical fiction novel by David Balducci, with the audio performed by a cast. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

It’s 1944 in London, during the Blitz, when bombs are falling. Three very different people meet in unusual circumstances and form a tight group. Fourteen-year-old Charlie does what he has to in order to survive. Fifteen-year-old Molly was raised in a wealthy home, but when she returns after an evacuation to the countryside, her world has changed and her parents gone. They find an ally in Ignatius, the owner of The Book Keep, who is mourning the loss of his wife.

This is a WWII novel that focuses strongly on the human element, what people will do to survive, and the realization that what we really need is each other. There are plenty of secrets here – what happened to Molly’s parents and who is following her? How did Ignatius’ wife die? Will Charlie’s escapades land him in jail or worse? I felt transported back in time and Balducci has created such a vivid, tense environment, although I felt it was a bit slow at times. But there’s so much heart and feeling with these characters and you will grow to love them. Highly recommended for historical fiction and Balducci fans!

A different genre for David Baldacci historical fiction.He’s written an interesting involving novel that I really enjoyed.#NetGalley #grandcentral

This story follows two young teenagers, Charlie and Molly. These two are from totally different backgrounds but somehow they come together to be great friends and help each other through this terrible war.

I enjoyed these two characters, especially Charlie. He is a bit of a rounder and he gets himself in a mess a time or two. Then there is Molly. She does not take no for an answer. She has some gumption, for sure!

This story is a unique take on what transpired during WWII in London. It is more about friendship and staying friends through the hard times.

The narrators, David Baldacci; Stewart Crank; Alexandra Boulton; John Lee; Nicola F. Delgado; Matthew Lloyd Davies; Joe Pitts, made a fantastic team! I love lots of narrators to a story. Just makes it more real and full of life.

Need a completely different WWII novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion

Strangers in Time
A World War II Novel
by David Baldacci


Strangers in Time is a touching and emotional historical fiction novel set in 1944 London during WWII. This story follows three very different characters—Charlie, a street-smart boy trying to survive; Molly, a girl just back from evacuation with no family to return to; and Ignatius, a grieving bookshop owner with secrets of his own. Their paths cross, and together they form an unexpected bond that helps them cope with the chaos and heartbreak around them.
I really enjoyed how this book focused on resilience, hope, and found family. The writing beautifully captured life during wartime—rationing, bombings, and everyday struggles. It’s slower than Baldacci’s usual thrillers but still full of emotion and depth. The audiobook narration was excellent, and the voices really brought the characters to life.
A lovely, heartfelt story about survival, connection, and kindness in dark times.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Sometimes its a matter of whom one meets, and when.

Charlie Matters is 14 and lives with his Gran in London's East End, not a particularly safe to be during the Blitz in 1944. He lost his father to the war and his mother to a bomb, and while his grandmother does her best to provide for them both (and they at least have a roof over their heads, something not true for all in their part of the city) times are tough. Unbeknownst to his Gran Charlie has stopped going to school and instead spends his time out on the streets trying to earn a little money or, when needed, to lift an item or two from someone who can (as best he can guess) affort the loss. Through just such a foray one night Charlie happens into a bookshop in an alley in Covent Garden, The Book Keep, where he grabs some money from the till and a book off the counter. Guilt has him returning the items soon thereafter....the man who runs the shop, Ignatius Oliver, seems like too good a man of whom to take advantage as well as someone who can't really spare the money after all. On a different night Charlie crosses paths with Molly Wakefield, a girl from a wealthy family who has just returned to her home in Chelsea from the countryside where she had been sent for safety years earlier only to find her father and mother now missing. The three people from different walks of life are each struggling with the losses and changes wrought by war, and will help one another through subsequent challenges as it continues to exact its toll on the people of London. As bombs fall and each tries to come to terms with the tragedies in their lives and the questions that still linger over them, the three come together as a sort of family. But the mystery of what has happened to Molly's parents and the secret acts of Ignatius may rupture the bonds they are forming.
Author David Baldacci is known for his suspenseful thrillers, so let me start by saying that this book is not in that mold. It is historical fiction that explores the reality of life in war-torn London during 1944 and chronicles the daily tragedies that occurred, the resiliency shown by Londoners in the face of the harshest of circumstances, and the power of human beings who form connections in even the darkest of times. The richness of detail...the rationed food, the rubble in the streets, the living under the threat of bombing that could and did happen anywhere at any time...is the strongest aspect to the book. The characters, particularly the three main protagonists of Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, are well-developed and worm their ways into the reader's heart. The story, like the circumstances it meticulously portrays, is certainly a bit on the darker side but is not without hope. The mystery of what happened to Molly's parents takes its time in being resolved, and I found it not entirely believable, but the strength of the novel's portrayal of the place and people make it a worthwhile read. Readers of Markus Zusak, Anthony Doerr and Kristin Hannah will find this a welcome addition to their TBR pile, as will fans of Baldacci's earlier non-thriller works. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me access to this story which celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in exchange for my honest review.

In a departure from his usual thrillers, David Baldacci has written a beautiful historical fiction set during WWII that deals with loss and survival. Three people who might never have met are brought together and form their own family. Molly Wakefield was evacuated to the countryside at the start of the war. As the years passed she decided it was time to come home, only to find that her mother had been sent to a sanitarium and her father was missing. Charlie Matters had lost his parents and roamed the streets after dark hoping to find a way to make money to help his grandmother. On one of the evenings he meets Molly, who needs help finding her way through the city. Ignatius Oliver is a widower who owns the Book Keep. Charlie enters the shop one evening to find shelter from the rain. While Oliver is distracted, Charlie robs the till and runs away, accidentally leaving behind a tag that fell from his coat that contains his identification. Guilty feelings later had Charlie returning the money, opening the way to their friendship. Each of these people have suffered a loss but there were more hardships to come.

A robbery resulting in a death that Charlie was forced to participate in has him on the run. Molly and Oliver know that Charlie was not responsible and their support never wavers. Oliver also has a friend in government who he asks to help Molly discover what happened to her father. When Molly loses her home and Charlie loses his grandmother, Oliver takes them in rather than see them taken to an orphanage. He is hiding a secret of his own, however, that he must keep from them if he wants to keep them safe. With the nightly bombs falling on the city, espionage and murder, Baldacci’s historical fiction has all of the suspense that I have come to expect. It is often heartbreaking, but also a story of survival and family with characters that I loved. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this book.

I love reading Baldacci novels...and I was very excited and grateful to receive an ARC from NetGalley simply just because of who the author is.

I am no stranger to historical fiction based around WW2...but I struggled with this one because it was slow in spots for me and perhaps I was just used to Baldacci's suspense novels and legal thrillers. The research alone that went into this book is quite impressive.

I think it was well written...but just not a favorite for me.

When I saw that David Baldacci was writing a historical fiction/thriller book, I was intrigued. I have read some of his previous works and enjoyed his stories. This is completely different yet also uniquely…him.

We are taken back to 1944 London during WW2. We get this unexpected trio of characters whose paths cross - 14 year old Charlie, 15 year old Molly and widower Ignatius. They come together to try and survive and move forward while dealing with heart break and betrayal and secrets.

The audio was excellent - this was my first time listening to this cast and they did a wonderful job with the voices. The characters felt so authentic and we get this range of emotions from grief and fear to courage and love.

I really liked the themes of this book and how the characters are resilient and strong and brave - I love it when unexpected friendships develop. There are some tough moments in this book too (it is war time after all.) This story was really well written and I think will resonate with a lot of readers.

✨What To Expect:
⁉️Historical Thriller
🇬🇧1944 London
🤫Secrets
💙Unexpected Friendships
🤝Found Family
📚Bookshop Owner
💪Strength & Resilience

Not much happens for a very long time in this book and then when it dies, it feels contrived. Too much detail on minor things while there was a lack of depth for important plot points and character development.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hard scrabble Charlie, 14, and well-to-do Molly, 15, are both unexpectedly left to fend for themselves in London after the city has been destroyed by the Blitz. They find each other, then find their way to The Book Keep, a shop owned and operated by a man who recently lost his wife. Oliver and the two teens form a bond that helps them get through each day, but they soon realize that Charlie and Molly are being followed. Igantius is stunned to learn a secret his wife kept from him, a secret which will turn his life upside down.

David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors, and I couldn’t wait to read this book. I knew it was a stand alone and expected something similar to his A Calamity of Souls – a legal thriller set decades ago – so I was surprised to realize that there are no courtroom scenes, no legal research and barely anything relating to the law at all. Once that registered, I settled in to see what he would do with a straight historical fiction story… and was impressed yet again with his story-telling ability.

He made the reader care for and about both of the teenagers. Charlie may not have been scrupulously honest, but he did what he had to do to survive, and I admired his ingenuity and his tenacity. It took a bit longer to care about Molly, as it took her longer to accept her new reality, but once she did, she was determined and courageous in her own way. The two of them together made a great team, enhanced by the addition of Oliver, the bookseller. I liked him from the start and felt his pain when he discovered what his wife had been up to, and the consequences of her actions.

The ending seemed almost a little too “pat” after all the excitement of the story, but I’m not sure how else it could have been wrapped up in a way that didn’t leave more questions.

I look forward to this author’s next book, whether it be a new Travis Devine book, the start of another new series, or another stand alone.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

In a departure from the usual, the author takes us to WWII London. We see the stories of Charlie, Ignatius and Molly and how they intersect. As a result of the war, we have death, homelessness, abandonment and suicide, yet these three main characters show strength, fortitude and the willingness (out of necessity) to adapt. The story is heartbreaking and heartwarming. The rawness of the story grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go. I highly recommend this read.