I really liked this book it was based on the nazi war and I loved the characters. I couldn’t stop listening to it

This was very different to other Baldacci books that I have read so I was unsure whether I would like it so I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it so much.
The narration for this book was fantastic and really drew me into the story. I have read a lot of books set in WW2 but this was a really fresh and unique take on that time period. Would definitely recommend this on audio.

This is my first David Baldacci book (I'm honestly as shocked as you are) but certainly not my last. I loved getting to read this story of Charlie, Molly, and Mr. Oliver!

Charlie is an impoverished young man living in the East End with his Gran, working under the cover of night to make ends meet. One day, he happens upon The Book Keep, a bookshop who's proprietor is Mr. Ignatius Oliver. Charlie steals from the shop's till, but soon takes the money back after feeling guilty for the theft in the first place.

Molly Wakefield is not yet 16, coming back to her family home in Chelsea after several years away, living in the country where her father hoped to keep her safe during the war. After arriving home where her parents are mysteriously absent, she ventures out hoping to find her father at his workplace, the Ministry of Food. Charlie helps her navigate the unfamiliar streets and thus their bond is formed.

This is a WWII novel, but quite unlike others I've read. To some degree, the found family between Charlie, Molly, and Oliver in this was much different from what I typically read in WWII hist fic books and I really appreciated it. Death was littered throughout and some of them caused me to have to shut the cover and set the book down for a few minutes before continuing through the prose. It was a very emotionally moving novel and, in my opinion, everything Baldacci brought into the plot had it's place in creating the story and the atmosphere. The final few chapters hurt, but the epilogue left me highly satisfied.

I really hate doing this to a Netgalley book, but I have to give this book only two stars. I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn’t work for me. The pacing was painfully slow, and I found myself constantly waiting for something—anything—to happen. The premise had potential, but the story dragged and failed to hold my attention. Unfortunately, it felt more like a chore for me. I started it three times. Got to 65% and just decided it is just not for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book for my honest review.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I love world war 2 era books and this was another great, tho sad, read. would recommend and buy

I love this story and the authors writing style. This is my first introduction to this author's writing and it didn't disappoint. The story was original and the details in the writing were so vivid that it was so easy to imagine myself in the story.

I haven't read any of Baldacci's thriller novels but I always enjoy a good WWII story and this one was layered, had lots of emotional depth and kept me reading. It was suspenseful but emotional in the best way. Great on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Jeffery Archer or books like All the light we cannot see. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

🎧 ALC / ARC Review 🎧

Very grateful to @grandcentralpub for the ARC and to @hachetteaudio for the ALC. I rotated between both.

Strangers In Time by @davidbaldacciauthor
- Publisher - Grand Central Publishing 🎧 @hachetteaudio
- 🎧 Narrated 🎧- David Baldacci; Stewart Crank; Alexandra Boulton; John Lee; Nicola F. Delgado ; Matthew Lloyd Davies; Joe Pitts

When an audio production is into action with a Baldacci novel, you’re getting a full cast! I just love when they bring the story to life.

It’s 1944 in London. War has taken lives, leaving others abandoned. But when two friends unite again, they find a special bookshop, The Book Keep. A book a day keeps the bom.bs away. The three of them form a special bond. This is a historical war fiction/ coming-of-age. I can’t imagine trying to survive during those times. It’s heartbreaking and healing. I recommend this one for you Historical Fiction lovers!.
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This isn't your usual Baldacci. Strangers in Time trades high-octane thrills for a quieter, more emotional story—and honestly, it works. Set during WWII, the book follows Charlie and Molly, two teens navigating loss and survival in a bombed-out London, and Ignatius, a grieving bookseller who unexpectedly brings them together.

Thanks to a whole cast of narrators (including Baldacci himself), the audiobook feels more like an audio drama, and it's better for it. The performances add depth to a story already filled with strong characters.

Despite all the trauma and grief, it's not a heavy listen. It's surprisingly hopeful, with characters you can't help but cheer for. If you're in the mood for something different from Baldacci—slower, more personal—this one's worth a listen, especially on audio.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Strangers in Time; by David Baldacci and narrated by David Baldacci; Stewart Crank; Alexandra Boulton; John Lee; Nicola F. Delgado; Matthew Lloyd Davies; and Joe Pitts was an excellent audiobook especially as I have not listened to a audiobook by this author. This was a book that took my breath away. Set in London in 1944, it is about a bereaved book shop owner and two teenagers scarred by the second world war, and the healing and hope they find in one another.

Charlie Matters 14 years old and he is up to no good, but for a very good reason. He is without parents, peerage, or merit, no one to show him what is right from wrong! and he is ducking school but he is barred from any actual work. So, he steals what he needs, and he is living day-to-day until he’s old enough to enlist to fight the Germans. After barely surviving the Blitz, Charlie knows there’s no telling when a falling bomb might end his life.

Molly Wakefield is 15 years old and has just returned to a nearly unrecognisable London. One of millions of people to have been evacuated to the countryside via “Operation Pied Piper,” Molly has been away from her parents—from her home—for nearly five years. Her return, however, is not the homecoming she’d hoped for as she’s confronted by a devastating reality: both her parents are gone.

Now, without guardians and stability, Charlie and Molly find an unexpected ally and protector in Ignatius Oliver, and solace at his book shop, The Book Keep, where A book a day keeps the bombs away. Mourning the recent loss of his wife, Ignatius forms a kinship with both children, and in each other—over the course of the greatest armed conflict the world had ever seen, they rediscover the spirit of family each has lost.

I can't recommend this audiobook enough. . . . it was beautifully written and all the narrators were excellent. I loved it.

As a long-time fan of David Baldacci, I have quite enjoyed his ventures into historical fiction. This latest book is perfect! The readers were very easy and pleasant to listen to and the story flowed very smoothly. I think that this was practically perfect in every way. I'm looking forward to another listen.

Strangers in Time is a gripping and heartfelt story of survival, resilience, and the power of chosen family. I especially enjoyed the audiobook narrators, who truly brought each character to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for my advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book gave me all the feelings - and I loved the characters. The narration was top tier and it MADE the title. The author's note at the end explained the goal of the title and Baldacci managed it - Charlie, Mollie, and especially Ignatius will stay with me for a very long time.

Usually, I will read modern-day thrillers by this author. Strangers in Time is historical fiction novel which is also a thriller. I felt that it takes a long while for the three main characters to meet up, but then the story pace really picks up. This was an interesting take on the viewpoints of Londoners who lived through World War II.

Book: 4 stars! ⭐️
Audio: 5 stars! ⭐️
Huge thanks to Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for the ALC! 💌

Premise first— it’s 1944, London is getting bombed to bits, and three strangers—two teens and one heartbroken bookseller—collide in a city that’s barely hanging on. There’s Charlie, scrappy and stubborn, surviving any way he can. Molly, freshly returned from the countryside with no family in sight. And Ignatius, the kind of man who gives off “bookstore dad with secrets” energy. Together, they form an odd little trio in the middle of war, mystery, and survival.

Now hear me out—this book? It’s not like other WWII stories.
It doesn’t shove trauma in your face for the sake of being dramatic. It feels personal. Quiet. Heavy in a way that sneaks up on you.

Charlie cracked my heart wide open.
He’s a kid doing what he has to do—stealing, skipping school, hustling—just to stay alive. But what got me was his moral compass. The kid’s not heartless. He’s just real. Life’s messed him up, and he’s still trying to do right by his gran. I wanted to protect him so bad.

Molly? She’s a soft girl with a hard shell.
Rich past, broken present. She’s back home expecting love, and finds… nothing. No parents, just memories. But she doesn’t crumble. She builds herself again. Her strength was quiet but sharp. Like she’d bleed for the people she loves but wouldn’t let you see her cry.

And Ignatius... the book man with a storm in his chest.
Grieving, guilt-ridden, but still standing. He runs a bookshop that becomes the safest place in a city constantly on fire. The way he cared for Molly and Charlie? Gentle. Protective. Honest. And yet—he's got layers. Secrets. Things that might just break the fragile family they’ve found.

Also, plot twist: it’s not just war stuff.
There’s legit suspense. Strange people following Molly. Shady things happening around the bookshop. Whispers of a truth Ignatius never saw coming. The tension builds slow, then hits hard. Like, what just happened?? kind of hard.

The found family vibes hit SO HARD.
It’s not just a trope—it’s the soul of the book. Three broken people finding comfort in each other when the world’s literally crumbling around them? That’s my kind of story.

And oh my god—the audiobook??
RUN, don’t walk.
Full cast, distinct voices, atmospheric as hell. It felt like living inside a film. From the alarms to the whispers, it’s rich and immersive in the best way.

This book doesn’t scream—it aches.
It lingers.
It asks what survival really means.
And how sometimes, family isn’t blood—it’s who holds your hand when the bombs fall.

Final thoughts?
This book is grounded, raw, and human.
Not every battle is fought with guns. Some are fought with kindness.
And this book proves it.

4 bold stars for the story
5 for that unforgettable audio
Add this to your TBR if you love: historical fiction, found family, subtle mystery, and stories that don’t sugarcoat pain but still find hope.

I received this book as an arc on a whim I put in for it since Baldacci is my dads FAVORITE author. To be honest my dad is probably right that I shouldn’t have started with this book , however I did and I’ll rank it as mediocre at best. It’s just a medial book about 3 very different people who come together to offer each other familial comfort in the most difficult time and circumstances of each other’s lives DURING WW2. A pallet cleanser to say the least. It shouldn’t take nearly 60% to set the stage for an ending like that. I was quite interested and invest in the last 40% though , devastated by the ending but also fulfilling- felt in some ways forced in tying all loose ends.

This is probably one of my favorite audiobooks to have listened to this year. I loved that there were multiple narrators to help give life to the characters. I used to read a lot of David Baldacci's work when I needed a genre shift, so when I had access to this - I hopped right on it. His writing style never fails to pull me into the story. I absolutely loved it, and I couldn't stop listening (thank goodness for headphones). Overall the narration of the story was well done, and I really loved the plot despite how dark some of the story got. I very much recommend listening to this rather than reading it, which I don't think I've ever said about a book before.

Great audiobook. I was locked in! The narration was wonderful. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook.

I listened to the audio of this book, which brought it to life. It’s a long book, and several people, including the author, narrated it, which helped with character changes and keeping dialects true. All the narrators were great and made the story real. I highly recommend the audio.
An emotional book that puts you back in the mind of a boy who has suffered a lot of loss in his young life experiencing Paris streets during the bombings of WWII. Dodging bombs and trying to stay alive and get enough food. A young boy needs to do whatever he can to help his grandma and himself to not starve considering the very few rations and availability of food. Not old enough to be hired or fight in the war he quits school and steals - but only from those who have enough that they won’t miss it he justifies. But then he makes a big mistake and his true heart of honesty emerges. Also, a young girl returns to Paris after being sent away for the last few years to keep her safe she returns to find her family is not there and her affluent status has been reduced to nothing. She finds her strength is formidable and a chance meeting with a poor and dirty but kind boy changes the chances for survival in a war-torn city. The story made me feel sad the events of war were true even if the characters were fiction. Having family that fought in the war I find it's heartfelt and sad for all affected. It is a definite must-read. Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio, this is my personal honest opinion.

what a beautiful story, and, as i read from another review, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. This story takes place in a terrible time, and these characters go through terrible things, but they find each other, and support each other, find that they can trust each other.

i really enjoyed the audiobook, and i really appreciate the many different voice actors making the story come to life.

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review