This was such a great story. I loved the three characters and how they all came together. There is so much that each one of them goes through and I love how it shows that it takes one person to be kind and it can change your life. This is a World War 2 story and it is in London. You get to see how three people from different backgrounds all go through it together. Overall a great book I highly recommend it.

Charlie tries to keep his nose clean, but he just can't seem to figure out how to. He hates to disappoint his grandma, especially as WWII rages. Molly returns to a war-torn London looking forward to seeing her parents after 5 long years, but comes back to an unrecognizable London. Ignatius may run his late wife's desolate bookstore but he misses her terribly, plus has quite a secret life that he hides as well. When these three peoples lives collide, the results are a truly beautiful and emotional story that you won't want to miss.

Baldacci is one of the few "big name" authors that I don't miss. However, if I hadn't know this was written by him, I would never have guessed in a million years, and I mean that in the best way possible. This was beautifully written, drawing you in to each character's life that war has devastated. The found family aspect of this story leaves you with the best feeling, and Baldacci doesn't spare the reader any of those emotions, good and bad. I did have to remember that two of the main characters were very young, and some decisions made were indicative of that. This was a beautifully written five-star story for me.

In WWII London, two teenagers and an older gentleman cross paths and support each other. Charlie is from the poor side & he & his grandmother are barely subsisting. Molly has just returned from the country to find her mother in a sanitarium and her father strangely absent. Ignatius is the widowed bookseller who becomes their friend.

I enjoyed this audiobook very much. The various voices added to the realism and tension. This is a highly emotional book. Life in London during the blitz was dominated by food shortages and the relentless bombing raids. Sometimes beloved characters are killed and the real stories behind the death of Ignatius' wife, why Molly's mother is hospitalized and why her father has disappeared are all quite real and devastating. I have read other books by Baldacci, but they have all been spy or legal thrillers. His foray into historical fiction is new to me. I loved the details and how the story unfolded in bits and pieces. The epilogue answers the questions of what happens after the war, but I thought this was the weakest part. While it was nice to know what happened next, it felt just a bit too "happily ever after" for my taste. Otherwise, I really liked this and will look for his other historical fiction books.

I had the joy of listening to the full cast audio edition of Strangers in Time, and it was such a treat. I love full cast productions—it's like having a movie play in your ears. When done well, they bring each character vividly to life, and this one absolutely delivered.

Stories set during wartime are never easy to read or listen to, but this book struck a beautiful balance. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking in all the right ways. I found myself really connecting with the characters and feeling every high and low alongside them.

Molly made me roll my eyes a few times, I won’t lie—but then I had to remind myself of her background. She came from privilege and was a bit naive, yes, but not unintelligent. In fact, she was incredibly sharp in other ways and was always a loyal supporter of Charlie, constantly looking out for him.

Charlie, on the other hand, kept insisting he wasn’t honorable, but time and again he proved otherwise—sometimes without even realizing it. And then there’s Ignatius, who tied them all together perfectly, adding depth and warmth to the story.

Overall, Strangers in Time was a moving and memorable listen.

Thanks NetGalley and Hachette audio for the ARC

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci follows three characters: Charlie Matters, trying to survive on the streets London, Ignatius Oliver, a store owner, and Molly Wakefield, a teen from an affluent portion of London trying to find her parents in London during WWII(1944).

The narration included the author David Baldacci, Stewart Crank, Alexandra Boulton, John Lee, Nicola F. Delgado, Matthew Lloyd Davies, and Joe Pitts. Having this large cast gave each voice a distinct character, making it easy to root for and love these characters. I strongly recommend this book for those who read themes of struggle, loss, and a found family.

Thank you to Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Book and Audiobook Rating: 5 stars
Pub Date: Apr 15 2025
Audio Release Date: Apr 15 2025

Tags:
#HachetteAudio
#GrandCentralPublishing
#StrangersinTime
#DavidBaldacci
#StewartCrank
#AlexandraBoulton
#JohnLee
#NicolaFDelgado
#MatthewLloydDavies
#Joe Pitts
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley

For those of you who follow my reviews you KNOW that I love David Baldacci’s books! So, it should come as no surprise that I loved this one too. But, this one was Amazing. Unforgettable. Heartbreaking. Uplifting. Torturous… and yet Wonderful too.

**** THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED! PLEASE LOOK FOR IT ON APRIL 15, 2025!! ****

The entire story revolves around the three main characters and their lives…

It opens up in war torn London in 1944 featuring Charlie Matters… a 14 year old boy who lost both his parents and has NO ONE but his elderly grandma. They live in one of the poorest sections of London, and Charlie does WHATEVER he has to do to get by….

Next we meet Ignatius Oliver. He is the owner of The Bookkeep, a book store, that honestly does not get many customers during the war. But the shop was his wife’s dream… and so he goes in to work every day, and continues it as a legacy to her.

And lastly we meet Molly Wakefield, a 15 year old girl from a more ritzy part of town. She returns home after being away for 5 years. You see, when the war began, her parents sent her away to safety. And now, she returns to be with her parents.

BUT, all does not EVER go as planned.

And somehow, the three of them meet up, over and over… maybe it’s a Godwink! (For those of you who’ve read these books, you’ll understand!)

And as the story progresses, so do they. And they learn to grow, grow-up, evolve, reinvent themselves… and live… and love.

Although I’ve read MANY stories that revolve around war times, this one is very distinct. It brings out so much emotional turmoil, but also teaches us that humanity, kindness, and human nature, will always prevail… at least in the long run. And although at times The Good might be buried deep inside, it WILL come out and show itself.

Many, many moving parts in this story. Many ups. Just as many downs… But WOW! Utterly amazing in the end!!

ALL the STARS and then some for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫💫💫💫💫✨✨✨✨✨

#StrangersInTime by the one and only #DavidBaldacci and narrated by a full cast including: #StewartCrank; #AlexandraBoulton; #JohnLee; #NicolaFDelgado; #MatthewLloydDavies; #JoePitts and the epilogue by the author himself! Please be sure to listen to it ONCE YOU ARE DONE with the book!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HachetteAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review. I consider myself very lucky to be able to preview this one! ❤️❤️
*** Release date is soon on 4/15/25, so look 👀 for it on shelves then !! ***

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci is a World War II novel, but different than most. It is about three people: an orphaned street urchin, a well-to-to young woman who has been abandoned, and a middle-aged book shop owner. Charlie Matters is fifteen and up to no good. He no longer goes to school, a fact he has hidden from his grandmother, his only guardian. Instead he spends his days picking up odd jobs and pursuing minor thefts and other misdeeds. He turns all the money over to his grandmother. He had robbed Ignatius Oliver’s store, The Book Keep , but his conscious got the better of him and he returned the money and developed a relationship with the man. Later he met Molly on the street and they became friends. As time wore on Ignatius became the only adult in their lives and had a huge impact on them.

These were all good people trapped in a terrible situation. London was being bombed almost nightly. There was no hope for the poor people and little hope for anyone else. As time wore on and Molly’s house was bombed, where she and Charlie had been living, they had fewer and fewer options. Molly was female and underaged; Charlie was a minor criminal; and Ignatius had no experience with young people, plus difficult matters of his own. It was really more a slice-of-life than one with a plot, with small plots popping up, one after another. The character development was natural as were the relationships, no matter how unlikely they seemed. The story was heart-wrenching as only a wartime story can be. The narrative brought home what life must have been like at the time, when men were fighting so very close by. It was masterful. As much as Baldacci is a genius at thrillers, he is even better with historical fiction.

The narration was carried out by a number of people, including the author and was perfect. I liked the audio better than the written version as it was easier to follow. Kudos to the cast: David Baldacci; Stewart Crank; Alexandra Boulton; John Lee; Nicola F. Delgado; Matthew Lloyd Davies; Joe Pitts

I was invited to listen to Strangers in Time by Hatchette Audio and read it by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HatchetteAudio #GrandCentralPublishing #DavidBaldacci #Stewart Crank #Alexandra Boulton #John Lee #NicolaFDelgado #Matthew Lloyd Davies #Joe Pitts #StrangersInTime

As it is with a lot of people, World WR II fascinates me. This historical fiction by David Baldacci had me imagining what it was might have been like to live in London during 1944. The characters of Molly Wakefield, Charlie Matters, and Ignatious Oliver along with a multitude of others definitely kept me listening. Strangers in Time is a good read (or listen).

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this lovely read of good story.

Strangers In Time by David Baldacci
5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
0🌶

This book was a change up from my typical reading recently, and it was so amazing. This book takes place in 1944/45 London, in the height of WW2. We follow 3 main Characters, Charlie, a young teenager from the poorer east end of London, Ignatius l, a recently widowed bookstore owner in The Strand area of London, and Molly, a young teenager who has recently returned from the country to her home in the more posh area of Chelsea. Had the war not been in full force these three very different people may have never met, but as their lives start twining together they find comfort and a found family of sorts while enduring the horrors of German bombings on London and the loss of loved ones. There have been many books written taking place during this time period, but this story was something so special. I was moved to tears multiple times, David did not sugar coat the horrors the citizens of London went through during this time, he in fact leaned into it in vivid detail thay makes me appreciate even more what military and civilians alike went through during this dark time. I can not recommend this book enough l, even if this book is outside your normal realm of reading, give it a chance. You will not regret it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyable read. Also did the audio book just to see if it helped the story flow a little bit better. It did. Not your typical WWII novel, really gave gravity to the plight of everyday people who were not part of the actual fighting. The emotions between the characters made them relatable and I found myself at times wondering what I would have done in certain situations that the characters were put into. Recommend to anyone looking for a different approach to your typical war novel. Audio book was fantastic to listen to.

Strangers In Time is a heart wrenching tale about the moments and chance encounters that can have a ripple effect on the circumstances we find ourselves in.

This story is set during the WW2, and we meet several characters whose lives touch upon eachother through momentary situations. As always, Baldacci is able to weave a tapestry which eventually brings us full circle.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, and the voice actor cast was phenomenal. I could very easily forget I was listening to the same set of people for the multiple characters they portrayed.

If you’re considering this novel my biggest advice is to try and get access to the audiobook. The narrators voice their characters throughout and I loved hearing all their voices pop up each time they spoke. The entire production was impressive.

It’s rare that a WWII novel feels unique to me, but this one had a different atmosphere. Amid destruction we witness an inspiring story of struggle, survival, and found family. The three main characters would have been unlikely to have crossed paths without the war wreaking havoc in London.

Charlie is almost fourteen, he’s been ditching school and barely scraping by with the only family he has left his dear old Gran. He spends his days doing any odd job he can for a bit of coin and isn’t above swiping something he needs from those who can afford to part with it. After all these ration books aren’t filling the bellies of the poor. Charlie’s conscience and desperation made me emotional. His spirit walked a line between fragility and strength. I wanted to hug him.


Molly was whisked away to the countryside before the Blitz for safety. Upon her return at age fifteen she expects to be greeted by her loving family, but returns home that’s empty save for her nanny. Molly’s fortitude was admirable. She began with more wealth and comfort than anyone and experienced tremendous loss. She looked for ways to make any situation work. Molly reminded me of the saying, “Nothing works until you do.”

Where are Molly’s parents?

Strange men begin following Molly everywhere.

Ignatius Oliver has a name that belongs in fiction! I love it!! It’s perfect that he runs a book shop. He harbors some secrets. The children find his shop to be a safe haven. He seems level headed, patient and diligently looks out for their best interests.

Suspicious men are seen leaving the book shop.

The children find unexplained oddities hidden in the shop.

There are some mysterious elements at play which were unexpected, but enjoyable.

This novel pulled me right into this time period. There were details I’ve never considered or read about before which I found interesting. (No spoilers 😉) A fantastic standalone!
4.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for providing a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it.
Typically, I am a lover of fast-paced psychological thrillers. However, this historical fiction stole my heart. The entire novel meandered along, picking up detail as it went along, fleshing out the story and characters. I never got bored and felt like I was brought into the story of Charlie the young orphan, Molly the well-to-do evacuee, and Ignatius the grieving book shop owner.
When I'm not reading thrillers, I love World War II historical fiction. Because I have devoured so many, I get burned out and find that the books can get repetitive and stale. The author took a common topic and wrote it in a way that I have never read before, keeping it fresh and new. This book takes place during the Blitz in London, and David Baldacci does an excellent job of transporting me to that time in history, allowing me to imagine how the people felt and survived. It's historically accurate, but this novel goes beyond that, and you truly get the human side as well.
While this book is not what many would associate as a typical Baldacci genre, it is just as fantastically written as his other books, or even more so.

Many thanks to NetGalley and David Baldacci for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

ARC copy, audiobook
Book: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars

This is a review of the audiobook.

I absolutely loved this spectacular tale of two young teenagers living through the Blitz in London, and their friendship with a bookshop owner. The book is beautifully written with characters who are well fleshed out, and I was heavily invested in the lives of Charlie, Molly and Ignatius and really cared about them. The descriptions of wartime London were so vivid I could really picture the scene, and the author has obviously done meticulous research. There is much sadness in the book, and the horrors of war are not sugar coated. But there is also hope and courage.
I haven't read any of David Baldacci,'s previous books but on the strength of this one I'll definitely be delving into his back catalogue!

I listened to the audio version of the book which was sensational, featuring multiple narrators who really did bring the book to life. It is one of the best produced audiobooks I've listened to.

Wow, I loved this audiobook. David Baldacci can clearly put his pen to any genre and make it brilliant, but the narrators truly brought this book to life. Probably my favourite audiobook.

I was really pleased that the narrators had British voices as I feel an American accents for the characters based in London war times would not have worked, so a great choice and brilliant voice artists.

A really interesting work of historic fiction with three main characters Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, who have come together through unexpected circumstances and would not normally have met. Lots of twists and turns, but ultimately a story of war, family, loss and survival that really gets you thinking.

A great book by Baldacci, who always writes a brilliant book, though usually thrillers, but this was equally if not more brilliant.

A big thanks to Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing, Netgalley for the advanced audio copy that I whizzed through as couldn't wait to find out what happened next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced digital copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

It is World War II, and London is in the thick of The Blitz, where aerial bombings happen every day. Charlie is a 14 year old living in dire straits who steals what he needs to survive. Molly is a fifteen year old of high social status who returns home after being away for years to find that both of her parents are gone. Ignatius Oliver is a local bookstore owner and widower who shuts himself away from the world, living mainly in the memories of his lost wife. When this unlikely trio are thrust together by circumstance, they form an unexpected bond and weather the throes of war together.

From its description, this book was everything that I usually love in a historical fiction… set during World War II, people overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, found family… it seemed a perfect choice for me. Unfortunately, I was left in a situation where my expectations were greater than reality. I struggled to get into this story and to relate to the characters. Told from the three points of view of the main characters, I felt that their stories were not woven together well. In the beginning, it read like three completely separate novels, and it wasn’t until after the 40% mark that they finally had simultaneous meaningful interactions with each other. While the plot was ultimately interesting, I felt that the pacing was disjointed. The first half of the book seemed endless, while the resolution felt rushed.

While the book itself was underwhelming for me, the redeeming factor was the audio production. I am a sucker for a duet narration because it makes the dialogue feel so much more immersive. Each of the actors in this particular piece gave dynamic and engaging performances. Their accents were believable, yet easy to understand, and each character was given a unique and easily distinguishable voice. In a plot laden with emotion, the actors were genuine and not melodramatic.

Overall, it felt like a chore to get through this book, and I was left wanting more from it. I am incredibly thankful to have had the audiobook for this one, as the actors’ performances were the best part of the experience for me.

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci is a unique and emotionally charged story. The outstanding narration, including the author’s note, evokes a full range of feelings. Molly, Charlie, and Ignatius, a trio supporting each other through horror and hope during World War II’s The Blitz in London, are well-portrayed and easy to listen to.

A 14 year old street urchin, Charlie Matters meets Molly Wakefield, only a year older, in the London blitzkrieg. Molly had just come back from being evacuated to the countryside on the West coast and comes home to hear that her mother is in an asylum and her father has disappeared.

Charlie attempts to steal from Ignatius Oliver, the proprietor of a book shop, when one of his accomplices and a police officer are killed in a bus accident. He meets Molly, who knows of the book store, and they befriend the owner. They become close, as Ignatius has also recently lost his wife.

The pace is runaway, and full of intrigue and surprises and not the typical genre of David Baldacci. I really could not put this down.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for this pre-release version, I read it as well as listened to the audio book, both were fantastic!

Having been a lifelong David Baldacci fan, his newest book, Strangers in Time, is a the newest classic beautiful piece of literature that I have read. It is a moving tale of survival in war-torn London during WW II, but it’s written in a way that is more than historical fiction. It can easily be a mid-grade book, as well as an adult favorite. It can be a book that a family could read together and all enjoy it for differing reasons. I also believe that it prove to be timeless.


The book is told by different perspectives, but mainly from the vantage points of Charlie, a thirteen-year-old from the rough streets of the East End of London; Molly, a fourteen-year-old from fashionable west end Chelsea; and Ignatius Oliver, owner of the Book Keep, a bookstore that sat in between the two extremes (geographically and economically).

Despite their being from different extremes, socioeconomically, Molly, Charlie, and Oliver end up coincidentally meeting each other, and begin getting to know one another, in spite of what life has thrown at them, and continues to throw their way. They have all lost so much due to the war, and yet, they all have survived and learned how to still be good people. As the war continues to rage on, how much will they be able to endure before they reach their limit?

Thank you So much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the audio ARC of one of my new favorite books!!

Baldacci’s stirring WW2 historical novel centers on an eccentric bookshop proprietor, a 14 year old resourceful orphan Charlie, and a 15 year old girl who are drawn together by chance. They have all suffered great personal loss during Britain’s struggle against the Germans. Together they find, through their hardship and sacrifice, a unified solidarity, solace, strength and chosen family. This was an uplifting story that reaffirms humanity can and will survive the most horrify bereavement by supporting one another.

The audiobook has excellent narration featuring a full cast: Stewart Crank, Alexandra Boulton, John Lee, Nicola F. Delgado, Matthew Loyd Davies, Joe Pitts, and David Baldacci.

Highly recommend.