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amateur_bookworm's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Strangers in Time by David Baldacci is a historical fiction novel set in London during WW2. It’s a standalone book.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
pjosselyn's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Fourteen-year-old Charlie Matters steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he’s old enough to enlist to fight the Germans. Fifteen-year-old Molly Wakefield has just returned to a nearly unrecognizable London and has been away 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: neither of her parents are there. Charlie and Molly find an unexpected ally and protector in Ignatius Oliver, and solace at his book shop, The Book Keep. Mourning the recent loss of his wife, Ignatius forms a kinship with both children, and in each other they rediscover the spirit of family each has lost.
What a wonderful story of survival, courage, and an unlikely friendship in the backdrop of war in London. The friendship Ignatius provides for Charlie and Molly after the tragedies they suffer will stay with me for a long time. A wonderful and unforgettable book by David Baldacci!