This was a man
(Large Type)

Archer wraps up the Clifton Chronicles with this seventh and final entry in the series. It's now the 1980s, and every character has something exciting on the horizon Emma Clifton has been personally appointed by Margaret Thatcher as an undersecretary in the House of Lords. Emma's brother, Giles Barrington, is quite chagrined by the news, as they are in opposite parties. Emma's husband, Harry, has wrapped up the last book in his long-running mystery series and is eager to start something completely different. Lady Virginia Fenwick, the perpetual thorn in the side of the Barrington clan, continues her underhanded scheming (and finally receives her comeuppance). All of the trademark Archer storytelling elements are here in abundance cliff-hanger chapters, mistaken identities, deaths, and one red herring after another. To be sure, they are exactly what his readers expect (and want). But Archer leaps right into things with virtually no backstory and a relentless pacing that may keep even devoted series fans scratching their heads, wondering if they've missed something. That won't keep them from reading on, however, and being rewarded with a satisfying conclusion to the saga.--Vnuk, Rebecca Copyright 2016 Booklist

Archer wraps up the Clifton Chronicles with this seventh and final entry in the series. It's now the 1980s, and every character has something exciting on the horizon—Emma Clifton has been personally appointed by Margaret Thatcher as an undersecretary in the House of Lords. Emma's brother, Giles Barrington, is quite chagrined by the news, as they are in opposite parties. Emma's husband, Harry, has wrapped up the last book in his long-running mystery series and is eager to start something completely different. Lady Virginia Fenwick, the perpetual thorn in the side of the Barrington clan, continues her underhanded scheming (and finally receives her comeuppance). All of the trademark Archer storytelling elements are here in abundance—cliff-hanger chapters, mistaken identities, deaths, and one red herring after another. To be sure, they are exactly what his readers expect (and want). But Archer leaps right into things with virtually no backstory and a relentless pacing that may keep even devoted series fans scratching their heads, wondering if they've missed something. That won't keep them from reading on, however, and being rewarded with a satisfying conclusion to the saga. Copyright 2016 Booklist Reviews.

A lot of stuff happens in this seventh and final volume of Archer's New York Times best-selling "Clifton Chronicles," starting with a gunshot—but who fires and who's targeted is anyone's guess. With a one-day laydown on November 8.