Strangers in Time by David Baldacci @davidbaldacciauthor @davidbaldacci.bsky.social @hachetteaudio @hachetteaudio.bsky.social @grandcentralpub @grandcentralpub.bsky.social @librofm @libro.fm #StrangersInTime

the setup…
It’s 1944 London, the height of Germany’s bombing campaign and the city is under siege. Charlie Matters is fourteen-years old and lives in the East End with his grandmother, his only remaining relative. Unknown to her, he spends his days stealing things they need to survive instead of going to school. Molly Wakefield is fifteen years old and was sent to the countryside five years ago as part of Operation Pied Piper where she learned nursing skills. She returns to her home in Chelsea to find both her parents gone and her nanny the only one in residence. Ignatius Oliver is the owner of a book shop called The Book Keep and is an air warden. It was his late wife’s store and the still grieving widower lives above it, continuing to try and manage it in her image. Circumstances have these three cross paths that will forever change their lives and shape their futures.

the heart of the story…
It’s said that war is the great equalizer and Ignatius, Molly and Charlie certainly represent that ideology well. Molly not only comes from affluence, she’s been shielded from the ravages of the war until now. Ignatius has a comfortable life even in the throes of the war. Charlie and his grandmother barely get by, going to bed hungry most nights. Molly grew up overnight and despite her sheltered life, she’s got a fighting spirit. Charlie may be a thief but it’s only for survival and he has a strong moral code. Ignatius finds solace in helping these teenagers, giving him a new breath of life and them safety and shelter.

the narration…
I love a full cast narration and the six performers powerfully bring this story to life. Ignatius, Molly and Charlie were vividly portrayed, as well as the other secondary characters. It was wonderful storytelling.

the bottom line…
I wasn’t prepared to experience the war so profoundly, what it’s like to anticipate the next air raid, the terrifying moments when the alarms go off and the run to shelter. It was serendipitous how Ignatius, Charlie and Molly meet and eventually seek shelter together. There are moments of peril for all of them outside of the bombing and their survival depends on them looking out for each other. I’m not sure any of them would have survived without having met each other. This story will haunt me for a long time.

Book Info

• Release Date: April 15, 2025
• Narrators: Stewart Crank, Alexandra Boulton, John Lee, Nicola F. Delgado, Matthew Lloyd Davies & Joe Pitts
• Audio Length: 13 hours, 44 minutes
• Publisher: Hachette Audio

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(Thanks to Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing and Libro.fm for my complimentary copies. All opinions are my own.)