Best Kept Secret: Clifton Chronicles #3

                    The plot summary of this book can be stated in two ways: The story of how radically different Sebastian is compared to his parents. This is the brief way. The other more precise but lengthier plot summary is this:

     

                    The Lord Chancellor finally makes the decision regarding the lives of Harry, Emma and Giles. Emma tries to track down the baby found in her father's office who she realises is her half-sister. Meanwhile Giles' new girlfriend Lady Virginia Fenwick causes some problems in the family. Sebastian grows up and aspires to win a scholarship to Cambridge- a feat which both of his parents failed to achieve. But further problems come up in his life. Old enemies are resurrected and new, far more deadly ones appear in this third installment of the Clifton Chronicles.

                    Archer's books are always a pleasure to read not only because of his impeccable language that perfectly suits the era in which the book is set in but also because the story is quite delightful. The villains are all adorably evil. More importantly they are not stupid and rash. Their schemes are all well thought through.

                       

                    Not even the the biggest fans of Archer (read me) can ignore the fact that his books have become a little repetitive.But he tries his best. When you are writing such a huge saga of seven books, you need to include many elements to entertain the readers and Archer does exactly that. There is humour, suspense, a cliffhanger at the end of each book (except at the end of the last book, duh!) and a sense of thrill at every place possible which prevent the reader from putting the book down until it's finished. 

                                    As usual any Archer book is incomplete without a war or an election or both. As the 'War to end all wars' got over in the last book, Archer stuck to the description of an election that tells you that he hasn't lost touch after all these years. This book sounds a bit too long with its 470 and odd pages but let me tell  you, once you begin reading it'll keep you hooked till the last word. 

                         

                     The villains' motivations are pretty weak but their plans to exact revenge are pretty good. Archer would've made an excellent criminal looking at their plans. He knows the way to create a seemingly perfect plan and also finds a loophole in it at the same time. But this doesn't guarantee this book a complete 10/10. If you have already read Fourth Estate and As the Crow flies, this book and almost all the others in this series evoke a sense of deja vu that is slightly disappointing.

Some quotes in Archer's usual style before the rating:

The Lord Chancellor would never admit to anyone, even his closest confidant, that he had changed his mind at the last moment.

‘Now, don’t forget,’ she said, ‘whenever you’re interviewed, think British, act Yiddish. And if you ever need a  shoulder to cry on, or a half-decent meal, just like the Windmill Theatre we never close.’

‘Many congratulations,’ was all she said. He stared at Natalie, who was holding up a bottle of champagne and wearing a tight-fitting dress with a zip down the front that didn’t need an invitation to pull it. 

“I suppose it’s because I come from Yorkshire that I have a tendency to call a spade a spade.’ ‘And I suppose it’s because I come from Gloucestershire,’ said Emma, ‘that I have a tendency to call a scheming bitch a scheming bitch.’

When the lorry in front began to slow down, he knew that if they were to have any hope of surviving, he had to make a decision, and make it quickly.

Now for the rating:

9/10 - Amazing