This is the first book of a 5-book series written by Jeffrey Archer. It is describing an era in the British History where relations between the different classes were very rigid and women usually had a very disadvantaged place in society.

Set in the early decades of the 20th century, the first book tells the story of Harry Clifton, is mother Maisie and other characters that are entering their lives. Harry does not know his father, since he has died in the Great War. As the book proceeds, we are brought into the many secrets the Clifton family has and we begin to understand that truth may be very different from what it seems to be. The chapters in which Harry's life in school are described seem to suggest that not much has changed in the British education system, with respect to the rigid and formal procedures that might stifle some creative students and encourage others, mostly based on their social status and income. Maisie tries several jobs to provide her son the proper education that will save his life, but this is not going to be very easy for a single woman in early 1900s.

The appeal of the book is the story Archer tells, but also the subtle way he develops the story, not giving away all of the details in the beginning and surprises the reader when the whole truth is revealed, not because the author has not told the truth but he has hidden enough details so as to guide the reader in a completely wrong direction. I personally like authors who challenge the readers like this.

I am looking forward to the remaining four books in the series. The first book ends with a cliffhanger and it is obvious that the story will continue full swing.