Strangers in Time cover art

Strangers in Time

Every Second Counts In This Instant Sunday-Times-Bestselling Gripping Wartime Drama

Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Strangers in Time

By: David Baldacci
Narrated by: David Baldacci, Stewart Crank, Alexandra Boulton, John Lee, Nicola F. Delgado, Matthew Lloyd Davies, Joe Pitts
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Only £0.99 a month for the first 3 months. Pay £0.99 for the first 3 months, and £8.99/month thereafter. Renews automatically. Terms apply. Start my membership

About this listen

Featuring a special introduction read by the author, David Baldacci, and read by a full cast, including Stewart Crank, Alexandra Boulton, John Lee, Nicola Delgado, Matthew Lloyd Davies, and Joe Pitts.

'A beautiful read that will linger long in the memory' – Kate Quinn


During one of the fiercest conflicts the world has ever known, three strangers’ lives collide as they confront the raining bombs of their present and the explosive secrets of their past. Journey back to wartime London in this historical drama from the number one bestseller.

Charlie Matters’ life has always been a fight for survival. Orphaned with no prospects, Charlie steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he can enlist in the battle against the Germans. He miraculously emerges unscathed from the Blitz, but there’s no telling when the next bomb will fall, and whether it will be the one to end his life.

Molly Wakefield’s dreams of a joyful homecoming are all she’s had to hold on to after being evacuated to the countryside via ‘Operation Pied Piper’ five years before. But when she finally returns to the city, Molly faces a London changed beyond recognition, and the devastating news that neither of her parents are there, only her old nanny, Mrs. Pride.

Charlie and Molly’s paths converge when they both seek solace at ‘The Book Keep’, where they find an unexpected ally and protector in the bookshop’s owner, widower Ignatius Oliver. But the trio’s newfound peace is jeopardized as past secrets catch up with them: Charlie’s illicit activities have not gone unnoticed, an ominous shadow has trailed Molly since her return, and Ignatius is burdened by a secret that contributed to his wife’s death. Can they help one another survive this turbulent time? Or will they be ripped apart from the last people they hold dear?


Strangers in Time is a gripping tale of courage and survival even in the darkest of times, from the multimillion copy number one bestselling author.

**********

KILLER TWISTS. HEROES TO BELIEVE IN. TRUST BALDACCI.


'A masterpiece of a historical thriller' – Lisa Scottoline

'A riveting story' – Mitch Albom

'A visceral reminder that war creates the most indefatigable bonds between unlikely souls' – Jodi Picoult

'A celebration of the books that change us and the families we choose' – Kristen Harmel

'A book that will stay with you' – Ann Cleeves


'Captivating, tender, brutal and brilliant' – Peter James

'A phenomenal read' – Shana Abé

'Atmospheric and warm-hearted' – Natasha Lester


'Baldacci is the master' – Jeffrey Archer

'Baldacci is still peerless' – Sunday Times

'One of the world's best thriller masters' – Daily Mail

'Baldacci inhabits the skin of his creations' - Sunday Express

20th Century Historical Historical Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Survival Heartfelt England

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Black Echo: Special Edition cover art
Official Secrets cover art
Hard Road cover art
Possession cover art
Kill Day cover art

Critic reviews

Oliver Twist meets the Blitz when powerhouse author David Baldacci turns his pen from thrillers to historical fiction . . . Baldacci beautifully explores the dark side lurking under the London Blitz's romanticized image — Strangers In Time is a beautiful read that will linger long in the memory (Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club)
In Baldacci’s virtuosic hands, this is not only a masterpiece of a historical thriller but also a profound and even poetic exploration of the eternal power of friendship, grace, and love to overcome the harshest cruelty of war, hatred, and evil (Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of What Happened To The Bennetts)
A group of acclaimed narrators delivers an absorbing performance of David Baldacci’s new novel [...] John Lee’s somewhat theatrical delivery captures the mysterious Ignatius. Nicola F. Delgado, Matthew Lloyd Davies, and Joe Pitts perform remarkable cameos of the other characters.
A riveting story of secrets, betrayals, and unlikely friendships during World War II. An emotional web that keeps spinning – and keeps you guessing – right until the startling finish (Mitch Albom, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Liar)
A totally engrossing novel about war, friendship and the resilience of youth. A book that will stay with you (Ann Cleeves, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Vera Stanhope and Shetland series)
If Dickens had written a novel set in the WWII London Blitz, he could not have bettered this. Captivating, tender, brutal and brilliant (Peter James, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Roy Grace series)
David Baldacci’s foray into historical fiction is a meticulously precise account of what it was like to live through the Blitz in London — a visceral reminder that war not only levels social classes, but creates the most unlikely and indefatigable bonds between unlikely souls (Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name)
Absorbing and deeply researched, Strangers in Time is a celebration of the books that change us, the families we choose, and the capacity we all have to rise from the ashes and find our way home (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter)
David Baldacci has the audacity to cross boundaries and genres with Strangers in Time, and he does so with aplomb. A rare and terrific exploration of human resilience and courage in the most dire of times . . . I stayed up all night to finish it. A phenomenal read! (Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs Astor)
All stars
Most relevant
I am a great fan of Baldacci. You can't help but live his books as you read them. This book is a harrowing story, but, also a loving and beautiful story of the time it is set. It gives you a real taste of the uncertainty of life and death during wartime that can change from one second to another.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Beautifully written and read.

Beautiful story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very aware of research into living conditions during the blitz which although interesting was a bit forced. Strange delivery with pauses between Mr Oliver’s phrases

Strange delivery with annoying pauses between phrases

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A very different Baldacci novel but story and narration were brilliant, but don't listen at bedtime as I couldn't stop listening.....

Absolutely fabulous.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I enjoyed everything. complex and interwoven fascinating plot, well written and well read.I recommend it

A superb read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Surprisingly, In his list of British literary influencers, Baldacci missed out Enid Blyton. As sure as a lashing of lemonade is lemonade this is a famous five book minus Timmy the dog!
The characters are stolen out of such British classics as Downton Abbey, as well a splash of Dick Van Dike, not to mention Blyton’s very own MI5 agent!
Never the less a gripping and entertaining yarn.


Enid Blyton meets….

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I mean different for the author but still a good listen so fan please don’t be put off! Also I think listening to all the voice help you get a flavour of their characters.

Different

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

A well-written book about how friendships arise out of the blue during a difficult time in history.

Friendship in a difficult time

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved the story and the characters. Baldacci is a Master Storyteller no matter what the subject

Not typical Baldacci

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Nothing at all to dislike. Drawn into the characters and the story straight away! A fantastic “read”

A really enjoyable read . Felt totally connected to the characters

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The atmosphere that a book leaves you with long after it has been either read or listened to is to me the measure of a good story. Strangers in Time is one of those books. I enjoy books that are set against a background of real historical events. The fictional lives of bright well educated Molly Wakefield, orphaned Charlie Mathers and bookshop owner Ignatius Oliver would have never knowingly crossed paths had it not been for the bombing of London in WW2. This is the story of how the characters’ lives intermingle, each from their individual points of view. It pulls no punches regarding the horrors of war and the uncertainties of life at the time, but the focus is mainly on the individual experiences of the characters. War is a great equaliser when it comes down to it.

The serendipity of life in war-torn London

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews