Best Kept Secret was published by Macmillan in 2013. Post-war Britain provides the backdrop as Harry Clifton establishes himself as a novelist while the Barrington family fights to maintain their shipping business against the machinations of Lady Virginia Fenwick — a recurring antagonist whose aristocratic spite and legal cunning threaten everything the family has built. The novel covers the period from 1945 through 1964, using real historical events as markers.
Lady Virginia Fenwick
The introduction of Lady Virginia as a recurring antagonist gives the Clifton Chronicles its Dickensian dimension. She is Archer’s most memorable villain since Harvey Metcalfe in Not a Penny More: aristocratic, vindictive, legally sophisticated, and motivated by pure class resentment. Her schemes across four volumes provide the series with its connective tissue.
Collecting Best Kept Secret
First edition (Macmillan, London, 2013): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $15–$25
- Very good: $8–$15
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation. Part of the Clifton Chronicles set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lady Virginia Fenwick based on? Archer has not confirmed a specific model, but the character — an aristocratic socialite who uses charm, manipulation, and the legal system to pursue vengeance — echoes several figures from Archer’s own turbulent public life, where lawsuits and social intrigue were constants.
Can each Clifton Chronicles book be read as a standalone? Not easily. The series is a continuous narrative, and each volume (except the last) ends on a cliffhanger. Reading them in order is strongly recommended.