This isn't a stand-alone book. You must read Blackout first. Blackout and All Clear were originally planned as one book, but it got too big and was published as 2 novels. I think it should have been cut and slashed into one book, with less repetition. It tells the story of several historian time travelers who have gone back to London during WWII to study the blitz. She has clearly done a ton of research, and you get a wonderful sense of being immersed in that world.[return]I usually adore Willis' writing, but I was bored by this novel. The various historians seemed like they were the same model: Plucky, smart, honorable, and committed. I couldn't tell them apart without hunting for a name in the dialogue. This book is 641 pages long, and a lot of that is people rushing around trying to find each other, over and over again.