Clock and Dagger

Wonderfully complex mystery!

Clock and Dagger by Julianne Holmes is the second book in A Clock Shop Mystery series. Ruth Clagan is a horologist (clockmaker) and is getting ready to reopen Cog and Sprocket in Orchard, Massachusetts. Ruth made some changes to the store and apartment above after inheriting the shop from her Grandpa Thom (G.T. for short). Things have been made more difficult by Beckett Green. Beckett is opening a bookstore across the street called Been Here, Read That (which would be good for the town), but he has decided to add other services (to compete with local businesses). Beckett wishes to sell coffee and to sell clocks as well as offer repair services. He has been trying to hire Mark Pine away from Ruth. No one knows why Beckett is trying to antagonize his fellow shop owners. The opening party of Cog and Sprocket is going well. Ruth goes next door to Ben’s Barbershop (where they were keeping the food) and finds Mark dead. This definitely puts kink in Ruth’s plans. Ruth sets out to find the killer. But someone does not want her to solve this murder. Ruth has further complications with Kim Gray, the town manager, over the old town hall building (which the town leases from Ruth). The lease is set to expire on January 1. Ruth wishes to keep leasing to the town and repair the clock in the tower (which was a dream of her grandfather’s). However, Kim’s vision for the town does not line up with Ruth’s or the other shop owners. Will they be able to reach an agreement in time? Join Ruth on her latest adventure in Clock and Dagger.

Clock and Dagger has a wonderfully complex mystery (there is more to it than meets the eye). I was able to solve it, but I do not think most people will see the final twist coming (it’s a good one). I did not have the pleasure of reading Just Killing Time (first book in series) prior to reading Clock and Dagger. But that did not hinder my reading (or enjoyment) of this book. The author did a good job of updating the reader on what happened in the first novel. I found Ms. Holmes to be a very descriptive writer. I give Clock and Dagger 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I did find some information to be repeated a few times (which was unnecessary), but otherwise Clock and Dagger is a pleasurable novel to read. I will definitely be reading future books in this series, and I will go back and read Just Killing Time.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest evaluation. The opinions and comments expressed are strictly my own.