Killing Time

The Invisible Detective #4

by Justin Richards

Cornwall, Arthur Drake finally has time to think about the Invisible Detective and a past life that seems somehow linked to his own. But then he meets the ghosts of sailors shipwrecked over a century ago… London, 1937: Whatever your problem, the Invisible Detective can find the answer. Only four children know the truth about this mysterious private investigator… because they created him. Now they solve crimes and mysteries in his name. An extraordinary pocket watch that seems to rewind time itself leads the children to investigate a strange clock shop. But what appears to be wrong with the shop's customers, and how are these events linked to a shipwreck in Cornwall? Only the Invisible Detective can find out...

Genres: Mystery, Childrens

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Justin Richards is a British writer. He has written many spin off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and he is Creative Director for the BBC Books range. He has also written for television, contributing to Five's soap opera Family Affairs. He is also the author of a series of crime novels for children about the Invisible Detective, and novels for older children. His Doctor Who novel The Burning was placed sixth in the Top 10 of SFX magazine's "Best SF/Fantasy novelisation or TV tie-in novel" category of 2000.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

And so I approach the middle of the Invisible Detective series and I must admit it appears that things are a changing

Now this will be a challenge without giving away spoilers to the series and without spoiling it for later titles as yes as I have said before you have the story of the week (or in this case the story of the book) but you also have the story of the series where hints and pieces are being dropped like break crumbs through the various books so far (and I suspect will keep on building till some crescendo towards the end of the series)

But what makes this book out from the rest - as I guess the easy temptation would be to just repeat the formula just changing names and locations, milking that same old monster of the week premise.

Well for one thing they Mr Richards has changed the rules - we are now having totally independent and yet relevant stories happening in both times - no longer is Arthur just following in the foot steps of his great grandfather.

But also the supernatural is starting to play a larger and larger role in what is going on. No longer are there just man made mysteries or questionable events that although they make you question what is going on its all to easy to dismiss. that is most certainly no longer the case

But what of the book and its feel - well for me and I think this is a mark of Justin Richards talent - he has been able to change the rules (or at least amend them) and yet make it feel like this was the plan all along - which I am sure it was anyway - but to me the reader it feels like a natural progression - I just wonder what is round the corner in the second half of the series.

This series has great potential and from what I have read so far its only going to get more interesting. Now where did I put that next title.

[Pao Vilchis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason I decided to read this book was because as a 2021 goal I want to read all of my backlist books, specially the ones that were from my childhood that I never got the chance to get to. I picked this series up because the plot seemed intriguing and after reading the first 3 books and really enjoying them I just could wait to read the fourth and final one.

In this book we follow Arthur Drake in modern time London and in London 1936 as he and the “invisible detective” try to solve the mystery of the clocks that seem to alter time.

I am truly happy to say I really enjoyed this book, it is not a new favorite or anything but for being a book that has been on my shelf for many years I was pleasantly surprised. I was engaged in the story, it read very quickly, it was fast paced and interesting enough to keep me invested.

You can tell this book is for a younger audience so even though I truly enjoyed it I couldn’t give it a higher rating because I am not the target audience for the book (which is totally my fault). I need to be honest and say I really did not care much about the modern day timeline, it was sometimes confused and I was 100% more invested in the 1930´s timeline when the actual mystery was being solved.

The plot twist didn’t shock me, especially because it was pretty obvious all along, but again, for a younger audience the plot twist would have been major. My only thought is that I wish I had read this when I was younger, 2011 me would have adored this book.

[Denise Gossow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable. The two timelines are starting to weave together and so I can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Melanie Schneider · Rating 1 out of 5]

i didn't really like this book
It did not leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more it wasn't intense enough

[Mahnoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read.