When the Clock Strikes Backwards

Ghosts of Landover #12

by Etta Faire

Time is running out in Landover…

There wasn’t a storm in sight when three lighthouse keepers disappeared on August 9, 1930. The only clues left behind were an overturned chair, their half-eaten dinner, and three mangy blackbirds.

Now, almost a hundred years later, the great grandson of one of those lighthouse keepers has come to medium detective Carly Taylor with a problem. The clock he inherited from that very lighthouse only ticks backwards instead of reaching midnight.

He’s been told the clock is haunted. But he’s also someone who doesn’t think he should have to pay Carly and her boss for a “clock exorcism done by a couple of fruitcakes.”

There’s only one problem. Carly knows she has to take this case, paid or not.

Because the more she channels with the lighthouse keeper’s ghost, and the closer she gets to figuring out what happened that night, the more she knows for certain, this case involves the curse on Landover, and time is definitely running out for all of them. Tick tock.

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2024

About the author

Etta Faire is a paranormal cozy mystery writer. She is the author of the Ghosts of Landover mystery series and the Evil Ones.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Etta-Faire/e/B...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EttaFaireAuthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/etta-...

Reviews

[Lottie Hildenbrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is part of a series and should be read in order. I thought this book was good. It was full of suspense and really hard to put down. It was a bit chaotic at times, but the murder was resolved nicely and the book added to the ongoing story of the Landover curse.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly is a medium who can see, speak and channel with ghosts to “see” events in their lives relating to the deaths or events of significance to them.

She is asked to look into a clock that never strikes midnight after the owner of it disappears along with two others in a lighthouse they all work at. They just disappeared with no trace over a hundred years ago.

Unraveling this mystery and other disturbing events in the town has Carly wondering what is coming next when she gets word a friend of hers is dying. Through communicating with ghosts and events she witnesses with them she is able to formulate what transpired but the appearance of another ghost who knows the true story leaves those who witness the event stunned.

I enjoyed this paranormal whodunnit which has a twist at the end that will surprise you and lay to rest the accusations about someone who was wrongly accused over one hundred years ago! The truth finally comes out after everyone involved has passed but still people now will know what really happened!

This is an intriguing and well written book which involves paranormal activity with ghosts. It’s one I really enjoyed and recommend to all who enjoy reading a tale of intrigue, mystery and suspense of an incident that happened over a hundred years ago
but is still on most people’s minds even today!

A great book to curl up with under a warm blanket by a fireplace with a warm drink to chase away the chills you’ll get while reading this book!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

An mystical paranormal cozy mystery with shifters ,ghosts , mayhem and intrigue .The array of familiar colorful, quirky and vibrant characters as well as new all with a certain type of charm that will draw you into their dramatic and unique lives while enticing you further with the intrigue of a curse or no curse shifter or not and a possible vilent outcome that may have a peaceful ulturnative with a lot of help through unknown spirits or ulternative shifters or not you really need to read this entire series including this imaginative and intriguing spirited paranormal that takes many turns before you reach its unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire "When The Clock Strikes Backwards" Book 12 in (A Ghost of Landover Mystery) for hours of intriguing and spirited enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[Christine Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books that I've read in a long time. It's fun, fun, fun with ghosts, haunted items, and lots of mystery. Now, you can read this as a stand-alone. However, although each book is another mystery to solve and a ghost to help, a back story runs throughout the series. You will be able to figure out the basics of what is happening, but it's much more meaningful to start with Book 1 and read them in order.
The characters are quirky and our heroine is smart and capable without being pretentious. There are many series out there where each book feels like a clone of the one before. Not this one. The storylines are engaging and individualistic. Each book is absolutely a pleasure to read and you won't go wrong with this one.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this an exciting book to read. Not a thriller, I hasten to say, but very interesting indeed. Carly is deeply into the “murk” of the curse & things seem to be hotting up between the bird shifters & the bear shifters. But, the main story in this book is about a cuckoo clock that will go past noon, but never past midnight. Just before it reaches there, it goes backwards. It belonged to one of the lighthouse men who had disappeared from the Tide Rock Lighthouse in 1930. All 3 men disappeared with no trace & very few clues left behind. Carly does a great job solving the mystery for the great-grandson who now owns the clock. There is a seance at the end of the book, where all is made clear.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am late to The Ghosts of Landover Mysteries series so it took me a moment to get into this story, but once I did I just could not get enough. A decades old mystery, a haunted clock, a medium who enjoys her cheeky ex-husband's company much more now that he is a ghost, and a town that likes to keep it's secrets. Add in an impending war between the bear and the bird shifters and you have a wonderful wonderful tale. Well written, intriguing story, fabulous characters, I loved it. I would also like to say that not having read any of the previous books did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book and I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly Taylor is a medium and a detective. Her newest case is to figure out what happened to three lighthouse keepers that disappeared in 1930. With ghosts and shifters helping her, Carly takes us on an adventure to figure out just what happened!

I really enjoyed this book! I'm new to the series and this is book 12 and I had no problems diving into it. Etta Faire writes wonderfully, making the characters fun and likable. The story is well written, with enough background information to understand what has happened in the past without having to read the rest of the series, though I do recommend doing so!

I won an ARC copy of this book and this review is my own opinion.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly Intriguing

Yet another fascinating instalment with interesting characters and well researched period problems (in this case to do with 1930s lighthouses). The suspense of the curse builds up as the story explores / reveals a little bit more of Carly’s place in the scheme of things. I really like the mystery stories that do not particularly relate the curse of Landover, but I love this series even more. I don’t know how the author manages all the threads but she does it superbly well.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, entertaining, cozy mystery. Carly is an intriguing, relatable, entertaining, interesting characters. I enjoyed Carly and especially the role she played in solving the crime. The various secondary characters – from ghosts to shifters to animals and live people all added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sherri Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly has the gift or curse of seeing ghosts! Could the case of a haunted clock help cure the town’s curse? I love the way Carly works with ghosts to understand what happened in the past. This is the first book I’ve read in this series, so I wasn’t familiar with any of the characters and situations. Fortunately there were enough explanations that I could enjoy following the story without being confused! I received a free copy via Bookfunnel and these are my honest thoughts on the book.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very captivating story! Great reading even if you're not into shape shifting or ghosts. Carly is a medium, solving mysteries from years ago through the ghosts that visit her. Three lighthouse keepers disappear one night back in the 1930's. There's an unusual clock that ticks backwards at midnight. I had to keep reading the story to find out how things would end. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[booksy.tx.ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! I love these books. There's a ghostly murder mystery and this damn curse. The ghostly characters give just enough to get to know them without overpowering Carly’s character and overall storyline. The murder mystery gives you satisfaction that gets resolved while the curse is continuous. This shifter war curse thing going on is so twisty and has so many layers. It continues to grow and get more complicated. I’m hooked on seeing how it all plays out.
Must be read in order. 

[Lonny Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decades ago 3 lighthouse keepers vanished from their lighthouse without a trace. Now the ghost of one of those men, who has been haunting his handmade clock, and found his way to Carly. She must channel the Ghosts memories, even the one he is trying to hide, to solve the riddle. Excellent take on a unique version of a locked room style mystery.
.

[Barbara Behning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tick Tock oh no - it is 11:55pm - I can move no further - must go backwards.
Am I broken or Haunted????????????
Carly had her work cut out for her. Research - talking to previous owner - in ghostly form.
Twists and turns - a fun read!!!!!!!

[Elizabeth F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery in a mystery. Another great book added to this series. The mystery story grabs your attention and keeps it and the bigger mystery story that continues book to book keeps you coming back for more. Can't wait for the next book. Love this author and the series. Highly recommend!!

[Carol Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this cozy mystery down from the beginning! The plot is so unique and has such twists and turns that I never guessed who did it. The characters are so real and special . You must read this book if you love cozy mysteries and quirky characters!!!!

[Dianne Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining cozy mystery. If you like ghosts and paranormal happenings, you'll enjoy this book.

I read this book for free as part of an advance reader team.

[Julie Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of this mystery are fabulous, the ongoing story arc with the birds and the bears is getting tedious, but the book is still a good read.

[Margarita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time is non-stop and the curse is affecting everyone. Carly has a new case from the1930's. Can she figure what happened to the lighthouse staff? Three men are missing and there are no leads. Carly has so much going on losing a friend as well as working on the case and finding answers to the curse.