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Caecilius Rex #2
Counterclockwise
Following the events of The Atomic Circus, Detective Caecilius Rex returns with a whole new mystery to solve.
A series of stranglings spark a new intrigue for the young detective that is fraught with danger, along with an unlikely alliance and a startling discovery that will turn Rex’s world upside down.
Continue the mysterious journey with the second volume in the Caecilius Rex saga.
Extract from an exclusive interview with author K.C. Finn by Megan Grooms of the Author Reader Mixer (
Tell us a little about Counterclockwise.
Counterclockwise picks up where The Atomic Circus left off, about three months after the conclusion to that particular mystery. Kendra at this point has become pretty established as a crime-solver herself, and Counterclockwise really takes us into her story a little more, since we hear so much about Cae in the first book. In this story a serial strangler is on the loose, and his target appears to be police personnel, so naturally Cae is deeply concerned that these killings are taking place right under his young nose! Counterclockwise sees him team up with a rather unseemly criminal (who you’ve met briefly in the first book) in his attempts to identify the strangler, and both Cae and the readers will make some darker, more startling discoveries as this part of the story unfolds.
Where did you get the idea for deadly, toxic smog to be outside? Was it hard to remember to have all your characters put on the appropriate gear required before going outside because of the harsh environment?
I find gas masks really threatening and ominous, so I had to give my characters a good reason to wear them! Now that I think about it, all the stories I am currently working on have characters that wear masks or have painted faces, so I might have some sort of deep rooted psychological issue that I’m not aware of that’s emerging in my books!
Yes it was terribly hard to remember that the character’s faces are always covered by half-masks when they are out in the thick smog, you wouldn't believe how many times I caught them smiling or scratching their noses when they shouldn't be able to!
This is part of a series the second being Counterclockwise have you already written the next two or still working on them?
If I had completed the other two they would be out there right now as I don’t believe in holding back. To me there’s nothing worse than getting into a series then having to wait years between releases to continue it. When my current manuscript that is not Caecilius Rex-related is completed (which should be sometime in August) I will be ready to jump right in and start writing part 3: The Face. I have a lot of the material planned but also plenty of space for the plot to surprise me, as I don’t like to work too rigidly in the opening half of any story.
A series of stranglings spark a new intrigue for the young detective that is fraught with danger, along with an unlikely alliance and a startling discovery that will turn Rex’s world upside down.
Continue the mysterious journey with the second volume in the Caecilius Rex saga.
Extract from an exclusive interview with author K.C. Finn by Megan Grooms of the Author Reader Mixer (
Tell us a little about Counterclockwise.
Counterclockwise picks up where The Atomic Circus left off, about three months after the conclusion to that particular mystery. Kendra at this point has become pretty established as a crime-solver herself, and Counterclockwise really takes us into her story a little more, since we hear so much about Cae in the first book. In this story a serial strangler is on the loose, and his target appears to be police personnel, so naturally Cae is deeply concerned that these killings are taking place right under his young nose! Counterclockwise sees him team up with a rather unseemly criminal (who you’ve met briefly in the first book) in his attempts to identify the strangler, and both Cae and the readers will make some darker, more startling discoveries as this part of the story unfolds.
Where did you get the idea for deadly, toxic smog to be outside? Was it hard to remember to have all your characters put on the appropriate gear required before going outside because of the harsh environment?
I find gas masks really threatening and ominous, so I had to give my characters a good reason to wear them! Now that I think about it, all the stories I am currently working on have characters that wear masks or have painted faces, so I might have some sort of deep rooted psychological issue that I’m not aware of that’s emerging in my books!
Yes it was terribly hard to remember that the character’s faces are always covered by half-masks when they are out in the thick smog, you wouldn't believe how many times I caught them smiling or scratching their noses when they shouldn't be able to!
This is part of a series the second being Counterclockwise have you already written the next two or still working on them?
If I had completed the other two they would be out there right now as I don’t believe in holding back. To me there’s nothing worse than getting into a series then having to wait years between releases to continue it. When my current manuscript that is not Caecilius Rex-related is completed (which should be sometime in August) I will be ready to jump right in and start writing part 3: The Face. I have a lot of the material planned but also plenty of space for the plot to surprise me, as I don’t like to work too rigidly in the opening half of any story.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2013
517 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Finn
38 books389 followersK.C. Finn has been writing since 2011, at a time when extreme illness saw her trapped in the house with nothing but her imagination. Since then she's amassed a collection of stories, poems and novels spanning many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, gothic fiction, horror, paranormal and historical works. Her unique and diverse voice has won many awards, and she is both an Amazon and USA Today best-selling writer.
In her free time, K.C. is an eternal student, forever studying and learning more about the world. She travels whenever possible to explore new cultures and climates, and when she's at home she enjoys coaching writers of all ages with a story to tell. She also exercises her flair for the dramatic by directing, writing and occasionally acting in darkly humorous theatre productions in her hometown of Chester.
K.C. also works as a professional reviewer, manuscript consultant and cover designer. Feel free to message regarding any of these services!
In her free time, K.C. is an eternal student, forever studying and learning more about the world. She travels whenever possible to explore new cultures and climates, and when she's at home she enjoys coaching writers of all ages with a story to tell. She also exercises her flair for the dramatic by directing, writing and occasionally acting in darkly humorous theatre productions in her hometown of Chester.
K.C. also works as a professional reviewer, manuscript consultant and cover designer. Feel free to message regarding any of these services!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 9, 2013
I found this book totally different from The Atomic Circus, but liked it just as much. I read in bed at night and with this book I was quite freaked out sometimes and had to finish it in the daytime! I feel so sorry for Cae - I just want someone to love him! Poor guy deserves some luck! I have two more novellas to look forward to in this series - so who knows?
January 13, 2014
Detective Rex is back with another murder mystery.
In this story we find things are different at the Precinct, after everything that happened in the Atomic Circus case. We also find that Rex is a bit different too.
He still has a brilliant mind, but things with him aren’t quite the same, and he learns things that could change his world forever.
This is an exciting & fast paced story, full of surprises.
Another really great read from K.C. Finn
In this story we find things are different at the Precinct, after everything that happened in the Atomic Circus case. We also find that Rex is a bit different too.
He still has a brilliant mind, but things with him aren’t quite the same, and he learns things that could change his world forever.
This is an exciting & fast paced story, full of surprises.
Another really great read from K.C. Finn
March 16, 2014
Detective Caecilius Rex is investigating murders happening to fellow officers again. This time they are happening in what should be secure locations.
Often dark environments guide the mysterious events and cast of characters through the interwoven and interrelated adventures.
While there is still an overarching mystery being developed from the first tale, this may be read as a stand alone book if desired.
Unique characters continue to develop from the first tale and new ones are introduced which develop and add their own flair to the dynamic.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
Often dark environments guide the mysterious events and cast of characters through the interwoven and interrelated adventures.
While there is still an overarching mystery being developed from the first tale, this may be read as a stand alone book if desired.
Unique characters continue to develop from the first tale and new ones are introduced which develop and add their own flair to the dynamic.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
March 10, 2015
I had read the first book in this series, The Atomic Circus, quite a long time ago, but I do remember that I enjoyed it quite a bit. So when I found this book on my kindle, I quickly started it and couldn’t put it down until I was done with the story.
Once again, I really enjoyed the world that Ms. Finn was able to create in this book. The attention to detail was done in just the right amount; I didn’t feel as though I was given too much information, but just the right amount. I’m still left wondering what the deal is with the fog, but I have a feeling that’s a mystery that I’m not going to have solved just yet. I believe by Ms. Finn adding that element to the story it adds something more to the book, it makes it so you want to keep reading to find out what exactly was going on in the world.
The characters I believe were really well done as well. Even the secondary characters were described in ways that made them stand out from each other. Once again, Ms. Finn does an amazing job giving the details but not going overboard. The different characters all seem to play off of each other quite well throughout everything that was happening.
My main complaint would be that the twist that happens at the end? I kinda had a feeling that was what it was. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t distract me from the story at all, but I suppose I was just hoping for more of a shocker.
Overall though, I did still enjoy the book and I can’t wait to start the next one in the series!
Once again, I really enjoyed the world that Ms. Finn was able to create in this book. The attention to detail was done in just the right amount; I didn’t feel as though I was given too much information, but just the right amount. I’m still left wondering what the deal is with the fog, but I have a feeling that’s a mystery that I’m not going to have solved just yet. I believe by Ms. Finn adding that element to the story it adds something more to the book, it makes it so you want to keep reading to find out what exactly was going on in the world.
The characters I believe were really well done as well. Even the secondary characters were described in ways that made them stand out from each other. Once again, Ms. Finn does an amazing job giving the details but not going overboard. The different characters all seem to play off of each other quite well throughout everything that was happening.
My main complaint would be that the twist that happens at the end? I kinda had a feeling that was what it was. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t distract me from the story at all, but I suppose I was just hoping for more of a shocker.
Overall though, I did still enjoy the book and I can’t wait to start the next one in the series!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews