The Clockwork Teddy:

A Bear Collector's Mystery #4

by John J. Lamb

When Brad and Ashleigh Lyon re-visit San Francisco, a cutting-edge robot teddy bear is found at a murder scene. Now the bear-making couple must try their crafty hands at fur-ensics.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

273 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 7, 2008

About the author

John Lamb is the author of "Bear Collector" mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. Prior to becoming a writer, he had a distinguished career as a Southern California cop, serving as a CSI, a homicide investigator, hostage negotiator,and detective sergeant."

Series:
* A Bear Collector's Mystery
* Steve and Victoria MacKinnon Mystery

Reviews

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Mr. Lamb finally toned down the cop speak on the final book in the series which made it much more enjoyable than the others. I thought the mystery was engrossing and honestly didn't figure out who the culprit was until he was arrested. This one was action-packed from the start. I really liked meeting the Lyon's daughter Heather and her fiance. Brad and Ashleigh's reactions were priceless. It's a shame that the series has ended when something finally happened that I'd be interested in hearing more about (*Heather and Colin, specifically).

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad & Ash Lyon are headed back to SF because Brad has to give a deposition for one of his past case with his ex partner that is finally going to trial. Since the SFPD is paying for his trip back up north. The Lyon's decide to participate in the Sonoma Teddy Bear show. As well as spend some time with his Ex partner Greg & wife for dinner. Along with their police daughter Heather who has some news of her own. And it's not the fact that her hair is blue.

While Ash is setting up their booth. Brad wants to check out the other vendors to buy Ash a new Teddy Bear for her upcoming birthday. When he spots one of the Teddy bear artist that they adopted one of her creations Lauren Vandenbosch.
Brad talks to Lauren who remembers exactly which bear the Lyon's bought. Minutes later a Teddy bear mascot comes & Assaults Lauren & trashes her display, along with stealing her petty cash. S When Brad tries to stop the mascot he gets tackles & the grumpy mascot gets away. Brad wobbles up to get his barrenings he sees Lauren being threaten by a former cop from SFPD, who was never a good cop on the force. Now he finds out he has left the department & is a crooked PI who is letting Lauren know that she needs to get in touch with her son Kyle who has stolen something from the company he worked for.
While the Lyon's are just about to order their fancy dinner in the city. Greg Brad's ex partner gets a call tath all detectives have to go on a murder case. he asks Brad if he wants to come for the ride. Ash knows her husband after 26 yrs. He has an itch to catch up with his old life, colleagues, job. And somethings never change. But Murder involving a Teddy bear? That is a new one, but it's a special bear Patrick the Polar bear is a robot that can do anything. During the crime scene Brad notices a crowd. One or two people stand out that he remembers. A former hooker who Brad could get information about people. In the crowd Brad notices a guy on a Harley with a girl hanging on him? The woman looks familiar, What?!! is my daughter doing with that guy, & blue hair!!. I think I have just met my future son in law uncover cop.

While Brad is now consulting on this murder case with his former partner. He finds out that the Teddy bear costume in the back seat of a car in the hotel parking lot. That is when Brad informs Greg that this murder case might have something to do with his assault to be the hero earlier in the day.
Ash, Brad are going to investigate the case. To start they need to chat with Lauren regarding her son Kyle. The former SFPD turned crooked PI & Kyle's so call girlfriend? Who murdered the PI's partner?
Can former partners solve this murder investigation? How something cute & cuddly cause greed, & murder? Does Brad have the suspects all wrong? Where it puts Ash in danger?
Read to find out.

[Terri Borkgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clockwork Teddy

This Bear Collector Mystery is full of action from the arrival at a Bear Show to the visit to a cabin in the mountains to capture the killer. The reader will enjoy the story and the lingo that a former cop understands. Throw in family, romance and adventure and the reader won't be disappointed.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in the series. This time Brad and Ash are back in San Francisco and we get to meet one of their kids. The mystery was good and exciting and I enjoyed seeing them in a big city setting.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Teddy Bear Flag Republic in Sonoma, California, a very popular bear show, is one of the stops on Brad and Ashleigh Lyon’s trip back to San Francisco. Brad is a retired San Francisco police officer and after an on-the-job injury he has retired to the Shenandoah Valley and has been enjoying his wife Ashleigh’s interest in crafting teddy bears. Brad and Ashleigh also plan to visit a few friends and are most looking forward to seeing their daughter Heather who is now a police officer in San Francisco.

Sounds like a pretty routine vacation but there is nothing routine about this vacation. First they witness a robbery at the teddy bear show. Then Brad accompanies his old partner to a murder scene where a teddy bear robot is discovered. The robot can even talk. Brad offers his expertise in the teddy bear field to the San Francisco police and he is taken on as an advisor.

As Ashleigh and Brad assist in the murder investigation they soon find that one of their teddy bear acquaintances is deeply involved. Before it is over both Brad and Ashleigh find themselves in danger.

The Bear Collector’s Mysteries make for good reading. Brad’s experience with the police department brings much more to the books than the normal crafty mysteries. If you haven’t tried one give it a shot. I think you will enjoy the books.

[Marlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the fourth title of the Bear Collectors' Mysteries, Brad and Ashleigh Lyon return to California. The impetus for their visit is the annual teddy bear festival in Sonoma, but they also plan to work in a visit with family and friends.
Of course, nothing goes as simply as planned. On the first day of the festival, Brad witnesses a person dressed in a bear costume steal the cashbox from one of the other exhibitors.
While they are having dinner with Brad's former partner and his wife in San Francisco, his partner is called out, and invites Brad to tag along. What a surprise when Brad stumbles over a robotic teddy bear in the parking lot at the scene of the crime!
Despite the cuddly subject matter, much of the narrative leans towards the gritty. The relationship between the Lyons is charming; it's so refreshing to see the hero of an action novel so smitten with his wife! I really appreciate reading a combination of my two favourite mystery genres: cozies and police procedurals.

[Sue Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 4th in the teddy bear series by John J. Lamb will introduce the reader to Brad and Ashleigh’s daughter and her fiancé as well as Brad’s old partner and some of his other co-workers from San Francisco.
When Brad and Ashleigh go to a teddy bear show in California, things aren’t all teddy bears. One of the exhibitors is assaulted and robbed by a person wearing a teddy bear suit while at the show. Brad and his partner become involved in finding out who the culprit was. In the middle of it all, there is a shootout at a low rent motel and the police are on the case. Brad is allowed to help out and is even given the rank of consultant.
What happens from there on, I won’t tell you, but the hair on the back of your neck will stand on end and you will be biting your nails as the story unfolds.

There is only one book left in the series and I am both anxious to read it and will be sad when I finish it knowing that I will never be able to watch Brad and Ashleigh grow old together.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really one of Lamb's better books in the series. I noticed a new and refreshed writing style in this book. Maybe it was the introduction of new characters, or the fact that the bear was so involved with the murders. As a fellow bear lover I loved that. Also it seemed as though the amount of his bending the rules in the book was curbed which was nice.

It was a nice easy read on a snowy day! I would really recommend the series to anyone that read it.

What I also love is that you don't have to follow the series to pick up a book, feel free to start on this book, or read the others before this one!

Great author, can't wait to read more of his books! Keep the teddy bear books coming!

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad and Ashleigh Lyon are in California for a teddy bear show when Brad witnesses a robbery. That night, he's visiting with his old police buddies when he goes to the scene of a homicide. The catch is, Brad finds evidence linking the two events. And how does the robotic teddy bear found at the scene fit in? I love spending time with this duo, and this book was no exception. I did figure part of the story out before the characters, but I really didn't mind. And the climax had me turning pages as fast as I could.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad and Ash visit their forder stomping grounds, San Francisco, so Brad can give a statement in a court case pertaining to his old police career. While in the city they attend a teddy bear show and get involved in a case that involves a murdred man in a seddy hotel room and the theft of a robotic teddy bear. Plus, we get to meet their decidedly punkish, blue-haired daughter -- who is also a San Francisco detective. Great entry in the series but now I will have to wait almost a year for the next book to come out!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big mystery fan, so I'm always looking for a series I can enjoy. I think this is the 3rd, maybe 4th book in the series. They are a quick easy read. The main character are likable and I love learning new things about collectible teddy bears. Maybe some day I'll be able to afford some of the ones mentioned in the books.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I love teddy bears and have my own collection, I enjoyed the author's mystery involving bears; unique. The main character was a former San Francisco policeman now living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The mystery takes place in a small town and the bends and twists of murder solving is fascinating. A fun read. This is one of several teddy bear mysteries Mr. Lamb has authored.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did NOT enjoy this book at all --- I've read a number of the ones in this series but this one was just a pile of garbage, nothing was very believable, none of the police procedures could possibly happen and the whole thing was just not well done at all!!! No cop department would let a retired handicapped cop back on the force for a caper like this.....ugh!

[Mary]

The best one yet

I've truly loved this series and am sad there is only one more left. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the author's life in San Francisco as well as the addition of new family & friends members of the Lyons' circle of life. It was definitely exciting and wonderful! And I'll probably read it more than once.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Brad and Ashleigh Lyon re-visit San Francisco, a cutting-edge robot teddy bear is found at a murder scene. Now the bear-making couple must try their crafty hands at fur-ensics.

Patrick came alive and I felt so sorry for him. Poor poor teddy. At the end they never even mentioned gathering the pieces and putting him back together.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love this series...they keep me turning pages way into the night...always something happening and this one really threw me for a loop...I didn't expect the bad guy to be who it turned out to be.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cozy read. It combines two of my favorite things teddy bears and a page turning mystery. This is part of a series that I am looking forward to reading more of. I am continuing to read this series and I'm enjoying them! I've read the whole series and really liked them.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of the series yet. He really shines in writing about San Francisco.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable mystery. I really like the protagonist and his wife.

[Californiaknittingfriends]

so far this is a wonderful book about murder mystery and teddy bears.I love teddy bears

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous addition to the collection!

[Jen Rouncville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reall enjoy these fluffy mysteries. I especially like the good relationship the married couple in the story share. They work well together.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best book of the series, but a cute series featuring a retired homocide cop who is injured, retires, and works with his wife making and selling teddy bears.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these cozies. It is too bad the author won't write anymore.

They are fun and you learn an awful lot about teddy bears.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice quick read. I liked the plot and the natural evolution of the story but I thought there were too many details about the crafting of the bears, which could be annoying at times.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was ok. Didn't enjoy it as much as previous books in this series.

[Stacy Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a good cozy mystery, teddy bears and bad cop humor Lamb's books are a good read

[Patricia Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of mystery books whose central characters are teddy bear lovers.

[Dancing Flamingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2

Evil mama!!!

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightfully crafted humorous cozy mystery with lots of plot thickens twists. Love this series.