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Slim Hardy Mysteries #2
The Clockmaker's Secret
A buried clock holds the key to a decades-old mystery.
On holiday to escape the nightmares of his last case, disgraced soldier turned private detective John “Slim” Hardy comes upon something buried in the peat on Bodmin Moor.
Unfinished and water-damaged but still ticking, the old clock provides a vital clue to an unsolved missing-persons case.
As Slim begins to ask questions of the tiny Cornish village of Penleven, he is drawn into a world of lies, rumours, and secrets, some of which the residents would prefer to stay buried.
Twenty-three years ago, a reclusive clockmaker left his workshop and walked out onto Bodmin Moor, taking his last, unfinished clock with him.
He disappeared.
Slim is determined to find out why.
The Clockmaker’s Secret is the stunning sequel to Jack Benton’s acclaimed debut, The Man by the Sea.
On holiday to escape the nightmares of his last case, disgraced soldier turned private detective John “Slim” Hardy comes upon something buried in the peat on Bodmin Moor.
Unfinished and water-damaged but still ticking, the old clock provides a vital clue to an unsolved missing-persons case.
As Slim begins to ask questions of the tiny Cornish village of Penleven, he is drawn into a world of lies, rumours, and secrets, some of which the residents would prefer to stay buried.
Twenty-three years ago, a reclusive clockmaker left his workshop and walked out onto Bodmin Moor, taking his last, unfinished clock with him.
He disappeared.
Slim is determined to find out why.
The Clockmaker’s Secret is the stunning sequel to Jack Benton’s acclaimed debut, The Man by the Sea.
Audible Audio
Published April 8, 2019
1886 people are currently reading
1313 people want to read
About the author
Jack Benton
47 books88 followersJack Benton is the mystery writing pen name of British science fiction writer Chris Ward.
Chris Ward is a native of Cornwall, England, but currently lives and works in Nagano, Japan. He is the author of multiple series across several speculative genres, as well as writing under pen names in several more.
He spends his time, snowboarding, writing, playing guitar in his rock band, Steampunk Unicorn (www.reverbnation/steampunkunicorn), and generally having too much to say about just about everything.
For more information, please visit www.amillionmilesfromanywhere.net/tok...
Chris Ward is a native of Cornwall, England, but currently lives and works in Nagano, Japan. He is the author of multiple series across several speculative genres, as well as writing under pen names in several more.
He spends his time, snowboarding, writing, playing guitar in his rock band, Steampunk Unicorn (www.reverbnation/steampunkunicorn), and generally having too much to say about just about everything.
For more information, please visit www.amillionmilesfromanywhere.net/tok...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
October 6, 2022
Slim’s back. Still wondering the scenic areas and stumbling upon mysteries to solve. This time he’s on a prolonged vacation amid the gloomy Moors. Walking one day, he finds an old clock. The thing is expertly made and piques his interest, so he starts poking around, only to find out that the clockmaker was a local artisan who vanished without a trace many moons ago.
No one’s paying Slim to solve this one, but he can’t help himself. Plus, it takes his mind off of the efforts to stay sober. So, on he goes. Poking the locals who are, understandably, less than excited about this.
Much like its predecessor, this book is an amiable quick read. It won’t blow your mind, but it’ll entertain. Plus, it has a nice twist in the end. All in all, pretty good for a freebie.
No one’s paying Slim to solve this one, but he can’t help himself. Plus, it takes his mind off of the efforts to stay sober. So, on he goes. Poking the locals who are, understandably, less than excited about this.
Much like its predecessor, this book is an amiable quick read. It won’t blow your mind, but it’ll entertain. Plus, it has a nice twist in the end. All in all, pretty good for a freebie.
January 17, 2021
The second of the series and as I start my notes, I have mixed feelings about it. Usually as I come to the end of a story I have a pretty good idea of the score it will get. Now, for the second book in a row, I am confused.
There was something about 'The man by the sea' that I found refreshingly different. What ever it was, it was missing here. Instead I found the first part of the story quite flat and about as inviting as the dark drizzly afternoon in the Cornish village of the story or Bodmin Moor itself.
There was something that I didn't like about the first story and that was, in my opinion, the too frequent reference to the main characters drinking. In this story he is trying to give up. The author seems to write with great authority on the mindset of the character, Slim, but I do wonder at Slim's ability to recover physically and mentally on the 'morning after'.
The book is as much about Slim's personal struggle as it is about the mystery which he finds to investigate while he is away on a drying out holiday.
The mystery itself is fascinating and its unraveling is intriguing with twists unexpected and totally out of the blue. The final episodes of the story more than made up for any of its shortfalls and will ensure that I will be reading the next in the series.
In reading the book , I have discovered a truth about myself in that I would be no good at trying to deal with someone in Slim's position. When he is sober , he has an active trained mind inside a military honed body. When he is not he is a drunken slob. My instinct is to give him a slap across the face and tell him to pull himself together and not to be so stupid. Perhaps not the right way !
Finally , maybe because the novel has made me question some of my attitudes, as well as being a cracking story, I decided its score is 4.
There was something about 'The man by the sea' that I found refreshingly different. What ever it was, it was missing here. Instead I found the first part of the story quite flat and about as inviting as the dark drizzly afternoon in the Cornish village of the story or Bodmin Moor itself.
There was something that I didn't like about the first story and that was, in my opinion, the too frequent reference to the main characters drinking. In this story he is trying to give up. The author seems to write with great authority on the mindset of the character, Slim, but I do wonder at Slim's ability to recover physically and mentally on the 'morning after'.
The book is as much about Slim's personal struggle as it is about the mystery which he finds to investigate while he is away on a drying out holiday.
The mystery itself is fascinating and its unraveling is intriguing with twists unexpected and totally out of the blue. The final episodes of the story more than made up for any of its shortfalls and will ensure that I will be reading the next in the series.
In reading the book , I have discovered a truth about myself in that I would be no good at trying to deal with someone in Slim's position. When he is sober , he has an active trained mind inside a military honed body. When he is not he is a drunken slob. My instinct is to give him a slap across the face and tell him to pull himself together and not to be so stupid. Perhaps not the right way !
Finally , maybe because the novel has made me question some of my attitudes, as well as being a cracking story, I decided its score is 4.
February 8, 2023
I had trouble getting into this book, but once I did I was all in. I love that there was not one, but three twists at the end. I don’t love the focus on the alcoholism. I am tired of reading PI books where the main character struggles with drinking.
June 29, 2023
An absolute delight to read. Wonderful story that keeps you grasped throughout.
September 11, 2018
Wow! This book is by far the best mystery I have read this year. The mystery of the clock goes way deeper than just a clock found in the sand. We learn more about Slim as a person, and although he is damaged, you will feel a lot of empathy toward him and all of the characters in the story. The mystery and Slim's journey to find the secret is very intriguing. The writing is so good, that you will be engrossed in the story and the characters. I couldn't put it down. I did not see the ending coming. I can't wait to read more Slim Hardy books.
I received a free copy and voluntarily submitted this review.
I received a free copy and voluntarily submitted this review.
November 5, 2020
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I hadn't met Slim Hardy before and I found him very interesting, which is a good thing to be as a main character. He stumbles over an old clock while on a recuperation holiday and the mystery of how and why it was there moved Slim to create a case for himself as a private detective. Good story. Well written. Recommended.
September 11, 2023
Whilst it wasn't the historical fiction I was perhaps expecting I really enjoyed this book - another that I couldn't put down 😀 very well constructed mystery - I didn't get it until we were told! Will definitely read more of this series.
February 4, 2022
This book had a slow start but the mystery and drama steadily increased until I was fully engaged.
Interesting twist at the end. I would read more in this series.
Interesting twist at the end. I would read more in this series.
July 5, 2024
This book was slower paced than the first one, but it wasn't bad. Slim's trying to recover from his alcoholism so he retreats to a quaint little town on the coast. While he's there, he's staying with an old woman who offers her home kind of like a bed and breakfast. He goes walking on the beach an stumbles over a clock buried in the sand. This hand crafted clock sends him down a path to figuring out who made this clock and why was it in the sand?
One thing leads to another and he ends up uncovering an old mystery that the town has long since buried away. A farmer and clockmaker up and disappeared from the area and Slim is wanting to find out what happened. The man is so curious he goes out of his way to solve it, all while struggling with his alcoholism. He finds the clockmaker's daughter, Celia, and she wants him to solve the mystery so he puts his best foot forward.
This book flows really well. It was a nice, slower paced book. The conclusion to the mystery and the ending was kind of wild. I was not expecting that at ALL!
SPOILERS BELOW:
This book was pleasant. I enjoyed it.
One thing leads to another and he ends up uncovering an old mystery that the town has long since buried away. A farmer and clockmaker up and disappeared from the area and Slim is wanting to find out what happened. The man is so curious he goes out of his way to solve it, all while struggling with his alcoholism. He finds the clockmaker's daughter, Celia, and she wants him to solve the mystery so he puts his best foot forward.
This book flows really well. It was a nice, slower paced book. The conclusion to the mystery and the ending was kind of wild. I was not expecting that at ALL!
SPOILERS BELOW:
This book was pleasant. I enjoyed it.
September 17, 2023
The second book in the Slim Hardy series tells the tale of Slim’s attempt to sort his life out following the fall out from book one. Slim is an alcoholic private investigator, ex soldier with a lot of baggage in his life. Having been dry for a few months, he goes to Cornwall for a holiday and finds a mystery to investigate. He gradually pieces together the story of the disappearance of a famous Clockmaker and in the process falls off the wagon again. I found this to be a very readable, perhaps less chaotic life of Slim and his personal struggles. I’m glad I have the next four books in the series already downloaded and waiting. I’m not going to dive in straight away to book 3 but I won’t leave it too long.
October 8, 2022
This was described as "a classic British locked room mystery". It held my interest, and I liked the fact that it was set in Cornwall - that seemed to give it a nice cosy feel. Some of the chapters were quite short, which meant I had to read a few at once, but it was an interesting read.
January 18, 2023
3.5 stars. Audiobook. Good twisted, curvy, up, down, cold case mystery! Private Eye recovering from alcohol overuse visiting small town. Learned of missing man and child. Decided to look into this to solve mystery. Locals tried to discourage him, but he kept on and on, digging deeper and deeper. Y
January 23, 2023
It was a little confusing.
February 12, 2023
A real mystery
Slim comes to Cornwall for a break - relax, unwind and recharge. The frosty landlady of the Bed and Breakfast hardly gives a warm welcome, but local gossip grabs his interest and gradually Slim finds that he is immersed in a twenty year old mystery. A mystery that threatens to undo his good intentions, reveals enemies as friends and rebuilds his understanding of his fellow travellers in life. Excellently mysterious.
Slim comes to Cornwall for a break - relax, unwind and recharge. The frosty landlady of the Bed and Breakfast hardly gives a warm welcome, but local gossip grabs his interest and gradually Slim finds that he is immersed in a twenty year old mystery. A mystery that threatens to undo his good intentions, reveals enemies as friends and rebuilds his understanding of his fellow travellers in life. Excellently mysterious.
January 22, 2024
I enjoyed this book more than the 1st Slim Hardy. The mystery was interesting.
August 31, 2024
An average story with average characters.
April 8, 2024
A melancholy story
Not entirely compelling, but entertaining nonetheless. The audio reader was fluid with all the different voices. He was quite good. I do weary of the alcoholic PI trope, but the protagonist had a heart of gold and a decent understanding of human nature. Not sure if I’ll read anymore. I imagine Slim is destined to be on the morose side.
Not entirely compelling, but entertaining nonetheless. The audio reader was fluid with all the different voices. He was quite good. I do weary of the alcoholic PI trope, but the protagonist had a heart of gold and a decent understanding of human nature. Not sure if I’ll read anymore. I imagine Slim is destined to be on the morose side.
December 7, 2022
I liked this and want to go back and read the first book. I was totally surprised by the resolution of the book, but well done. Interesting throughout.
September 16, 2022
On holiday p.i. John 'Slim' Hardy stumbles across a hidden clock on Bodmin Moor. A still ticking clock. Curious he starts to question the inhabitants of Penleven. But how will being an alcoholic who cannot resist a drink affect the investigation if at all.
An enjoyable modern mystery.
An enjoyable modern mystery.
October 15, 2021
This is a thoroughly underrated series. These books are delightfully melancholy. Classic British isles accoutrements, show me an alcoholic, the whisper of an affair, some fisticuffs, a hangover and a secret. Can’t go wrong, if you have rainy day on your beach holiday, pick up a Slim Hardy mystery!
November 6, 2020
This is my first taste of Jack Benton's work and must say I really enjoyed this PI book set amidst Bodmin Moor where a visitor (our PI) falls in the peat and discovers a very special clock that will lead to a trail of mystery and discovery.
Kindle format
Kindle format
January 27, 2025
(Notes made to remind me what read and whether liked.)
Good story & characters, a bit different and moved along well.
Good story & characters, a bit different and moved along well.
May 17, 2023
3.5 stars. Spoilers ahead.
I almost dnf'd this at about 20% but it got a bit better. This is a character driven novel. The mystery part was ok and not too thrilling, but despite everything, I was drawn towards the main character and the setting.
I did not read book #1 so I'm starting from scratch regarding the protagonist. Slim Hardy is a recovering alcoholic on holiday in rural Cornwall trying to recover. He stays in the B&B (Bed and Breakfast) of a Mrs. Greyson. The B&B is kind of dilapidated and Mrs. Greyson isn't great company but it doesn't look like he has a lot of other choices. He's been there for 2-3 weeks already and he's the only guest there.
One day while hiking in the hills, he discovers a cuckoo clock buried in the ground with a letter hidden in it. He brings it to an antique dealer who informs him it's the work of a famous local clockmaker, Amos Birch. Despite being unfinished, it's worth quite a bit of money. And Birch disappeared into thin air about 20 years ago.
Slim is intrigued by the story and decides to try and find out where Birch went. Since this is a small village, he quickly discovers the story. It seems that Birch lived with his wheelchair bound wife and teen daughter (Celia) at a local farm and simply walked away and was never seen again.
He quickly finds and questions Celia who still lives close by. It turns out that not only did Birch walk away, he walked away with Celia's toddler daughter (Charlotte), so not only one but two people were missing.
The plot progresses with Slim questioning basically everyone who lived in the village at the time. He finds more information but everything is a dead end because no one saw Birch leave. Eventually he finds the full story behind Charlotte but Celia goes missing. The story ends quickly when he finds Celia. He also figures out the meaning behind the letter and solves the mystery.
The writing is easy to read and follow. The author did a good job of putting the protagonist and the reader in the rural setting. The ending was quite a bit creepy, but not that mysterious. Overall I did enjoy it and I will be checking out the author's other books.
I almost dnf'd this at about 20% but it got a bit better. This is a character driven novel. The mystery part was ok and not too thrilling, but despite everything, I was drawn towards the main character and the setting.
I did not read book #1 so I'm starting from scratch regarding the protagonist. Slim Hardy is a recovering alcoholic on holiday in rural Cornwall trying to recover. He stays in the B&B (Bed and Breakfast) of a Mrs. Greyson. The B&B is kind of dilapidated and Mrs. Greyson isn't great company but it doesn't look like he has a lot of other choices. He's been there for 2-3 weeks already and he's the only guest there.
One day while hiking in the hills, he discovers a cuckoo clock buried in the ground with a letter hidden in it. He brings it to an antique dealer who informs him it's the work of a famous local clockmaker, Amos Birch. Despite being unfinished, it's worth quite a bit of money. And Birch disappeared into thin air about 20 years ago.
Slim is intrigued by the story and decides to try and find out where Birch went. Since this is a small village, he quickly discovers the story. It seems that Birch lived with his wheelchair bound wife and teen daughter (Celia) at a local farm and simply walked away and was never seen again.
He quickly finds and questions Celia who still lives close by. It turns out that not only did Birch walk away, he walked away with Celia's toddler daughter (Charlotte), so not only one but two people were missing.
The plot progresses with Slim questioning basically everyone who lived in the village at the time. He finds more information but everything is a dead end because no one saw Birch leave. Eventually he finds the full story behind Charlotte but Celia goes missing. The story ends quickly when he finds Celia. He also figures out the meaning behind the letter and solves the mystery.
The writing is easy to read and follow. The author did a good job of putting the protagonist and the reader in the rural setting. The ending was quite a bit creepy, but not that mysterious. Overall I did enjoy it and I will be checking out the author's other books.
October 9, 2022
Cornwall was perfect for long solitary hikes meant to banish regrets from the past. At least that's what John “Slim” Hardy imagined. We learn about his troubled past incrementally. Two tours in Iraq had ended in a dishonorable discharge. Unemployable, he tacked up a private investigator shingle – attractive to bargain hunting insurance adjustors and suspicious spouses. Alcohol would lead to the loss of his driver's license. These were only the most salient of his problems.
The one thing that connects the reader to Slim is his curiosity. Slim literally stumbles over an ornate hand-carved cuckoo clock, still ticking, in the moor. He learns the clock was made by Amos Birch, a well-known local who disappeared over 20 years ago. Birch was famous for his mechanical and wood carving skills, but was extremely reclusive. Since his wheelchair bound wife had died long ago and his teenage daughter left shortly after his disappearance, Slim has few clues but is nevertheless determined to investigate Birch's disappearance. After all, what else does he have to fill his time? The more information he gathers, the less that information makes any sense. That very lack of sense seems to fuel his determination.
Benton provides a convincing picture of village life where everyone likes to gossip but no one likes answering questions, particularly when they are being asked by an outsider. Slim's inquiries, no matter how innocent, arouse reactions ranging from mild annoyance to rage.
This was a slow-paced mystery with a noirish vibe. Much of the relevant information comes from objects as if they had been waiting patiently for the opportunity to break their silence. Brodwin Moor with its granite outcroppings and uninviting weather was the perfect setting for this mystery. A prominent feature, Rough Tor, was a subtle reminder of buried secrets and isolation.
This was a free offering from Book Bub. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
The one thing that connects the reader to Slim is his curiosity. Slim literally stumbles over an ornate hand-carved cuckoo clock, still ticking, in the moor. He learns the clock was made by Amos Birch, a well-known local who disappeared over 20 years ago. Birch was famous for his mechanical and wood carving skills, but was extremely reclusive. Since his wheelchair bound wife had died long ago and his teenage daughter left shortly after his disappearance, Slim has few clues but is nevertheless determined to investigate Birch's disappearance. After all, what else does he have to fill his time? The more information he gathers, the less that information makes any sense. That very lack of sense seems to fuel his determination.
Benton provides a convincing picture of village life where everyone likes to gossip but no one likes answering questions, particularly when they are being asked by an outsider. Slim's inquiries, no matter how innocent, arouse reactions ranging from mild annoyance to rage.
This was a slow-paced mystery with a noirish vibe. Much of the relevant information comes from objects as if they had been waiting patiently for the opportunity to break their silence. Brodwin Moor with its granite outcroppings and uninviting weather was the perfect setting for this mystery. A prominent feature, Rough Tor, was a subtle reminder of buried secrets and isolation.
This was a free offering from Book Bub. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
February 1, 2025
I found this book on my kindle, have so many books still on there to read, and began it late at night and found myself reading it through the night. Couldn't really put it down. Slim Hardy is ex-army, dishonourable discharge, and now seems to be working as a private investigator, but doesn't seem to be earning any money doing so. He is also a recovering alcoholic and has gone to Cornwall to try and put his demons and alcoholism behind him, except he falls off the wagon and begins drinking again.
He goes out every day for long walks in the dreadful Cornish weather, he's walking over Bodmin moor and stumbles over something, which when he begins to pull the bag out of the ground he discovers an unfinished cuckoo clock which surprisingly still works! He takes it back to his guest house and cleans it up and goes off doing some research in the local pub and discovers it is a very expensive clock made by a clockmaker who walked out of his house 23yrs earlier and never came back.
The story is rather slow moving but good nonetheless, it takes Slim back in time and meets up with the clockmaker's daughter Celia who doesn't know what happened to her dad nor her 3yr old daughter Charlotte whom he took with him as he left the house never to come back. I found myself immersed in this story, who was Celia's daughter Charlotte's father, why did a man who was world renown for his work suddenly decide to disappear, and why take Charlotte with him? Slim does a lot of researching and finally gets there in the end. It was an incredibly slow story but one which kept you captivated right up until the end, and I never expected that ending.
He goes out every day for long walks in the dreadful Cornish weather, he's walking over Bodmin moor and stumbles over something, which when he begins to pull the bag out of the ground he discovers an unfinished cuckoo clock which surprisingly still works! He takes it back to his guest house and cleans it up and goes off doing some research in the local pub and discovers it is a very expensive clock made by a clockmaker who walked out of his house 23yrs earlier and never came back.
The story is rather slow moving but good nonetheless, it takes Slim back in time and meets up with the clockmaker's daughter Celia who doesn't know what happened to her dad nor her 3yr old daughter Charlotte whom he took with him as he left the house never to come back. I found myself immersed in this story, who was Celia's daughter Charlotte's father, why did a man who was world renown for his work suddenly decide to disappear, and why take Charlotte with him? Slim does a lot of researching and finally gets there in the end. It was an incredibly slow story but one which kept you captivated right up until the end, and I never expected that ending.
May 8, 2019
Slim Hardy is an alcoholic private detective who finds a clock buried in the sand while on holiday in Cornwall. He discovers that the clockmaker disappeared years ago in mysterious circumstances and decides to find out what really happened.
The Clockmaker’s Secret is a fast moving mystery which I listened to in a couple of sessions. The story was mesmerizing and I felt really invested in Slim’s search for the truth. The loose ends of the complex plot were all tied up neatly at the end.
This is the second book in the series, and I did feel that I missed out somewhat when Slim’s previous case and his background were mentioned but it did not spoil my enjoyment of the story.
The author did a brilliant job painting a picture of life in a small Cornish town outside of holiday season. All the characters were developed really well so that you could really imagine what they looked like. The loose ends of the complex plot were all tied up neatly at the end.
I listened to the Audible version of this book and the narration by Kevin Green made the book even more enjoyable. He did the accents brilliantly.
I received a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review. However I enjoyed the story so much that I have now purchased the first book in the series.
The Clockmaker’s Secret is a fast moving mystery which I listened to in a couple of sessions. The story was mesmerizing and I felt really invested in Slim’s search for the truth. The loose ends of the complex plot were all tied up neatly at the end.
This is the second book in the series, and I did feel that I missed out somewhat when Slim’s previous case and his background were mentioned but it did not spoil my enjoyment of the story.
The author did a brilliant job painting a picture of life in a small Cornish town outside of holiday season. All the characters were developed really well so that you could really imagine what they looked like. The loose ends of the complex plot were all tied up neatly at the end.
I listened to the Audible version of this book and the narration by Kevin Green made the book even more enjoyable. He did the accents brilliantly.
I received a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review. However I enjoyed the story so much that I have now purchased the first book in the series.
November 7, 2018
The Clockmaker's Secret - a review by Rosemary Kenny
*slight spoilers*
PI John 'Slim' Hardy is the flawed, yet dedicated anti-hero who finds himself falling (literally) in at the deep end of a totally engrossing murder-mystery, that will keep you spellbound as he untangles a web of lies, threats, deception and danger. Triggered when he finds a buried cuckoo clock that is still wound up while on a relaxing holiday stroll on Bodmin Moor in Devon; events develop at an incredible rate, that is totally believable and enthralling - I couldn't put it down til the end!
What has happened to the Clockmaker, famed beyond the boundaries of the UK for his meticulously crafted timepieces? Who is Charlotte and where is she now?
Why does the landlady's clock have a dent in its case? What is the secret she and Slim share?
Where does Slim learn more about Celia's rapist?
How many gateways were there to the farm at the time of Amos' disappearance?
Does this information help Slim solve the case?
Many secrets and red-herrings by the shoal lead Slim from one end of the Moor to another and even overseas in his pursuit of the truth - will he find it?
Read The Clockmaker's Secret for yourself - and tell all your friends to lock their doors at night while they read it too!
*slight spoilers*
PI John 'Slim' Hardy is the flawed, yet dedicated anti-hero who finds himself falling (literally) in at the deep end of a totally engrossing murder-mystery, that will keep you spellbound as he untangles a web of lies, threats, deception and danger. Triggered when he finds a buried cuckoo clock that is still wound up while on a relaxing holiday stroll on Bodmin Moor in Devon; events develop at an incredible rate, that is totally believable and enthralling - I couldn't put it down til the end!
What has happened to the Clockmaker, famed beyond the boundaries of the UK for his meticulously crafted timepieces? Who is Charlotte and where is she now?
Why does the landlady's clock have a dent in its case? What is the secret she and Slim share?
Where does Slim learn more about Celia's rapist?
How many gateways were there to the farm at the time of Amos' disappearance?
Does this information help Slim solve the case?
Many secrets and red-herrings by the shoal lead Slim from one end of the Moor to another and even overseas in his pursuit of the truth - will he find it?
Read The Clockmaker's Secret for yourself - and tell all your friends to lock their doors at night while they read it too!
June 2, 2023
Slim Hardy was walking along the beachside one sunny day when the sun caught on something shiny done investigated being a PI anyway. It was already partially unburied but someone had covered it in plastic but the bottom part of it had come off soit had water damage, wood rot and mildew. But undoing the rest of the clock and for being buried it was in pretty decent shape---the most amazing thing is the clock was still tick-tocking! How can that be? He Had to investigate This one. This just does Not Happen! Turns out the clockmaker and his youngest daughter just up and disappeared one evening years and years ago without a trace. So Celia the older daughter and the only one left in the family since her mother passed several years back, hires Slim Hardy. Hoping he'll be the one who can finally figure out what happened to her father and younger sister. His job is not going to be easy because the majority of the town's people do not want to talk or be cooperative. It won't be easy. Great read!
May 7, 2023
This is my first book by Jack Benton and I’m solidly stuck between two very different feelings about it. On the one hand, the character of “Slim” Hardy seems to have no place in the real world. I don’t know his whole back-story but his presence in the remote Cornish village of Penleven seems to have dropped out of nowhere. That he would find a long-buried clock still ticking while hiking on remote Bodmin Moor seems like something out of a fantasy novel but there is something intriguing about the set up.
Slim is a bit like the clock. He’s damaged and disgraced but still functioning. However, it’s never clear why he tackles the mystery of an old unsolved missing-persons case for no fee. Maybe I need to go back to first books in the series to make sense of the character but this book wasn’t really compelling enough to make it seem worth the effort. He's a dissolute mess and I couldn't care less if he finds love and meaning in life or ends up dead in a ditch.
Slim is an eccentric, alcoholic mess lacking any sort of coherent, successful life. The plot is as slim as Slim himself. He has no money, no drivers’ license but spends what little he has riding a bike or taking a bus to look into an old disappearance no one seems to care about. The story seems pointless but, what it lacks in coherence and probability, it makes up for with atmosphere. I can almost understand Slim’s fascination with the mystery but can’t buy into his pursuit of the facts. It just doesn’t make sense.
Slim is not a likeable or sympathetic character. The plot is iffy. The narrative is weak. The minor characters are poorly fleshed out. So, all that’s left on the positive side of the ledger is atmosphere and maybe a sense of mystery for its own sake. I’d read another but there’s no rush.
Slim is a bit like the clock. He’s damaged and disgraced but still functioning. However, it’s never clear why he tackles the mystery of an old unsolved missing-persons case for no fee. Maybe I need to go back to first books in the series to make sense of the character but this book wasn’t really compelling enough to make it seem worth the effort. He's a dissolute mess and I couldn't care less if he finds love and meaning in life or ends up dead in a ditch.
Slim is an eccentric, alcoholic mess lacking any sort of coherent, successful life. The plot is as slim as Slim himself. He has no money, no drivers’ license but spends what little he has riding a bike or taking a bus to look into an old disappearance no one seems to care about. The story seems pointless but, what it lacks in coherence and probability, it makes up for with atmosphere. I can almost understand Slim’s fascination with the mystery but can’t buy into his pursuit of the facts. It just doesn’t make sense.
Slim is not a likeable or sympathetic character. The plot is iffy. The narrative is weak. The minor characters are poorly fleshed out. So, all that’s left on the positive side of the ledger is atmosphere and maybe a sense of mystery for its own sake. I’d read another but there’s no rush.
June 11, 2023
I liked the mystery around which the book was contrived and written.
I didn’t like the mostly dark energy that was woven in and through the story:
+ The weather was almost uniformly lousy, rainy and cold.
+ The main character detective was an alcoholic only a smidgen away from relapsing and not surprisingly he did.
+ The villagers and people living near the town were largely I’ll tempered, crabby, and generally hostile to the protagonist.
+ The clockmaker’s secret was much more complicated than a reader might guess from the paucity of clues that emerged early on in the story and then were returned to again and again and again to no avail.
In the end, though, their were three fabulous plot twists that brought all things together, and I enjoyed those sections best.
So, bottom line: it’s a 4 star read despite my criticisms and irritation with the rather contrived dark and stormy night environment. That’s all I have to say. 😶
I didn’t like the mostly dark energy that was woven in and through the story:
+ The weather was almost uniformly lousy, rainy and cold.
+ The main character detective was an alcoholic only a smidgen away from relapsing and not surprisingly he did.
+ The villagers and people living near the town were largely I’ll tempered, crabby, and generally hostile to the protagonist.
+ The clockmaker’s secret was much more complicated than a reader might guess from the paucity of clues that emerged early on in the story and then were returned to again and again and again to no avail.
In the end, though, their were three fabulous plot twists that brought all things together, and I enjoyed those sections best.
So, bottom line: it’s a 4 star read despite my criticisms and irritation with the rather contrived dark and stormy night environment. That’s all I have to say. 😶
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