Renfield's Clock

by Bonnie Quinn

Erin cannot use magic in a world where everyone can. The consequences are she doesn’t qualify for certain jobs, she has to take daily medication, and it makes her uniquely vulnerable to the perils of a world of magic, blind to threats that can lurk in innocuous things. Such as a clock left on her doorstep. Inside is Renfield, an imprisoned demon. In order to save herself, Erin makes a bargain - the demon is allowed possession of her body in exchange for sparing her life. Wherever she goes, Renfield goes with her. Unfortunately, demonic possession is not easily overlooked, and Erin quickly loses both her friends and her job. Her only source of income is the occasional freelance job from the police department when a magical incident is too dangerous for their certified mages.Erin may not be able to use magic, but Renfield can while he is in control of her body, and the demon is very good at killing things. Their current assignment is a failed ritual which covered a house with blood and left behind no trace of the participant’s bodies. Worse, the friends and family of those involved are being systematically wiped out in terrifying ways. As Renfield and Erin struggle to catch up to the killer, they find evidence that the killer has connections to the demon world. Renfield’s history has come back for him and now this case is no longer a means of income, but something deeply personal for Renfield... and deeply dangerous for an increasingly reluctant Erin.

193 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2020

About the author

I am a Senior Software Developer and author. I'm active in the Reddit r/NoSleep community and wrote the popular "How to Survive Camping" series.

Reviews

[Barbara Trozzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly engaging

I don’t know how she made a demon into a sympathetic character, but she did! I cared about BOTH characters. Enjoyed it very much!

I can only suggest a closer reading before publishing, next time. Story details, a lack of agreement between subjects and verbs, a few random words where they had not been deleted before being replaced by another….minor issues but enough to keep me from giving this a full 4 stars.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted more backstory, but then again, I think a good book leaves you thinking about that backstory, and there was plenty here to reflect on. I didn't find this one as strong as the author's How To Survive Camping series, but still found it to be an excellent twist on noir, and I love how the author handles characters as people, both for good and bad.

[Connor Goyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery in an excellent world

Solid magical realism with a great murder mystery to guide the exploration of the world and its systems. I'd love a quartet in this universe.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in just the right mood for this book. Very enjoyable, and I hope there'll be more of this.