The Clockmaker's Secret
By Jack Benton
- Release Date: 2018-10-15
- Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Description
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.
Reviews
On a roll with some great reading.
5By Mema2papa4I have always been told that with memory loss, it only gets worse if you don't use what you have left. I feel like I in a movie the way it's written. Even if I can't keep up with the characters, I can still be the main characterExcellent book
5By mastr60Very well written, full of ups and downs and spirals.. I couldn’t put it down..Slim Hardy very good character in all the books. He’s very human..makes mistakes but very intuitive..you will enjoy this book..Twists and turns
5By Carving galJust when I thought I had it figured out, the game changed. Good to the last page.The Clockmaker’s Secret
5By Ralphnun1Amazing mystery and very unexpected storyline. Great job…I never figured it out which is unheard of. 🤗🤗the Clockmaker’s Secret
4By rjborThis is the first of this type of book. The story was one that sure kept your interest. All the angles and how they eventually all came together solving the mystery. One that I had no idea how it would end. A real surprise. TYEnjoyed the book
4By Jan ZZZEnjoyed the book and learning about the area in which it was written.The clockmaker’s secret
5By Clean romancerWell plotted. Loved the development of the mystery. The resolution was just right. Characters were well developed.The Clockmaker's Secret
5By Mystery/literature ObsessedGreat story and remarkable writing. Best book I have read in ages. Gripping and absolutely original plot. Can't praise it highly enough. First review I have felt compelled to write. Will have to read more of his work.The Clockmaker’s Secert
5By Pins4Wow! Really really enjoyed the book! Very interesting characters throughout. Glad it all comes out in the end. Never guessed it at all! Thanks!Intriguing mystery
5By Auria2016Slim’s desire to uncover a decades old mystery tests his sobriety and humanity. A fitting yet sorrowful ending which tugs at one’s mind and heart.Slow reading but different
4By Ranger&SadieUnusual but compelling storyline. Just frustrated with main character’s alcoholism and depression.I’m about to ruin this book.
2By Cheep ReaderMan stumbles upon buried clock. The clock is still running after being buried, in a plastic bag, on the moors of England for a very long time. When writing a mystery, I don’t find it beneficial to have a completely implausible event as the catalyst for the rest of the story. Even more so when that implausible event is not noted by the main character. How did this get past an editor?The Clockmaker’s Secret
5By msudawgfan1Such a great story! I couldn’t put it down!!The Clockmakers Secret
5By WilburiteExcellent twists and turns. Very good story and easy to follow, remember characters. I’m buying the next and will read them all.The Clockmaker’s Secret
4By Erroneous JonesStarts slowly, but builds to an unexpected ending. It grew on me.Very good read.
4By lrginaz1I liked it because it wasn’t run of the mill. I’ll be reading more from him.Unexpected and intriguing
5By Val SalSlim has become such a beloved character, and his affinity for finding mysteries he can’t shake is uncanny. I didn’t see this book playing out the way it did, it was such an unexpected surprise and definitely a must readHad me hooked from the beginning
5By EmmbryonicA deeply flawed, alcoholic detective, a twenty-year-old cold case, and a satisfyingly odd cast of characters combine to create a great mystery novel. Some of the reveals are quite shocking, and sometimes it gets a bit emotional to read—though that just shows that Chris Ward (writing as Jack Benton) has done really a fantastic job to get me invested in the characters. Celia, the clockmaker's daughter, in particular, is a tragic figure who didn't deserve the life she got. I literally did not put this book down after I started reading it. From the time that Slim unearths the clock on the hike in chapter one, it had me hooked. As for the mystery itself, it kept me guessing until the end. When the reveal came, it made me think, "Oh, I should have seen that!" That's the mark of an excellent mystery, and Benton did a masterful job constructing it. The Clockmaker's Secret is quite well put-together. The one criticism I have is a minor one: for such a messy mystery, the ending is almost too neatly wrapped up. But it is such a satisfying read, the neat bow at the end doesn't justify docking of a star.
