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Saturday, January 6, 2018

CHIME AND PUNISHMENT by Julianne Holmes

Publisher: Berkley

Published: August 1, 2017

ISBN: 978-0425275542

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Format: Print

Obtained via: Publisher

Reviewed by name and email address: Gina myreviewbooks@aol.com

FOUR-1/2 HEARTS

With the drama and excitement of the new year behind her, Ruth Clagan is finally having one of her fondest dreams come true—the clock tower in Orchard is just about ready to start ringing again. After solving the murders of her beloved grandfather, GT, and employee, she’s ready to just settle in and work in her family clock shop and focus on her relationship with Ben Clover—the barber with the shop next door to Cog and Sprocket. Even her futsy kitty, Bezel, is on board. And while town manager Kim Gray is still busily creating roadblocks wherever she can, the rest of the townsfolk, including Bennett Green, are standing up to her. Things are just about set for the unveiling of the clock tower’s reopening—so far Kim hasn’t come up with any new obstacles for Ruth to jump over. Well, maybe one. When Kim doesn’t show for the unveiling, Ruth and her friends are concerned, but not enough to stop the show. But then they have to when a dead body turns up behind the tower. Now Ruth is in a race to find the killer before the killer shuts down the tower.

Julianne Holmes’s Clock Shop Mysteries quickly became one of my favorite series and I spent some time binge-reading through the first three books. Now I have to wait for the next entry in the series…just when Ruth’s dreams are finally coming through! Bummer for me. Ruth is a terrific, well-thought out, intelligent character. She is shown as creative and determined…definitely someone you would want to be friends with if she were real. As you read her you can see the wheels…or would it be cogs? Turning.

I have enjoyed the progression of the stories—there is the murder and Ruth’s analysis solving them but there is also the story of the clock tower and its history. Secondary characters come into the story – some stay, some go. The regulars aren’t stagnant backdrops for Ruth, but have their own stories to tell. Some of interwoven and those that are, are nicely done.

I spotted the killer in this one as soon as I saw what the motivation was. It was easy for me to spot because it’s been a reason a character has committed murder in several cozies. That didn’t take away from the story but instead added to the enjoyment of watching Ruth figure it out.

Each story stands on its own because Holmes gives just enough back story to follow what is going on. If they are read out of order you’ll miss some of the really well done character development—bottom line, this is one series you do not want to miss.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Friday, December 29, 2017

CLOCK AND DAGGER by Julianne Holmes

Publisher: Berkley

Published: August 2, 2016

ISBN: 978-0425275535

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Format: Print

Obtained via: Publisher

Reviewed by name and email address: Gina myreviewbooks@aol.com

FOUR-1/2 HEARTS

Ruth Clagan is well on her way to fulfilling her grandfather, GT’s dream of rebuilding the town of Orchard’s clock tower. She’s also getting ready to re-open Cog and Sprocket, her family’s clock shop. The reopening is joined with several other town events including her step-grandmother’s birthday and new year’s eve. Most of the town is behind her. In fact, there are only two people who seem to think bringing big box stores won’t harm the quaint little town’s image—Kim Gray and Beckett Green. Even with three new employees, she’s grateful the extra help her fellow business owners are offering. With four parties in the works over the next few days Ruth’s schedule is jam packed and she’s not saying no to anyone’s offer of help. Everything comes to a screeching halt when one of her new employees is found dead. Adding to the mystery is a curious watch found not far from his body. When some of the clues to Mark’s murder start pointing to her family, despite her desire to let the law do their job, Ruth is drawn into the investigation. When a second of her employees is attacked and left for dead Ruth knows time is running out for her to find the killer.

I was drawn to Julianne Holmes Clock Shop series because of a childhood memory. Shortly before I hit my teens our family went to see some long-time friends her Herkimer, New York. The family we visited had both a cuckoo and a grandfather clock. Both of them fascinated me. I rushed to see the cuckoo come out each hour and just loved the look of the grandfather clock. Given my memories, how could I not pick up this series to read? Holmes did not disappoint. Her latest, CLOCK AND DAGGER, is a fun mystery with solid characters and a super story line.

I liked Ruth from the start of book 1, JUST KILLING TIME. There is some nice development in her character from that one to CLOCK AND DAGGER, as there is with the secondary characters. And the main theme of the story – getting Cog and Sprocket re-opened and the clock tower restored progresses. I found myself vested in the restoration project and wanting it to move forward. Beckett Green and Kim Gray are characters you just want to shake…and cheer when they do. The shops and their names are clever and are described as places you’d like to visit yourself.

With progress on the clock tower happening along with the other businesses in Orchard it looks like we will be treated to more fun reads in this series.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Pages

Saturday, January 6, 2018

CHIME AND PUNISHMENT by Julianne Holmes

Friday, December 29, 2017

CLOCK AND DAGGER by Julianne Holmes