By: Lucy Connelly
Many thanks to Bookouture for the ARC of this book and the stop on the book tour!
About the Book
When Mercy McCarthy takes her beloved mother’s watch to be fixed, she’s completely charmed by the little repair store and the father-and-son duo who run it. Little does she know that the clock is ticking… when she returns, she finds the father lying unconscious amid broken glass, and her mother’s watch is missing.
The police think Mr. Flynn was attacked in a burglary gone wrong but soon suspects closer to home start coming out of the clockwork. Mercy, her sister, and their canine sidekick, master body sniffer-outer Mr. Poe, set out to gather clues and help the local detective find the killer.
Could it be the family next door to the Flynns who’ve been feuding for decades? His fiercest rival, who’s long dreamed of shutting him down? Or was his son less devoted than he seemed? As the hours tick away, another murder and the discovery of a long-buried secret changes everything…
The summer festival is fast approaching. Can Mercy solve the mystery in the nick of time, or will someone stop her clock?
My Review
Book 4 of the Mercy McCarthy series, which can be read as a stand alone but all of the others are so good why would you not want to read them? Reading these books feels a lot like coming home – they are mysteries but they are cozy mysteries. Mercy is a writer and she helps the Inspector investigate murders. They have grown to like each other now, and seem to like to spend time together. But what is central here is how well Mercy is at investigating! She is a crime writer, so she enjoys it.
The cast of characters is so fantastic too. We continue to see the characters that live in the village and then those added that are central to the story. Everyone from the village is so friendly and so caring. They found family among themselves! I want to live there and be part of the community!
The mystery part of this book is particularly good. I really tried the entire time to figure out who was being all of what happened and I couldn’t figure it out. I had no clue, no hint, no indication of anyone. So when that is revealed, I was shocked! I love how thorough the investigation is as well – there’s no jumping to conclusions or arresting anyone on gut instinct. They want evidence.
So if you love a good, cozy mystery, check this one out and the others in the series!
Publish Date: November 14, 2025
Find the book here.
*This post contains an affiliate link. I earn a small commission if you purchase the book through this link.
About the Author
Bestselling author Candace Havens has published more than 25 books. Her novels have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion, Write Touch Reader Awards and National Reader’s Choice Awards. She is a Barbara Wilson Award winner. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities from George Clooney to Chris Pratt. Candace runs a free online writing workshop for more than 2000 writers and teaches comprehensive writing classes. She does film reviews with Hawkeye in the Morning on 96.3 KSCS, and is a former President of the Television Critics Association.
Book Addict Book Blog 