Years ago, the serenity of picturesque Orchard, Massachusetts, was shattered by a fire that destroyed the town’s beloved clock tower. Ruth inherited the dream of repairing it from her late grandfather. Now that she’s returned home to run his clock shop, the Cog & Sprocket, she’s determined to make it happen, despite wrenches that are being thrown into the works by her least favorite person, town manager Kim Gray.
A crowd of residents and visitors are excited to see the progress of the tower at a fund-raiser for the campaign, until Kim is found crushed under the tower’s bell, putting an end to all the fun. The list of suspects is so long it could be read around the clock, and it includes some of Ruth’s nearest and dearest.
Time’s a-wastin’ as Ruth tries to solve another murder in her beloved Orchard while keeping the gears clicking on her dream project.
About the Author
Julianne Holmes writes the Clock Shop Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. The first in the series, Just Killing Time, debuted in October 2015. Clock and Dagger was released in August 2016, and Chime and Punishment will be out in August 2017. As J.A. Hennrikus, her Theater Cop series will debut in the fall of 2017 with A Christmas Peril. She has short stories in three Level Best anthologies, Thin Ice, Dead Calm and Blood Moon. She is on the board of Sisters in Crime, and is a member of MWA and Sisters in Crime New England. She blogs with the Wicked Cozy Authors and Killer Characters. JAHennrikus.com T:@JulieHennrikus I: @jahenn
Review of Chime and Punishment
Review (4 Stars): Chime and Punishment is a charming and well-written mystery with delightful characters that will have you coming back for more. Ruth is gearing up to help renovate the beloved clock tower that was destroyed many years ago in a dreaded fire. When Kim Gray, the irritable town manager, is found dead underneath the tower’s bell, it is up to Ruth to help find a killer before it is too late. The only thing is that the town is filled with suspects that would love to have seen Ms. Gray meet an untimely end and Ruth will have her hands full trying to piece together the clues left behind.
Chime and Punishment is the third book in the Clock Shop mystery series and I love these characters. They are quirky, fun and they are the perfect people for helping Ruth make her way through the town of Orchard. This mystery was very entertaining and I had a difficult time figuring out who was the killer right along with everyone else. This series keeps getting better and better so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in the fourth installment of this enjoyable series.
