The Mysterious Benedict Society meets The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place in this gothic-tinged, jacketed middle grade fantasy by New York Times bestselling author Gregory Funaro.
In a world where magic exists, Lucy and Oliver Tinker will need to rely on their wits and each other if they want to survive...
Deep within an enchanted woods in the tiny town of Watch Hollow sits the once-grand Blackford House. But make no mistake, Blackford House is no ordinary home. In its walls dwells a grand cuckoo clock whose ticking tells more than the time. But when the clock's gears cease to turn, the evil that lurks outside starts to come in from the shadows.
Of course, when Lucy and Oliver Tinker and their father arrive in Watch Hollow, they have no idea that anything evil is afoot. They've been brought to this rundown home in this isolated small town by an offer from a mysterious stranger that's too good for them to refuse. All Mr. Tinker needs to do is restore the house's clock and fistfuls of gold coins are his to keep. But it doesn't take long for Lucy and Oliver to realize that far more than the clock needs saving. It quickly becomes clear that both the magic within the house's walls and the animal guardians that are charged with protecting it are in dire need of help.
As Lucy and Oliver learn about the magical world they've stumbled onto, the shadow woods beyond their front door grows stronger, and an evil emerges intent on capturing the clock animals and destroying everything the Tinkers hold dear. It's a fantastical adventure by the author of the New York Times bestselling Alistair Grim's Odditorium series, Gregory Funaro.
