The Clockmaker

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Pub Date 04 May 2018 | Archive Date 07 Jun 2018

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Description

The Clockmaker waits for you... 

A gripping supernatural novel set in post-blitz Scotland, the first of a planned trilogy.

No man in this world may boast of his might, he is awake in the morning and dead at night.

Widowed in World War 2, Annette and her young son face a completely different life as they exchange the devastation of post-blitz London for the slow pace of a small village. The house they have inherited is old, its bones still settling, creaking noises in the dead of night and the murmur of scritch-scritch in the walls. Located outside the village of Lochnagar, it’s been empty for many years – and for good reason.

The unfolding of how the Clockmaker made his plans, his meticulous preparations and macabre creations, all builds up to a series of gruesome, horrific murders. These have just one end in view: his release from that which has held him captive for centuries.

A chilling supernatural novel with characters you’ll come to care for, The Clockmaker will interest anyone who fears the dark – and what might lie in the shadows...

The Clockmaker waits for you... 

A gripping supernatural novel set in post-blitz Scotland, the first of a planned trilogy.

No man in this world may boast of his might, he is awake in the...


A Note From the Publisher

Ceri Williams has always loved language, and after a 5 year stint in advertising and journalism, now writes supernatural horror and fantasy. The Clockmaker is their first book and forms part of a trilogy. Drew Neary became interested in history, science fiction/fantasy and conspiracy theories in his teenage years. This prompted him to write short stories over the years.

Ceri Williams has always loved language, and after a 5 year stint in advertising and journalism, now writes supernatural horror and fantasy. The Clockmaker is their first book and forms part of a...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781789011081
PRICE $4.99 (USD)
PAGES 200

Average rating from 16 members


Featured Reviews

Wow. Words cannot begin to describe just how good this book is. I was grabbed within the first couple of pages and was not let go until I finished the whole book. Thankfully, I don't need to get up early in the morning!
I found the book to be extremely well written and the beginning of a fantastic trilogy. I certainly can't wait until the next installment.
That to Netgalley and the publishers, Troubador Publishing Limited for the opportunity to read this amazing novel and a huge thankyou to Drew Neary and Ceri William's for writing such a captivating story.

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It is a bit confusing; this book can only be found on GR by searching for 'Drew Neary' and then you find an edition without a cover picture, and this one, with author Ceri Williams, with the beautiful cover.
The fact is, Drew and Ceri are co-authors and the beautiful cover is by Ana Priscila Rodriguez Aranda, a visual artist born in Mexico City but living and working in the Netherlands.

Anyway, I am happy to have read this book because it is quite unusual. It is very well written in a beautiful flowing style, where a lot is said between the lines. It is horror but it is more than that. It is also a moving story about love and understanding. The way Annette and her young son try to build up a new life after their great loss and the terrible things that happened in the war cuts right into your heart.

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Very Good

Received "The Clockmaker" as part of an eARC a few days ago and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. This book is a fabulous mix of many genres as the story has so many things going on. There's a bit of magic/supernatural, there's some sci-fi elements, history; we could even call it a thriller/ horror fiction. The story is about a little child, Duncan and his mother, Annette, who are moving to his father's ancestral place in Scotland, where they plan to start a lodging service. Duncan's father died in WW2 and the story is interspersed with soft, loving memories of the man. On their way to Scotland they meet a man whom they later find in their own village as a guest in their lodge. Who is this mystery man and does he have any role in the many strange things happening in this little Scottish village? The answer to these questions is what this book is about.
The book is a complete page turner and you won't be able to keep it down, once you have picked it up. The story flows beautifully from one view poit into another. While there defnitely are some loops left opened at the end of the story, I believe the closure to these would be attained in the sequel (really looking forward to it!). Overall, a great read!
#TheClockmaker #NetGalley #CeriWilliams #DrewNeary #TroubadorPublishing

May 2018

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One of the most well-written books I've read in a while. The setting development cannot be beat and you actually are placed dead in the center of every scene.
The horror aspect of the book really doesn't materialize until 60% or so through the book, but when it happens, it will literally give you chills. The only word of advice I would give is to read past the acknowledgments as the two-chapter epilogue wraps things up in a nice bow and makes the ending of the "regular" portion of the book even more eerie. I will admit that I almost shut down the Kindle once I got to the acknowledgments page, but glad I flipped pages - just to make sure!

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OMG.! The ending of this book was really freaky. I wasn't sure what I was going to get when the description stated sci-fy, paranormal, and it sounds like a historical fiction. This book was AMAZING! The beginning has the story split between an old man that was captured by the Nazi's and forced to create things and a widowed woman and her son. There were a couple of times that I had to go back and re-read because I wasn't sure which story it was. Then the story seemed to merge and was much easier to follow. The Sci-fy element is steampunk-ish creatures made from gears and bones and the paranormal aspect happens at the end (can't say cause it will spoil it). This book had me creeped out, and I can't wait for the second one!.

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I chose this book because of the cover which looked darkly mysterious.

The novel is part supernatural, part horror but doesn’t sit comfortably in either I did enjoy reading this book but was left at the end feeling oddly unsatisfied in that not all the threads were fully tied up.

From reading other reviews it seems there is a next instalment which might explain it.

Recently widowed Annette and her son Duncan move to Scottish Highlands to live in the in-law’s ancestral home. The house is a typical unused haunted house with lots of creaks and dust. They meet a man on a train who eventually comes to live with them, but the man has an unhealthy interest in Duncan. In that he wants his heart to make clockwork killing machines.

This was where I felt dissatisfied with the novel in that the man and his relationship to his machines did not seem to be explored. We don’t learn why he makes them, and what he ultimately wants to do with them. Take over the world I presume but I seemed to have missed this. And take over the world from the remote Scottish Highlands seemed a bit unlikely.

Hopefully all will be revealed in the next instalment which I will certainly be buying as I need to find out what happens to Duncan,

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