The story alternates between two time periods- the 1940s and the current time that is 2021. Set in London during the time of the blitz when it was under constant threat of German bombing. In 2021, the story begins in New York and later moves to London.

The story in 2021 follows Ellie who lives in New York with her 80-year-old mother, Alice. Ellie is seeking her roots and history of maternal grandparents much against the wishes of her mother. In the 1940s London, Nell lives modestly with her husband Arthur and daughter Alice. Arthur is a clockmaker and works at the Palace of Westminster, maintaining the clocks and also the Great Clock(Big Ben). When he gets arrested, Nell falls headlong into the mystery behind his arrest. Nell finding the answers about Arthur and Ellie uncovering the truth about her grandmother forms the crux of the story.

Both the timelines are very well interwoven and transitions between them are smooth. It's a perfect blend of historical fiction and espionage. It started slow but picked up momentum after Arthur's arrest. The description of historical London and in particular of Big Ben is very detailed and evocative. The way its inner workings has been described brings it alive in front of you. Ellie is a headstrong and independent woman. But I admired Nell as a woman. She is vulnerable yet spirited and determined. She does not cower after Arthur's arrest but instead was resolute in proving him innocent. The part I felt could have been given less attention was about all the evacuees in Nell's parent's home. All in all an engaging read.


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THE CLOCKMAKER'S WIFE by DAISY WOOD is a heart wrenching WW11 novel with so much intrigue that it will really keep you guessing, and some incredibly brave characters that you will not forget in a hurry.
Arthur and Nell Spelman's London home is destroyed by a bomb in 1940, and Ellie and her baby Alice move to the country to stay with her parents. Arthur is a clockmaker who keeps Big Ben going. In fact Big Ben plays a big part in the story.
In present time, Ellie, Alice's daughter, travels from the States to find out more about her grandmother, Eleanor Spelman, who died in the blitz on New Year's Eve, from her step aunt Gillian.
The story is exciting and well told. I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil the read for you.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Avon Books U K. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Daisy Wood’s The Clockmaker’s Wife merges the story of Arthur Spelman and Eleanor “Nell” Roberts during 1940 in London and present day New York with their granddaughter Ellie searching for answers. Alice, their daughter, has told Ellie almost nothing about her family until Ellie finds her grandmother’s watch and photographs of her grandmother. After arriving in London to find out what she can, Ellie pieces her grandparents’ story together. While there, Ellie discovers the answers to her questions, and she finally finds what she has been seeking in life – a family. A beautifully written novel, I highly recommend this treasure!

A novel about war and secrets in war time but with a lovely and unique premise involving timepieces such as Big Ben and a pocket watch that becomes a clue to the past. Unique and nicely done and I was quickly invested in the story from the start.

I would like to thank Avon Books via NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of The Clockmaker’s Wife. This book started slowly and it seemed that it was going to be a dry storyline with not much zip to it but it did pick up about halfway through. The story is told in two different timelines, WWII London and New York City 2024. The storyline flows smoothly from one time line to the other.

Ellie’s mother Alice has fallen and broken her hip and is recuperating in a seniors care home. She starts talking about her mother Nell who died during WWII but with her loss of memory she can’t tell Ellie much about her past. Ellie decides to fly to London to meet her Mother’s stepsister and children. What ensues is the secret story of what Arthur and Nell did during the war.

There isn’t much character development and this makes it a bit hard to really get into the story but in general it has a good storyline. More development of characters and relationships would have made this an epic tale.

The Clockmaker's Wife by Daisy Wood is a great dual timeline WWII-era historical fiction that kept me entertained with mystery, suspense, and twists/turns from beginning to end.

Dual timelines can be tricky and there is always a fine line when trying to pull them off. I have seen it go both ways. Ms. Wood did a great job interweaving the two story lines so as to add them both to the overall narrative, yet was able to use them to slowly unwind the mystery, plot, and surprises that were interspersed within the novel. I really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed the unique inclusions of Big Ben and timepieces into the mystery and espionage plots. It definitely added a new spin within the WWII era historical fiction genre. I enjoyed the character cast and I also really enjoyed the ending. I really enjoyed Nell and found myself on the edge of my seat several times during the story, which is most certainly a compliment.

This is a great book for anyone that likes a gripping, engaging, and addictive historical fiction novel. I highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Avon Books UK for this great arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/8/21.

Daisy Wood handles the dual time line in The Clockmaker's Wife seamlessly. I enjoyed this book a great deal and was especially drawn in by a new twist and a surprising storyline.