The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood is a World War II era story told with dual time lines. One is 1940s England and the other is 2021.

Arthur Spellman (the clockmaker) works at the Palaces of Westminster maintaining the clocks, including Big Ben. When their home is destroyed by a bomb, Arthur send his wife and infant daughter to the country to live with her parents while he stays in London. Eventually Arthur is arrested on unknown charges, and his wife returns to London to try to clear his name. This is her story.

There are two Eleanors in this book. There is Eleanor Spellman (Nell) (the clockmakers wife) who is the central focus of the story, and there is her granddaughter Ellie, who travels to London in search of the truth about her grandmother‘s past.

History and espionage combine to make this a very good read. Neil‘s story is fascinating and well told. The supporting characters are well written and add depth to the story. Although a little slow in the middle, it kept my attention and was hard to put down. Definitely recommend it!

The Clockmaker’s Wife by Daisy Wood will be published April 27, 2021 by Harper 360 Avon. I received an advance reader copy from the publisher and Net Gallery in exchange for my opinion.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I am a sucker for a duel timeline and this one hit the spot. Ellie (present) day travels to London to research the somewhat mysterious death of her grandmother (Nell) at the height of the violence in the UK during WWII. This is beautifully told and includes snapshots of what 1940 England was like in the city during the nightly bombings and in the country with evacuees. The pacing was done well and the jumps between past and present were not jarring. Heartbreaking at times; incredibly poignant at others. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a great WWII novel; especially one about the incredible strength of women--both past and present.

I wasn't expecting this to be a bit of a thriller! It added just enough to make this book amazing!
This book had a slow start but quickly picked up. I love the dual timelines. Amazing writing Daisy it was simply amazing I'm telling ya! Y'all this book is amazing.

Big Ben is recognized around the world. What if…there had been a secret plot to destroy it during WWII? In a true work of historical fiction, a brave woman sets out to foil a plot that could have devastated Britain.

Ellie is puzzled by pictures and items that she finds in her mother Alice’s apartment. Her mother, recovering from a broken hip in a nursing home has vague memories of her mother as she died when she was a baby. As Alice’s memory is fading, Ellie sets out across the ocean to fill in the gaps of her families history before it’s too late. She wants to know more about her grandmother Eleanor as much for herself as for her mother. What she discovers, though not an easy search, is that her grandmother was a brave, selfless woman who put her life on the line for her family and country.

This story was excellent. Though entirely fiction, London during the Blitz is mentioned throughout and helps to paint a beautiful portrait of Eleanor and her bravery. A great page turner, this book can easily be a weekend or rainy day read. Highly recommend!!

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Daisy Wood for early access in exchange for a review! I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

The Clockmaker's Wife is a historical fiction set in mainly London during World War II. The story progresses in dual storylines during 1940 and present times. The story is about three generations Nell, Alice and Eleanor. The events of the novel though fictionalized gives us an excellent overview of the Blitz and the difficulties of a common man in war ravaged London. A medium paced historical fiction where one generation is trying to unfold the fascinating story of the past generation.

Three generations, three stories to be told.

While London is being rocked by the Blitz, Nell and Arthur struggle to keep their infant daughter safe. A clockmaker and his wife, but is that all they are?

Meanwhile, present day reveals a damaged yet beautiful watch. Unfortunately, her mother, Alice’s, memory is not what it used to be. As Ellie searches to discover the watch’s story she unveils much more than she ever hoped to.

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I found the story to be slow going and at times overly detailed. The transition between past time and present day was well executed. The basis for the plot was good however the writing style was not for me.

This is a fascinating story, covering dual timelines, with Nell in 1940, and her granddaughter, Ellie in 2021. This story is about courage and persistence with amazing details covering life in London during World War II.

Nell is still a newlywed, with a small baby daughter named Alice. Her husband, Arthur, is is a clockmaker and his job is to tend to the intricate timepiece that towers over Parliament, better known as Big Ben. When the air raids become worse, and they lose their home to German bombs, Nell decides to take Alice home to the country to live with her mother and father in Oxfordshire. But, when she gets a disturbing phone call from her husband, Arthur, she rushes back to London to find out he’s been arrested.

Meanwhile in, Westchester County 2021, Ellie discovers some interesting artifacts in her mother’s purse and decides it’s time to meet her English relatives, and see if she can find out how about the unusual circumstances of her grandmother’s untimely death.

This is a gripping historical novel, and although the actual events that led to Nell’s death are fiction, all the details of life during the war in London are accurate, and the vivid details of life in London during the war, are liberally sprinkled into the story.

The characters are realistic and have a depth of personality, especially Nell, Alice, and Ellie. The evacuees in Oxfordshire are portrayed wonderfully as amateur spies and explorers. The pacing of this book is excellent, and I can easily call this book a real page-turner.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially anyone interesting in historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Solid historian novel. Easily breezes from the past to the present. What if there was a conspiracy to blow up Big Ben, Britain’s National Treasure during WWII? Eleanor,, the Clock Makers wife is very endearing, as is her granddaughter’s journey to discover what happened to her. Many twists and turns which kept me engaged and on edge. That you to Netgally and Harper Collins publisher for an advance copy of this book for an honest review. I’ll be a fan of the author Daisy Brown in the future.

Lots of good juicy twists and turns written in signature style. A great escape for the afternoon in this crazy world that we are now living in. Thanks

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 Harper360 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’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!