Clockmaker, The

After visiting his fiancée, Joseph Levy boarded a train to return to London. When he did not return home the police were contacted but believing that this was a case of cold feet, no investigation was pursued. Now DCI Henry Johnstone and Sgt. Mickey Hitchens of Scotland Yard have been approached by Joseph’s uncle, Abraham Levy. He became acquainted with Johnstone in a previous investigation and he is desperate for news of his nephew.

Johnstone and Hitchens discover that Joseph left the train to follow a woman. His body is soon found by a River not far from the station and their investigation leads them to follow reports of assaults and thefts along the railroad line. Scouring the files of the railway police, they find several assaults that involved a woman and two associates.

The beating of a young boy in the neighborhood of Abraham’s shop raises questions about gang activities controlled by Clem Atkins. It is Atkins who hints that Abraham, the clockmaker, and his brother Benjamin, a jeweler, are involved in activities that may not be legal. As they question the Levy family on their businesses and Joseph’s involvements in them, Abraham becomes less cooperative, even knowing that Johnstone will not let it go.

Jane A. Adams provides a look at the political situation in Europe through letters that Johnstone receives from his sister Cynthia. Traveling through Germany with her husband to review his business interests there, her letters to Johnstone reflect the unrest, the rampant inflation and the political atmosphere. In 1929 Europe was still suffering from the aftermath of WWI. There were immigrants flowing from Russia and Germany seeking sanctuary from persecution. The Levy brothers were in a position to offer some assistance, but at what cost and was Joseph involved..

There are a number of unexpected twists in this story that provide an excellent mystery. This is Adams’ third novel in the series and I look forward to the return of Johnstone and Hitchens in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book for my review.