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The House of One Hundred Clocks
JUNE, 1905.
Helena and her parrot, Orbit, are swept off to Cambridge when her father is appointed clock-winder to one of the wealthiest men in England. There is only one rule: the clocks must never stop.
But Helena discovers the house of one hundred clocks holds many mysteries; a ghostly figure, strange notes and disappearing winding keys… Can she work out its secrets before time runs out?
"Fans of Emma Carroll will adore this historical tale of derring-do and righted wrongs." - The Times on The Garden of Lost Secrets
Helena and her parrot, Orbit, are swept off to Cambridge when her father is appointed clock-winder to one of the wealthiest men in England. There is only one rule: the clocks must never stop.
But Helena discovers the house of one hundred clocks holds many mysteries; a ghostly figure, strange notes and disappearing winding keys… Can she work out its secrets before time runs out?
"Fans of Emma Carroll will adore this historical tale of derring-do and righted wrongs." - The Times on The Garden of Lost Secrets
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2020
37 people are currently reading
1157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
May 17, 2020
Another middle great read that delivers more than it promises! I read this book as a buddy read with another booktuber, and I did not expect to get so much mystery, adventure and overall goodness from it! I loved the main character and her relationship with her father, the side characters were well-developed and each had an interesting backstory; the mystery multiplied in many side-mysteries that kept me glued to the pages! The ending felt a little underwhelming at first, but in the end I thought it was poetic. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
March 20, 2020
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: A physical copy was provided via US Borne YA in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
I have been privileged enough to have access to some wonderfully written middle grade fiction - The House of One Hundred Clocks was EXACTLY that; a wonderfully mysterious fiction where time meets superstition and friendship + loyalty is tested beyond what is seen!
Helena’s father accepts a mysterious job at a house where there are clocks EVERYWHERE – no staff beyond a cook/tutor and a daughter who calls herself Boy and an ethereal gloom shrouding the whole mansion!
But the most important question that plagues Helena and is conditional to her Clock winder Father – WHY CAN’T THE CLOCKS STOP TICKING?
This question or rather the Ultimatum plagues Helena (and the reader) right from the first chapter itself is one that makes sure the reader CANNOT stop reading – for the need to find out the answers becomes overwhelming (and I swear; I read this beauty in one single setting!).
The book is absolutely well written – brilliantly designed around the changes in the Edwardian era in terms of science and yes, feminism had me enthralled. Not to mention the fact, the way the overtones of grief and the way the loss of a loved one affect different people in oh so many different ways. The gentle way it is handled by the author makes it one of those beautiful reads that stays with you long after you are done with book!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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August 26, 2021
A little disappointing. The characters struck me as sort of flat and not particularly likable. The mystery was okay, but the ending wasn't especially satisfying. Some interesting elements, but they felt all tossed together and didn't combine to make a compelling story, at least not for me.
June 13, 2021
I found this book very intriguing from the very 1st page. I think it is a very good book for a person my age to read🌟
May 17, 2020
This is a wonderful middle grade historical fiction book set in Edwardian England. The historical setting is beautifully depicted and the atmosphere of mystery and tension, with some gothic elements too, is created better than many adult fiction books manage to do.
I was particularly impressed with how intricate the plot was and how the different strands of the narrative tied together so well at the end. I would highly recommend this book to older children and adults alike as there is so much to enjoy in this.
I was particularly impressed with how intricate the plot was and how the different strands of the narrative tied together so well at the end. I would highly recommend this book to older children and adults alike as there is so much to enjoy in this.
August 23, 2020
A reasonable yarn...
Ok - I had high hopes but ended up underwhelmed.
I liked the character profiles, the historical links, although they did feel a little contrived at times. The flow of the story was good and it moved at a satisfying pace.
However, the whole package just felt like there was something missing and I am not really sure what that is. The connection to the Victorian history, the changes in women’s rights and access to education was great and an important piece of history. I suppose I just was never actually sure who or what the story was actually about. There were so many ‘bits’.
Perhaps I just wasn’t quite tuned in to it, but I felt similar about The Garden I’d Lost Secrets too.
I am certain that others may heartily disagree with me!
Ok - I had high hopes but ended up underwhelmed.
I liked the character profiles, the historical links, although they did feel a little contrived at times. The flow of the story was good and it moved at a satisfying pace.
However, the whole package just felt like there was something missing and I am not really sure what that is. The connection to the Victorian history, the changes in women’s rights and access to education was great and an important piece of history. I suppose I just was never actually sure who or what the story was actually about. There were so many ‘bits’.
Perhaps I just wasn’t quite tuned in to it, but I felt similar about The Garden I’d Lost Secrets too.
I am certain that others may heartily disagree with me!
February 9, 2020
This was such an amazing, whimsical book! I liked it a little less than the garden of lost secrets, but it still was so enjoyable!
November 25, 2020
I found this book to be slow and underwhelming. Takes almost 300 pages just to get anywhere or some answers and by that point it’s the end of the book
November 7, 2020
I kind of expected the ending to be a bit darker, and then I remembered this is a middle grade book. Super cute and interesting, with lots of twists and turns and even made me tear up at the end
February 15, 2022
Maybe 3.5. This author has a distinct style of writing, and this causes them to feel more similar than they actually are. An enjoyable story, with mysteries to wonder at.
August 28, 2024
Szerettem a szerző 20. század első évtizedeibe helyezett történeteit, amelyek titokzatosnak és misztikusnak tűnnek, de közben mindenre van racionális magyarázat, s a gyerekszereplők szempontjai a maguk tökéletlenségében játsszák a központi szerepet. Igazából ennél a regénynél is hasonlók a panelek, de a sztori meg a karakterek miatt mindenképp frissnek és újnak hat.
Főhősnőnk Helena édesapja órásmester és egy különleges állásajánlatot kapott: egy szenvedélyes órabolond gyűjteményére kell vigyáznia és megakadályozni, hogy akárcsak egyetlen műszer is megálljon. A félárva kislány Londonból Cambridge-be utazik és beköltöznek a nagy házba, ahol minden helységben különböző időmérő eszközök vannak. A munkaszerződés, ami egy évre szól azonban, mint Helena megtudja igen kemény: ha édesapja hibázik és akár egy óra is megáll, mindenét elveszítheti. A kislány úgy érzi, hogy mivel apukája még mindig mélyen gyászolja alig egy éve meghalt feleségét, neki kell vigyázni arra, nehogy még több veszteség érje őket. Ráadásul az órákkal zsúfolt ház tele van egyéb titkokkal is. Munkaadójuk Mr. Westcott nagyon furán viselkedik, a nővére aki próbál segíteni neki, ritkán tartózkodik a házban, amit egyetlen alkalmazott, Stanlye lát el, aki nemcsak komornyik, de szakács és házitanító is egyben. A szerződés kiköti, hogy nem szabad kérdezősködni a furcsaságok iránt, de hát Helena mindenképp ki akarja deríteni mi folyik itt, főleg miután megtudja, kicsoda a mindenes tanítványa.
A regény az Edward korabeli Angliában játszódik, 1905-ben, amikor a világot izgalmas felfedezések, mint például a repülés lehetősége tartja lázban. Ráadásul a ház, ahova főhősünk költözik szinte szomszédos Cambridge híres egyetemével, s többször is látja, amint nem csak fiúk de fiatal lányok is egyetemi előadásokra sietnek. A regényben komoly szerepet kap a tudomány s a nők jogainak gyarapodása is, úgyhogy egy kicsit talán mondhatjuk, van feminista szempont is a regényben. A fő motívum azonban még így is az, hogy az emberek mennyire másként reagálnak egy szeretett személy elvesztésére.
Helena is gyászolja az édesanyját, akinek emlékére tartja magánál Orbitot a papagájt, bármennyi gondot is tud okozni a madár, de mégis tisztábban tud gondolkodni, mint az édesapja aki abszolút a munkájába menekül és az órákon kívül szinte semmi se érdekli. De még Mr. Westcott viselkedésére is magyarázatot ad, hogy hatalmas veszteség érte, s viselkedése emiatt változott meg. Helena szerencsére barátokra is talál a házban, illetve amikor kinyomozza, hogy ki volt korábban az órásmester és mi is történt vele, újabb segítőkre lel. A kislány tehát a saját kezébe veszi a dolgokat és igyekszik utána járni mindennek, s ahogy felgöngyölíti a rejtélyt és megfejti a múltbéli összefüggéseket, még engem is ért meglepetés pár fordulatot olvasva, úgyhogy egyáltalán nem sablonos titkokkal van itt dolga hősnőnknek.
A.M. Howell ismét csak finoman de határozottan nyúl kényes témákhoz: családi tragédiákhoz, veszteséghez és még a mentális labilitáshoz is. Rávilágít, hogy a veszteség elfogadása egy fejezet lezárást jelenti, s megadja a lehetőséget a továbblépésre. Ugyanakkor azt is megmutatja, hogy bármennyire lehet nemes egy cél, amit el szeretnénk érni, mégis vannak bizonyos erkölcsi határok, amiket nem szabad áthágni, tehát nem minden áron nekünk kell győzedelmeskedni.
Érdekes és tényleg izgalmas regény a Száz óra háza, amelynek alaphelyzete talán furának hangzik, de pont ez kell ahhoz, hogy magába szippantson a rejtély.
Részletesen: https://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2...
Főhősnőnk Helena édesapja órásmester és egy különleges állásajánlatot kapott: egy szenvedélyes órabolond gyűjteményére kell vigyáznia és megakadályozni, hogy akárcsak egyetlen műszer is megálljon. A félárva kislány Londonból Cambridge-be utazik és beköltöznek a nagy házba, ahol minden helységben különböző időmérő eszközök vannak. A munkaszerződés, ami egy évre szól azonban, mint Helena megtudja igen kemény: ha édesapja hibázik és akár egy óra is megáll, mindenét elveszítheti. A kislány úgy érzi, hogy mivel apukája még mindig mélyen gyászolja alig egy éve meghalt feleségét, neki kell vigyázni arra, nehogy még több veszteség érje őket. Ráadásul az órákkal zsúfolt ház tele van egyéb titkokkal is. Munkaadójuk Mr. Westcott nagyon furán viselkedik, a nővére aki próbál segíteni neki, ritkán tartózkodik a házban, amit egyetlen alkalmazott, Stanlye lát el, aki nemcsak komornyik, de szakács és házitanító is egyben. A szerződés kiköti, hogy nem szabad kérdezősködni a furcsaságok iránt, de hát Helena mindenképp ki akarja deríteni mi folyik itt, főleg miután megtudja, kicsoda a mindenes tanítványa.
A regény az Edward korabeli Angliában játszódik, 1905-ben, amikor a világot izgalmas felfedezések, mint például a repülés lehetősége tartja lázban. Ráadásul a ház, ahova főhősünk költözik szinte szomszédos Cambridge híres egyetemével, s többször is látja, amint nem csak fiúk de fiatal lányok is egyetemi előadásokra sietnek. A regényben komoly szerepet kap a tudomány s a nők jogainak gyarapodása is, úgyhogy egy kicsit talán mondhatjuk, van feminista szempont is a regényben. A fő motívum azonban még így is az, hogy az emberek mennyire másként reagálnak egy szeretett személy elvesztésére.
Helena is gyászolja az édesanyját, akinek emlékére tartja magánál Orbitot a papagájt, bármennyi gondot is tud okozni a madár, de mégis tisztábban tud gondolkodni, mint az édesapja aki abszolút a munkájába menekül és az órákon kívül szinte semmi se érdekli. De még Mr. Westcott viselkedésére is magyarázatot ad, hogy hatalmas veszteség érte, s viselkedése emiatt változott meg. Helena szerencsére barátokra is talál a házban, illetve amikor kinyomozza, hogy ki volt korábban az órásmester és mi is történt vele, újabb segítőkre lel. A kislány tehát a saját kezébe veszi a dolgokat és igyekszik utána járni mindennek, s ahogy felgöngyölíti a rejtélyt és megfejti a múltbéli összefüggéseket, még engem is ért meglepetés pár fordulatot olvasva, úgyhogy egyáltalán nem sablonos titkokkal van itt dolga hősnőnknek.
A.M. Howell ismét csak finoman de határozottan nyúl kényes témákhoz: családi tragédiákhoz, veszteséghez és még a mentális labilitáshoz is. Rávilágít, hogy a veszteség elfogadása egy fejezet lezárást jelenti, s megadja a lehetőséget a továbblépésre. Ugyanakkor azt is megmutatja, hogy bármennyire lehet nemes egy cél, amit el szeretnénk érni, mégis vannak bizonyos erkölcsi határok, amiket nem szabad áthágni, tehát nem minden áron nekünk kell győzedelmeskedni.
Érdekes és tényleg izgalmas regény a Száz óra háza, amelynek alaphelyzete talán furának hangzik, de pont ez kell ahhoz, hogy magába szippantson a rejtély.
Részletesen: https://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2...
May 3, 2025
الرواية قرأتها مترجمة واسم الرواية بالعربي (منزل الساعات)، ولكن للاسف دار ملهمون والمترجمة (أنور الشيخ) ما نزلوا الكتاب بنسخته العربية في قودريدز، أتمنى دور النشر والمترجمين يكونون اكثر تفاعل في برامج التواصل الاجتماعي.
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عموما نرجع لروايتنا، الرواية كُنت بعطيها 5/5 ولكن للأسف دار ملهمون بدأ يستفزني الفترة الأخيرة صار عندهم أغلاط -بقولكم وش هي تحت بعد شوي- حرفيا مكرره في كل رواية!! معناته المشكلة مو من المترجم بس بل من الدار نفسها والله اعلم، طيب وش ذي المشاكل؟
اولا احب اقول ان هذي الاغلاط ما تمنعكم تقرؤون الرواية، بالعكس قريتها كامله بالعربي وفهمت واستمتعت صح مرات كان فيه عدم وضوح ولكن السبب كان مو من الترجمه بل في ⬇️ :
1. طريقة الكتابة/السرد سيئة؛ تفتقر إلى علامات الترقيم + النص غير مرتب لتسهيل القراءة عالقارئ لفهم الاحداث، مثال (بدون حرق):
- هل سبق لك أن رأيت أي شئ مثل ذلك؟ همست لهيلينا. لقد نَسيت ما دار بينهما من حديث الليلة الماضية.《لقد شاهد ستانلي إعلاناً في إحدى صحف لندن عن هذه الآلة. عندما رآه والدي، قال إنه يجب إحضاره إلى كامبيردج على الفور لتنظيف غرف الساعة. كانت هيلينا ترى أنها كانت نظيفة للغاية بالفعل.
انتهت الفقرة المقتبسه. اكيد لاحظتوا كذا مشكله:
1- النص ورا بعض بطريقة غير مرتبة، وضع كلام هيلينا مع كلام الشخصية الاخرى بنفس الفقرة (-) الي تم تحديدها كشرطة ووضع الافكار الداخليه لهيلينا، مما يحير القارئ ويضايقه.
2- عدم وضع علامات الترقيم بشكل صحيح؛
الاكثار من علامة النقطة (.) + عدم وضع علامة التنصيص (" ") على كلام هيلينا + البدء بعلامة (《 ) وعدم انهاء الكلام بنفس العلامة ( 》) + وضع شرطة واحده فقط عالفقرة (-).
2. الغلط الثاني هو التشويش في الضمائر وذكر الاسم بموضع خطأ فمثلا يكون المتحدث فتاة اخرى غير البطلة ولكن يقولون القائل هو هيلينا والخ.
______________________
عموما نرجع لتقييمنا للرواية، الرواية عجبتنيي مرره، كانت غموض على لطيفه على حماسيه على تشويق؛ومره حبيت ذكاء البطلة والعلاقات إلي كونتها + حسيت إني كني في فلم كرتون قديم زي سالي وريمي لانه من زمان عن رواية بطلتها فتاة صغيره واصلا هي الرواية قديمه ولكن توها تترجم على ما اعتقد وحتى الاجواء في الرواية قديمه زي الخيول والعربات والرسائل، والخ.
بصراحه انصحكم بالرواية وبشده وتنفع للي عمرهم 10 سنين فما فوق 👌🏻🥰
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عموما نرجع لروايتنا، الرواية كُنت بعطيها 5/5 ولكن للأسف دار ملهمون بدأ يستفزني الفترة الأخيرة صار عندهم أغلاط -بقولكم وش هي تحت بعد شوي- حرفيا مكرره في كل رواية!! معناته المشكلة مو من المترجم بس بل من الدار نفسها والله اعلم، طيب وش ذي المشاكل؟
اولا احب اقول ان هذي الاغلاط ما تمنعكم تقرؤون الرواية، بالعكس قريتها كامله بالعربي وفهمت واستمتعت صح مرات كان فيه عدم وضوح ولكن السبب كان مو من الترجمه بل في ⬇️ :
1. طريقة الكتابة/السرد سيئة؛ تفتقر إلى علامات الترقيم + النص غير مرتب لتسهيل القراءة عالقارئ لفهم الاحداث، مثال (بدون حرق):
- هل سبق لك أن رأيت أي شئ مثل ذلك؟ همست لهيلينا. لقد نَسيت ما دار بينهما من حديث الليلة الماضية.《لقد شاهد ستانلي إعلاناً في إحدى صحف لندن عن هذه الآلة. عندما رآه والدي، قال إنه يجب إحضاره إلى كامبيردج على الفور لتنظيف غرف الساعة. كانت هيلينا ترى أنها كانت نظيفة للغاية بالفعل.
انتهت الفقرة المقتبسه. اكيد لاحظتوا كذا مشكله:
1- النص ورا بعض بطريقة غير مرتبة، وضع كلام هيلينا مع كلام الشخصية الاخرى بنفس الفقرة (-) الي تم تحديدها كشرطة ووضع الافكار الداخليه لهيلينا، مما يحير القارئ ويضايقه.
2- عدم وضع علامات الترقيم بشكل صحيح؛
الاكثار من علامة النقطة (.) + عدم وضع علامة التنصيص (" ") على كلام هيلينا + البدء بعلامة (《 ) وعدم انهاء الكلام بنفس العلامة ( 》) + وضع شرطة واحده فقط عالفقرة (-).
2. الغلط الثاني هو التشويش في الضمائر وذكر الاسم بموضع خطأ فمثلا يكون المتحدث فتاة اخرى غير البطلة ولكن يقولون القائل هو هيلينا والخ.
______________________
عموما نرجع لتقييمنا للرواية، الرواية عجبتنيي مرره، كانت غموض على لطيفه على حماسيه على تشويق؛ومره حبيت ذكاء البطلة والعلاقات إلي كونتها + حسيت إني كني في فلم كرتون قديم زي سالي وريمي لانه من زمان عن رواية بطلتها فتاة صغيره واصلا هي الرواية قديمه ولكن توها تترجم على ما اعتقد وحتى الاجواء في الرواية قديمه زي الخيول والعربات والرسائل، والخ.
بصراحه انصحكم بالرواية وبشده وتنفع للي عمرهم 10 سنين فما فوق 👌🏻🥰
June 2, 2021
I found this a slog to get through, mainly because of the writer’s poor writing style. It is full of sentences that are structurally the same:
“Helena paused, sucked in a breath.”
“Her father examined it closely, gave her a nod of approval.”
“She pulled out a card, held it out to him.”
It comes across as amateurish, especially when these same structures are then also used for the characters’s idiolects. They all sound virtually the same. I wonder if an editor ever had a look at this book.
As for the plot, I didn’t care for it much. I did not particularly care about the reason why the clocks must never stop, and I found most characters uninteresting. It’s an utter shame, as the setting (1905’s Cambridge) could have been quite good.
“Helena paused, sucked in a breath.”
“Her father examined it closely, gave her a nod of approval.”
“She pulled out a card, held it out to him.”
It comes across as amateurish, especially when these same structures are then also used for the characters’s idiolects. They all sound virtually the same. I wonder if an editor ever had a look at this book.
As for the plot, I didn’t care for it much. I did not particularly care about the reason why the clocks must never stop, and I found most characters uninteresting. It’s an utter shame, as the setting (1905’s Cambridge) could have been quite good.
May 13, 2021
Read- June 2020 for the MakeYourMythTaker Readathon (Royal Spy- Royal Colours on the Cover)
- I was really interested in this, mainly because I literally knew nothing about it going in aside from the fact that it's historical, mystery middle grade (aka, my favourite thing to read these days). The strongest part of this book was the intrigue, I just couldn't wait to find out how this all unravelled.
- I was really interested in this, mainly because I literally knew nothing about it going in aside from the fact that it's historical, mystery middle grade (aka, my favourite thing to read these days). The strongest part of this book was the intrigue, I just couldn't wait to find out how this all unravelled.
July 20, 2023
frustrating and boring
September 14, 2024
I love this book, its really good. Its just that the first few chapters are a bit boring :).
November 29, 2020
Helena's father gets a job taking care of the clocks in a house, but there's a rule that must never be broken, none of the clocks must ever stop. Not only that but they aren't allowed to even talk about any of the strange and mysterious happenings in the house.
It's so interesting reading about a different time. I found it funny how Helena and her father are so shocked that there aren't myriad servants and a man actually does the cooking! The descriptions of the clocks sound wonderful, so detailed and intricate.
It's so interesting reading about a different time. I found it funny how Helena and her father are so shocked that there aren't myriad servants and a man actually does the cooking! The descriptions of the clocks sound wonderful, so detailed and intricate.
June 7, 2020
OK
- the position of women in 19th Century England and their lack of opportunities as well as mention of fashion (birds on hats)
- the exotic bird pet and the subject of clocks gives this book a 'marketable' aspect
Not so OK
- lack of pacing and lack of suspense
- lack of feeling towards the characters and the events unfolding
- the anticlimactic reveal
Overall
A lot of potential but needs to be tighter with more suspense to keep the reader wanting more
- the position of women in 19th Century England and their lack of opportunities as well as mention of fashion (birds on hats)
- the exotic bird pet and the subject of clocks gives this book a 'marketable' aspect
Not so OK
- lack of pacing and lack of suspense
- lack of feeling towards the characters and the events unfolding
- the anticlimactic reveal
Overall
A lot of potential but needs to be tighter with more suspense to keep the reader wanting more
October 4, 2025
قرأت النسخة المترجمة : منزل الساعات المائة .
مغامرة في منزل ذي أسرار و ألغاز بأجواء تنتمي الى العصر الإدواردي .
مغامرة في منزل ذي أسرار و ألغاز بأجواء تنتمي الى العصر الإدواردي .
February 16, 2021
Very interesting with the whole boy thing and then Katherine hiding the mothers return from everyone quite sad and emotional when you think of how Mr Westcotts only child is being ignored and not thought of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2024
قرأت الكتاب بالعربية
تحمست الصراحة أعرف الغرابة والغموض فيما يخص الساعات
ما كانت النهاية والاستكشاف مرضي
ما أعرف لأن بطبيعة الحال الشخصية الرئيسية في الرواية طفلة؟
في البداية غرابة المنزل ذكرتني برواية "سكنى منزل التل" ولكنها بعيدة في أحداثها نوعًا ما
بعدها تذكرت رواية "كورالاين"..
أعترف ختمت الكتاب بفترة قصيرة على غير المعتاد بالنسبة لي وللحجم
وهذا شيء جيد .. العبارات والنهاية حسيتها مو متناسبة مع ضخامة الغرابة في البداية
ف يمكن عشان كذا حبيتها بشكل عام وحبيت العبارة المكتوبة في النهاية بس ما أتوقع برشحها لأحد يقرأها مثلًا
April 8, 2020
I read almost 200 pages in one sitting it was so good! This book has such a great underlying message about equality for women, or just rights for us period. It is set in 1905, & just reading women could attend college, but could not get a degree like men could....I can’t even imagine...& I’m glad I can’t. This is another book that handles grief really well too, & was appreciated. There are also multiple points of how it is dealt with from different perspectives. The plot of the story though....it is sooooo good! I had no idea what the answers to the mysteries throughout the story were! I loved the bird so much too!!!! And Stanley!!😍ugh so good! But those last 2 paragraphs?? I was bothered! Lol I know why she did it, and see how it wraps the story up, but it made me tear up lol I don’t want to say more so not to spoil. I highly recommend this book. I’ve now read both books by this author, and so I also highly recommend her, & I soooo hope she is working on more for us, because I NEED more! ☺️💜
May 19, 2020
The House of One Hundred Clocks is a beautifully written who-dunnit story filled with intrigue, mystery and a very cool parrot called Orbit! A.M. Howell captures Helena's 1900s world perfectly with interesting nods to the inventions, traditions and fashions of the day. Beneath all the questions lies a lovely story of family, friendship and letting go. Perfect for 8+
PS What a gorgeous cover!
PS What a gorgeous cover!
May 18, 2022
The first four chapters could be told in one. Don't waste my time.
October 13, 2021
The House of One Hundred Clocks by A.M. Howell is an intelligent middle-grade mystery novel, original in concept, and brought to a satisfying conclusion at the end so that no questions are left unanswered. The writing style is rewardingly descriptive.
It is June, 1905, and Helena Graham’s father, a clockmaker, has accepted a position in the city of Cambridge as a clock curator to a wealthy businessman who collects timepieces so obsessively that they fill his entire house, leaving almost no space for living.
Helena’s mother died a year ago, and the move from London to Cambridge has come at just the right time for her father, who wishes to bury himself in his work and distance himself from the past. However, he gets more than he bargained for.
Edgar Westcott, has filled his mansion with clocks and watches of all shapes and sizes, and is inexplicably terrified of any one of them stopping.
Mr. Westcott hires Helena’s father as his personal clock-winder and maintenance expert in-residence, and Helena and her pet parrot, Orbit, move into the mansion too.
Helena’s father is bound by a very odd legal contract as soon as he accepts this work: that under no circumstances must even one of the timepieces be allowed to stop. There will be dire consequences if this occurs.
From the first, Helena is perplexed by the strange goings-on in the house:
Why has Mr. Wescott collected so many clocks? Why does he have an almost pathological fear that even a single one of them may stop?
Why have the servants all left their positions at the mansion? Who are the two ghostly children that Helena sees in the clock rooms? Who has been stopping the clocks deliberately? And how does Mr. Westcott's sister Katherine fit into all of this.
Will Helena be able work out the secrets of the house before time runs out both for her father and for herself?
The story stays on course until the final revelations, and the author makes good use of historical facts and symbolism to add depth and personal meaning for the reader.
It is June, 1905, and Helena Graham’s father, a clockmaker, has accepted a position in the city of Cambridge as a clock curator to a wealthy businessman who collects timepieces so obsessively that they fill his entire house, leaving almost no space for living.
Helena’s mother died a year ago, and the move from London to Cambridge has come at just the right time for her father, who wishes to bury himself in his work and distance himself from the past. However, he gets more than he bargained for.
Edgar Westcott, has filled his mansion with clocks and watches of all shapes and sizes, and is inexplicably terrified of any one of them stopping.
Mr. Westcott hires Helena’s father as his personal clock-winder and maintenance expert in-residence, and Helena and her pet parrot, Orbit, move into the mansion too.
Helena’s father is bound by a very odd legal contract as soon as he accepts this work: that under no circumstances must even one of the timepieces be allowed to stop. There will be dire consequences if this occurs.
From the first, Helena is perplexed by the strange goings-on in the house:
Why has Mr. Wescott collected so many clocks? Why does he have an almost pathological fear that even a single one of them may stop?
Why have the servants all left their positions at the mansion? Who are the two ghostly children that Helena sees in the clock rooms? Who has been stopping the clocks deliberately? And how does Mr. Westcott's sister Katherine fit into all of this.
Will Helena be able work out the secrets of the house before time runs out both for her father and for herself?
The story stays on course until the final revelations, and the author makes good use of historical facts and symbolism to add depth and personal meaning for the reader.
September 7, 2023
“You need to leave that house of clocks. Right now. Don’t wait for the clocks to stop…”
This is a thrilling filled with ticking secrets and gripping adventure, set against an Edwardian backdrop of invention and change.
It is June, 1905. Helena and her beloved Amazonian parrot, Orbit, are swept off to Cambridge when her father is appointed clock-winder to one of the wealthiest men in England. There is only one rule: the clocks must never stop.
Helena watches in disbelief as her father signs a contract which puts all their possessions at risk if any one of the clocks he has been engaged to maintain stops ticking. She soon discovers the house of one hundred clocks holds many mysteries; a silent child who suddenly appears and disappears, strange notes inside clocks, stolen winding keys and drawings of flight machines pinned to the walls. Is Mr Westcott’s sister, Katherine, as nice and supportive as she seems? Why have all the servants left? Why has Mr Wescott removed all the furniture and filled the house with clocks? What happened to the previous clock-winder? Why must the clocks never stop? Can Helena and her new-found friends work out the house's secrets before time runs out?
The Cambridge setting and historical period are brought to life. This is an interesting time, when women could study at the university but not graduate, the Wright brothers were developing their flying machine, and society was just beginning to question why girls did not have the same opportunities and life choices as boys. The story is cleverly plotted, with a creeping tension and suspense, but this is much more than just an enthralling mystery. The relationship between two girls, both coming to terms with loss is sensitively depicted, and the main characters all discover the importance of letting go of past and creating their own futures.
This is a thrilling filled with ticking secrets and gripping adventure, set against an Edwardian backdrop of invention and change.
It is June, 1905. Helena and her beloved Amazonian parrot, Orbit, are swept off to Cambridge when her father is appointed clock-winder to one of the wealthiest men in England. There is only one rule: the clocks must never stop.
Helena watches in disbelief as her father signs a contract which puts all their possessions at risk if any one of the clocks he has been engaged to maintain stops ticking. She soon discovers the house of one hundred clocks holds many mysteries; a silent child who suddenly appears and disappears, strange notes inside clocks, stolen winding keys and drawings of flight machines pinned to the walls. Is Mr Westcott’s sister, Katherine, as nice and supportive as she seems? Why have all the servants left? Why has Mr Wescott removed all the furniture and filled the house with clocks? What happened to the previous clock-winder? Why must the clocks never stop? Can Helena and her new-found friends work out the house's secrets before time runs out?
The Cambridge setting and historical period are brought to life. This is an interesting time, when women could study at the university but not graduate, the Wright brothers were developing their flying machine, and society was just beginning to question why girls did not have the same opportunities and life choices as boys. The story is cleverly plotted, with a creeping tension and suspense, but this is much more than just an enthralling mystery. The relationship between two girls, both coming to terms with loss is sensitively depicted, and the main characters all discover the importance of letting go of past and creating their own futures.
April 17, 2020
“Don’t let the past stop you from moving forward, Florence.”
Throughout the novel, this is the underlying theme. The grief that comes with the loss of a loved one and how one copes with the ever stabbing pain in their heart.
11-years-old Helena's life has turned upside down after the death of her mother. From coming to terms with her father's workaholism after his wife's death, to leaving the house that holds all their precious family memories as she had to change towns because of her father's fixation on a work contract that could change their life for the better. She had to deal with it all. But the weird house her father's clockmaker work lands her into and its eccentric owner and clock collector make her anxious. The mysteries never seem to end what with the big mansion having just one staff― the homemaker/tutor Stanley and the ever elusive clock collector's daughter who calls herself Boy. The fishy clauses in the contract could mean they could lose all of their belongings if the clocks stop running. Surely, that wouldn't happen, her father was the best clockmaker in town after all. But she couldn't get rid of that nagging feeling in her gut that tells her she could lose everything along with her mother's most beloved pet parrot Orbit, the only part of her mother that was left with her.
Set in the Edwardian era and sprinkled with rising feminism, new inventions and the changing world, this story captures the essence of human behaviour― love, loss, rejection, favouritism, resentment, ambitions and family dynamics.
The ending was just perfect, the closure of a previous chapter of life and beginning of a new one― of coming to terms with loss and moving on to a brighter future with tremendous possibilities ahead, of loss and hope.
My rating: 3.5/5
Throughout the novel, this is the underlying theme. The grief that comes with the loss of a loved one and how one copes with the ever stabbing pain in their heart.
11-years-old Helena's life has turned upside down after the death of her mother. From coming to terms with her father's workaholism after his wife's death, to leaving the house that holds all their precious family memories as she had to change towns because of her father's fixation on a work contract that could change their life for the better. She had to deal with it all. But the weird house her father's clockmaker work lands her into and its eccentric owner and clock collector make her anxious. The mysteries never seem to end what with the big mansion having just one staff― the homemaker/tutor Stanley and the ever elusive clock collector's daughter who calls herself Boy. The fishy clauses in the contract could mean they could lose all of their belongings if the clocks stop running. Surely, that wouldn't happen, her father was the best clockmaker in town after all. But she couldn't get rid of that nagging feeling in her gut that tells her she could lose everything along with her mother's most beloved pet parrot Orbit, the only part of her mother that was left with her.
Set in the Edwardian era and sprinkled with rising feminism, new inventions and the changing world, this story captures the essence of human behaviour― love, loss, rejection, favouritism, resentment, ambitions and family dynamics.
The ending was just perfect, the closure of a previous chapter of life and beginning of a new one― of coming to terms with loss and moving on to a brighter future with tremendous possibilities ahead, of loss and hope.
My rating: 3.5/5
March 8, 2020
Thank you so much to Usborne Publishing for providing me with a copy of The House of 100 Clocks in exchange for an honest review!
Helena doesn’t want to move to Cambridge with her father, to take a job as a clock minder. Especially when she gets a glimpse of the contract he has to sign. It seems like it says they will lose all of their possessions if the clocks stop, or are damaged, but that couldn’t possibly be right, could it? She hopes not, because there’s no way she could lose her parrot, Orbit, when he’s all she has left to remember her mother by.
The house, and the owner of the house, are even stranger than Helena imagined, and after one too many mysteries, she is determined to find out exactly what’s going on.
The House of 100 Clocks was a cute middle grade read I think would be great for kids at the younger end of the scale. The writing is whimsical and the author did a wonderful job of creating rich imagery to go along with it. I thought the mystery was a little lacking, until the last few pages where there were some great twists that made me realise, although I had guessed some of the outcome, I didn’t really have the full measure of it. There were some important underlying messages about coping with grief, with emphasis on each character in the story coping in their own unique way. The cover of this book, and the inside cover pages are absolutely stunning. The colours are just beautiful and I’m sure it will attract many readers to experience the story within!
Helena doesn’t want to move to Cambridge with her father, to take a job as a clock minder. Especially when she gets a glimpse of the contract he has to sign. It seems like it says they will lose all of their possessions if the clocks stop, or are damaged, but that couldn’t possibly be right, could it? She hopes not, because there’s no way she could lose her parrot, Orbit, when he’s all she has left to remember her mother by.
The house, and the owner of the house, are even stranger than Helena imagined, and after one too many mysteries, she is determined to find out exactly what’s going on.
The House of 100 Clocks was a cute middle grade read I think would be great for kids at the younger end of the scale. The writing is whimsical and the author did a wonderful job of creating rich imagery to go along with it. I thought the mystery was a little lacking, until the last few pages where there were some great twists that made me realise, although I had guessed some of the outcome, I didn’t really have the full measure of it. There were some important underlying messages about coping with grief, with emphasis on each character in the story coping in their own unique way. The cover of this book, and the inside cover pages are absolutely stunning. The colours are just beautiful and I’m sure it will attract many readers to experience the story within!
April 11, 2020
I adored A.M Howell’s debut, so I’m pleased to report for anyone who felt the same but hasn’t yet read this that her second is even better! It’s about a girl named Helena, whose clock-winder father accepts a very unusual job: they must move to a house in Cambridge, and the hundred clocks in the house there must never stop, or they will be stripped of all their worldly possessions. I was so intrigued by the concept and I loved piecing together what was really happening as the book went on; it was totally absorbing and I was always so excited to pick it up and read more! Helena is a wonderful heroine and I felt so much empathy for her, and Boy was also amazing. The rest of the cast were just as interesting and fleshed out too, and the mystery was so, so good; I loved that it again wasnt really a whodunit, but still felt so satisfying. The writing was gorgeous again too, and if you love Emma Carroll and Helen Peters then you absolutely MUST give AM Howell a try. 5/5
October 21, 2020
This book was absolutely lovely! I was just so connected to the characters in the story. It had mystery, tragedy, friendship and so much more! Why I personally loved this book so much is because I love mysteries and this book just had it all. There were so many mysteries and stuff which were said in parts of the book that I really hadn't paid much attention to, but as I read on further I realized how wonderfully A.M Howell has written this book. And it was just so fun uncovering the secrets as you read along. I just wasn't able to put it down and so won't you. One of my most favorite books of all time and definitely a 5 on 5!
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