The Clock without a Face

Let me just start off by saying how much fun this book is! McSweeney’s latest children’s book oozes their trademark playfulness and sophistication. The Clock without a Face is a whodunit filled with loads of riddles and puzzles that had me enthralled for hours and I’m not exactly the target audience. The story is great: absurd, witty and clever. The oddly named characters such as General Klobberduck, Jigsy Squonk and Sigfried Plumpjack are loveable and savagely original. And then there’s the artwork in this house-shaped book which is simply sublime. But what is all the fuss about?

Gus Twintig (a pseudonym for writers Scott Teplin, Mac Barnett, and illustrator Eli Horowitz) is your modern day Watson. He assists the world renowned detective Roy Dodge in solving all kinds of mysteries by taking detailed notes and making pristine pictures. Their new assignment is to investigate who stole the 12 numbers of the legendary Emerald Khroniker, aka a priceless clock, owned by the obnoxious importer Bevel Ternky. However, each of the 12 inhabitants of the lower floors also had something stolen. Coincidence? Complot? You tell me.

What makes this book more than an ordinary detective story is that readers must conduct their own investigations, scouring detailed illustrations for hidden clues in order to solve the puzzle. When the book is finished the search begins, not just for all the owner’s lost artifacts but for the actual stolen numbers. Twelve emerald-studded numbers (each handmade and one of a kind) have been hidden in 12 holes across the United States turning The Clock without a Face into not only a wacky delight but also into a real life treasure hunt!

Seeing as I live in Belgium, I’m hardly going for the gold (or should I say emeralds) but I loved locating the stolen goods and solving the riddles. Trust me, it's the perfect entertainment for a rainy afternoon no matter how old you are!