Book Review: The Girl in the Face of the Clock

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Girl in the Face of the Clock     Amazon US HC Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Charles Mathes
Class/Genre:   Mystery
St. Martin's, Apr 2001, $22.95, 239 pp.

While working at a Cincinnati repertory theater, dance choreographer Jane Sailor received the call she has been expecting ever since her father, a promising painter, fell down the stairs of his Manhattan loft into a coma. When Royamume Israel Hospital in Long Island finally called she expected to learn her beloved dad finally died. Instead, due to an accident, he has begun talking though still unconscious. Even if he is rambling, Jane must see him.

At the hospital, Jane realizes that her dad is mumbling something about his fall being not an accident. She takes a job with Perry Mannerback who once bought a painting that Jane's dad did. When her father finally succumbs under questionable circumstances, Jane concludes that the clock in the portrait Peter bought is the key to her father's death. Though alone and with no sleuthing experience, Jane is determined to learn the truth behind her father's fall and his death.

The latest stand-alone "Girl" novel, THE GIRL IN THE FACE OF THE CLOCK, is simply fantastic. The story line requires an acceptance stretch, but readers will gladly do so as the amateur sleuth invades the impenetrable art world. The characters including the comatose Aaron make the plot work as readers root for Jane to learn what really happened without suffering further harm and also make it with the "Boy" on the plane to London. Charles Mathes fourth "Girl" novel is an interesting tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner