Watch Hollow

The Tinker family is on the brink of financial and emotional ruin.  Since their mother died, Olliver and have been struggling with their grief.  The family watch shop is also funning in the red, and creditors are hounding them.

It seems too good to be true when a strange little man named Mr. Quigley shows up offering an insane amount of money to fix the clock in his new house.  He even gives them a downpayment in gold coins!

When they arrive at Blackford House in Watch Hollow, Lucy immediately feels uneasy.  The house is in worse shape than they anticipated, and it's surrounded by a dark dense forest.

The clock itself is set into the wall of the house and generates electricity for the house.  Mr. Tinker has never seen anything like it, but he and Oliver set about trying to figure it out.  Meanwhile, Lucy has made some discoveries of her own.  There are enchanted animals living in the house.  During the day they are wooden statues, but after midnight they come alive.

The kids will team up with these animals to protect themselves and the house from a monster living in the woods named the Garr who feeds on fear and who wants to ring every last drop of terror out of them before destroying them.

This middle grade thriller by Gregory Funaro is creepy and atmospheric with an interesting fantasy twist of the magical clock and animals.  Illustrations at the beginning of each chapter add to the dark tone.  Recommended.