In the charming village of Fernvale, time stops for no one—except when it stops for murder. Tessa Blackwood thought a change of scenery would be exactly what she and Bramble needed after their last adventure in Little Wickham. The picturesque village of Fernvale, with its annual Summer Parade and quaint countryside charm, seems like the perfect place for a peaceful getaway. But when the parade marshal collapses dramatically in the middle of The Thimble & Fern pub, Tessa discovers that even a holiday can't keep her away from mystery. The official time of death? 11:05 AM, according to every witness in the packed pub. But the antique mantel clock that Tessa lovingly repaired and returned that very morning tells a different story—frozen at 10:41 with suspicious fresh fingerprints smudged inside the glass case. In a village where everyone's alibi depends on precise timing, twenty-four minutes can mean the difference between innocence and murder. As Tessa digs deeper into Fernvale's secrets, she uncovers a web of small-town rivalries: a local brewer fighting tooth and nail for a crucial permit, a bell ringer desperately chasing a heritage grant, a smooth-talking councillor whose careful words hide dangerous truths, and a costume maker drowning in unpaid invoices. With Bramble's nose for trouble leading them through a maze of costume fibers, official forms, and mysterious brass tabs hidden in trophy bases, Tessa realizes that the village's beloved Summer Parade might be hiding something far more sinister. When a crucial ledger page points toward the shadowy "Parade Storage, phase two," Tessa must race against time to solve a puzzle where every minute matters—and where the wrong answer could make her the killer's next target. The second delightfully twisty installment in the beloved Tessa Blackwood series delivers everything cozy mystery fans crave: a brilliant female amateur detective, an authentic British village setting, and a meticulously fair-play puzzle that challenges readers to solve the crime alongside our clever protagonist. Perfect for readers who devoured the first book and fans of M.C. Beaton, Louise Penny, and traditional British mysteries. A cozy mystery that proves sometimes the smallest details—like a clock running late—can expose the biggest secrets in a small town.