If you are looking for a spooky short-story which is plotted with the precision of a Swiss watch, then this is the book for you!

The story begins in an inn, in a small town in Germany in the days when clockwork was the precision engineering of choice. On a dark, snow swept night a cast of characters has gathered for food, company and to hear the latest tale from Fritz, the local storyteller, renowned for his ghost stories. Philip Pullman describes the scene with such exquisite detail that you can smell the spicy sausages, feel chilled to the bone as the inn door opens and detect the hairs on the back of your neck standing to attention as the tale of Prince Otto and his son Florian commences.

What follows is a marvellous gothic fairy-tale featuring Karl the lazy apprentice clockmaker; the sinister Dr Kalmenius, reputed to be “the cleverest man in Europe”, Sir Ironsoul, a lethal clockwork knight and kind-hearted Gretel, the innkeeper’s daughter.

The narrative ticks on as relentlessly as the second hand on the town clock, bringing each character in the story to their appointed final position. As it unwinds the reader will discover the importance of a warm, kind heart and that all actions have their consequences.

This particular edition of the book is beautifully illustrated throughout with black and white drawings by Peter Bailey which add greatly to the classic fairy-tale feel of the story. I also love the author’s comments which accompany the illustrations; Philip Pullman is the absolute master of his craft. Recommended for Key Stage 2, although if you are easily scared, wait until you are in Year 5 or 6 before reading.