As Hermux Tantamoq, the watchmaking mouse 聽 聽relaxes in a flannel shirt printed with pictures of cheeses from 聽around the 聽 world, he has a caged pet ladybug named Terfle, he writes 聽endearing thank-you 聽 letters to the universe each night, and he has a 聽big heart--a heart that aches 聽 for the fearless aviatrix Ms. Linka 聽Perflinger, who unexpectedly visits his shop 聽 requesting an emergency 聽rush repair of her wristwatch. Little does he know that 聽 this brief 聽rendezvous with the jaunty adventuress will change his life forever. 聽 聽When a week goes by without word from her, he doesn't know whether to be 聽worried 聽 or angry. He drafts a slightly unpleasant, then desperate, 聽then not-too-sweet, 聽 not-too-sour letter to her and awaits her 聽response. Nothing. Even nasty 聽 encounters with his neighbor (the 聽horribly garish and affected cosmetics tycoon 聽 Tucka Mertslin) and 聽pleasant interludes with his artist friend Mirrin don't 聽 distract him 聽from his new heart-quickening obsession.

His worst fears start to 聽cement when a yellow-eyed, thin-lipped, sharp-tongued 聽 rat comes to 聽his shop and says with a dreadful smile, "I've come for Linka 聽 聽Perflinger's watch." Hermux isn't about to fork over his beloved's watch 聽without 聽 a claim check, and ends up following the rat... all the way 聽to Linka's house! 聽 And, what's this? Is she being kidnapped? The plot 聽thickens as Hermux boldly 聽 enters her apartment (what has gotten into 聽him?) and discovers a mysterious 聽 letter from Teulabonari and an 聽overturned spicy-smelling plant. As he says to 聽 his ladybug that night, 聽"This is the beginning of a new career for me. Either as 聽 a detective 聽or a jailbird. Only time will tell. If it turns out to be the latter 聽 I 聽will be asking you for hints on decorating my cage." Soon he begins to 聽make a 聽 connection with these strange clues and the cosmetics mogul 聽Tucka, who pulls him 聽 into her scheme to create eternal youth in a 聽bottle (to be taken internally).

Suffice it to say that 聽gentle Hermux gets in way over his head with his 聽 detective work and 聽proceeds to have fur-raising encounters involving spies, 聽 thieves, 聽killers, betrayal, the Fountain of Youth, snakes, calliopes, and 聽 聽dramatic rescue attempts. Throughout it all, however, Hermux continues 聽to thank 聽 the world at large: "Thank you for corner grocers. For 聽sandwiches and honey 聽 fizz. For scary news and narrow escapes and 聽trolleys and shopping bags. Thank 聽 you for loyal pets and bold 聽adventurers (and adventuresses)." Readers will be 聽 disarmed by Hermux's 聽earnest, inquisitive nature and zeal for life--and 聽 thoroughly engaged 聽by the suspenseful action adventure. Highly recommended!