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

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

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