But where Moon has a few things hidden from the reader that are eventually revealed, his companion -- the Somnambulist -- remains an enigma. He’s a large, strong man who can’t speak but does communicate through a portable chalkboard he carries with him. He also has the peculiar ability of being able to become a veritable pincushion for swords that Moon thrusts through him in their magic act, and for enemies that battle him. He’s got an unexplained fetish for milk.

Together, these two form our crime-fighting duo for the novel. In the beginning, Moon is vaguely interested in the murder of Cyril Honeyman. At first, Honeyman’s death is believed to be a suicide. But Moon believes it’s murder.

I really liked the mystery set-up and the way that Moon and the Somnambulist were first brought into the plot - whereupon attempts were made to scare them off, prompting their efforts to force their way back in again. All the while the police were buzzing around trying to figure out what Moon knew. I enjoyed the familiar romp a lot.

Then about halfway through the novel, The Somnambulist takes a hard right turn into the Twlight Zone – without the warning signpost up ahead. I felt like Wile E. Coyote when he goes out over that empty canyon after the Road Runner. I’d been poking along with the novel at that point, simply enjoying the well-written read. Then the thing turned out to not quite be as simple as I’d believed.

I can’t tell you any more. You’ll have to read it to see where and to what lengths Barnes’s fertile mind takes you. However, I recommend the read whole-heartedly. Besides the quirky characters, some tantalizing mystery reveals, and a huge backstory, Barnes offers a wonderful view of Victorian London. The city comes to life on every page.

Barnes crafted a compelling read and characters with this first novel. I can’t wait to see where he takes his readers next. I’m going to be one of them.