Barnaby Grimes: Phantom of Blood Alley - Hardcover

Paul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers, most notably the bestselling Edge Chronicles and the Far-Flung Adventures. He lives in Bristol, England.

Chris Riddell, co-creator of the Edge Chronicles and the Far-Flung Adventures, is an award-winning illustrator and political cartoonist. He lives with his family in Bristol, England.

In this fourth Barnaby Grimes book, the starring character is a “tick-tock lad” who delivers messages illegally through rooftop runs that give him a unique perspective on a fantastical version of Victorian London. Barnaby is also something of a sleuth, and to absolve a client of her brother’s mysterious murder, he must navigate a motley milieu of aristocrats, servants, police, scholars, and artists. The case ultimately hinges on a chemical mixture for developing photographs; the brew’s side effects include both invisibility and psychological transformations reminiscent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stewart and Riddell’s play on the predictable conventions of gothic melodrama will probably go over the heads of young readers, but that will not diminish their enjoyment of the story. Whimsical touches such as the introduction of a protoskateboard by Barnaby’s friend Will Farmer will add to the appeal. Barnaby Grimes fans will enjoy this latest adventure in the series. Grades 4-6. --Miriam Aronin