The pulse-pounding second book in a gripping gothic trilogy, featuring monsters from classic literary tales, secret societies and the fight between good and evil.
After vanquishing the terrible creature that stalked the aisles of the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edgar Brim and his unusual crew of friends return to their mentor only to discover that he has been brutally murdered by an unknown assailant. The group go into hiding, Edgar desperate to protect his friends and family from what may be a second horrific creature torn from the pages of literature. Meanwhile, Edgar's guardian, Alfred Thorne, forces him to pursue a trade, and so Edgar begins working with his uncle, Doctor Vincent Brim, and a renowned vivisectionist, the brilliant yet mysterious Doctor Godwin. The more time Edgar spends in the company of Godwin, the more he begins to wonder about Godwin's motives. And time is running out for Edgar and his friends. A monstrous creature is chasing them, a beast seemingly impervious to Thorne's weaponry. Can Edgar Brim once again defy the horrors that pursue him, and protect those dearest to his heart?
I received this book from Early Reviewers at LibraryThing. Being the second book in a series, I borrowed the first one from the library and read it, just in case I found this one confusing or hard to follow. I needn't have worried as this one could stand alone, although it probably did help a little.
The story follows Edgar Brim and his friends as they descend into the world of Frankenstein. The action is mainly in London, but eventually ends up in the Arctic, via Orkney. The characters are well-written and the plot moves along fairly well. The book is filled with literary clues and pays homage to some of the classics and writers of the late 19th century. Even a young H.G. Wells makes an appearance at one point. The book could be a good way of introducing some of these classics to the younger reader, at whom this book is aimed.
Now that I've read the first two books in the Dark Missions series, I will definitely have to read the third instalment, as this one ended with many questions left unanswered.
