Twenty-Third Avenue Books's review
The Somnambulist
by Jonathan Barnes
Twenty-Third Avenue Books's review
The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes
Twenty-Third Avenue Books's review
rating:
This is Jonathan Barnes’ first novel. Set in Victorian London, the story centers around a man named Edward Moon, a has-been conjurer. He has a mute side-kick named The Somnambulist. The mystery of the story is why two unrelated men have each fallen to their deaths.
In the course of the story we are introduced to a wide array of vivid characters, each with their own quirkiness. I will never forget some, such as the Prefects! :-)
I don’t understand why the book is titled “The Somnambulist”. It is only slightly about him. I’ve never read a book before that has had so many unique characters! It was intriguing to think that any or all of them could be the key to the original murders.
If you like 19th century London, mystery, strange characters, and intrigue, you will love this book. The story is dark. It is odd. It is compelling. I stayed up half the night finishing it! Although it didn’t surpass “The Meaning of Night” (my favorite book of 2006, now in paperback!...more
In the course of the story we are introduced to a wide array of vivid characters, each with their own quirkiness. I will never forget some, such as the Prefects! :-)
I don’t understand why the book is titled “The Somnambulist”. It is only slightly about him. I’ve never read a book before that has had so many unique characters! It was intriguing to think that any or all of them could be the key to the original murders.
If you like 19th century London, mystery, strange characters, and intrigue, you will love this book. The story is dark. It is odd. It is compelling. I stayed up half the night finishing it! Although it didn’t surpass “The Meaning of Night” (my favorite book of 2006, now in paperback!...more
