Alistair Grim’s Odditorium

Grubb is a poor chimney sweep who lives with his overbearing caretaker until, one day, he stows away in a rich visitor’s chest of clothes. When Grubb is discovered, he finds himself in a magnificent building called the Odditorium. The owner, Alistair Grim, agrees to house Grubb in return for help running the place. Grubb is excited to have his new job; this signifies the start of a new life for him, where he can be safe, clean, and, most importantly, well fed. But while helping to pass out papers for an Odditorium display, Grubb accidentally sets of a chain of events that can kill them all, because the evil Lord Nightshade is now notified of their position, and will stop at nothing to capture Alistair Grim and use his Odditorium for his nefarious purposes.

Grubb was a likeable and sympathetic orphan, whose changes of fate and mistakes enliven and brighten this story set in Victorian London. The plot moved very quickly, and the surprise ending was very satisfying. This was a lovely beginning to a planned series I can hardly wait to continue reading.