The Somnambulist by: Jonathan Barnes

Book four, of my 50 book challenge; and book one of my What's In a Name book challenge, is complete. This book was a surprise read for me in many ways -- it just wasn't what I was expecting -- but in a very good way! The book was one that I picked up on a whim, while I was looking for a new book to read. The language is surprisingly clean, for the most part -- and the story is very well written.
Written as a mystery -- the narrator is an interesting voice that adds an unusual appeal to the story throughout. Told as a mystery in late 19th, early 20th century England -- it explores some interesting ideas that carry significant perspectives on our world today. Cult mentality, mysticism, prejudice, and the power of the group on the world around it. The story is about a man that is a dark version of Sherlock Holmes, with an unusual sidekick -- known only as the somnambulist. Asked by a friend, a detective with the Scotland Yard, to investigate a seemingly random murder -- the trail leads to unexpected locations -- and investigation of unusual groups.
Guided by a psychic -- commonly held to be a hoax, an Albino who works for a tenuous secret government agency, and his ever faithful, mute companion -- commonly held to be a freak of nature -- the story is filled with an unusual cast of characters that add a strange combination of depth -- as well as the bizarre. This strange combination of people are striving to prevent the complete destruction of London as they know it. Aided by a man with a mysterious past -- who appears to move through time, and offer strange foretelling of both the past, and the future -- Edward Moon is confronted with the most unusual people in a web of deceit, and plotted destruction of society, in an attempt to set up the newest form of a utopia.
I would highly recommend this book for most readers. It is a fun, and unexpected read that kept me entertained beginning to end.