After finding the truth concerning the mysteries of Noah's Ark proves to be more trouble than it was worth, Victorian scientists and adventurers Felix Einstein and Lord Carstairs move onto more serious matters. It would appear that the world could be ending based on the climatic chaos that has reached a global scale.

When the two intrepid gents learn that a secret cult attempting to bring the squid god back into the world and that is why mute animals now can sing, dogs howl at the sun and the snow has turned blue, they know they must stop it. Leaving Einstein's valiant niece Mary and their cook, Katrina, in charge, the two friends take off on a globe trotting adventure that moves from the hidden broom closets of the Vatican to the Flying Dutchman to the Bermuda Triangle before coming to a violent, and hilarious climax in London.

If you enjoy Robert Asprin's Myth novels or Piers Anthony's Xanth tales, then give this a shot. The scene on the Dutchman alone makes it worth your time.

It is a dark and misty night in London and Professor Felix Einstein has just arrived at the London Explorers Club. A few minutes later Lord Benjamin Carstairs arrives carrying a small wooden ship. Following a small mishap involving an indoor fountain and a lot of broken wood the two explorers leave the club, secretly watched by a group of mysterious cloaked men.

Soon the two adventurers begin to discuss a strange phenomenon that is taking place. The moon is slowly revolving to reveal its hidden face. As a result the world is being plagued by unseasonable weather. Professor Einstein wonders if the movement of the moon could be related to the mythology of an ancient race, the Duterian Empire as an ancient Duterian artefact indicates that the turning of the moon ushers in the returning Squid God.

Soon Einstein and Carstairs find themselves in the middle of a fantastic adventure. Pursued by disciples of the Squid God they fight a desperate battle to save the world before the time of the god's return. However, while the adventurers are away, who will save London from the rampaging "squiddies"?

At first this story reads like a classic Victorian melodrama, rather reminiscent of a Sherlock Holmes tale. However within a page or so it develops into a unique fantasy/comedy with a style of it's very own.

The main characters are larger than life and brighter than technicolour. Professor Felix Einstein reads like an ageing Indiana Jones with less philanthropic tendencies. Einstein thinks nothing of breaking into the Vatican to steal an artefact or acquiring other priceless relics via less than reputable sources. Lord Carstairs is a boys-own hero. You can see his square jaw aneetred stiff upper lip clearly between the lines of the story.

The story is truly fantastic (in both senses). It is necessary to take a step out of reality and accept certain things as fact, especially when learning of the artefacts held in Professor Einstein's museum.

I found the whole novel utterly compelling. It was nigh on impossible to put the book down despite being in desperate need of sleep. In fact Steve must have grown totally sick of me digging him in the ribs just to read another section from the story.

As an English woman I especially enjoyed the over-the-top characterisations of the Victorian gentry, in particular the Explorers Club's Ladies Auxiliary. This group of ladies show what makes an English gentlewoman – the ability to provide cups of tea, buttered crumpets and muffins whilst taking pot-shots at the enemy with an elephant gun and debating the various uses of barbed wire (don't ask me for more details – just read the book and you will understand).

All in all this is a hell of a story. Funny, compelling and an absolute pleasure to read. The finest comedy/fantasy I have read this year.