Jinks never ceases to amaze me ; she always comes up with the goods. She must be a consummate researcher and study of the human character to write such unusual, thought-provoking and entertaining stories. This is no different. Theophilus Grey or Philo is a link boy ( someone who lights the dark streets for gentlemen late at night by carrying a torch and accompanying them home) in 19th century London. Rescued from the streets by Garnet Hooke, it is his job to lead a small gang of other link boys in not only their principal job but also in collecting information. In other words, 12 year old Phil and his gang know who lives where, who is up to no good and notice anything that is unusual in their neighbourhood. This information is then passed on to Garnet Hooke who writes it up for the local magistrate to help keep the (relative) peace.
One night, while Philo escorts a surgeon by the name of Dr Paxton and they stumble across a local thief completely comatose in a dark alley with not a mark on him. This is the first of many to be afflicted by this strange ailment, and, with rumours abounding of an evil spirit at work, Philo charges all this boys to keep a sharp eye out for anything that could be connected. Is it an evil spirit (called a spriggan) as there have been sightings of a huge faceless, hairy creature or is it connected to the sudden increase in robberies in Philo's part of London?
Wonderful characters and the setting of the dirty,smelly and generally sordid streets of 19th century London is captured so well here. I was enthralled by Philo's world and the lives of those around him. I have marked this as a 9-10 book however, as the language in it is quite difficult as Jinks uses an abundance of old slang to describe what is happening. (There is a glossary at the end). Even a seasoned reader like myself stumbled over a couple of the terms and I believe only older readers would have the fortitude to continue...younger readers might give up as so many of the words and expressions were unfamiliar. I will give this to two of my best younger readers ( one Year 6 and one Year 7 to test this theory and perhaps amend my thoughts accordingly. ( )