Barnaby Grimes

Lore & Background

Barnaby Grimes works as a Tic-tock lad, a specialized messenger who traverses the rooftops of a large, unnamed city to make very fast deliveries. The city features distinct neighborhoods such as Hartley Square, an exclusive area of medical practices; the Wasps' Nest, a decaying slum of thieves and killers; and Riverhythe, the main port. The series is narrated by Grimes from a later perspective, and he often references other adventures during lulls in the current story.

Reader's Guide

The Barnaby Grimes series, created by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, follows a formula of mystery leading to a supernatural horror twist. The setting is a fictional city with a clear rich/poor divide, opulent East and poor West, and the time period is late Georgian England, confirmed by early photography experiments in Phantom of Blood Alley. The series includes four books: Curse of the Night Wolf (2007), Return of the Emerald Skull (2008), Legion of the Dead (2008), and Phantom of Blood Alley (2009). Key supporting characters include Will Farmer, an apprentice Tic-tock lad; Tom Flint, a legendary highstacker who taught Grimes; and Professor Pinkerton-Barnes, an eccentric zoologist who appears in every book. The series is significant for its unique narrative style and integration of historical slang and supernatural elements.

Did You Know?

• Barnaby Grimes is a 'Tic-tock lad,' a courier who takes the most direct route over rooftops.
• The city in the series is never named but includes neighborhoods like Hartley Square and the Wasps' Nest.
• Professor Pinkerton-Barnes, known as 'PB,' is the only supporting character to appear in every book.
• The series is set in a late Georgian era, with early photography experiments central to Phantom of Blood Alley.