In Victorian England Grubb, an orphan about twelve years old, escapes his life of drudgery as a chimney sweep's apprentice and finds himself in a very strange house filled with magical objects and creatures, but soon he learns that there are dark forces seeking his new master.

A former drama professor, Gregory Funaro lives with his family outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is busy working on the next book in the Odditorium seriees.