Bruce Cargo, a scientist at the British Geological Survey, is stunned when he discovers a journal purportedly written by Charles Darwin. But is the fantastical story it contains real, or is the journal just a hoax?
Bruce and his girlfriend Luna set out to determine the journal's authenticity, but as soon as they begin, someone-or some thing-kills the Darwin expert they have just consulted and ransacks Luna's apartment. A witness claims a "flying monster" was responsible, but the police are incredulous.
Meanwhile, Lily (Barnum's Angel) in flashbacks to 1882, searches for a series of journals penned by Darwin that she hopes will help her find her brother-and deal with him when she does.
Now, more than a century later, Lily is well aware that the monster is her brother, Jamie. So as Bruce and the police pursue him, unknown to them, so does she.