The Strange Adventures of Mr. Middleton

On a storm‑laden night in early twentieth‑century Chicago, a recently turned‑23 young man named Edward Middleton hurries along Clark Street, worrying about a wet suit he hopes to change for a wedding. He ducks into a dim, fragrant shop just as the rain turns into a deluge. Inside, the darkness is broken by an unexpected, thunderous greeting in an unfamiliar language.

From the doorway emerges a towering figure who welcomes Middleton with a deep, resonant “Salaam aleikoom.” He is followed by a handsome, pipe‑smoking young man in lavish Oriental dress and a flamboyantly dressed blackamoor bearing glittering weapons. Their warm yet imposing hospitality compels Middleton to set aside his plans, as they offer to carry his garments and invite him into a world of exotic customs, hidden motives, and a looming mystery that promises to upend his ordinary life.