Darkus's father, Bartholomew Cuttle, mysteriously disappears from a locked office at the Natural History Museum in London. The police are confused - how and where could the honored scientist disappear? The boy's life changes: he ends up in the house of his uncle Max, in a new school, where he makes friends, but most importantly, he gets Baxter, a huge black rhinoceros beetle, who - oh miracle! – understands him perfectly. Darcus intends to find his missing father at any cost. But his plans may be thwarted by the crazy genetic scientist Lucretia Cutter, who has conceived a terrible plan to destroy the world. A rapid whirlwind of mysterious events, detective investigation, stunning discoveries and exciting adventures - all this captivates the young reader into an amazing fantasy adventure world!