Sam Carnabie's parents have to go to a conference in Reading, so Sam will be staying with their friend, Professor Alexander Ampersand. Sam becomes quick friends with Professor Ampersand's niece and nephew: Zara and Ben. During his stay, an unexpected visitor, Professor Eric Gauntraker, arrives. He brings some terrible news: The evil Professor Murdo has returned!!! Professor Ampersand tells the kids the story of how he, Professor Gauntraker, Professor Murdo, and 4 other professors were going to teach at a university in Nordbergen- a tiny island in the far north. But, before the university was completed, the 6 professors learned that Professor Murdo was performing terrible and dangerous experiments! Now, Professor Murdo is back, and he's up to something. Before Professor Gauntraker is able to tell them more, they were attacked. The 5 professors are taken and held hostage. Luckily, Professor Gauntraker left the 3 children a clue on how to rescue them. Now Ben, Zara, and Sam are setting out on a mission filled with adventures that may not bring them back alive.