Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase is a spooky supernatural mystery thriller that introduces the reader to a dangerous alternate version of London. In this version of London, ghosts rule the night as unpredictable and deadly creatures, killing people with their power called “ghost touch,” which promises a cruel death to the victim. Only children have the ability to see and stop the ravaging ghosts.
The mysterious ghost activity is known as “The Problem”, and children with unique powers, brought together by ghost hunting agencies, are hired to find the source and remove it, taking it in to study or destroy. The protagonist, a girl named Lucy Carlyle, leaves her past ghost-hunting agency after going on a mission that traumatized her. She then finds a different agency named Lockwood & Co. and meets her new partners, the only other people in the organization, Anthony Lockwood and George Cubbins. Anthony Lockwood, who was most commonly called Lockwood, was the leader of the company and extremely ambitious. George was the main researcher. Together, they take on cases given to them by clients. After one of their cases goes wrong, they get assigned a dangerous haunting at Combe Carey Hall, which holds the infamous Screaming Staircase and Red Room.
One of the biggest strengths of the book is the creepy world Jonathan Stroud designed. He can make the reader feel like they are right there in action, following along with the plot inside the book. Each detail he includes will either send shivers up your spine or make you break out laughing. Another strength is the plot. It is so carefully planned with every action tied together. One detail might make the reader wonder why it was included, but once the book is finished, the detail immediately clicks.
A weakness in the book is the pacing. A lot of the book is formed by action, hooking the reader, but other times, the book isn’t that interesting. For example, when they were studying or talking, it wasn’t interesting, and some readers might get bored and put down the book.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like mysteries, creepy plots, and thrillers.
