Jonathan Stroud has succeeded in awesome worldbuilding and character depth in his six-part ghost-hunting series Lockwood & Co.. As the author says in his foreword, he wanted the fight between the living and the dead to be fair. Instead of the ghosts having all the power over unlucky individuals, they have weaknesses as well. But that doesn’t stop the “epidemic” of ghosts all over Britan being dangerous. Angencies have set themselves up for hire to help stop The Problem. The smallest of which is Lockwood & Co., with only three members, all children.
“Of the first few hauntings I investigated with Lockwood & Co. I intend to say little, in part to protect the identity of the victims, in part because of the gruesome nature of the incidents, but mainly because, in a variety of ingenious ways, we succeeded in messing them all up.”
– Jonathan Stroud, The Screaming Staircase
When Lucy joins the agency, bringing with her talents of Listening and Touch, all her abilities will prove invaluable to the Fairfax case, including rapier fighting, salt-bomb and flare throwing accuracy, and knowledge of ectoplasmic beings. She has her friends: Anthony Lockwood, owner of Lockwood & Co. and quick-witted, rapier master, and George Cubbins, unhygienic but an amazing researcher.
When a rich man by the name of Fairfax approaches this less-than-reputable company for their services, Lockwood immediately suspects foul play. In the task of outing ghosts, they uncover secrets hidden deep and nearly get killed.
With a unique, sarcastic and witty style, and a plot to give you nighmares, I recommend The Screaming Staircase for everyone to read. It truly deserves a 5 out of 5.