Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

Book 1

By: Jonathan Stroud

Narrated by: Miranda Raison

When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in . . .

For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions.

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive.

Set in a city stalked by spectres, The Screaming Staircase is the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts. Your nights will never be the same again . . .

Critic reviews

This story will keep you reading late into the night, but you'll want to leave the lights on. Stroud is a genius at inventing an utterly believable world which is very much like ours, but so creepily different. Put The Screaming Staircase on your 'need to read' list.

The book is genuinely spooky and suspenseful, with appealing characters and great dialogue, and all shot through with Stroud's dry wit.

A heartily satisfying string of entertaining near-catastrophes, replete with narrow squeaks and spectral howls

Stroud (the Bartimaeus series) shows his customary flair for blending deadpan humor with thrilling action, and the fiery interplay among the three agents of Lockwood & Co. invigorates the story (along with no shortage of creepy moments).

In a world overrun by evil spooks, can Paranormal Detection Agency Lockwood & Co do anything about the ghostly problems besetting London? Suspenseful, supernatural adventure.

One of those books you take with you to the bath . . . Packed with bloodcurdling spectral incident.

I have a particular terror of anything involving unfriendly ghosts and usually steer clear, but this one was just too tempting. Scare me it did, but the thrills were perfectly balanced by the intriguing plot twists and the humorous banter of the three main protagonists. It’s a little bit Sherlock Holmes, a little bit Skulduggery Pleasant, with a terrifying haunted house thrown in for good measure. You definitely won’t be disappointed

This was absolutely excellent. I loved the story, the amount of suspense and creepiness was exactly right to keep me reading page after page very quickly.

Stroud is one of the smartest and most talented writers around . . . Be prepared for lots of humour and some very creepy moments. You're going to be hooked.

It's a ripper! . . . With plentiful wit and good humour, more than a few chilling moments and, above all, refreshing creativity, Jonathan Stroud has constructed an energetic, fast paced narrative that trips nimbly back and forth from the present to the past as he first sketches and then deftly paints this fascinating landscape.

you get pulled in

I bought this book just to pass sometime . i got so attached the characters ! it had me wanting more. cool take on ghostbusting. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

EPIC IDEA AND AMAZING STORY! Wonderful reader too!

I loved the idea, and it was executed beautifully ^-^ great book for those who like a cool idea and fun story, not really scary, but can be creepy and have you on edge :P

Easy to get into can't wait for the next book.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Screaming Staircase to be better than the print version?

Have not read the printed version

What other book might you compare The Screaming Staircase to and why?

The Amulet of Samarkand. That book was easy to listen to and the characters were well formed and easy to digest. It was pure entertainment and very satisfying.

Which character – as performed by Miranda Raison – was your favorite?

Lucy Clarkson. She was natural and believable more so than Lockwood who was a distilation of Sherlock Holmes.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Well formed apart from the abiguous age of the protagonists. We are told they are young but they interact and comport themselves far above their age. Then we are treated to some scenes with a party and gluttonous comsuption of fizzy drink and donuts to convince us that they are immature. These odd moments smack of Boys own or Biggles stories (took me back to when I was a kid... in the 60's). This issue aside I can reccomend this as great entertainment and I forgive this little speed bump in the hope that as the characters are fleshed out more in future books, they will gain in strength. As a series this has great potential and the universe and setting is engaging and well thought out.

Excellent - For Adults and Kids

Lockwood and Co is a rare animal: a thoroughly enjoyable middle grade story that has the depth and interest to appeal to all ages, especially adults. Characters are nuanced, the plot intriguing, mysteries build upon mysteries, and there is an overall story arc that will take several books to slowly uncover. I was never interested in supernatural/ghost stories but this really does rise above the genre.

Story: For 50 years, ghosts have been a problem for England. Only the young can see/sense/fight them but the spectral visitors are returning in numbers - creating "The Problem" for modern England. Young Lucy is especially talented but an unfortunate incident has left her with no means of employment. She comes to Lockwood & Co hoping for a job fighting ghosts - but will get much more than she bargained for at the small agency.

I really appreciated that there was layer upon layer of intricacies within the plot. The whole supernatural situation is well constructed and the worldbuilding supreme. Imagine a Dickensian type of London but in a modern setting and you have a good idea of the setting. But in addition to the book-specific mystery that they solve (the Screaming Staircase), there are hints that each of the other characters have their own mysteries and skeletons in the closet. That means we have more than a 'monster of the week' plot and even more reason to anxiously await the next book. The hints are tantalizing and the books end with a very big reveal.

I've read the first two books in the series and they are both excellent - the foundation of the first book sets up more intrigue in the second. Characters are built upon from book to book and even side characters (rival agencies, government officials, etc.) are given depth and grow.

This was one of my favorite reads of the year. Note: I listened to the audible version and the narration was excellent.

Great spooky teens book

This book is a favourite of my teenage son and daughter. Funny, decent main characters (teens) great spooky atmosphere and witty dialogue.