The Screaming Staircase

The Screaming Staircase, the first in a series called Lockwood & Co. is a must-read for older middle school students and young adults looking for a story filled with action, suspense, thrills and chills around the Halloween season.  Lucy Carlyle has been employed by Anthony Lockwood and his colleague George to eradicate family homes of the ghosts that wander around London and the surrounding countryside.  After narrowly escaping with their lives and in so doing, burn down a house, Lockwood & Co. must find a way to make a lot of money very quickly.  How convenient that they are asked to investigate Combe Carey Hall (most haunted house in England)… but they questions is, will they survive?

This story was fast-paced, exciting and definitely creepy in all the right places – perfect for Halloween!  This was a very interesting story because the setting was something mostly familiar with a new and different twist.  The setting is London, but for a number of years, ghosts, spirits and haunts have been wandering around the city, countryside and in people’s homes.  Enter the young people – they’re the only ones who have the abilities to see, hear, and take care of the ghosts.  I’m intrigued to read the next book in the series in the hopes of learning more of the background story of the ghosts and of the characters.  Little is said about Anthony Lockwood’s family (although you can infer a certain amount), the reader knows little of George’s background, and Lucy is battling her own demons while battling those in the team’s cases as well.

Jonathan Stroud is also the author of best-selling fantasy series, the Bartimaeus Books.  For more information about his work, check out his website!

Title: The Screaming Staircase
Author: Jonathan Stroud
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion Books
Publication Date: 2013
Page Number: 390 pgs.