LOCKWOOD AND CO: THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE

Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud, 2013

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

So let me admit this right off the bat---- I am a huge fan of this series! I discovered the books in 2023 shortly after watching the trailer for the Netflix series but decided to read the novels first to properly appreciate the source materials. It is unfortunate that the series got cancelled, but the fans are fortunate that Jonathan Stroud got to complete the book series, so the newer fans can read the stories to get some closure. (Even though there are some changes in the TV series). The book series ended up scratching a particular itch I never knew I had, as it was the perfect combination of a cozy horror story with an endearing found family dynamic, exciting whodunit and a slow-burn romance. I mean, what is there not to love? And 'The Screaming Staircase' kick-starts the journey with strong world-building and well-developed characters that become the pillars of the next four books in the series.

In this world, the ghost-hunting agencies are run by adults, but they employ children who get the work done by putting their lives in danger and neutralising the ghostly threats (or visitors, as they are called in the novel). But Lockwood & Co. is the underdog agency that doesn't get big opportunities, as it's the smallest agency in the country, run by a teenager, Anthony Lockwood. Armed with a strong sight, with a mysterious yet charming personality, he lead his team with charisma, confidence and passion. Narrated from the first person's POV, Lucy's journey is riddled with loss and trauma as the story establishes the horrors of living in this dystopian reality where children take charge to protect adults from ghosts. But joining Lockwood and Co changes the trajectory of her life as she hones her hearing and becomes part of the found family with Lockwood and George. George Cubbins is the brains of the agency who does all the research for every mission. He does not seem to get along with Lucy, but the novel clearly establishes that they respect each other.

While the action scenes were amazing, the whodunnit mystery could be easy to guess for a reader who's used to reading mystery novels. Regardless, the story did not disappoint in terms of character development, world building and establishing the central mystery that would be explored in future installments. The eerie tension also loomed throughout the story, heightening stakes. Despite the focus on hauntings, the story manages to serve some well-balanced humour. In fact, humour is the secret ingredient that becomes the heart of the story. And surprisingly, most of it comes from Lucy's narration as she navigates her new life at the Lockwood mansion. There is also something for the fans who are longing to read a good slow burn with Lockwood and Lucy's story. While Lockwood comes across as a warm person, he harbours some secrets of his own behind a mysterious locked door in his mansion. And Lucy is curious yet drawn to his charismatic and mysterious persona. The climax is the highlight of this book as Lockwood & Co. uncover the mystery of the screaming staircase in Combe Carey Hall, a place haunted by the most dangerous visitors in history!

Epic, mysterious and cozy, I would like to give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.