The Screaming Staircase - Spooky Innit?

A shot of my copy’s cover for reference.

The Scream Staircase, the first in the Lockwood & Co. books, is excellent. Penned by Johnathan Stroud, it takes us along a paranormal journey much in line with Riordan’s style of books. Having loved and still loving Rick Riordan’s work, I had to give these a shot (as Riordan recommends them and my partner said this book would be interesting).

We follow young Lucy Carlyle as she joins up with a small ghost hunting group, the aforementioned Lockwood and Co., helmed by Anthony Lockwood and his friend George Cubbins.

See, in this world, London and the greater areas have experienced a major Problem with a capital P: ghosts of all varieties and kinds are surging up from London’s bowels and in some cases adding the living to their numbers.

Psychic abilities are real, but the only ones with any notable power or prowess are children. Adults’ senses dull and blur and as a result they can’t be trusted to skillfully deal with the spirits springing up all over. And so, Lucy and her misfit gang are here! These three disparate kids must solve cases, using whatever tools they have (iron, salt, flares) to survive the nightly horrors London has to offer.

It’s a great book, full of twists and turns and perils of all kinds. I’m excited to see where the series goes, and I highly recommend you read The Screaming Staircase as well.