Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase – Jonathan Stroud

The Screaming Staircase is the first of the Lockwood & Co series by Jonathan Stroud. It was recommended to me by a friend as an all-time favourite series. Although not my genre – as with other ‘other-world’ encounter books I’ve read, this one was a good mystery story which is something I do enjoy. It was a fairly quick and easy read – a long-haul day-time flight allowing the book to be read in one sitting.
What was rather fascinating with The Screaming Staircase is the emphasis on the young age of the hunters, suggesting that adults close their mind to outer or other experiences as they don’t fit the narrative. Another strong message that came through was the idea of team work and individuals having their own specific strengths. That the young people were able to identify this and accept it showed a maturity which I’m not sure many of that age have. On reflection though, it’s not much different to Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven, or Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys. There have always been exceptional young people with determination to solve riddles. It shows what can be achieved.
Another stand out for me was the restlessness of spirits – the yearning even in death for justice to be had. And the exploitation of such situations by unscrupulous live beings.
While I enjoyed the read, I think I prefer the Ben Aaronovich The Rivers of London series – covering similar themes – as the settings are more familiar adding an extra layer of interest to the tale.

Books by TSL authors involving ghosts: