So, I think at this point, on book 4, I’m going delve into some aspects of this story which may reveal key elements of the prequels so if you haven’t read these books, then perhaps stop reading this review now. At the very least, I will be discussing things which may not have much context if you haven’t read the other books so do yourself a massive favour and start with book one.
The book begins with Lucy Carlyle and she’s out on her own, completing contract work with various other agencies. It’s sad, not where we want to see our heroine, and we are sorely missing the banter between her and the rest of the Portland Row crew.
Stroud has us wishing things were back to the way they were, mourning the ways of old. This is not a bad thing. It actually helps us appreciate the prequals and the adventures that went before. It makes us urge any chance of reconciliation between Lucy and Lockwood & Co. and Stroud teases us when Anthony Lockwood arrives at Lucy’s home to hire her as a contractor, which we all know just isn’t the same.
I’ve said before that these books are mysteries and Stroud ramps this up ten-fold. One mystery leads to another, and they get larger and larger until the end leaves us hanging with the most shocking mystery of all. Stroud has been expertly dropping seeds throughout all the books so far for us to truly appreciate this.
I think the best part of these books is of course the characters. It’s the characters that have attracted the droves of fans who desperately want to see them return to the small screen. The banter and their little mannerisms are what makes these characters feel real. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between George and Kipps. The witty and sharp insults between the pair demonstrates Stroud’s drole writing style and offers some comedic relief among the monstrous ghosts.
Speaking of sharp insults, I reckon Skull could overtake George as the people’s champion of characters and he plays an integral part in this story. In fact, you’ll have a new appreciation for Skull by the end of this book.
This book delves even further into the two largest, rivalling agencies, the Rotwell Agency and the Fittes Agency which is basically like Google versus Amazon of the ghost hunting world while Lockwood & Co. is two nerds in their underpants running a Mastodon instance. (And anyone who knows Mastodon would know that the two nerds are probably the most competent of them all). Two agencies, each hiding enormous secrets that Anthony Lockwood is determined to uncover, equals a promising adventure.
I really loved this book. People see it as a go-between the third book and fifth, but I feel it has set up the finale perfectly.
MARK KIELTY 