So, we’ve finally made it to the end. Not going to lie, this brings mixed emotions. I’m happy to have read these books, sad that it’s over, and still in denial that Netflix made the moronic decision to end the TV show after one season. And given the cancellation of Dead Boy Detectives, it’s hard to believe they’ll ever change their mind. But so long as there’s #SaveLockwoodAndCo and the #Locknation, there’s hope that maybe we’ll see our favourite characters on screen again.
Anyway, onto the book review. Just a heads-up, this is a review of book five of the series so if you haven’t read the books, I would close-down whatever you’re reading this on and find a copy of Lockwood & Co. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. Spoilers exist in this review!
As the name suggests, our favourite ghost hunting agency has decided the dramatics of their last adventure wasn’t enough to deter them from breaking into the Marrisa Fittes’s grave. After the Skull claimed that the founder of the largest ghost agency in London, the Fittes agency, was still alive, they needed to find out for themselves. What they find there sets them onto their biggest adventure yet.
What’s great about this book is that the band is back together. You might remember in book 4, The Creeping Shadow, Lucy Carlyle, the heroine of this series, had left the agency at Portland Row and was working as a contractor. But with them all back together, including Quill Kipps, it gives you that fuzzy feeling that this story will return to the characters’ banter bouncing ways, and they didn’t disappoint. I particularly enjoyed the insults exchanged between Kipps and George Cubbins.
Being the last book, Stroud finally reveals aspects of the characters that we’ve all been waiting for and throws in some surprises as well. Does the Skull really care for Lucy or is he as whimsically indifferent towards her as he’d like people to believe? Does he really wish death upon her friends? Do Lockwood and Lucy finally get together? And what’s the situation between George and Flo? Some of these questions are confirmed and others are hinted at, but I feel like Stroud left us with some satisfying conclusions.
I feel what is revealed about Holly to be very interesting, whilst brief. You might remember in The Hallow Boy, Lucy felt insecure by Holly’s presence, and it was hinted this was because Lucy thought Anthony might be more interested in Holly than her. We find out in this book that Lucy really didn’t have anything to worry about.
“You must know there are other possibilities in this world.” Holly had said to Lucy. Later in the book it was noted why Holly didn’t want to live with the rest at 35 Portland Row. “Did you know she’s got a flat mate? A girl who works at DEPRAC. That was news to me,” Lockwood had said about Holly’s living arrangements. Does this mean Holly is a member of the LGBTQ+ community? Perhaps, but one thing is for sure, it doesn’t appear that Holly had ever been interested romantically in Anthony Lockwood.
We couldn’t review this book without mentioning George Cubbins, AKA the Sam to Lockwood’s Frodo. It is very difficult to dislike this guy. His candour turns to bravery when standing up to one of Stroud’s most despicable villains, Sir Rupert Gale, which unfortunately for him leads to almost deadly circumstances.
Whilst the characters are incredibly engaging and likable, Stroud’s world-building is equally as impressive. If you thought Lockwood and Lucy’s previous venture into the world of the dead in book 4 would be the last, you’d be wrong. Circumstances thrust the whole team into the other side, and it is there that secrets are revealed as to how the problem had come about all those years ago. Stroud creates a world so harsh, it felt like the team’s trip through the otherworld was like climbing Mount Everest with nothing more than a gilet.
As I said before, these books are mysteries, so I won’t delve too much into this. But the revelations in this book makes for hugely satisfying outcomes which not only tie up aspects of the book’s plot, but the series too.
The making of a good series is one you’re sad to leave. I loved the characters, the world-building, and the magic systems. I think these books should have been huge. They are big of course, but I think they should’ve been Harry Potter big, and maybe one day they will be. Hopefully if Netflix doesn’t give this story another chance, someone else will, and we’ll finally get the justice for these characters that we all deserve.
So, until then, I’ll end this review with the hash tag #SaveLockwoodAndCo.
MARK KIELTY 