The Captain’s Log – the screaming staircase (Jonathan Stroud)

Ahoy there me mateys!  I absolutely loved the author’s Bartimaeus trilogy + 1.  I could gush about these books all day but I am on tight schedule so another day mehaps.  I hadn’t known about this series for some unknown and presumably silly reason so when NetGalley offered me the chance to read the first book I of course said Aye!!  It is listed as a middle-grade but bah!  I don’t put age limits on things.

This was the perfect read for the beginning of Spooktober.  Ghosts!  The story is set in England where several decades ago the Problem began.  Paranormal phenomenon became widespread.  The catch is that only children and young adults can see and deal with the unsavories.  Society has adapted and agencies have sprung up to deal with the problems.

Lucy Carlyle is one such ghost hunter.  She has traveled to London to find work at a new agency.  However her past is getting in the way and so she ends up working for a bottom of the barrel agency run by Lockwood.  It is an agency run by teens with no adult supervision.  Mistakes and chaos abound.  Lockwood & Co. mess up big time and discover an unsolved murder mystery case.  With the firm in peril, the agency gets a chance at redemption with one of the most haunted houses around.  Will they survive?

That was one of the items I liked best – that ye can learn from and improve upon past mistakes.  I also loved the relationships between the three ghost hunters, the wonderful atmospheric writing, the sophisticated world building, and the engrossing storyline.  I had to know what happened next.  While the murder mystery villain was extremely predictable I still had fun watching the case unfold.  And the haunted house was just plain awesome.  I actually got tingles.  I highly recommend this one for readers of any age.

Side note: Apparently the fifth and final book of this series was just released in September!  I think I may try to read the other four this month if I can track them down.  Challenge accepted!  ::brandishes cutlass::  Arrrr!

Check out me other crew members effusive reviews:

Bentley @ bookbastion

Hannah Greendale @ goodreads

The author’s website has this to say about the novel:

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

To visit the author’s website go to:

Jonathan Stroud – Author

To buy the book go to:

the screaming staircase – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for me honest musings.  Arrrrr!