The Captain’s Log – the whispering skull (Jonathan Stroud)

Ahoy there me mateys!  Day two with book two of the Lockwood & Co. series completed.  Challenge is going well so far.  Arrr!  If ye haven’t read the first book in this series, the screaming staircase, then ye might want to skip this post and go read the first book.  Worth the read.  If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . . . . .

It was absolutely wonderful to get back to Lucy Carlyle and the rest of the agency run by Lockwood.  The gang survived the big first adventure (cause this is book two – duh!) and about six months or so have passed.  The slightly bumbling but lovable trio has had a slew of successful if mildly routine cases.  Then they are hired for what should be more of the same.  But of course everything goes wrong.  A Victorian artifact goes missing and the bureaucratic government agency wants it found at all costs.  And if things weren’t bad enough, Lucy’s powers are strengthening and a skull is talking to her.  Can the Lockwood agency solve the case?  Will the voices drive Lucy insane?

I loved this book too and read it in one sitting.  The highlights continue to be the relationships and banter between Lockwood, Lucy, and George.  The world building continues to entertain too.  This mystery, must like the one in the first book, I mostly solved early on but there were details in the who-dunnit that I did miss.  This didn’t bother me in book one and certainly didn’t bother me in this one.  I just liked being present for the ride.  We get a couple new characters in this novel that I loved and growth in some of the characters in the previous book.  I also love the rivalry between the two agencies fighting to solve the case first.  I know that’s not a lot of plot information but I certainly don’t want to spoil this story.  This book did not feel as spooky as book one but I enjoyed it almost as much.

Just pick up a copy and experience the novel for yerself.  I am looking forward to attempting the third book tonight!  Arrrrr!

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

Ghosts and ghouls beware! The smallest, shabbiest, most talented psychic detection agency is back.

Life is never exactly peaceful for Lockwood and Co. Lucy and George are trying to solve the mystery of the talking skull trapped in their ghost-jar, while Lockwood is desperate for an exciting new case.

Things seem to be looking up when the team is called to Kensal Green Cemetery to investigate the grave of a sinister Victorian doctor. Strange apparitions have been seen there, and the site must be made safe. As usual, Lockwood is confident; as usual, everything goes wrong – a terrible phantom is freed, and a dangerous object is stolen from the coffin.

Lockwood & Co. must recover the relic before its power is unleashed, but it’s a race against time. Their obnoxious rivals from the Fittes agency are also on the hunt. And if that’s not bad enough, the skull in the ghost-jar is stirring again.

The Whispering Skull is the second installment in the chilling and humorous Lockwood & Co. series.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Jonathan Stroud – Author

To buy the book go to:

the whispering skull – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

the screaming staircase (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy e-Arc)