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Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

Book 1

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Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase

By: Jonathan Stroud
Narrated by: Miranda Raison
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About this listen

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 . . .

 Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Literature & Fiction Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Paranormal Science Fiction & Fantasy Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fantasy Haunted Fiction England Exciting

Critic Reviews

This story will keep you reading late into the night, but you'll want to leave the lights on. Stroud is a genius at inventing an utterly believable world which is very much like ours, but so creepily different. Put The Screaming Staircase on your 'need to read' list.
The book is genuinely spooky and suspenseful, with appealing characters and great dialogue, and all shot through with Stroud's dry wit.
A heartily satisfying string of entertaining near-catastrophes, replete with narrow squeaks and spectral howls
Stroud (the Bartimaeus series) shows his customary flair for blending deadpan humor with thrilling action, and the fiery interplay among the three agents of Lockwood & Co. invigorates the story (along with no shortage of creepy moments).
In a world overrun by evil spooks, can Paranormal Detection Agency Lockwood & Co do anything about the ghostly problems besetting London? Suspenseful, supernatural adventure.
One of those books you take with you to the bath . . . Packed with bloodcurdling spectral incident.
I have a particular terror of anything involving unfriendly ghosts and usually steer clear, but this one was just too tempting. Scare me it did, but the thrills were perfectly balanced by the intriguing plot twists and the humorous banter of the three main protagonists. It’s a little bit Sherlock Holmes, a little bit Skulduggery Pleasant, with a terrifying haunted house thrown in for good measure. You definitely won’t be disappointed
This was absolutely excellent. I loved the story, the amount of suspense and creepiness was exactly right to keep me reading page after page very quickly.
Stroud is one of the smartest and most talented writers around . . . Be prepared for lots of humour and some very creepy moments. You're going to be hooked.
It's a ripper! . . . With plentiful wit and good humour, more than a few chilling moments and, above all, refreshing creativity, Jonathan Stroud has constructed an energetic, fast paced narrative that trips nimbly back and forth from the present to the past as he first sketches and then deftly paints this fascinating landscape.
All stars
Most relevant
I remembered partially reading this book when in primary school and years later I desperately wished to find it again and finish the read. I wasn’t disappointed to find my memory quite correct. The story is a page turner, the mystery one you can kind of solve along the way but the kind you’d be happy to just sit back and enjoy the unraveling of. The main characters have a young yet witty charm I adore about them and overall it was just a good read. 10/10

Wonderful

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what an amazing story! a hidden gem! so engaging, with great characters and fantastic dialogues. Loved it from start to finish!

lockwood & co book 1

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The atmosphere and quality storytelling made it frustratingly hard to put away. I am definitively listening to the rest of this series.

Very captivating story!

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Full of cute English words and culture amidst some terrifying horror. Absolutely loved this book and the reader was phenomenal.

Such a delight!

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Exciting, moving, funny, unexpected and satisfying sum up my opinion of this first instalment of Stroud’s latest series.

Stroud has crafted a rich and complex world filled with great heroes, evil villains and a story that is the perfect launch pad for this diverse cast of characters.

They are terrifically diverse group and are wonderfully portrayed by excellent narration.

These books are not only for children, and I can assure any adult reader who perhaps enjoyed Harry Potter and the like will find this series very, very entertaining and satisfying.

Do yourself a favour and dive in!

Not just for children, exciting, funny & entertaining

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