The Screaming Staircase, by Jonathan Stroud, is set in a modern day London where ghosts stalk the night, and only children and teenagers can see them clearly. Our heroes Anthony Lockwood, Lucy Carlyle, and George Cubbins run a psychic detection agency. That is, they hunt and destroy ghosts. But unlike most other agencies, they don't have any adult supervisors. Since adults can't see or hear ghosts very well, Lockwood thinks they just get in the way. Lucy tends to agree, given her unpleasant past. George hates everyone equally.
We meet Lucy and Lockwood as they prepare to banish what they think is a routine ghost. The ghost, and the case itself, prove too hot to handle, and Lucy and Lockwood barely escape. Unfortunately, the Lockwood and Co. Psychic Detection Agnecy finds itself in some trouble with the law, and Lucy, Lockwood, and George are forced to take on a dangerous case in one of the most haunted houses in England. The last team that tried to clear the historic mansion of ghosts died; every last one of them.
I enjoyed all the action and adventure, as well as the smart mouth comedy in the face of creepy, deadly ghosts. Hope you will too!
Happy reading!
~ gothbrarian
