The Screaming Staircase
Jonathan Stroud, author of the internationally bestselling Bartimaeus books, launches a brand new series of supernatural thrillers about three teen members of a Psychic Detection Agency who are battling an epidemic of ghosts in London.
A sinister Problem has occurred in London: all nature of ghosts, haunts, spirits, and specters are appearing throughout the city, and they
aren't exactly friendly. Only young people have the psychic abilities
required to see — and eradicate — these supernatural foes. Many different
Psychic Detection Agencies have cropped up to handle the dangerous work, and they are in fierce competition for business.
In The Screaming Staircase, the plucky and talented Lucy Carlyle teams up with Anthony Lockwood,
the charismatic leader of Lockwood & Co, a small agency that runs
independent of any adult supervision. After an assignment leads to both a grisly discovery and a disastrous end, Lucy, Anthony, and
their sarcastic colleague, George, are forced to take part in the
perilous investigation of Combe Carey Hall, one of the most haunted
houses in England. Will Lockwood & Co. survive the Hall’s legendary
Screaming Staircase and Red Room to see another day?
Readers who enjoyed the action, suspense, and humor in Jonathan Stroud's internationally best-selling Bartimaeus books will be delighted to find the same ingredients, combined with deliciously creepy scares, in his thrilling and chilling Lockwood & Co. series.
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Jonathan Stroud
Long before ghost-fighting teens roamed the streets of London with iron chains and salt bombs, Jonathan Stroud was already imagining hidden worlds tucked behind the edges of our own. Known for his sharp wit, atmospheric storytelling, and talent for building fantastical universes with a modern edge, Stroud has carved a distinctive path through the landscape of children's and young adult fantasy.
Raised in Bedford, England, Stroud spent his childhood devouring myths and legends, a fascination that would later bloom into stories teeming with ancient magic, restless spirits, and clever young protagonists who don’t always follow the rules. His breakout success came with The Bartimaeus Sequence—a richly layered fantasy set in an alternate London where magicians hold sway, demons serve under duress, and the line between hero and villain is always in flux. Stroud’s gift lies in balancing dark themes with biting humor, especially through the voice of Bartimaeus, a sarcastic djinni whose footnotes alone could carry a novel.
Lockwood & Co.
Lockwood & Co. consists of four books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
