Honestly, the hardest part about talking to people who only watched the Netflix show is explaining that they missed the best parts. It’s a tragedy. I’m not just being a book snob here—the Lockwood and Co book series by Jonathan Stroud is a masterclass in world-building that the TV screen just couldn't quite squeeze into eight episodes.
If you’ve never heard of it, imagine a version of London where the 1960s didn't bring the Beatles and mini-skirts, but instead brought an epidemic of lethal ghosts. They call it "The Problem." In this world, adults are basically useless. They can’t see the spirits, they can’t hear them, and they definitely can’t fight them. Only kids and teenagers have the psychic "Talent" to detect the dead before they get "ghost-locked" (which is a fancy way of saying killed by a spectral touch).
It's a grim setup. But Stroud makes it feel weirdly cozy.
What the Lockwood and Co Book Series Actually Covers
The series is a tight five-book run. No filler. No endless sequels that lose the plot. You start with The Screaming Staircase and end with The Empty Grave. In between, you get a trilogy of escalating stakes: The Whispering Skull, The Hollow Boy, and The Creeping Shadow.
The story follows a tiny, independent agency run by Anthony Lockwood. He’s charismatic, a bit too reckless for his own good, and refuses to hire adult supervisors. Then you’ve got Lucy Carlyle, our narrator. She’s a "Listener" with massive psychic potential and a bit of a chip on her shoulder. Finally, there’s George Cubbins. In the books, he’s a slovenly, brilliant researcher who is obsessed with the "why" behind the ghosts.
Why does this specific Lockwood and Co book dynamic work so well? Because they aren't just hunting ghosts; they are trying to survive a corporate world where big agencies like Fittes and Rotwell treat kids like disposable tools.
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The Lore You Didn't Get on Screen
In the books, the "science" of ghost-hunting is way more detailed. Stroud treats his ghosts like a hard magic system. You’ve got Type Ones (stupid, repetitive spirits) and Type Ones (dangerous, sentient ones). Then there’s the rare Type Three—ghosts that can actually communicate.
The tools aren't just props. They are life and death:
- Iron: The standard defense. Ghosts hate it. Agencies use iron rapiers and chains.
- Silver: More expensive, more effective.
- Salt: Used for creating protective circles on the floor.
- Magnesium Flares: The "nuclear option" for when a ghost is about to manifest and kill everyone.
The books lean heavily into the sensory details. Lucy doesn't just "see" things. She hears the humming of a spirit, feels the "psychic miasma" that makes her skin crawl, and picks up on the "deathglows" left behind where someone died violently. It’s atmospheric as hell.
Why George Cubbins is the Secret Weapon
If you’ve only seen the show, you might think George is just the smart guy. In the Lockwood and Co book series, George is the heart of the agency’s rebellion. He doesn't just look up facts; he conducts dangerous experiments on a "Skull in a Jar."
This skull is a Type Three ghost that only Lucy can hear. It’s sarcastic, malicious, and constantly trying to trick the team into getting killed. In the books, the banter between Lucy and the Skull is some of the funniest writing in young adult fiction. It provides a cynical counterpoint to Lockwood’s dashing heroics.
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The Skull also knows things. It knows where the Problem came from. While the show touched on this, the books turn it into a massive, overarching conspiracy that goes all the way back to the founders of the first agencies, Marissa Fittes and Tom Rotwell.
Is It Too Scary for Kids?
Jonathan Stroud has this weird ability to write scenes that are genuinely terrifying for adults but "fun" scary for kids. I remember reading the scene in The Screaming Staircase where they are trapped in a red room while blood literally pours from the ceiling. It’s gruesome.
But it’s also grounded by the characters. No matter how dark it gets, they always go home to 35 Portland Row to eat doughnuts and drink tea. That balance is what makes the Lockwood and Co book series so addictive. You’re terrified for ten pages, and then you’re laughing at George’s terrible hygiene for the next five.
How to Read the Series (The Right Way)
You really shouldn't skip around. The mystery of Anthony Lockwood’s past—specifically what happened to his parents and what’s behind the "forbidden door" in his house—is dripped out slowly across all five novels.
- The Screaming Staircase: Introduces the world and the core trio. It’s basically a haunted house mystery on steroids.
- The Whispering Skull: This is where the world expands. We meet Quill Kipps, the rival agent, and the mystery of the "bone glass" starts.
- The Hollow Boy: Things get messy. A new character, Holly Munro, joins the agency, and Lucy gets jealous. It’s the most "teen drama" of the books, but it works.
- The Creeping Shadow: Lucy goes freelance. It’s a darker, more somber book that sets up the finale.
- The Empty Grave: The payoff. All the secrets about the Fittes agency and the origin of the ghosts come out.
Most people get wrong that this is "just for kids." It’s not. The themes of corporate greed, the exploitation of youth, and the trauma of losing friends in a dangerous job are heavy. Stroud doesn't pull his punches. Characters die. Mistakes have permanent consequences.
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The Actionable Insight: Where to Start
If you're looking to dive into the Lockwood and Co book world, don't just buy the first one. Get the first three. The story really hits its stride once the "Skull in a Jar" starts talking regularly to Lucy in book two.
Also, keep an eye out for the short story The Dagger in the Desk. It’s a smaller case that Stroud wrote with input from fans, and it captures the "day-to-day" grind of a ghost hunter perfectly.
Final Pro-Tips for New Readers:
- Pay attention to the footnotes. Just like in Stroud’s Bartimaeus Sequence, the world-building is often hidden in the "official" agency definitions and historical side-notes.
- Listen to the audiobooks. The narration for the Lockwood and Co book series is top-tier. Hearing the Skull's voice whispered in your ear makes the scary parts significantly more effective.
- Don't expect the TV show's ending. The show was cancelled before it could adapt the best books. If you want the real conclusion to the mystery of the "Problem," the books are your only way to get it.
Go find a copy of The Screaming Staircase. Read it at night with a cup of tea. Just make sure you’ve got some iron filings nearby—you know, just in case.
Next Steps for Readers:
Check your local library or independent bookstore for the 5-book box set. If you've already finished the series, look into Jonathan Stroud's earlier work, specifically The Amulet of Samarkand, to see where his signature wit originated.