Book Review / The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

I'm starting to think ghosts are the new "paranormal trend" in tween & YA lit...move over vampires and werewolves!  However, that's not necessarily a bad thing; between Shadow Breakers by Daniel Blythe and The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud (set for publication September 17th) as well as this title on my to-read shelf, it's looking like there are some seriously good books coming out this fall!

A dark and dangerous Problem has occurred in London: ghosts, specters, and spirits are appearing all over the city and no one seems to know why. However, kids are the only ones who are able to see these unfriendly Visitors.  As a result, physic detective agencies employing young people as "ghost hunters" have sprung up all over city to help deal with the Problem.

Jonathan Stroud's new series follows the talented and ambitious Lucy Carlyle as she joins an up & coming young agency called Lockwood & Co. Run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood and his rather dumpy colleague George, Lockwood & Co is run without any adult supervision and as Lucy discovers, is trying desperately to create a legitimate reputation in the ghost hunting business.  After a disastrous and almost deadly job however, Lockwood & Co finds itself facing bankruptcy & closure. Fortunately, a mysterious benefactor offers them a job: survive one night in the most haunted estate in England and the future of their business is secure.  However, things, as usual, are not what they seem and the three intrepid ghost hunters will have to fight for justice, the future of their business, and their very lives before the night is out.

The Screaming Staircase is a wonderfully well-written paranormal fantasy for young adults.  Normally, I'm not a huge fan of scary stories & movies but Stroud's novel was just creepy enough to keep me interested and was balanced out with a healthy dose of humor.  The main premise of the Problem that's pervading London is mysterious & intriguing rather than off-putting, giving readers a sense of a much bigger set of events driving the immediate plot lines.

The characters were probably my favorite part of this novel.  Lucy, Lockwood and George are all seem so different on the surface but as readers get to know each character throughout the book they'll discover the characters have more in common than they thought.  It's because of these hidden similarities that they all work so well as a team.  

I devoured The Screaming Staircase in about three days and I already can't wait for the next installment in the series.  This title is perfect for readers age 10 and up, especially those who are paranormal fans or who are looking for a darker and more challenging read after finishing Rick Riordan's series.

Reviewed from a digital review copy courtesy of NetGalley.