Lockwood & Co: The Whispering Skull: Book 2

I just finished this and am surprised by the ending! Good thing I have the third one on hand. Anyway, Lockwood and Co have yet another kooky, mind-baffling mystery to solve. There were some parts that lagged (i.e., Kipps and his gang, although it was probably good Lockwood worked with them...I can see them as potential allies down the road, however annoying they may be). The antagonist ghost was more annoying than creepy. In fact, I think this one is not as scary as the first or maybe I was just prepared for the scariness this time around. However, Stroud's writing still remains effective to make readers gasp and laugh at the right moments.

Aspects I really liked in this one....George. In the first one, Lucy seems to only think of him as a bumbling bookworm, but in this one we get to see how Lucy has grown to care for George through various situations. Events that happened in this one brought George, Lucy, and Lockwood closer and while Lucy may still tease George, I think deep down she respects him for who he is. Lockwood opening up (somewhat) is another thing I liked. There are still many mysteries encompassing this interesting agent, but there was a really big breakthrough in this one.

My assessment of the skull is pending.

“Well, I make that one murder victim, one police interrogation and one conversation with a ghost,” George said. “Now that’s what I call a busy evening.”
Lockwood nodded. “To think some people just watch television.”

Lockwood, Lucy and George are back and at it again, diving straight into another perilous assignment this time involving the most dangerous Visitor they have yet to go up against. After a recent job goes awry and the recently excavated burial site has been looted, including a most peculiar bone mirror, Scotland Yard hires the trio to track down the object as it seems to leave nothing but death in its wake. In addition to that adventure, the strange skull in the corpse jar is talking to Lucy much more frequently and he seems to actually be of some help with their latest case, but whether he can actually be trusted is the real question.

‘There are other things in the house to fear, besides me.’

The skull’s communications with Lucy added a strange and mysterious side story to The Whispering Skull since this skull seems to know a bit about the secretive door that Lockwood has forbidden everyone from entering. It arouses her curiosity and she has enough on her mind as it is and can’t afford to be distracted. This case involving the bone mirror is far more intricate than any of them seem to think, and will involve many close calls before the final page is turned. I’m constantly enthralled with the cases of Lockwood & Co. and this one was no exception. Not quite as scary as I found their Screaming Staircase case to be, but it was certainly no less engrossing and was actually quite a bit more fascinating.

​​‘And a quick word of advice. No cheap comments at her expense. She’s easily offended and would probably disembowel you.’
‘Story of my life,’ George said.

Once again though, I find myself completely smitten with this cast of characters. The stories themselves are phenomenal and will no doubt keep you entertained, but Lockwood, Lucy and George are characters you will wish could come to life and befriend you. The Whispering Skull succeeded in expanding our knowledge of the group and leading to tremendous growth in the characters themselves. The new addition to the trio was a surprising new favorite, but you can never go wrong with a hilariously snarky character even if he is a skull trapped in a jar. The skull had his malicious moments and certainly complicated things occasionally but really added a welcome level of hilarity to the story. I’m hoping we continue to see him in future installments.

Such fun and entertaining stories, I look forward to more tales of the groups thrilling adventures and hope they take their time growing up. It will be devastating when they are forced to retire from ghost hunting. Once again, I must highly recommend this undervalued series that is perfect for all ages and for fans of mysteries, ghost stories and anything Victorian.

The story is entertaining, the plot is relatively complex. the characters are interesting. I enjoyed reading the book, hence the rating. One thing that concerned me, though, is the behavior of the characters toward other people. Rudeness is not a deep flaw, and can provide humor, and might be expected to be found in a book for children. But it goes deeper than that. A major theme in the book is the antagonists' total lack of concern for the people that they use as instruments to obtain their goals. However, this behavior is also demonstrated to a lesser extent by the protagonists. George performs experiments on the spirit associated with the eponymous whispering skull, and that spirit is seen by all as a means to gain renown. The question of what the most compassionate thing they could do for that spirit does not seem to cross their minds. Lockwood and George lack concern for the effects the use of Lucy's talent might have on her. George is often used for the menial tasks. Pride and ambition are well demonstrated by the protagonists, and their treatment of other people is consistent with that. So is the theft of a book to advance their goals. This also influences their decision to confiscate the mirror themselves from man fencing it, rather than contacting the authorities, who could probably do the job more safely and effectively, given their experience and greater resources (something I've noticed in other childrens' books). I'm not trying to be a scold; I probably notice this because I have to fight the same flaws in myself. Perhaps in later books the characters may reform somewhat.

Inventive and full of thrills, this outing for Lockwood and Co was even better than the last! In addition to an excellent mystery to solve and their ongoing battle with Kipps's team from Fittes, the trio deepen their partnerships and make tantalizing progress along one of the story arcs. I love how the skull comes into play, sowing doubts and dissension among the three--and the reader! The skull seems to have have some degree of unexplained knowledge as well, some things it says seem to almost indicate a level of omniscience. Aside from that, we also get a new cast of well-drawn characters both new and old. Stroud is a master with language and he is able to detail things in a real feast for the senses. I feel like I can perfectly see and hear the things he describes. This makes the ghost battles incredibly suspenseful and creepy! It also helps flesh out Lucy's tart, wryly humorous character; Lockwood's dapper, urbane one; and George's curmudgeonly, sarcastic one. I love the way the book ends with a bit of mystery of it's own. I'm so glad that I discovered this series and that I already have the next book to read from the library!

The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud is book #2 in the Lockwood & Co. series. If you haven’t read The Screaming Staircase, you really must. If you like mystery, thrills, ghosts, and a cast of witty and extremely smart characters, you’ll love this series. I certainly do!

In the latest installment, Lockwood, Lucy, and George find themselves in a race against their rivalry agency to solve a crime, murder, and thievery, all at once. They have been contracted by DEPRAC to find a missing mirror that was stolen from a notorious man’s grave. While the two agencies don’t want to work together, they figure it’s a great opportunity to see who really is the best agency in London.

Like The Screaming Staircase, this book starts out with a super intriguing night with Lucy, George, and Lockwood while they hunt down a haunted Source. Per typical Lockwood & Co. fashion, things don’t go exactly as planned. Some trouble arises but the crew is quick on their feet and don’t let a stressful situation worry them. Also in the fashion of The Screaming Staircase, The Whispering Skull waited until at least chapter 3 before it gave us some background information. I remember mostly everything I had read in TSS but my details about the different types of ghosts and methods for banishing them was a little fuzzy. Towards the end of chapter 3 is also where Stroud sums up what happened in the previous book and goes into detail each character’s personality, skills, and weaknesses. This section, while helpful, was a little boring and broke up the excitement that just ensued with the agents out in the field. I wanted the action and suspense to keep going! If all the summing up and reintroduction of the characters happened more at the beginning I probably would’ve been a little bit happier. After that, though, we are back in action!

That’s one of the things I love about this series, the thrill and action. Every chapter keeps you invested in the story. Every chapter you want to know what happens next. Just about every chapter you’re on the edge of the seat. And every chapter has you trying to figure out the mystery. Stroud definitely delivers. The gang had no idea what happened to the mirror and what it actually does. As the secrets of the creator of the mirror come to surface, it becomes more apparent, and dire, that Lockwood & Co. get to it before something bad happens. I had a feeling about who took it but I was never 100% sure, especially the why part.

There’s a lot to this story that I want to discuss but I try to keep these things as spoiler free as possible, especially if you haven’t read the previous book. Just know that The Whispering Skull has all the elements that I loved about The Screaming Staircase and upped the thrill and mystery even more. I can’t wait to see what the crew gets into next! Now go read this series!!

I’m absolutely and utterly in love with the Lockwood & Co series. When I reviewed the first book, The Screaming Staircase, I had no choice but to give it a 5-star rating, considering it was easily one of the best books I’d ever read. The Whispering Skull, the sequel, is no different at all.

The world Jonathan Stroud has created in his books is downright amazing. It’s an alternative version of London, one overshadowed by ghosts and other entities. In the sequel, Lucy, Anthony and George are back, and they’re still struggling with Visitors, quarrelling with Kipps, and trying hard to establish a reputation for themselves amongst the other, more reputable agencies. Fortunately they’re in a better position than in the first book – after solving The Screaming Staircase case, their reputation has vastly improved, and they get more job offers.

Then a new client, Mr. Saunders, hires Lockwood & Co to be present at the excavation of Edmund Bickerstaff, a Victorian doctor with a bad reputation. The trio shows up for the excavation, and all goes well – until George’s curiosity gets the better of him, and he takes a closer look at an object hidden inside the coffin. Afterwards, George acts strange, but neither Lockwood nor Lucy looks for anything behind it. That is, until they hear the contents of the coffin have been stolen by a thief – and the object inside the coffin is potentially more dangerous than anyone realizes.

On top of that, the ghost jar starts acting up again. Lucy is the only one who can hears its whispers, but this time around, the jar seems to have an even more sinister message from the beyond.

As inspector Barnes asks for the trio’s help to locate the stolen object, he also enlists Kipps and his team – and the challenge is on. But if they want to defeat the evil hidden inside the coffin, they may have to find a way to work together, or this might be the one job that’ll get them killed.

Lucy, Lockwood and George are amazing. I loved their dynamics in the first book, and here, they’re spot on again. Lockwood is still as secretive as ever, but part of the veil covering his past, is lifted. We see him in a more positive daylight, not just some Indiana Jones-type who doesn’t care much for his companions. Lucy is a lucky girl to work with him, that’s all I’m saying. Talking about Lucy, she is still struggling with her own powers, and part of what makes her interesting is how real the struggle feels. She’s afraid of her abilities, afraid sometimes of the ghosts closing in on them, and that fear is real and palpable. I also liked her bickering with George – you’d think the two of them would get better along after what happened in the first book, and maybe they do, but only up to some point. There’s still too different to really get along.

The plot is fast-paced, and once again, completely blew me away. Everything about the book screams originality, from the setting to the plot (creepy object found in coffin, and the trio having to run all across London to retrieve it) to the characters. The world-building is hands down amazing, and the author should get an award for that feat alone. Everything matches, everything works, and the end result is simply amazing.

This is my favorite series ever, and I can’t wait to read the next part. Mr. Stroud, you better get writing, or I might have to sent a Type 3 your way.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lockwood and Co have a major case - a strange mirror has been stolen. Not just any mirror, but a haunted mirror owned by a Victorian doctor who tried to communicate with the dead. As bodies pile up, the team must find the mirror and fend off threats from all sides.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was both excited to re-enter the ghost-riddled world of Lockwood & Co., but also terribly nervous. What if The Whispering Skull suffered from Second-Book-Itis? So let's start off by saying that this book absolutely does not suffer from Second-Book-Itis.

It jumps right in with ghost-action and continues to build tension throughout the central mystery of who stole a deadly, haunted mirror spirals to include murder, black-market scheming, raids, and catacombs. Once again Jonathan Stroud has created a complete and compelling world.

Most interesting is that this time around he rounded out the central characters and made them somewhat untrustworthy - George was obsessed with an artifact and perhaps too-trusting of a new colleague, Lockwood ignored all the warning signs and was too focused on defeating a rival, and Lucy...

Lucy found herself directly under the influence of a ghost. This ghost, the title character, can only be heard by Lucy. It whispers rumors about her colleagues, sketchy leads for the investigation, and derisive sniggers. Although she tries not to listen, this ghost may have useful information after all...
4.5 stars

** Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review **

Have you ever walked into a bookstore and bought a book you’ve never heard of by an author you’ve never come across, purely on the strength of a recommendation from the staff? That’s how I came across the first Lockwood & Co. book (The Screaming Staircase) – and I am so glad I did. I LOVED it so was over the moon to be sent the second instalment to review.

Imagine a cross between a teenage, modern day London-based Ghostbusters (without the cheese) and Harry Potter and you’ll have a vague idea of just how great these books are. They are marketed as YA but are just as much fun for adults.

The three main characters – Lockwood, Lucy and George make up the Lockwood ‘Ghost busting’ Agency. They provide a familiar (in a Harry Potter-esque way) dynamic which is full of humour and completely works. I like them all, from the dashing, ‘never breaks a sweat’ Anthony Lockwood, to the completely kickass, gutsy Lucy Carlyle (who I suspect fancies Lockwood just a little) to the rather unattractive but studious, clever and ever curious George Cubbins. They all have their strengths – both psychic and otherwise. Lockwood’s strength is Sight – he can see ghostly disturbances and manifestations before the other two. Lucy’s ‘Talent’ is in detecting aural phenomena and George specialises in the research of cases; trawling through dusty old manuscripts, visiting old libraries and archives as well as doing a considerable amount of tea-making and baking.

In the first book we followed Lucy through a series of interviews until she was ultimately hired by Lockwood and the three of them got into (and out of) all sorts of trouble. In this instalment, a year on and the three of them still live in Lockwood’s big old family home (not an adult in sight), getting into (and out of) all sorts of trouble.

In this world, only children and teenagers are sensitive enough to psychic phenomena to deal with ‘The Problem’ (the ‘ghostly epidemic that besets us’) and so are hired by agencies in order to find, and eradicate the source of their power. All of this is (supposedly) regulated by DEPRAC (Department of Psychical Research and Control), which is based at Scotland Yard and which I think of as the Lockwood version of a kind of Ministry of Magic.

This time around, the trouble involves a ‘whispering skull’ (in a jar, which communicates with scathing sarcasm and seriously winds up Lucy), lots of catacomb / churchyard / coffin based action, deadly artefacts that have been stolen and need to be found, lost manuscripts written in dead languages and of course, a fair smattering of pretty terrifying ghosts and spectres. There are rapiers, magnesium flares and salt bombs; spiders, rats and desiccated corpses. What’s not to like?

The story is creepy, fast paced and full of action - it absolutely gallops along with the action nicely interspersed with brief homely scenes usually involving copious amounts of tea, sandwiches and cake (baked by George of course).

Further intrigue (as well as lots of humour) is created by the presence of rival agency members – mainly those of the original, (in)famous Fittes Agency, ‘where psychic detection had been raised to an art-form’, particularly Quill Kipps (who we met in the first book). As Lucy tells us: 'Being diplomatic, I’d say Kipps was a slightly built young man in his early twenties, with close-cut reddish hair and a narrow, freckled face. Being undiplomatic (but more precise), I’d say he’s a pint-sized, pug-nosed, carrot-topped inadequate with a chip the size of Big Ben on his weedy shoulder. A sneer on legs. A malevolent buffoon. He’s too old to be any good with ghosts, but that doesn’t stop him wearing the blingiest rapier you’ll ever see, weighed down to the pommel with cheap paste jewels. Anyway, where was I? Kipps. He loathes Lockwood & Co. big time’.

I loved it just as much as the first book. The ending is brilliantly satisfying and sets things up wonderfully for Lockwood #3…

The Whispering Skull continues smoothly from the first book: the Lockwood and Co crew will have a new assignment to solve, rivals to beat, confront the reality that the The Problem is escalating in unexpected ways, and learn more about Anthony Lockwood's family secrets.

Story: Lucy, Lockwood, and George are dismayed to learn they must solve a case with the assistance of Quill Kipps and his eccentric team from Fittes. The investigation involves a Victorian doctor who robbed graveyards in order to plumb the mysteries of life after death. When his corpse is unearthed and then subsequently robbed, both teams will watch the situation reverberate through all levels of society. It will take all their luck and guile to not only solve the case but also to survive it.

Once again, we have a very engaging story that is never straightforward or easy. Our characters grow and learn about themselves and others, and along the way there is plenty of action. Stroud does an excellent job of dropping just enough hints and mysteries to be intrigued but never so much that we have nothing left to discover. Actions by the characters make sense (both what they do right and what they do wrong) and each person who shows up in the book has a very distinct and unique personality.

As with the first book, at the end of The Whispering Skull we are left with tantalizing hints of the story to come. The plot builds organically yet unexpectedly and the book-length story arcs fit seamlessly into a series-long set of mysteries. From the clues, it looks like Stroud will eventually tackle the root of The Problem and we'll learn what started it and now escalated the return of The Visitors. It will be interesting to see if George's skull will be at the heart of the mystery.

In all, greatly looking forward to the next book in the series.

A snappy sequel to The Screaming Staircase, featuring our favorite crew of tough, yet refined, psychic agents who continue with enough zest to balance out the darker aspects of the story. Lucy, determined and utterly loyal to her ghost-hunting agency, is blissfully free of the pitt-falls action-inclined females typically trip over. And she works so smoothly with George and Lockwood it's an equal pleasure to see them fighting a ghost or drinking cocoa in their kitchen. We see their metals tested, literally, and watch their dynamic trio evolve. No stale characters here, just heroes with enough flair to survive a world like theirs.
Characters: 5 Stars

After the climax of The Screaming Staircase, I was interested to see what the Whispering Skull had in mind: it's hard to top what happened there. After all, I thought, there's only so much you can do with ghosts before they lose their chill. I was wrong. This is a ghostish story set not to paralyze the reader but to send a pleasant shiver up the spine. And it certainly does, with the haunting of a vicious new specter set against the backdrop of an abandoned sanitarium. Don't read this book in the dark, and the grisly ghosts we meet ensure it's a bad choice while eating too. Mr. Stroud has excellently plotted an entirely new adventure with plenty of ghosts, enough sword-play and perfectly human villains to run your nails raw, and just enough glimpse of the great underlying mystery that ties the series together to set your teeth on edge.
Plot: 5 Stars

Set in an alternate history, Stroud's world rings disturbingly true to our own. The Problem (ghosts only started appearing 50 years ago) and its affects on society are so masterfully incorporated into the story the fact that restless spirits do appear feels completely natural. Looking for a series with depth to snag your interest? Well this is it! In short, this book was no less enjoyable than the first, and I can safely say Lockwood & Co. has earned it's place next to Stroud's also wonderful series, The Bartimeaus Trilogy.
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 5 Stars

Another wonderful entry in the Lockwood & Co. series from Jonathan Stroud -- who is at the top of his game in this series. The Whispering Skull contains some of the best writing and plotting in Upper Elementary/Young Adult fantasy, positing a alternate British history in which ghosts became both more frequent and more dangerous -- if they touch you, you are dead. Only children can fully see and hear ghosts in their many manifestations. So the most talented of these chldren are employed by large agencies that are sent out at night to deal with the unquiet dead. There is terrific chemistry between Lucy Carlyle, Anthony Lockwood and George Cubbins, the members of the Lockwood & Co agency that last overcame the red room and the screaming staircase and this time take on the exhumation of the coffin of Edmund Bickerstaff a Victorian gentleman who created a great bone glass to see into the world of the dead. Don't waste any time -- if you haven't read the first one, get a copy of The Screaming Staircase and then dip into the great pleasures of The Whispering Skull. Can't wait until the next entry in the Lockwood & Co. series.

Like all the best sequels, the Whispering Skull continues the story in the Screaming Staircase without either repeating it or ruining it. Furthermore, it is a complete story on its own and, although it has material for another sequel, doesn’t leave the reader on a cliffhanger.

Lockwood & Co. has been doing fairly well since the Screaming Staircase incident, but that means their rivalry with the Fittes agency has, if anything, increased—and especially their antagonism with Kipps’s team. In the Whispering Skull, this rivalry comes to a head as the two face off to see which is the better team . . . against not only powerful and terrifying ghosts, but also a mysterious and evil mirror.

Jonathan Stroud’s characters remain extremely strong, his world convincing (he continues his world building wonderfully), his style witty, and his plot engaging. I absolutely devoured this book, and recommend it very highly.

The Whispering Skull (Lockwood & Co. #2) by Jonathan Stroud may be made for middle grade kids but I enjoyed it too. I was sucked into the story right away and followed it like I did Harry Potter. I forgot it was a kid's book. Ghosts, action, adventure, mystery, and more. It was great. I didn't read book one but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this book. I got this book from the library.

Well, that was truly spectacular.

As with the first novel in this series, we are greeted with eerie houses, terrifying type twos (and slightly less scary, though infinitely more sad type ones), as well as an introduction to a type three. It's in this book that Lucy really comes into her own and begins to develop her talent further. When Lockwood & Co is roped in to find a missing mirror, our protagonists find excuse to settle a bet with rivals. And so, an adventurous romp ensues.

At first, I tried really hard to be peeved at Lockwood and his secrets - but it was just too difficult. Never was there a character more charming than him. Lucy returns, and with it, my love for her.

Rarely do I gel really well with female leads (generally I find them to be written either as too feisty, with less empathy or weak and dependent - and always, always, stunning). Lucy is both fierce, yet endearingly unsure. She isn't super pretty. She protects George and Lockwood, but also in turn leans on her friends, always trusting them with her life and her feelings. She is both normal and so very unique.

George grows on you in a way I didn't expect. It's with his flaws in this book that I find I like him more and more. Yes, he's irritating. But there's so much more there that I can't wait to explore.

And that ending. Holy cheese balls, that was just unfair. I'm not sure how I'm going to wait til the next book.

Great story for anyone reading for enjoyment. Written from one character’s perspective, the story continues from Book One where Lucy is hired on by a youth ghost-hunting detective agency in a time where ghosts are real and children can sense them while adults are vulnerable because they cannot. I’m off to check out Book Three!

First off, this is a brilliant book, there is not much I can add to the mounds of praise already written. I would like to say this. LISTENING LIBRARY! WHY???? They changed narrators in this book from the screaming staircase. The current narrator did not do the voices of the each of the characters. Which detracts from the story. Be aware if you purchase this in the audiobook format, of this change, and perhaps download a sample first to determine if you still want to spend your money on it. It is still a fantastic story.

The second installment of Lockwood & Co. returns with the same spunky group of ghost fighters. As with the first book, this story has just the right amount of scary ghosts and gore. No adult themes, just a good old fashioned ghost story that I will be happy to put into the hands of the adventurous young readers around me.

Can't wait for the next book in the series.

If you loved the Bartimaeus trilogy, you'll love these books. Twists and turns, cleverly written characters, sometimes a predictable series of events with twists though that keep you intrigued. Great for kids 10+, this spooky thriller is also great fun.

If you read The Screaming Staircase and liked it, know that this book is every bit as good if not better.

If you haven't read The Screaming Staircase but like spooky books with excellent characters, addictive mysteries, and a good deal of fun, then you must read both right now. Now!

If you loved the Bartimaeus trilogy, you'll love these books. Twists and turns, cleverly written characters, sometimes a predictable series of events with twists though that keep you intrigued. Great for kids 10+, this spooky thriller is also great fun.

If you read The Screaming Staircase and liked it, know that this book is every bit as good if not better.

If you haven't read The Screaming Staircase but like spooky books with excellent characters, addictive mysteries, and a good deal of fun, then you must read both right now. Now!

First thing...not as great as the first one..... slown little boring at start. Plot gets interesting right after half book is done. I have read all of Strouds book so was able to mke prediction about the plot and turning out right.
overall i liked the book.quite enjoyable for a light read.
has the glimpses of character style of my fav Bartimaeus.

Am waiting for the next book....hope it is better than first two.....

my recommendation def worth a read. Makes the mood perk up and lighten.