Review – The Creeping Shadow (Lockwood and Co, Book 4) by Jonathan Stroud (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: September 13, 2016
ISBN-13: 978-1484709672
Stand Alone or Series: 4th book in the Lockwood and Co series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
“After leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy is a freelance operative, hiring herself out to agencies that value her ever-improving skills. One day she is pleasantly surprised by a visit from Lockwood, who tells her he needs a good Listener for a tough assignment. Penelope Fittes, the leader of the giant Fittes Agency wants them–and only them–to locate and remove the Source for the legendary Brixton Cannibal.
They succeed in their very dangerous task, but tensions remain high between Lucy and the other agents. Even the skull in the jar talks to her like a jilted lover. What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving Steve Rotwell and Penelope Fittes just may do the trick. But, in a shocking cliffhanger ending, the team learns that someone has been manipulating them all along. . . .”
This is the fourth book in the Lockwood and Co series and I thought it was the best book in this series yet! I really enjoyed all the creepiness, the characters, and the larger story that has gone from book to book. This is a great Halloween read that I think all readers middle grade and older would enjoy. Part of the book can get pretty scary and intense; I know the first book in this series was too scary for my 9 year old son so he stopped reading it.
The book starts out with a bit of a melancholy tone as Lucy is trying to make it on her own with only the skull in the jar for company. This is a bit depressing but things really pick up for her when Lockwood and Co hire her to consult on a case with them. On her own Lucy has discovered some strange findings as well; she has discovered that Sources that were supposed to be destroyed are ending up on the black market.
The story is fast-paced and engaging, I love how well the writing style flows as well. These characters are so much fun and I really enjoy this alternate world where ghosts are deadly and can only be seen by children. This whole series has had great atmosphere to it and I have really enjoyed the format. I love that each book has a mystery that needs to be resolved but that there is a broader story that spans multiple books as well.
Overall I am loving this creepy series; I enjoy the alternate world it’s set in, the writing style, the fast-pace, and the engaging characters. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– New Release Challenge
– Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge
