A Writers View

Like many other unfortunate souls I am a person who was not aware of the Lockwood & Co. books [written by a Mr. Jonathan Stroud] until the Netflix series [directed by a Mr. Joe Cornish and starring a Mr. Cameron Chapman as Anthony Lockwood, a Miss Ruby Stokes as Lucy Carlyle, and a Mr. Ali Hadji-Heshmati as George “Cubbins” Karim] debuted at the end of January this year, 2023.  Needless to say, I was immediately [ghost]locked to my screen for the next 8 hours (admittedly spread out over 2 to 3 nights), drinking in the moody British perfection like a good cuppa *Cameron Special* tea. 

Naturally, as soon as it was over (and I’d consumed it an additional 3 more times) it was necessary for me to purchase the books and read the three that the show had not covered.  I simply NEEDED to know – ‘What was behind that door?’, ‘What was the deal with all of those ghostlocked kids?’, ‘Would Norrie ever wake-up?’, ‘WHEN do Lucy & Lockwood kiss?’  Well, if you’ve read the books then you’ll know the answer (or lack thereof) to all of those questions.  And, if you haven’t read the books yet – then what are you waiting for??  Until the happy (delusional) news that some other network has picked up the show for a second season (fingers and toes crossed so hard over here!) the books are the only way to live that Portland Row life again.

All that being said, without much further ado, here are my SPOILER-FREE Snapshot Reviews of the last three Lockwood & Co. books.

THE HOLLOW BOY – An outbreak of Visitors in Chelsea has left London terrified, confined to their homes, and all of the psychical agencies spread thinner than a bit of butter stretched over too much bread.  The agents of Lockwood & Co. are no exception.  Drowning in work, an office manager is hired, but not everybody is happy about extremely pretty new addition.  Tensions and Talents rise in tandem with the danger of the cases, until everything bursts.  Truths emerge out of the wreckage, presenting one of our agents with a heartbreaking choice. 

In three words The Hollow Boy was:  Frustrating, Painful, Nail-Biting.  Seriously, the angst between all of the characters was so real that the FDA had to give an official consumption warning (not actually, of course, but if you know, you KNOW!).  I loved it!  I really, truly did, but the miscommunications, the passive-aggressiveness, the misunderstandings – really, it was very painful. 

THE CREEPING SHADOW – The Lockwood & Co. crew team up for one more case – that quickly turns into three or four.  A cannibal ghost, gangster humans, and a dark creeping shadow are just the headlines while the subtext reads delicate relationships, secret societies, and curious capes. Will the answers received be enough for the little agents that could, or will the new questions raised, set them up as the David against the Goliaths of their industry?

In three words The Creeping Shadow was:  Gross, “THANK-YOU!”, and “Oh-Ma-Gawd!”.  I mean, without spoiling too much, I will just say that the conversations (if you know, baby YOU KNOW!!), the twists (I mean that character always was a little suspicious to me so it wasn’t too much of a surprise, but STILL!), and the ghosts (that’s why the word Gross is being used here) … *clap**clap* trust me, multiple cups of tea were harmed (by me drinking them) in the reading of this book.

THE EMPTY GRAVE – Lockwood & Co. knows a secret that the rest of the world does not.  In this last adrenaline rush for the truth our heroes must battle Visitors, the press, and their own feelings.   With the future full of uncertainties, of one thing our agents are sure – the Problem must end.  One way or another.  For good.  

In three words The Empty Grave was:  Adrenaline-Spiking, Releasing-a-breath-that-you-DEFINITELY-knew-that-you-were-holding, and SATISFYING.  Just the memory of this book sets a person’s (this person, this one right here!) heart racing and their blood pumping whilst a casual giddy smile spreads across their face.  I was SOO HAPPY with the conclusion of this book.  I was terrified for a little bit there, I’m not gonna lie.  I was actually crying at the three-quarter mark… but then it all went … aaaaagh!  And all I can say now is that I wish there were more books!

AND MORE SHOW!!!  C’mon, someone please pick it up!  Please?!  I’ll bake a cake for you😝   (well, I’ll bake it for myself, I don’t know your address, but it’ll be in your honor!)

If you’d like to have a couple of major scenes spoiled for you, or if you’ve read the books and would simply like to see what those scenes could’ve looked like on screen, then you can head over to youtube to my fan channel to watch these fan music videos.

Spoilers for THE HOLLOW BOY!

Ciao bellas, till next time!

(here’s a happy little #locklyle toast gif to make you smile)