The Hollow Boy

The Hollow Boy
(Lockwood & Co. #3)
Jonathan Stroud

My rating: ★★★★★

ISBN: 978-1484709689
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: September 15, 2015
Age: Grades 5 and up
Genre: Horror

Themes: ghosts, mystery, camaraderie, 

As a massive outbreak of supernatural Visitors baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests throughout London, Lockwood & Co. continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. There is a new spirit of openness in the team now that Lockwood has shared some of his childhood secrets, and Lucy is feeling more and more at home. That is, however, until Lockwood hires an annoyingly perky and efficient new assistant, Holly Munro. Amid reports of many new and dangerous hauntings—and an un-paranormal assassination attempt during a carnival in the center of the city—the team struggles to get past their personal issues to save the day on all fronts. Because if they're not careful, the bad feelings will attract yet more trouble...

Oh man, are the ghosts back in full force! Stroud is back with a vengeance! This books was positively terrifying from the first scene and the whole book was action-packed. Strategically placed flashbacks and observations from Lucy (our narrator) still give the book the depth and intrigue needed to give the story more feeling than just utter terror. Basically, I still love all of the characters (I especially appreciated the new understanding we gain of Lockwood) and yet, I still was scared out of my wits. So fantastically done. What else would you expect from Stroud?

See my rave reviews for book 1 & book 2.

Find it at your library or on Amazon