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Lockwood & Co. #4.5
A Portland Row Christmas
A short and sweet vignette about Christmas celebrations at Portland Row, published on Jonathan Stroud's Facebook and Twitter page.
4 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2023
1 person is currently reading
1414 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Stroud
63 books11.1k followersJonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.
Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.
In May 1999, Stroud published his first children's novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children's books.
Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.
Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children's books.
Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.
In May 1999, Stroud published his first children's novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children's books.
Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, and Ptolemy's Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.
Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 1, 2025
i would read a book about these characters doing the most mundane things in the world and give it five stars
but yes this was so sweet, love seeing my favorite characters all together and visiting portland row 🫶
but yes this was so sweet, love seeing my favorite characters all together and visiting portland row 🫶
February 13, 2024
YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I’VE MISSED THEM!!! i need to reread the whole series
July 25, 2025
Christmas Eve with the Lockwood Agency
A Portland Row Christmas is a vignette depicting 35 Portland Row on Christmas Day, between novels four, The Hollow Boy, and five, The Empty Grave. It is barely a story, since very little happens. Instead, it is an intimate portrait of a moment of peace for the Lockwood Agency, relaxing with themselves. I enjoyed it.
It reminds me in form of Ben Aaronovitch's "Moments", most of which depict characters of his Rivers of London series at moments of ease.
I like Ben Aaronovitch's Moments and Jonathan Stroud's A Portland Row Christmas. Even without a story, they reveal intimate details of the relationships between the characters. For instance, in this one it is obvious that Lucy has gotten over her quondam resentment of Holly, and that she and Lockwood are becoming increasingly intimate. (I had never heard of the game "Sardines" -- had to look that up.)
The story consists of five images: a cover and four printed pages, that are, as far as I can determine, available only on social media: Xitter or facebook. Those are not permalinks, so you may have to hunt for it. Jonathan Stroud does not seem to have put it in what I thought would be the obvious place, his web site.
Blog review.
A Portland Row Christmas is a vignette depicting 35 Portland Row on Christmas Day, between novels four, The Hollow Boy, and five, The Empty Grave. It is barely a story, since very little happens. Instead, it is an intimate portrait of a moment of peace for the Lockwood Agency, relaxing with themselves. I enjoyed it.
It reminds me in form of Ben Aaronovitch's "Moments", most of which depict characters of his Rivers of London series at moments of ease.
I like Ben Aaronovitch's Moments and Jonathan Stroud's A Portland Row Christmas. Even without a story, they reveal intimate details of the relationships between the characters. For instance, in this one it is obvious that Lucy has gotten over her quondam resentment of Holly, and that she and Lockwood are becoming increasingly intimate. (I had never heard of the game "Sardines" -- had to look that up.)
The story consists of five images: a cover and four printed pages, that are, as far as I can determine, available only on social media: Xitter or facebook. Those are not permalinks, so you may have to hunt for it. Jonathan Stroud does not seem to have put it in what I thought would be the obvious place, his web site.
Blog review.
November 10, 2024
AWWWW CUTIES
August 11, 2025
This is just pure found family and I am so here for it
December 31, 2024
2024 re-read: I had to dive into this tiny story because this year's story, The Apple Tree, broke my heart into pieces (IYYK)
Slice of life of our favourite ghost - hunting agency in London. And after all they've been through it's a well deserved fluff.
Slice of life of our favourite ghost - hunting agency in London. And after all they've been through it's a well deserved fluff.
February 11, 2024
The perfect little story for all Lockwood & Co fans starving for more after the show’s undeserved cancellation <3
January 19, 2024
Je ne vais pas mentionner de dates pour pas qu'il apparaisse dans mon rendu de fin d'année aha... Il fait trop peu de pages et c'est juste un chapitre qui ne fait pas parti d'un livre !
Je suis toujours contente d'avoir des nouvelles de mon trio préféré cela dit 🩷
Je suis toujours contente d'avoir des nouvelles de mon trio préféré cela dit 🩷
April 20, 2024
That was a little too saccharine for my taste but as usual, a little glimpse into their daily lives is pretty nice!
August 30, 2025
i love these characters. i could probably read countless of hundreds of pages of them simply existing.
November 25, 2025
MY HEART IS SO FULL
June 20, 2024
{ 4 stars }
“BUT THERE’S HOPE EVEN IN THE WORST OF TIMES, LUCY.” HE TURNED AND SMILED AT ME, AND I BELIEVED HIM.
AHHHHHSJJXJXJAJSNDJCLFLIFUSHSHEHSHAHEKVKIXHSHS
“BUT THERE’S HOPE EVEN IN THE WORST OF TIMES, LUCY.” HE TURNED AND SMILED AT ME, AND I BELIEVED HIM.
AHHHHHSJJXJXJAJSNDJCLFLIFUSHSHEHSHAHEKVKIXHSHS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2024
I am unabashedly obsessed with the Lockwood and Co. series..and the fact that The great Mr. Stroud gave us this tidbit is amazing.
March 21, 2024
omg I didn't know this was on Goodreads!
here's what i said when i saw Stroud's tweet:
OMG VOY A LLORAR STROUD TE AMO CON TODO MI SER
best Christmas present i got
here's what i said when i saw Stroud's tweet:
OMG VOY A LLORAR STROUD TE AMO CON TODO MI SER
best Christmas present i got
May 7, 2024
How wholesome :)
July 18, 2024
Living for the domestic fluff 🫶🏼
February 17, 2025
someone bring my family back to me 😭😭😭😭 netflix count your days!!!!
October 29, 2024
Finally found this gem on Stroud's Facebook page. Like a flashback in 4 pages. Love it!
January 18, 2025
It's a nice little scene, but there is no story involved. So, if you want descriptions of them sitting around a table with food, with Lockwood and Lucy going to grab presents, enjoy. If you are looking for something with a narrative, might I suggest going to one of the books
December 29, 2023
eu tô tão feliz!!!!!!!
January 1, 2024
See my previous review lol, this was so cute gahh and the end I'm melting.
January 25, 2024
навіть сам автор не може попрощатися з Локвудом і дописує якісь маленькі частинки🥹💗
February 21, 2024
so cute!! I missed these characters and world and this novella was a great way to experience it once more.
Read
February 25, 2024Not nearly long enough. And it doesn’t fit the timeline.
April 23, 2024
What a cute little Christmas story about my favorite Ghost hunting agency!
June 20, 2024
Naturally, I would prefer to have read this closer to Christmas, but here we are.
August 3, 2024
He needs to write more books. I can't wait until the comic comes out! Even if I have to learn French.
September 27, 2024
Ahhh I loved seeing my fav characters again
September 27, 2024
Cute <3
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews