Het Lege Graf

Lockwood & Co. #5

by Jonathan Stroud

In hun laatste en moeilijkste zaak beginnen de Lockwood & Co-agenten aan een levensgevaarlijke missie: ze breken in bij het graf van de legendarische agent Marissa Fittes. Maar hoe dood is ze eigenlijk?

Wat ze ontdekken verandert alles.

In de race naar de waarheid over de geestenepidemie beginnen ze aan het laatste, epische gevecht met Bureau Fittes. Een strijd die hen naar de Andere Kant brengt, en waar ze alleen kunnen slagen met de hulp van een geheel onverwachte, angstaanjagende bondgenoot. Griezelen, kippenvel en gruwelijk lachen gegarandeerd!

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Middle Grade, Fiction

399 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2017

About the author

Jonathan 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.

Reviews

[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”This is what the Problem means,” he went on. “This is the effect it has. Lives lost, loved ones taken before their time. And then we hide our dead behind iron walls and leave them to the thorns and ivy. We lose them twice over, Lucy. Death’s not the worst of it. We turn our faces away.”

I’m so sad this series is over and that I finished the last book. I really would have loved to read a sixth or seventh installment and if you ask me Stroud definitely should have written more books. XD I would have read them all and I’m convinced that the quality and the plot would have been amazing until the end. Well, as a matter of fact “Lockwood and Co.” actually was amazing until the end. T_T

I just loved this series and the way Stroud wrote it. He managed to create a unique world and characters that will stay with me forever and for that I’m very thankful. =) Of course this book was once again a little darker than its predecessor but as I already pointed out in my review of “The Creeping Shadow” this is only to be expected because the characters grow and the plot thickens. Still, despite all that, Stroud somehow managed to stay true to his writing style and the book was at least as funny as it was serious.

”You’ve heard of racism. You’ve heard of sexism. Well, this is skullism, pure and simple. You’re judging me by my outward appearance. You doubt my word solely because I’m a skull lurking in a jar of slime-green plasm. Admit it!”

Can we acknowledge how awesome the skull was? I’ll miss him and his antics so badly! I always knew that deep down within him he had a soft heart and I wasn’t disappointed when I reached the ending of the book. XD And if we’re already talking about the characters I want to point out that Lockwood and Lucy grew on me. They fit together so perfectly and even though their romance is just hinted at, I still loved that it turned out that way. I mean when you read YA books (like I do) there is always some big romance involved. In Stroud’s books it takes a backseat and lets the plot shine. You might say the light romance is used to emphasize certain situations, but it’s never in the spotlight and I can’t say how much I appreciated this approach. It’s refreshing and with Stroud it works so well! XD

”So my heart sang and my heart despaired, which was pretty much the usual combination for me whenever Lockwood was around.”
He brushed hair from his eyes. “That makes two of us, then. What’s your daft plan?”
“The usual. I was hoping to talk to it and calm it down. Yours?”
“Thought I’d slow it up by cutting off its legs.”
I grinned at him. “We’re so similar.”

And because this wouldn’t be one of my “Lockwood & Co” reviews if I wouldn’t gush about George I have to mention how much I love that boy! The way he rebuked Sir Rupert Gale?! Just amazing!! I was like “Go, George! You got this!!” and I was so very proud of him. Aside from the skull he’s still my favourite character of this series and I loved how contradictory he was. *lol* On the one hand he’s so shy and buries himself in books and on the other hand he has no problem to stand up for others and to put Sir Rupert in his place. Of all the characters in “Lockwood & Co.” he was certainly the most intriguing and I wish I could have seen more of him.

”Oh, and I know the DEPRAC rules as well as you, and if you pick fights with accredited agents off about their appointed tasks, Barnes will have your tweedy backside hauled over hot cobblestones to Scotland Yard. So why not go off and hassle someone else?” He held his glasses up towards the sun and tilted them, checking that any conceivable smudge had been removed. “Good. Sometimes I see so clearly, it almost frightens me.” He put them back on and ben to his bag. “Lead on, Holly. Stratford, here we come.”

As for the plot: I really liked the case of “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” and I was happy how the main plot with “The Problem” was solved. Our heroes had quite a tough time in “The Empty Grave” and I was really glad that everything dissolved in pleasure in the end. I mean, hell, even Kipps grew on me and the sticky situations they got themselves in made me fear for all of them. >_< Oh and can I mention how surprised I was about Holly!!! OMG!!! Leave it to Stroud to mention an LGBTQ+ character in passing! XD Holly laughed again; her eyes sparkled as she glanced at me sidelong. “You must know there are other possibilities in this world.” I’m not sure whether Holly is lesbian, pan or bi, but WOW this was quite a surprise! *lol* This was such an amazing little plot twist so kudos to Stroud for adding even more depth to his characters and books!

”We’re there to help each other. If we do that, we’ll get through.”

And with this my review eventually ends! I really wish there would have been more books! I still have so many questions and there were so many things I would have loved to read about. XD I guess Stroud decided that if it can’t get any better, he should stop and no matter how heartbroken I am, I can still understand this sentiment.

All told, Stroud wrote an amazing and unique series and after finishing it, it will be more than just hard to find a worthy successor! <3

_________________________________

I don’t want this series to end but I’m already at the fifth book and I know this ending is going to hurt! I don’t even know why, but I have a feeling that I’m probably going to cry an ocean while I read this.

I DON’T WANT MY BABIES TO LEAVE ME!!! *sniff*

But my library won’t extend my loan period so I have no other choice. >_<
It’s time to stop procrastinating and to face my inner “ghosts”! (See what I did there? ;-P)

Wish me luck, guys!
I’ll need it for that, no doubt, grande finale! *lol*
One last case with my crew! T_T

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

BITCH IMSO SENSITIVE AND EMOTIONAL THAT I MIGHT FALL APART IF U TOUCH ME

Oh my God I'm fucking deceased, dead. I don't know what life is, how do ppl breathe??? what I don't want this no no no I don't want to exist.

I don't like this pain nope nope nope nope, bye.

no review bitch, I can't even breathe right now and I'm trying not to cRy I'm literally so sad and depressed and that ending tore my heart out, I'm bye!!!!!

---
who gave Stroud permission to end this series?? but if there's lucyxlockwood scene I may be willing to forgive.

Buddy read with my fellow clash royale trash fan

5/25/17
*sees cover*
*screams*

--
*takes a deep breath*

UM WHAT THE FUCK THIS HAS A TITLE AND A BLURB. WHERE IS THE COVER?

GIVE ME THIS RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT

FUCKING

NOW

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, that was a roller coaster ride from start to finish.
I'm rather emotional right now, so I'll keep this (relatively) short.

It's been fun, Lockwood & Co.

From sardonic ghosts in jars to old-enemies-turned-friends, this entire series has been one massive journey that I'm overjoyed to have been a part of.

The Lockwood & Co. finale was full of action, fighting (against ghosts and people alike), fanTASTIC foreshadowing, adorable moments between our beloved characters, squad goals (they are, honestly), and tiny little chefs chopping onions. Not literally. But my eyes did sweat a little, and that's what made this book so great.

Spoilers! Don't click unless you've read the book!

(Alright, I warned you. Spoilers for the Bartimaeus Sequence are still hidden.)

One of the really emotional moments was near the beginning, at the graveyard where Lockwood showed Lucy the empty grave (SEE WHAT THE TITLE DID THERE) belonging to him alongside his family. This book was full of Lockwood backstory, and we really got to see how the events in his life shaped him. I loved seeing that side of him, and I loved how he trusted Lucy enough to share it with her.

When George got beat up by Rupert Gale and some thugs, I was stunned. I even had to reread some parts of that chapter and put the book down for a second. It was at that moment that I began to realize this was the most intense Lockwood & Co. book so far.

Then our pal Rupert Gale just had to go along and stab Quill, a moment that was also quite heart-attack-inducing, as Kipps was among my favorite characters. Again, I began to wish that someone would hand me a rapier and a few flares and throw me into this book so I could show Rupert just what I thought of him.


After he was initially stabbed, Kipps was pretty chill about it, having briskly stepped into the Other Side with his friends: Yet Lucy put two-and-two together (with the help of the skull), and Quill realized that he actually had been seriously (possibly even fatally) wounded. Thus began a heart-wrenching scene between two friends that had previously been enemies, and it felt a lot to me as if they were saying their goodbyes. To top off the sadness, he immediately collapsed as soon as they returned to the living world. My heart proceeded to attempt a variety of complicated back flips, and that little onion-chopping chef from before came back.

Although, the moment turned briefly to humor when everyone thought he was dead and he was like
But he was still really badly hurt, enough for him to need surgery, so the panic didn't stop there for them (or for me).

But above all, the ending scene really got me. And this is where we get to talk about my favorite character: the skull.

If you've read the Bartimaeus books, you've probably noticed that the skull's character is pretty much what would happen if you took Bartimaeus' spirit and shoved it into a jar. It's sarcastic, witty, rude, and, frankly, all-around lovable. (Well, I think so, anyway.)

When we finally got to see the skull's spirit in the Creeping Shadow, I had a little freak-out moment. As it turned out, we got to see his full spirit-form even MORE in this book, and it was amazing.

Not only did Lucy's friendship with him strengthen, but the skull himself actually began to show attachment to her. He wouldn't talk to anyone other than her (even when the team was on the Other Side and the others could hear him too) and he helped her with her cases despite constantly claiming that he had no intentions of doing it for any reason other than his own gain.



So I really wasn't surprised when Lucy broke the jar similar to Nathaniel finally trusting Bartimaeus in the final book and freed him, nor when he stopped the couch from hitting her (and Lockwood, too).

But when Marissa pulled that bomb out of thin air, my heart froze. Lockwood attempted to sacrifice his life for Lucy, as we'd all been expecting thanks to the foreshadowing, but she wouldn't leave him to die, and the skull was having none of that. He came rushing to her rescue again, even after claiming that it had been a one-time thing.


And he freaking used some wicked Poltergeist-ghost powers to shoot Lucy and Lockwood safe from harm, while the room EXPLODED WITH HIM AND HIS SOURCE IN IT.

Which is when I realized: It had never been about Lockwood. All of the foreshadowings had been referring to the skull.


Over the final few chapters, Lucy carried around the burnt skull that she saved from the fire in the hopes that his spirit hadn't been destroyed, and she was clearly far more distraught than the other members of her team. The development of her friendship with the skull was one of my favorite things about the series as a whole, and the fact that she continued to bring the skull with her everywhere (even to the dinner table, which Holly wasn't impressed with) was heartbreaking. I was mourning the skull's spirit right along with her.

In the final scene of the book, Lucy placed the burnt skull on her window. She and Lockwood had an adorable talk (which resulted in her finding the necklace that his father had given to his mother, and he, in turn, had left for her). But, before she left her room, she saw a glimmer of green on the windowsill, indicating that the skull's spirit had come back.




In conclusion, this series was amazing, and the beautiful ending did it justice. This book was my favorite of the five, and I honestly couldn't have wished for it to be any better. Although, a kiss would've been nice, but I guess we can't have everything. Besides, it's obvious that they get together in the end :)

Thanks for all the memories, Lockwood & Co. This series is one that I will never forget.

--

It's finally September 12th... which means...


--
*looks at publication date*
*takes a deep breath*
*turns and looks into the camera*

This is it.

This is the book where we see what huge plot has been building throughout the last four books, right under our noses the entire time.

We get to see what the deal is with our favorite skull.

We get to see if Lucewood is ever going to be a thing.

We get to see what is going on with the Fittes Agency.

We get to see the true reason behind the ghosts.

Everything is going to end in this book, one way or another.



But at the same time...

[♛ may · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review posted

Me calling the police on Stroud:

I’m dead inside and everything hurts. :) :) :)

Let’s just list bc I have no energy for anything else:
- ITS OVER ITS OVER ITS OVER
- OH MY GOD WHY IS IT OVER MY BABIES I WONT SEE ANYMORE OF THEM THIS IS SO SAD
- Ahem
- Let’s just talk about how Anthony Lockwood and Lucy and Holly and George and Kipps and the Skull are totally arguing over tea and cookies right now
- Bc any other scenario will leave me drowning in my own tears
- THIS. BOOK. CRUSHED. EVERYTHING. I. AM.
- I was crying in beginning, middle, and end
- Just
- Sobbing silently while my hopes and dreams and aspirations leached out of me and into these little children
- I love them so much oh my god someone hold me
- THE SKULL
- THE SKULL OH MY HEART
- The banter you guys, it’s perfect, it’s beautiful, it revived me during my deepest and darkest time aka when George got beaten up but those as*holes :(
- THE SKULL TEASING LUCY ABOUT LOCKWOOD I WANT A FULL SIZED BOOK ABOUT THAT
- And holly and lucy’s friendship oh my goodness
- The character development you guys
- Everyone had such epic development, except lockwood, he’s perfect from the beginning
- The only way to get over this series is to full fledge throw yourself into fanfiction and fan art and headcanons bc that’s what I did (you can ask sana, she had to deal with my spamming)
- Stoud has no heart and he proved it with the trash he pulled in this book
- You’re an evil man *whispers* when is book 6 being released again ;) ;) ;) I wont tell anyone :) :) promise :)
-



(s)

i love them sm

5 stars!!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buddy read with lockwood trash fan

this is THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES IM GONNA CRYYYYYYYYYY ITS ALMOST OVER I MISS THE BABIES ALREADY ;-;

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ending to a wonderful series!

Lockwood & Co has been an ongoing series for me for years.
Each book has excellent writing, lovable and funny characters, along with great atmosphere.

The series is written for a younger audience, but I enjoyed it!

I typically don’t go for YA books, but this series doesn't have ridiculous love triangles or teenagers in the book that I want to kick in the face.
It has teenagers in the series, but they have too much to worry about then selfies, cliques or whether the hot kid at school is into them.

Teenagers in the Lockwood & Co series are battling ghosts and trying to keep London from falling apart.

A little background about the series:

The series is about a paranormal plague of hauntings and the teens that try and keep it in check.
Adults can’t see paranormal activity, so the hauntings or also called the "Problem" falls on the weary shoulders of teenagers. With their rapiers, magnesium bombs, silver chains and whatnot, they are tackling easy hauntings to straight up poltergeists.

I really loved all the paranormal information in this series. It’s lots of fun and the spooky moments in the books are well done!

In The Empty Grave, Lockwood, George, Lucy, Holly, and their new associate Kipps are trying to figure out a mystery from a cliffhanger in the 4th book, The Creeping Shadow.

This mystery is a whopper too!

It has to do with how the Problem came about and the secrets behind the most famous paranormal agency in the city.

I felt like The Empty Grave & The Creeping Shadow are far more darker then other books in the series. There's a heavier feel to both books along with a shadow of death that's following the crew.
I loved where Jonathan Stroud took this series and the conclusion of the epidemic hauntings. Well done!

Obviously, don’t read this book unless you’re read the first four books. This is not a standalone.

Definitely check out this series if you enjoy paranormal books and all things that go bump in the night!
I don't think you'll regret giving it a try!

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really sad to see this series end. I started it on a lark, and I have truly enjoyed reading about Lockwood and Co's adventures. The characters have developed and evolved beautifully over the course of the series, while maintaining what makes them lovable. Lockwood starts as an enigmatic leader with an irresistible allure to him. As the series progresses, Lucy comes to love him for who he is and she comes to realize that Lockwood truly needs Lucy to stay balanced and grounded. Their relationship has plenty of ups and downs through the books, but I am extremely happy with how things culminate. I was really afraid how things would end overall. I ended being satisfied with the conclusion, other than the fact that things have to end. I know many people hate series that go on indefinitely. I don't mind ongoing series as long as they stay good. But I realize that this series had to end at some point, based on the fact that ghost hunters have a strict use by date because they stop being able to sense the ghosts.

Having said that, I wouldn't mind at all if Stroud was about to roll this series over into a spinoff. At all.

This series snuck up on me and now it's one of my all time favorites. I think it would make a great tv show. There's plenty of suspense and creep factor as Lucy, Lockwood, George, Holly and friends encounter the uncanny, and Stroud is excellent at developing the growing tension and sense of danger. There are some really heinous entities in this books, both otherworldly and otherwise, so that may be a trigger for readers that these kids are deliberately placed in dangerous situations due to the work that they do.

I highly recommend the Lockwood & Co Series.

[Silvana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth read: Review still the same. Increased the rating since my feeling is still the same. Definitely my comfort reads.

Third read: One of THE best series I have ever read. Save Lockwood series by signing this petition https://www.change.org/p/save-lockwoo...

Second read, seven years later: I wish Stroud ditch his scarlett whatever series and writes more in this universe. I am so happy the Netflix series was well received. If you have yet to watch it, you should!

First read:
Finishing a series that you love is like saying goodbye to a great friend who move abroad. Yes, you can see them again, but it won't be the same since there is a sense of finiteness to it.

Overall, Lockwood and Co is another amazing fantasy entry by Jonathan Stroud, who I think is very underrated compared to authors like Rick Riordan with his mediocre, corny, yet popular series. Stroud has a way with creating memorable, well-rounded characters that are engaging to read. When they feel sad, angry, or elated I guarantee you will feel the same. He is also good with plots, worldbuilding, and most of all, that cheeky British humour.

This is a solid last entry to a series that has entertained during the last five years. Lucy can be annoying at times, but the rest is fantastic, even Kipps. And Flo! And George! He is my favorite character from the series, who deserve all praises for his persistence and quirkiness. And of course the Skull. What an entertaining fellow.

Speaking of ghosts, the scary factor is still there. I feel chilly when dusk settles. Eerie and foreboding. Even those illustrations in every chapter beginning creep me out, I tried not to look at them.

I do have some criticism and therefore this is not a five star read. The climax and ending are lacking the dramatic effect (as intended), slightly over-lengthy, and somewhat predictable. It is rather corny, but not too much. It is almost heartbreaking, but not quite. For those who read Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy, you know that the series has an amazing ending. My preferred ending would be: Lucy and Lockwood did not end up together, but remain great friends since Lockwood has finally moved on from his sister and parent's death. Also, I liked that the skull got the big sacrifice heroic act even though it is not very surprising. Maybe it is hard to defeat the awesome ending of The Hollow Boy.

Last but not least, you know an author really knows and appreciate his fans when he uses lots of your country's references for ghosts and shamanism. I am sure many of his Indonesian fans will be amused (I know I am). Thank you, Sir, we certainly are looking forward for your next series (Bartimaeus, is it?) AND your long awaited visit here.

[Rizza✧˖° · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book since it came out last year so why am I only reviewing it now?

But moving on, my experience of reading this book (meaning reading it when I was supposed to be sleeping because I came from a night shift and will have a day shift the day after and I finished reading it at 3:00 AM and I was supposed to have my duty at 7:00 AM) is all worth it.

Reading this book was a helluva ride. It was so mind-blowing and I was at the edge of my seat every time. I will miss all the characters of the universe, and yes, I will miss Kipps, too. He kinda grew on me, especially on this last book.

I love the dynamic of the characters. Especially the original trio, Lockwood, Lucy and George. And how can I forget Skull?

This book series is the best that I've read after a long time and I'm still hoping that J. Stroud will make follow-up series. Well, here's to hoping.

Update September 2, 2022 (3rd time reading the series):

I NEED MORE LOCKLYLE IN MY LIFE. I LOVE THEM.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I sat down to write this review, I initially wanted to give the book four stars, but ended up settling on three instead. I stand by that rating, but be aware going into this that I was leaning really, really close to four stars. This is, overall, a perfectly serviceable and satisfying conclusion to the Lockwood & Co series - plot lines are resolved, questions are answered, characters are given suitable endings, and everything is wrapped up in a nice little bow. But there were plenty of things that irritated me - just irritated, nothing worse than that - so I can't give this the full four stars.

For one thing, I think the Marissa/Penelope twist was introduced way too late in the series, so we never really got to settle in with her as an antagonist. I wish Stroud had established her as the Big Bad right from the beginning (while still saving the big bombshell about her identity for a later book) so we could enjoy the characters grappling with her throughout the series instead of wasting time on lesser villains (Stroud half-heartedly tries to keep the Winkmans relevant as villains in at least three books, and I would forget who they were every single time) Ultimately, the Marissa storyline felt very rushed, with everything getting crammed into the last book before we could adjust to the new information.

Especially frustrating was Marissa's...ghost advisor? I think? Anyway, Ezekiel felt like a wasted opportunity, because he gets destroyed like ten pages after he's introduced, and ultimately his presence in the story created more questions than it answered. Was he supposed to be some kind of angel? Why was Marissa able to see and speak to him, even though it's been established that adults can't do that with ghosts? What, exactly, was going on with the ectoplasm? (also the second the characters discovered that Marissa used a ghost named Ezekiel for research when she was starting out, I thought, "oh, that's the skull's forgotten identity" and was honestly so disappointed when it turned out I was wrong)

And Stroud, for what I cannot believe is the third goddamn time in this series, appears to kill off a character and then loses his nerve at the last minute. Seriously, there was no reason Quill Kipps should have miraculously survived. He's not one of the core group, so even though his death would carry emotional weight it wouldn't totally upset the dynamic of Lockwood & Co, and it would have been nice, in a series where the characters are constantly battling ghosts, to see Lucy and the others dealing with the death of someone they actually knew and cared about. I really don't know why Stroud didn't just pull the trigger and finally, finally let one of his main characters actually face mortal consequences. He's like the anti George RR Martin.

One of the most satisfying aspects of this book, even though it's a little thing, was that we finally got some answers about Holly Munro and what her Whole Deal is, in this little scene with her and Lucy:

"She pushed her hair back from her face. 'I'm sure I was an utter pain as well. Anyway, it must have been odd, having me show up.'
'It was a bit, but-'
'But you needn't have worried.' She smiled at me. 'Funnily enough, Lockwood isn't actually my type. ...Don't look so shocked, Lucy,' she said. 'I know how you feel about him. But, if anything, I had my eye on someone else.'
'Good god, you don't mean George?'
Holly laughed again; her eyes sparkled as she glanced at me sidelong. 'You must know there are other possibilities in this world.'"

On the one hand, this delights me, because at least now I know that Stroud intended for us to interpret Holly as gay, and wasn't just doing it by accident. But this is where Stroud's confusingly unspecified time period comes back to bite him, because I don't know if there are in-world consequences for the reveal of Holly's sexuality. We have seen exactly zero other gay characters in the series, and at the end of the book Lockwood mentions that Holly has a female "roommate," and seems completely unaware that she's gay. So my question is, what is life like for gay people in this alternate-universe London? Is there a reason Holly's been keeping her sexuality vague? Is it dangerous for her to come out to the rest of the team? Again, if we had seen literally any other gay characters in this book, it might have given me a better idea of how this society views homosexuality, but Holly is where that representation begins and ends.

It's a moot point anyway, since Lucy remains totally oblivious to the fact that Holly is flirting with her. So no, we never get ghost-hunting Odd Couple girlfriends, and we don't even get much for the Lucy/Lockwood shippers. Spoiler alert, nobody gets to make out with anybody in this entire goddamn series. Which I get - the target audience for this series is, like, sixth graders, and when I was that age, the last thing I wanted was for my adventure stories to get slowed down by dumb kissing.

But these are all nitpicks. Overall, this is such a fun, scary series, and I loved getting to read new Jonathan Stroud stories and find that he's just as good as I remember him. The characters are great, the plotting is quick and tightly constructed, and he keeps you invested with twists and revelations. Also, Stroud continues to absolutely kill it with the big climactic setpieces - the best sequence in this book is an extended journey into the world of the dead, and it's filled with such creepy, nightmare-logic images and sequences that I almost wish we could have had more of it.

All in all, a fun and exciting series that, despite it's minor flaws, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

[✶Rachelle✶ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I am currently entrenched in the mystical land of Major Feels.

Lockwood, Lucy, George, and yes...even Holly...all have my heart. You know when you go through a series, the characters become dear friends that stay close to your thoughts and heart no matter what is going on in your world or theirs? This is what these characters are to me. I am so happy to have gone through this journey with them, with all the ups and downs and everything that went along with it. Thanks for it all, kids <3





--------

ITS HERE ITS HERE ITS HEREEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let the major Lucewood shipping begin!!

😁😁😁😁😁😁

[rowanthorn ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS, but i only rated it that because it wouldn't let me rate it more. IT DESERVES 1000000 STARS. IT DESERVES ALL THE STARS.

oh. my. goodness. what an EPIC, FANTASTIC conclusion. it's been almost a week since i finished this book and i'm still trying to get my thoughts in order about it...i hope everyone enjoys ranting and gifs and ALL CAPS, because you're about to get a lot of them. i can't believe the series is over....i've now made it my mission in life to get everyone in the known universe to read the lockwood & co series. this series is everything and more.


what i liked: (besides everything)
1. this was the culmination of the whole series, and the plot showed it. the story was, as always, fast paced and full of hilarity, tears, adventures, friendship...it made me feel so many things. questions are answered, secrets are revealed, friendships change, and characters grow. this book has EVERYTHING.


2. the characters. MY GOD, THE CHARACTERS. i haven't felt this way about a group of friends since harry potter.

george is my library-hunting, information-finding, donut-eating dude. i'm glad he got more of a plot-line in this book. he is like a boy hermione who eats more donuts. he gets ALL THE HUGS.


lucy is badass and she knows it, but is also filled with worry and fear and is all around relatable af. she's the best narrator. when she grows up she would totally be molly weasley. i just love her and i feel like we're friends. we're totally friends.


lockwood is...everything. and this book made him so much more dimensional, if that was even possible. he was already SO complex of a character, but this was a whole 'nother level. i could write a book about how much i love lockwood. his energy, his love for his friends, even his love for danger and his semi-death wish. if you gave a young sherlock 100x more heart and love and people skills, that's lockwood.


and hey! even quill kipps! i liked quill freakin' kipps at the end of this book! who knew it was even possible??

and then lets talk about holly. namely the fact that i LIKE HER NOW. *gasp*. i know, i know. i hated holly with a PASSION when she was first introduced. HATED. with. a. passion. i absolutely could not stand her. lucy hated her so i did too, because that's what friends are for.

BUT NOW??? I LOVE HER. if that doesn't show you the genius of jonathan stroud's amazing ability to write and create and build characters, i don't know what will.

3. i honestly liked everything. every part of this book. every word, every sentence. i can't go into detail because i'm not about that spoiler-life, but i. loved. every. single. thing. and the ending. i haven't been so 1000% happy with an ending to a series in a long time. it was the absolute perfect ending. I HAVE NO QUALMS WHATSOEVER. my emotions were at an all time high, and when i read the last word i just sat there in silence, thinking about the end of an era.


I'M NOT EVEN PUTTING IN A SECTION ABOUT WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE, I REFUSE.

RECAP: GHOSTS. FRIENDS THAT ARE LIKE FAMILY. FAST PACED ACTION. TEARS. HILARITY. SCARINESS. EDGE OF YOUR SEAT EXCITEMENT. THE BEST CHARACTERS YOU'LL EVER MEET. A SIEGE. LOTS AND LOTS OF GHOSTS AND GHOSTHUNTING. EMOTIONS. THE END OF AN ERA. JUST READ IT IT'S AMAZING.

[Maryna Kovtun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чудове завершення чудової серії. Боялася сумнішого фіналу, але це янгедалт, а не сучукрліт)

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just might be my favourite middle grade series... ever!
It beats out Harry Potter for me. It even beats books from my own childhood like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Jonathan Stroud has taken a scary, creepy setting of a major ghost problem and made it just scary enough that kids will get a bit of a shiver (I certainly did at times) but still able to sleep at night. Everything about this series is just wonderful! I cannot wait for my niece to be 9-10 years old so I can get her this series! She just turned 8 and is a great reader but is currently into unicorns, fairies and such. So I don't want to jade her just yet into more gothic things. But I absolutely plan to do so in the coming years! (lol)

It's hard to write reviews for books in series without spoilers; but here's a few tidbits for those who know the series:
- We do find out the 'official' reason for the Problem
- We do find out more about the Skull
- We sort of get some resolution to some of the romantic tension present
- Many questions about Fittes and other major players are explained.

The Empty Grave picks up only months after the end of book 4; so it's perfect to just keep on going if you are so inclined. And if, like me, you wait a bit to read the 5th book there is a really well done set of reminders to get you quickly back into the game.
All of our characters are present (of course) and many of them have moments of revelation during this last book. If you've enjoyed the series to date then I guarantee you will love this final piece of the puzzle.

As for the ending...
Not my favourite ending but totally appropriate for a middle grade kids book and definitely will make a beautiful movie/tv series. This whole series (if done right with good effects and acting) will be absolutely stunning. I cannot wait for us to see it on screen! Of course something is always left in the books to discover and so I hope many people will see the (forthcoming) show and proceed to grab the novels as well.
One of my favourite pieces of this series is that it doesn't go on forever and ever. Five books feels perfect in this instance. Stroud does such a great job of leaving the reader feeling satisfied at the end of the series; but still also loving it and wanting to revisit it again.

I will definitely be making this series my top gifted one to kiddos in the right age group. And I know I'll be rereading them in the future. The print books have a proud place in my personal library.

[majo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how I am going to continue with my life now that this is over.

[Innis ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Допила останнє горнятко чаю із затишною агенцією "Локвуд і Ко" за розгадуванням остаточних таємниць всесвіту 🥹☕️👻🫶.

Завжди так хвилююче закінчувати книжкові серії. І хоч до цієї в мене є свої особисті негативні претензії, але й виникло багато любові.
Любов до світу, ідеї, персонажів, британського настрою, теплого затишку, моторошних привидів і таємниці великої проблеми, на розгадку якої я так відчайдушно чекала. А моя улюблена зірочка - харизматичний череп у банці. Він те, заради чого варто читати цю серію! Буду виглядати твоє зелене сяйво, друже! А ще мій улюблений дивак Джордж і його скатертина мислення. Маленький недолюблений усіма геній!

Прощаюся і обіймаю усіх старих та нових учасників агенції, буду справді сумувати!

[Данило Судин · Rating 5 out of 5]

Якщо ви прочитали попередні чотири частини циклу про Локвуда та його друзів, то мені нічого не треба вам пояснювати. Наближається розв'язка! Ми стоїмо на порозі розгадки походження Проблеми, тобто нашестя привидів на Великобританію. Декілька десятиліть тому померлі - замість того, щоб залишатися в потойбіччі - вирішили повертатися до світу живих. І не просто повертатися, але й убивати: дотик привида смертельний. Він чимось подібний чи до обмороження, чи до інфаркту, тобто відмирання м'язів. Раніше вважалося, що Проблема трапилася, тому що... Загалом, цим питанням люди не дуже переймалися, бо привидів бачити можуть лише неповнолітні (за британськими законами, тобто люди віком до 21 року), але от загинути від них може будь-хто. Тому більш нагальне питання: як вижити, а не академічне питання, звідки взялася Проблема.

Втім, Локвуда та друзів хвилює й проблема меншого масштабу. Пенелопа Фіттес, директорка однієї з найбільших агенцій по боротьбі з привидами, виявляється не тією, за кого вона себе видає. Якби не Череп-що-шепоче, наші головні герої про це ніколи б не дізналися. Але тепер перед ними більш прикладна проблема - вивести на чисту воду Пенелопу. І, як їм здається, це тісно пов'язано з самою Проблемою.

Якщо ви читали попередні чотири частини, то всі ці пояснення зайві. Страуд майстерно підводить нас до п'ятої частини, а більшість "гачків" закидає ще в четвертому томі, який, відповідно, й сам стоїть на фундаменті з попередніх трьох: всі незрозумілості та загадки раптом починають складатися в одну картину. От тільки наші герої ще не знають, як на неї дивитися.

Якщо ж ви не читали перші чотири томи, то можу сказати лише одне: прочитайте! "Локвуд і Ко" - це чудовий young-adult. Хоча його цільовою аудиторією є підлітки, дорослим його читати буде також цікаво. Локвуд майстерно вибудовує світ альтернативного Лондона, закручує інтриги, які в перших частинах нагадують детективи, а от в останніх вже ближчі до трилерів чи пригодницьких романів. Це читання, яке, якби це не звучало дивно, заспокоює. Це оповідь, яка тримається не лише на інтризі та загадці, але на цінностях та емпатії до персонажів. Вони переживають проблеми, більш близькі підліткам, але які будуть знайомі і зрозумілі дорослим. А через це - навіть якщо ви знаєте спойлери - читати романи буде цікаво. Наприклад, я перші дві книги спершу "побачив", тобто переглянув екранізацію. А вже потім їх прочитав. І ні про що не шкодую: серіал додав картинки до тексту, але з часом "книжкові" образи витіснили "серіальні". Принаймі, Джордж Кабінс чи Кіпс для мене будуть "книжковими". Люсі та Локвуд - "серіальними", але лише тому, що актори дуже близькі до книжкових оригіналів.

Якщо ви не знаєте, хто такі Люсі, Джордж, Локвуд, Кіпс, а також Костомаха-Фло, Барнс, Голлі, Руперт та Пенелопа, то... То раджу читати цикл, бо нічим тут не зарадиш.

Що ж сказати про сам роман, але без спойлерів? Розкажу про структуру роману. На вас чекатиме дві сюжетні лінії. Одна з них є центральною, а інша - бічною. Причому бічною в прямому сенсі: це side quest, який має виконати агенція "Локвуд і Ко". Врешті-решт, вони таки мають боротися з привидами. А справа Фатальної Красуні їм трапилася, можливо, не дуже вчасно, але в умовах кризи від роботи не відмовляються. Насправді, бічна лінія введена, щоб додати детективного присмаку, але також вона розкриває нам кількох персонажів. До загального розвитку головної лінії наче нічого не додає, але... Після справи Фатальної Красуні ми краще зрозуміємо, чому деякі герої поводяться так, як поводяться у фінальній сутичці.

Страуд майстерно вибудовує оповідь. Сюжет ніде не "провисає". Навпаки, чим далі, тим події стають інтенсивнішими - книжку годі відкласти! Звісно, нас чекають зміни: меншає містичної атмосфери, зникає нуар четвертого тому. Щодо містики - то нема на це ради: герої не мають часу перейматися містикою, бо в них дуже серйозні виклики. Щодо нуару, то... Якби тут ще був нуар, то роман вийшов би вдвічі товстішим, а герої почали б втрачати в привабливості. Адже, як ми пам'ятаємо, наур - це про аморальних персонажів, які намагаються досягати моральних цілей аморальними методами. Або й цілі аморальні. І все це під дощем та вночі. Ні, щодо дощу та ночі в мене упереджень немає. Але якби головні герої почали між собою сваритися чи не довіряти одні одним - типова картина для нуару! - я б не знав, що й робити...

До речі, Страуд майстерно завершує цикл. По-перше, ми маємо відкритий фінал. Не можу пояснити, що ж там відкрите. Але повірте на слово: фінал містить чіткі натяки, але відкритий. По-друге, ми дізналися розгадку Проблеми та Пенелопи Фіттес, Товариства Орфея та сімейної історії Локвуда. Але й тут Страуд не пояснює всього. Ми наче дізналися загальний принцип, чому Проблема почалася. Але конкретних деталей ми не знаємо, а тому... Проблема не є вирішеною! Попереду ще десятиліття кропіткої роботи. І ні, йдеться не про Агенцію "Локвуд і Ко", а всієї британської науки. Ми дізналися таємницю Пенелопи Фіттес, але... Ви вже зрозуміли логіку, так? Хто такий Єзекієль? Чому в шафі зберігався цей артефакт? Звідки браслет? Чому браслет? Я змішую головні питання з другорядними, а частину головних не озвучую, бо не хочу спойлерити. По-третє, Страуд зв'язує головні сюжетні лінії, за якими ми слідували від першого тому. Але Страуд не пояснює всього, що було в цьому світі. Чому Руперт міг бачити привидів?! Адже йому явно за двадцять! І це прийом, який я б назвав так: Страуд не "закриває" створений ним світ. Закривши книгу, ви розумієте, що - як би це дивно не звучало! - альтернативний Лондон продовжує існувати. Вже не на сторінках книги, але в нашій уяві. Як на мене, це дуже майстерно. Не всі автор(к)и вміють так писати фінали. Не всі автор(к)и вміють так описувати вигадані світи.

Агенція "Локвуд і Ко" - цикл, який однозначно варто прочитати!

П.С. І трошки вже особистого. Також без спойлерів, але і не дуже до теми. Цей цикл мені сподобався більше, ніж "трилогія" Бартімеуса.
(Пишу слово "трилогія" в лапках, бо там чотири частини, але четверта - приквел, який ні на що вже не впливає, а написаний для тих, кому бракує Бартімеуса. "Перстень Соломона" - це розповідь про пригоди Бартімеуса в Античності.)

Але для мене ці цикли будуть пов'язаними, бо я й далі буду вперто вірити, що Череп-що-шепоче - це Бартімеус. Просто його доля метає між альтернативними Лондонами: в одному є Проблема, в іншому - магія та джини. Лондони міняються, а Бартімеус такий же людяний, але саркастичний.

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 Stars.

When I wanted to start with Lockwood & co. I lowkey challenged to myself to finish this book within a month. And the most unbelievable thing happened to me, I was being able to finish the entire series in only one weekend (alright maybe it took me an entire weekend plus a couple of more days before that). But I never imagined to be able to do that. It's been too many years since I read a whole series in only a few days.

I grew so much attached to these characters in only a short period of time. I'm kind of sad that the series ends with this book, because I don't mind reading about these characters again and them going on to new adventures and hunting ghosts. I'll miss them so much, I actually miss them already and it only has been less than a week since I finished this series.

How can I describe 'Lockwood & co. in few words: charismatic, charming, enjoyable, funny, heartfelt, mysterious, chilling and loveable.

[Sade · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars
For some reason i can't totally fathom right now, i've always thought of this series as YA and not middle grade. Boy was i proved wrong with this one. While i'm glad to have finally come to the end of this series, i really think this was one of the weakest books in the series.

In typical Lockwood and Co. fashion, for the first half of the book, you are treated to a pointless ghost job the gang undertakes that has no bearing on the main story because God forbid Stroud actually concentrates on the main story from the start of the book to the end. Then, time and time again, Lucy reminds us of how suave Lockwood is, how put together he is, oh that smile, oh that fearlessness, oh the bravery, the way the wind always seemed to tousle his hair, unflappable demeanour. Wait, am i repeating myself? That's exactly what that Lucy character did every freaking time.

I really think Stroud did a GREAT disservice to her character. When you're first introduced to her, she seems capable, good head on her shoulders, basically a good female lead that's sure to kick ass. Fast forward 2 books later and suddenly she's losing her shit over a boy and acting like a total bitch over a boy????? She suddenly can't function properly as an agent? Like for real, can i get a female lead that can fall in love - even though it really wasn't needed in this series as far as i'm concerned- and still be freaking capable. I mean WTF!!! Her every waking thought was Lockwood did this, Lockwood did that.
It was so nauseating🤮🤮.

I don't know if this is like a thing when writing about characters set in Britain, but holy shit smokes, these guys were unbelievably polite. There were just some instances that i was like "How is this the proper response/reaction to something of this magnitude?" There's a certain part where the gang decides to steal something that could help them solve the mystery of the empty grave only deciding to do so after George was almost beaten to death so obviously you know the baddies weren't fucking around and then Lockwood goes

"We needn't be embarrassed doing this..."

Me: TF???

or when Lucy finally meets the main baddie and gets the whole gist of the story and she goes

"This is an atrocious thing. A wicked crime"

Me: ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

Minor Peeve: Every time the gang had to take tea and open a digestive. Like i get that tea and biscuits is a big part of the British culture, but i have a hard time wrapping my head around teenagers that want to pop the kettle on every freaking time to have tea and digestives. Not once did anyone take soda. Not once!!!

Finally, apparently Holly is black girl???!! *GASP* but her hair swishes like gossamer???

Not like your hair can't swish like gossamer if you're a black girl but what are the odds of that happening really?

While i absolutely love The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye and Ptolemy's Gate by Stroud, the Lockwood series definitely isn't a strong fave of mine from the author (some books in the series were definitely stronger than others)

I leave you with some of my favourite fawning of Lucy over Lockwood:

♥️A gentle wind swept his hair back, set the ends of his coat flapping.

♥️His hand rested on his rapier hilt. He looked pensive, as if he was gazing into the future & finding something sad. It made my heart hurt to see him.

♥️He came to stand beside me. The sunlight was still on him. Right then, he was close to the idea i'd always had of him; the picture i saw in my mind's eye when drawing near to sleep

📌The first 3 paragraphs of chapter 26
📌That time she went all moony in chapter 4

Dammit Lucy!!!


All in all, not a bad series as a whole but really disappointed with the direction the book went with in the end. Upset with the way Lucy's character was basically trashed and i really don't even get how these kids even survived. I mean the baddies had freaking guns and they had swords. UGH!!! But meh, it's fiction and the heroes win in the end so why not?

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remains one of my early YA fantasy series!! this series is so well written and a little bit creepy haha that I probably would be back and reread it some time in future.

[Scott Hitchcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

All 5 books of the series 3.5*'s.

An enjoyable UF series about teen ghost hunters set in London. This series is very kid friendly and has enough cheeky humor and entertaining plot lines to keep adults entertained as well. I did this series on audio and the narration was also very good.

This book wrapped up all of the series long plot lines in a good fashion. As a middle school series should be the everything is very straightforward and a good introduction to fantasy for those who are new to it. Although action packed there isn't anything too scary for younger readers or listeners.

I'd highly recommend this series as a read or listen with the kids. Audio to breakup a long car ride vs listening to are we there yet.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I'd realized sooner how perfect this series is for insomnia reading.
Oh well, hopefully there will be more.
But if not, that's ok, too; this ended pretty cleanly.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It was a time of beginnings, and a time of endings.”

After the events of The Creeping Shadow, the group set off to prove the Skull’s story right: that Marissa Fitts hasn’t actually been laid to rest and she’s been posing as her granddaughter Penelope for years. As the title implies, they do indeed find an empty grave. How Marissa could possibly remain alive and looking as young as she does remains a mystery. The mystery of the empty grave isn’t the only thing occupying their time though. They’re battling the Fitts agency to remain in business when Marissa announces that all small agencies will be absorbed into one and they must also deal with a fairground haunted by La Belle Dame Sans Merci (The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy) who psychically enchain her victims after alluring them with her beauty. Never a dull moment with Lockwood & Co.

“We’ve worked wonders to get here, and we won’t panic now. If we’re right, there won’t be anything to worry about. If we’re wrong, we deal with it, as we always do. […] But we won’t be wrong. We’re on the verge of something big here. It’s going to be good!”

Kipps adjusted his goggles dolefully. “Since when has anything good happened in a crypt? It’s going to be bad by definition.”

It seems rare that a series possesses such a fantastic story in addition to a brilliant cast of characters. It always makes me cringe when books are constantly being compared to Harry Potter, but the friendship dynamic in Lockwood & Co. is certainly comparable. Of course, it also has that Ghostbusters/X-Files angle that sets it apart. Lockwood himself is quite the complex character with a growing death wish that comes to a peak in this final story. His dark backstory gets dealt out in small servings involving a sister that was ghost-touched at a young age and parents that both died under mysterious circumstances. We see all this through the eyes of Lucy and while the two have been developing an almost reluctant romance since the start of the series, it deserves mention that it never overwhelms the story itself or any of the supporting characters. I originally picked this series up because of my love for a good ghost story and while I’m not often scared by them these days, Stroud still manages to include lines that’ll leave tingles down your spine.

“Her jagged mouth opened in welcome; she was like a deep-sea fish swallowing her prey. As she hugged him close, blue veins of ice ran swiftly down his skin. [Name omitted] limbs jerked and thrashed; he tried to speak, but could only make a gargling sound as he was drawn back into the dark.”

Being that this is the series finale, there’s always the issue with wrapping up all loose ends. What happened to Lockwood’s parents? What caused the rampant increase in hauntings in recent years? How has Marissa Fitts managed to retain her youth for so long? Who is the skull in the jar and what will become of him? And of course, what will become of Lockwood & Co.? I’m notoriously displeased with the majority of series endings but I’m so relieved that this wasn’t the case with The Empty Grave since I’ve been a diehard fan from the very beginning. It retained the perfect balance of creepy and humor (with help in that department from Skull) and resolved unanswered questions without giving it that “and they all lived happily ever after” type of ending that I so dislike. I started Ominous October back in 2014 and The Screaming Staircase was one of the first books I posted about. It’s always heartbreaking to see an amazing story come to an end but I was so pleased to see these fantastic characters get the story they deserve. Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and even Kipps… but I’ll still miss Skull the most.

“These spirits are a bit showy,” the skull said. “All that hooting and cackling. You don’t see me doing that. I ask you, where’s the class?”

[nuin giliath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'ALL.*

THIS. BOOK.

No wait... scratch that ...

THIS. SERIES.

This entire series made me FEEL so many things. I had no idea when I started these books that I'd be this attached by the end. How am I going to be able to move on after this? *spoiler*: I probably won't. 😭

Even though I had become accustomed to the format of the previous books, I was pleased that this installment offered a slight deviation from the "norm". There was instead a greater focus on the Problem itself with all of the various plots finally converging toward an ultimate resolution.

As far as spooky scenes, this book was more on par with The Whispering Skull as there were a few, but nothing quite as terrifying as what I experienced from the other three books. (Of course, there was at least one staircase involved. 😱) Even without all of the typical scary cases, there was still plenty of action throughout as well as moments where I held my breath because I was afraid of how things might end for these characters.

Speaking of the characters… Stroud did an incredible job at creating such memorable and likable characters. As much as I will forever adore the original trio, I ended up loving all of the members of "team Lockwood" before too long. Each one was unique and had something they could contribute to the group. They were completely loyal to each other and fought hard against anyone who was trying to take them down.

While I absolutely adore both Lockwood and Lucy independently, they were at their best when they were together. They made a great team and I loved seeing their relationship evolve over the course of this series. They are so precious and I can't believe I have been fangirling THIS HARD over a couple of fictional characters. ❤

The humor also remained a high point with the Skull delivering some of the BEST lines out of anyone. He may seem harsh and insensitive at times - especially with his constant jabs at Lucy or his frequently expressed desire for more violence along with the deaths of everyone he meets - but he became one of the most enjoyable parts of the entire series.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with how this ended even though I'm devastated that it's now over. This was such a fantastic series filled with action, excitement, horror, friendship, and humor. I truly can't recommend it enough.



*I feel like I need to make a disclaimer that I don't use or say "y'all" in real life, but I'm just so destroyed by this that I'm not even myself anymore.

[Veronique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all-time favourite series. One that I keep coming back to, especially at this time of the year.

Stroud has crafted one hell of a brilliant setting, complex, believable, and utterly fascinating with its Problem: a world infected by supernatural beings that reduces humans to seek refuge at night in fear for their lives. Since adults cannot ‘see’ these ghostly apparitions, children and teenagers are roped in to become operatives, fighting these nefarious manifestations, often to their deaths.

As compelling as this is, the real strength of these novels resides in the cast. Our original trio shines! Lockwood with his charm and ‘death-wish’; courageous, pastry-lover George, the ultimate researcher; and our narrator, Lucy, dedicated, loyal, and powerful in her skill. Not only this, but the author is not afraid to shake things by adding new members, first Holly, then Quill, each changing the fabric of the team but ultimately strengthening it. The Skull is a firm favourite of course, hilarious in his sarcastic self. Each personality grows slowly throughout the series, the author uncovering aspects of them, little by little. You’d think the secondary characters would pale in comparison, but they don’t, each an intrinsic piece of the whole puzzle.

This last instalment doesn’t disappoint either. Stroud brings all the strands from the previous books together and shape them into one great finale. Once more we have a thrilling adventure - a huge mystery to solve - with danger and horror at each corner, interspersed with witty dialogue and humour.

[Ardent Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an epic discovery from the Lockwood and Co'.
Will miss the adventures with the Lockwood team since the solved the ghost problem.
A great conclusion for the whole series.

[Анастасія Земляна · Rating 5 out of 5]

Найкраща книга серії. Це вже кінець, але ще так багато запитань. Хочеться далі читати про пригоди найкращої команди. Я дуже хочу продовження. А ще хочеться почати спочатку. Це неймовірна серія. Обов’язково її перечитаю.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

And he sticks the landing! Jonathan Stroud, this is a fine series. It's obvious that I loved it because I read the last two books over the last two days and have no regrets over the laundry that didn't get done and the scones that weren't made because I was reading compulsively.

It's clear by now that this was a carefully planned series, with hints dropped early how things were going to go. The Empty Grave brings all the seemingly disparate threads together: Penelope Fittes' long game, Lockwood's past, the mysterious harp symbol on Kipps' stolen goggles, and even a few of the whispering skull's secrets.

The stakes are higher than ever for Lockwood & Co., independent ghostbusting agency that has now incurred the wrath of not one, but both of the major agencies. Impressive! And of course, Lockwood, George, and Lucy can't help but stoke the fires of their ire...by opening Marissa Fittes’s tomb and finding it, unsurprisingly, empty (ish). But with the Fittes Agency swallowing up smaller agencies and infiltrating the highest ranks of DEPRAC, Lockwood & Co is under acute threat - no longer so much by the dead (still challenging, though), but by the living.

I love how carefully the rules of this world are crafted: our young heroes can sense the dead, but they are not all powerful and have no magical abilities to defend themselves with. Ghost touch remains a threat everytime they face a Visitor. Yet even when the action is breathless and the horrors are imminent, there's an irreverent and blackly effervescent sense of humor. The skull remains sardonic and homicidal, a combination that I adore. Lucy, Lockwood, and George all do some fast growing up, some of it painful, and some of it - like their friendship and trust in each other while continuing to squabble - joyous.

The ending is, to my mind, perfect. It's hard to hit just the right note in an ending of a series, easy to make tidy happily ever afters. This is not tidy: there's some resolution but also an open door, hope for a desired outcome but no promises. Absolutely splendid stuff.

[tamsbookishsideoflife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hallo meine Lieben,
diese Rezension ist voller frischer Emotionen, da ich das Buch gerade erst beendet habe. Natürlich ohne Spoiler.
Der 5. Und letzte Band der Lockwood & Co. Reihe bekommt von mir 4 von 5 Sterne. Ich bin sehr begeistert von diesem furiosen und gelungenen Ende.
Ich blicke aber dennoch auch mit einem weinenden Auge zurück.. Zum einen, weil mir eine einzige Frage noch brennend auf dem Herzen liegt und weil die Geschichte nun tatsächlich schlicht und ergreifend vorbei ist.
Abschied von all den unglaublich vielschichtigen und liebenswerten Charakteren zu nehmen, ist wirklich schwer. Diese Reihe wird auf jeden Fall nach einiger Zeit noch einmal gelesen und bleibt ein wunderbarer Schatz in meinem Bücherregal!
Hervorragend, hoffentlich schreibt Jonathan Stroud noch mehr solch fantastischer Bücher wie Lockwood & Co. Und Bartimäus.
(Der Schädel hat mich ständig an Bartimäus erinnert.. Herrlich 😋)

[Gesine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am Anfang hätte ich nie gedacht, wie sehr ich diese Reihe lieben würde. Das Ende war perfekt und es bricht mir das Herz, dass ich die Charaktere nicht mehr weiter in ihren Abenteuern begleiten kann. Es ist eins der Bücher, die man am Ende einfach nur umarmt und gleichzeitig heulen möchte.

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS because oh my freaking god!

Is it weird that while I didn't WANT anyone to die I'm also calling this book a copout for the fact that no one in the main crew died? Probably.

Argh! I enjoyed this series so damn much! I'm going to keep this review short and sweet because I feel like I can't properly articulate everything I love about this series. I just love EVERYTHING about it!

The world is so well-built, the situation with the ghosts and how the Problem has twisted the world. And then the concept of the agencies and the kid agents who have the job of fighting these ghosts it's just freaking cool and amazing!

Stroud honestly has such a refreshing style in that sometimes he doesn't deliver what you expect. And even he doesn't deliver exactly what I want how I want, what he does do ends up blowing me out of the water anyway. The unpredictable nature of his books was just delicious. So many things surprised me and caught me off guard, there were things I didn't even catch or notice until discussing them with someone else and then having a massive moment of realisation.

His writing is just spectacular, beautifully unique and also just superb. I've noticed amongst the Australian authors I have read, they always seem to have a unique style that just sticks out and there's a difference in their writing compared to the sea of other books I read, and I swear I am not just saying that out of pride I truly feel that way. With this series - Lockwood and Co, the Ranger's Apprentice series and A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G Drews being the specific books I have in mind, these Aussie books just have their own unique style, and I freaking love it.

Stroud's characters are just so endearing! I felt so immersed in Lucy's perspective without the feeling that I was the person in the story, which can frequently happen to me when I read first person perspective books. But Lucy felt so real, she was her own presence. And I loved her.

George is freaking adorable and sassy and precious and I just want to hug his grumpy ass and give him all the cake he wants.

I actually loved how Holly came to have such spunk as time went on but also the joke of her healthy eating all the time was pretty hilarious, I say that because I would do the joking, because I don't eat healthy, at all. Not sorry. But the moments Lucy had with Holly in this one were really nice, and then there were some other very interesting little things hinted to about Holly... ooh...

Then there's Kipps. Can we talk about how freaking awesome Kipps became later in the series?! And this book was the pinnacle of it. Kipps dry humour was just a pleasure and seeing him and George go at it was just priceless. But I also live for Kipps' soft side. Kipps is just amazing.

And then... Lockwood. The enigma wrapped up in all his charm and coolness and mystery. I. Am freaking. In love. Lockwood is just the most endearing in the crew, especially when a lot of his feelings and his story finally come to light in this book. How he grieves his parents and his sister and he's all alone in the world and he hides his pain and buries his emotions under humour and charm and a fierce drive to fight against the Problem, hardly even caring about where he ends up. That graveyard scene with Lucy was to die for - see what I did there? And when he got ensnared by the ghost and Lucy had to save him! Oh my heart! But then when he could finally find meaning in his family's deaths because he found out the truth, that they were killed because of what they knew, and the change that just comes over him, ah! I freaking love him. I love him and Lucy. The way he's just so smooth but also so damn dorky and awkward at the same time with her is just food for my soul. When he leaves her the necklace at the end and is like 'remember to look through the papers, don't forget to look through the papers' and Lucy is SO freaking oblivious and it's just priceless. I want to wrap them up and hug them and keep them safe from the world. And then that final fight in the climax when he comes to help her is just the best. And when he holds her as the bomb explodes. Again, MY HEART! I honestly think Lockwood has cemented his place as one of my favourites. Just as this series has.

Can we just talk about something? OMG I almost freaking DIED when I thought Kipps was dead. I legit thought he was dead and I was FREAKING as I read it I was just like 'It's him, he's the one who was going to die he's the one who's not going to make it!' Because the blurb of the book hinted that 'not everyone will come out of it alive', but then the book seemed to be foreshadowing so hard that LOCKWOOD was going to die with his empty grave waiting for him and everything, then it slowly built up with Kipps being so strong on the Other Side and then the realisation slowly creeps in that he's freaking DYING and it hit me from left field like a ton of bricks. I completely thought he was gone honestly so it was a complete surprise to me when he survived.

And then the SKULL! CAN WE FREAKING TALK ABOUT THE SKULL????????!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy. Freaking. Shit! How he just effortlessly blows the other ghost into oblivion. He's the ghost of a teenage boy yet he was more powerful then whatever that creepy Ezekiel was. But how he was so damn smug with Lucy afterward and was like 'yeah I totally didn't mean to do that I just wanted to exert my energy it wasn't to help you' or 'hehe I could kill Lockwood' and Lucy just doesn't give a damn because she knows he won't. The whole thing about Lucy destroying his jar was really something. And then when he SACRIFICED himself for Lucy and Lockwood because they wouldn't leave each other before the bomb went off so he protects them. HOLY ACTUAL SHIT! Best. thing. ever! I actually fully thought his source got incinerated so he was gone but then Stroud gave us that little tease in the end and gah! I don't know what to think! The only thing I'm a little sad about is I really wished we could have known the skull's name, I don't believe he's just 'forgotten it'. But oh well. He will always be Skully to me.

I really hope Stroud makes some sort of return to this series in the future. I will be there for it.

This book was a freaking rollercoaster! And I LIVED for it!

I haven't had so much fun with a series like this in forever. This series has been a highlight of my reading year this year. And I will gladly relieve it again and again in the future.
Thank you Lara for introducing me to this series ;)

I nearly want to reread this series now. And that to me, is a very good sign of my favour. I'd say a reread is due very soon. And gladly.