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It’s not very often, I think, that the second book in a series — especially one where the story is not building on the previous book — is as good than the first one. The Whispering Skull is one of those rare instances.
First off, it was wonderful to be back with Lockwood, George, and Lucy. Lockwood was as reckless and charming as ever; Lucy was still the glue that held the company together. But George was really the focus of this story. He got his moment in the spotlight, and was something more than the bookish, slightly overweight Other Guy.
The mystery this time is centered around a body Lockwood, Lucy, and George are hired to help secure. A couple of grave excavators have found a grave site that wasn’t supposed to be there, containing the body of one Edmund Bickerstaff, who was a leading paranormal and psychic experimenter in Victorian times. It turns out that he was experimenting with things he shouldn’t have been, creating a Bone Glass which was supposed to give you a view into the afterlife, but instead kills anyone who looks at it.
Soon after the excavation, however, the Bone Glass is stolen, and Lockwood & Co. are in a fierce competition with their rivals at Fittes to solve the mystery.
Oh, and yes, the whispering skull of the title does play a fairly major role.
There are so many brilliant things about this book, from the pacing and the hilarious asides to the action-adventure feel. It’s wonderful that you don’t really have to read The Screaming Staircase to enjoy this one. There are a few references to the previous book, but nothing happened in it that you have to know before picking this one up. Additionally, even though there are teasers for the next book (which can’t come out soon enough), the story in this one wraps completely up.
I love it when a series so completely entertains me.
Rated: Mild for a couple of instances of mild swearing and some intense moments.
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Hi Melissa, did you mean to say this book is as good as the first one, or better than the first one? Thanks for the review.
Well, I suppose that depends. I think it’s as good as the first one. Maybe better. But definitely as good.