Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Consistently great ghost series keeps the scares coming.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE CREEPING SHADOW, after leaving Lockwood & Co., Lucy starts work as a freelance ghost-catcher. With her talent to actually hear the ghosts she captures getting stronger all the time, she's in high demand at all the other agencies -- in such high demand that Lockwood comes knocking on her door asking for help with a particularly malevolent ghost, a cannibal during his life. In fact, Penelope Fittes herself, from one of the top two agencies dealing with "The Problem," as they call it, asked for Lucy specifically. Lockwood and Ms. Fittes both try to convince Lucy, and she's torn. She gave up Lockwood & Co. because she saw a vision of Lockwood getting hurt because of her. In the end she decides that one freelance gig couldn't hurt. After the very dangerous job is done, Lucy is ready to get back to her independence. But that's not to be. She goes home to find her apartment ransacked and a valuable ghost jar gone -- it's a Type 3 spirit she can talk to that often helps her on cases. Her determination to track down the culprits puts her in serious danger, leaving her no choice but to seek help the one place she's trying to avoid: Lockwood & Co.
Is It Any Good?
If you love the other books in this deliciously creepy and slyly humorous series -- as any fan of ghost stories should -- you'll dig right into this fourth installment. The characters, especially Lucy and Lockwood, remain vibrant in The Creeping Shadow and continue to grow their ghost-catching talents. Lockwood is as cocksure as always and here reveals both more of a reckless side and a bigger soft spot for Lucy. In fact, the Lucy-Lockwood partnership has a real X-Files Mulder-Scully vibe to it. They're so obsessed with their work they'll never know they're perfect for each other.
Along the same X-Files lines, there's an undercurrent of conspiracy throughout. Where did "The Problem" come from? Did certain players in the ghost-catching business make it worse? What do they know? What are they hiding? It all adds an extra intriguing layer to all the excitement of chasing some truly frightening ghosts. The Creeping Shadow creeps one tiny step closer to figuring out the cause of all these hauntings -- but luckily not too close. Readers have more time and more volumes to enjoy in this consistently great series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scary stuff in The Creeping Shadow. Was it ever too scary for you? What parts stuck with you? Do you think you'd like to work for Lockwood & Co.?
Lockwood & Co. keeps getting bigger. What do the new members add to the team? What does Lockwood & Co. offer that the adult-run agencies can't?
How does The Creeping Shadow compare with others in the series? Will you read the next book? Do you think they will get any closer to solving "The Problem" (how ghosts got to England to begin with)?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , History , Fantasy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : September 13, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 464
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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