My rating is a generous 5, since I think of this as more a 4.5 star book. Still, because I so enjoyed the Bartimaeus graphic novel and the first title in that series, and I downgraded their stars, I figured it was time to bump up on of Jonathan Stroud's titles. 
 I started reading this aloud to my 12 and 14 year old sons, while we waited for [Gone] to arrive. When it did, we were only 100 or so pages into this book, and my 12 year old wanted to finish it first, as did I. Yet the older son was done with ghosts and characters that were younger than him, so I continued reading this to just my younger son (I also read the first Bartimaeus to him), who gives it 4 stars. 
 Stroud knows how to develop characters so that the reader gains a very clear picture of who they are, and what they are like, and then can't help but form a bond with them. Lucy, Lockwood, and George each have strikingly different personalities, and must figure out how to work together to better deal with the Problem. You see, during this time, many of the dead have taken to haunting the living, and numerous companies have sprung up to combat the Problem. Further, only kids possess the talent required to properly fight the ghosts. Lockwood & Co. is the only company that foregoes the use of adult supervisors. It's just the kids, their talents, and their wits. 
 Stroud's "kid" books often read like more adult titles to me, and this is a good thing, especially for smarter kids...and their parents who may be reading it. From a read-aloud perspective, I appreciate the many variations on "so-and-so SAID" (such as 'growled', 'commented', or 'murmured') that Stroud offers. Or, often Stroud leaves out the whole 'said' part, which is fine since his writing is strong enough that readers can easily figure out who is saying what. That other book I mentioned, [Gone], I wish I had some money for every dang time I have read blah blah SAID. 
 So, the characters are fantastic. The atmosphere is suitably spooky and creepy, and possibly too dark even for some sensitive younger tweens. The premise is captivating. The plot and mystery is solid, even though it did remind me a bit of Scooby Doo. 
 Overall it's a great book, and I can't wait for the second one!