The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners (Elston-Fright #3) by Reece Carter

Title: The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners (Elston-Fright #3)

Author: Reece Carter

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 1^st April 2025

Format: Paperback

Pages: 352

Price: $18.99

Synopsis: Wishes can come true in the spooky seaside town of Elston-Fright but only if the mysterious Soul Spinners’ Notes can be found. A spine-tingling adventure that answers all the questions that have been buzzing around Corpse, Girl and their friends, by the bestselling author of A Girl Called Corpse.

‘Imaginative and exciting.’ Judith Rossell, bestselling author of The Midwatch

There are two things about the Soul Spinners’ greatest creation on which everyone agrees – one, that the Notes have the power to grant a single wish, and two … that the Notes are lost.

When a ghost-eating wraith appears in the forgotten seaside town of Elston-Fright searching for the magical Notes, it’s enough to make any kid ghost a bit nervous. Faye de Corail may have the townsfolk under her spell, but Girl, Corpse and their friends are determined to stay out of her way.

After old foes resurface and a child is snatched, Girl and Corpse begin to piece together a sinister plan that not only threatens the lives of their friends, families and the people of Elston-Fright, it may send them all to Death Proper too.

Somehow, at the heart of the mystery, lies the truth about both kid ghosts. Who are Girl and Corpse really? What is their connection to the lost Notes? And will they find answers before it’s too late?

The enchanting conclusion to the bestselling and highly acclaimed Elston-Fright Tales series.

~*~

Flip, Corpse, Girl and Simon are back, as is the spooky seaside town of Elston-Fright to conclude their adventures and find out who Girl and Corpse really are, and where their families are. But when a ghost-eating reef wraith called Faye de Corail arrives seeking the Notes, the kid ghosts are terrified. With the entire town apart from the ghost kids, Simon, Flip, and a few others under her spell, the reef-wraith is determined to eat the ghosts. And the ghosts just want to stay out of her way. Until a child is taken by an old foe – so Girl and Corpse set about finding out what the awful plan Faye de Corail has instore for the living and dead of Elston-Fright. But there’s more than that going on – finally, Girl and Corpse might finally find out the truth about themselves, and how they are connected to the lost Notes. But are they going to be able to find answers before it is too late?

The final book in the Elston-Fright series starts with a bang – bringing readers back into the world of ghosts and magic, and the wondrous world of Elston-Fright. These books are equal parts funny, spooky and adventurous, where the kid ghosts run the show and the story pings between the perspectives of Girl and Corpse as they fight the reef-wraith, hunt for the Notes and seek to find out more about who they are, and the answers to the questions they have had for years, or at least their entire death. Often, novels with ghosts make them weird or scary, something to be feared because they’re such an unknown entity, everyone tends to associate them with horror. Not so in this fantastic series. The ghosts are clever and magical, and innovative. Corpse managed to build herself a body out of wax, shells and seaweed, and Girl has managed to enchant a cloak and gloves. These elements are a lot of fun, and I think make the ghosts unique. They simply exist in their world, and they bring it to life. So to speak, I guess. As much as ghosts can bring something to life.

Everything that has been hinted at in the first two books has led here, and getting the answers readers have been seeking is well worth the read. It’s a layered story that takes what we know about spooks, ghosts and other supernatural creatures, uses what is known and makes something new and innovative that shines a light on the power of imagination, love and family. The power of unity is a key theme throughout this novel, celebrating how people and ghosts can come together to take on a common enemy – someone who wants to hurt everyone for their own benefit. It brings ideas about wishes and magic together, how everything is its own entity and then everything comes together. Because there are some things that might seem as though they are unrelated. And it is how Reece brings it all together and ties the threads of the entire story all together in its finale. The magic is woven throughout the story, and the ghosts are my favourite characters – my favourite ghost characters from any book or series.

This was a great way to end the series – where things start coming together and giving the series its finality that it needs to ensure everyone has hope and joy, where people find out who they are and where they fit into the world. It’s a story about fitting in as well, about finding your place in the world but also about being yourself. There’s power in family, friends and unity. And Reece Carter has captured all of this brilliantly in this series, and the finale is sure to please its fans.