Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Ghostly Garden by Kate Foster

Title: Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Ghostly Garden

Author: Kate Foster

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Walker Books

Published: 1^st May 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 256

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: Fly to England, become friends with a ghost, and catch a thief with Freddie Jones in the second book of the new mystery series by Kate Foster

Freddie, Hobnob and Grandma Lilly are setting off to England, where Freddie’s parents have been hired to investigate a series of thefts at the luxurious Langbourne Hotel. Freddie’s excited for his first trip to the other side of the world, but Grandma Lilly doesn’t seem her usual self.

When Freddie overhears someone making threats in the garden – and sees a girl that he’s pretty sure is a ghost! – he decides to open a new case for FGH Detectives. Freddie hopes that solving the Case of the Ghostly Garden will pull Grandma Lilly out of her slump … and maybe even help his parents catch the hotel thief, too!

~*~

Freddie, Hobnob and Grandma have another case to solve! They’re off to Kent as Freddie’s parents investigate a series of thefts at a luxurious hotel that has undergone some dramatic changes recently. Freddie is excited to head on his first overseas trip to England and the Langbourne Hotel.

But a combination of hearing threats and seeing a girl who is a ghost spark Freddie’s desire to investigate what is going on, only one third of the FGH Detectives isn’t up for much. Surely this new case will pull Grandma Lilly out of her slump. Things aren’t quite right about the new owner, Roy Percy.

As Freddie, Hobnob and Grandma start to look into the thefts and strange goings on around the hotel, the owner makes them feel less than welcome. Things aren’t as they seem, and Freddie is sure the ghost can help them, until other people see her. Soon, things are getting a bit more complicated and interesting, because Freddie is determined to bring Grandma Lilly out of her slump, and he might even help his parents solve their investigation too!

The second book in the Freddie Jones series is another exciting mystery, taking the characters off to England for a fun new case, new friends and plenty of new experiences as well. Freddie’s journey is always filled with fun and mystery, and this time, things are much more interesting. Freddie is allowed to be his authentic self, and is able to slot into things as he needs to do. But he also finds that he can do things himself, all with the fabulous Hobnob by his side.

The second book captures everything readers loved about the first and more, bringing Freddie’s reality and experiences to life. Freddie is autistic and has anxiety, and Hobnob is his assistance dog. It’s a great continuation of the series, bringing the characters to life so well and eloquently, allowing Freddie’s voice to shine through. It’s a great #OwnVoices mystery book for the middle grade audience, and I loved that Freddie found ways to grow and evolve, but still hold true to himself as well. It made things realistic and relatable for readers like Freddie.

I really enjoyed this book and its continuation of Freddie and his journey, and I think it’s great to see autistic people represented in all different ways in fiction. We need to see these representations for all ages, and I think that kids’ books are doing a great job of this right now. This was a fun read, and one that I think readers will adore.