Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Cryptic Creatures by Kate Foster

Title: Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Cryptic Creatures

Author: Kate Foster

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Published: 1^st September 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 256

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: Join Freddie Jones on an adventure to Spain in the third book in the new mystery series by award-winning author Kate Foster

Freddie’s third adventure is unlike anything he’s done before – a family reunion in Andalusia, Spain, to celebrate his great-grandma Alba’s 100th birthday. Freddie is glad to have Hobnob and Grandma Lilly with him, because being around so many unfamiliar people makes Freddie’s worries multiply. It doesn’t help that Dad’s family has a ‘complicated’ history that Freddie doesn’t understand.

But the beautiful countryside of Andalusia is a good distraction – and so are the cryptic creatures! There have been sightings of a wolf long thought to be extinct, disappearing snakes are terrorising hotel guests, and strange beetle worms are appearing on olive trees. Freddie, Hobnob and Grandma Lilly have a new case to solve …

~*~

Freddie, Grandma and Hobnob are back for their third mystery. This time, they’re headed to a family reunion in Spain for Freddie’s great-grandmother’s 100^th birthday. But things are very uncertain. There’s a lot of new people, so Freddie’s worries have multiplied. Will everyone understand why he has Hobnob? When he gets there, everyone like Sasha, Paco and Isabella seem nice, but he’s not sure about Uncle Tony or Gramps.

Andalusia is going to be fun to explore though, with the stories about the wolves and special purple butterflies that haven’t been seen for years. That is, until the wolf, thought to be extinct, starts terrorising the guests. Not to mention the disappearing snakes, the beetle worms in the olive trees and everything else. It’s a whole new case to solve.

The latest in the Freddie Jones series is about family, secrets and finding out what needs to be done to help when things look like they are dire. Dad’s family’s history is complicated, and everyone is being secretive which makes Freddie worry more. There’s secret journals as well, and whispers about the wolf and butterfly reappearing, yet as Freddie finds out, there’s something off. Something doesn’t feel quite right.

With everyone absorbed with making Alba’s 100^th birthday perfect, Freddie gets to look into the strange goings on. He wants to focus on this trip, and make sure he can get through it. Grandma Lilly is very distracted by her book on Canada and planning their next adventure. Poor Freddie just wants to get through this trip and survive the large, exuberant family. They’re lovely though, despite the worries and everything going on, and I quite liked the way some of the family members were with Freddie.

What this book does is continue the authentic representation of Freddie and his autism, and sees him grow throughout the series, learning what his limits are, and how he learns to cope with different environments. He’s allowed to be himself, and even when there are a few things that might make things go a bit hinky for him, he’s allowed to be who he is. There was a lovely instance where he found a way to cope with things, where he found a way to settle his brain so he could work through things and I loved that scene. Because it not only showed Freddie engaging with his great-grandmother and learning what slowing down and focusing could do for him, I think it also showed that the little things are what can matter. It showed that there are people who just get us. People who can understand us without needing explanation.

I felt this was beautiful. I loved that they connected in a different way to Freddie and Grandma Lilly. It was perfectly written, and Kate is adept at creating authentic autistic characters. She ensures that each autistic character is different, that they all do what they need to do in the ways that matter to them. I think the other thing I loved about this book was the way everyone interacted with Freddie and showed him understanding, and that’s what made the story work so well.

Then there’s the mystery, that slowly unfolded throughout the book and the pieces slowly fell into place as Fredie explored the mystery and found out more about what was going on. Things aren’t that easy though, yet everything is carefully put in place, worked into things and eventually comes together, pulling everything in and ensuring that the mystery is fun, interesting and meaningful. I have loved this series, and the way it has come together. This was a great book, and I think it may be the last in the series. It is a wonderful conclusion, but if not, it sets up very nicely for another book.

Loved this one and have loved being on this journey with Freddie!