A Ghost In The Garden is the third book in the Justice Jones series for junior readers, by British author, Elly Griffiths. For the Autumn Term of 1937, Justice is looking forward to her return to Highbury House, School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. She will miss her dad, but is eager to catch up with her friends, especially Stella and Dorothy.

They learn at assembly that they have a new Matron, and a (quirky, it turns out later) new art teacher who has very unconventional teaching methods, as well as a new gardener. Justice is stunned to be made Form Captain, and very pleased when Stella is made Form Sports Captain.

A new student is inserted into the Barnowls Dormy, and has the whole school agog with her casual defiance of school rules, apparently with impunity: could this be because the Honorable Letitia Blackstock’s father is a peer? Letty seems to have an enthusiasm for horse-riding and mischief, earning Justice order marks and lines.

She seems eager to be friends with Justice, but are her overtures of friendship genuine? It is disturbing for Justice that she seems to want to supplant the best friend roles that Stella and Dorothy currently hold, both of whom soon take offence.

Then, after a midnight feast in the old barn and a sighting of the school ghost, one of the girls from her Dormy goes missing. Is it an elaborate prank? A ransom note formed from a crime novel seems to indicate not. When she finds a similarly fashioned note summoning her to a midnight rendezvous at the (haunted) Tower, Justice, never able to resist such intrigue, .ignores strict orders from the headmistress to stay in, to her detriment.

Justice’s narrative is supplemented by letters to and from her father, Herbert Jones KC, and entries into her journal. In this instalment, Justice gets to ride a horse, spends time in sick bay, is thrilled to be charged with a duty to keep her eyes and ears open by DI Deacon of Scotland Yard, and surprised to be enlisted to help snobbish sixth-former, Helena Bliss.

This is another delightful novel for young readers that can be equally enjoyed by those of a more advanced vintage. More of Justice Jones is definitely welcome. Recommended!