High Spirits

Winner in Young Adult category of the Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award (formerly the Independent Author Book Awards)



“Millions of people will die in the war, Ellie.  And it’s our job to make sure it happens.  That’s why our work isn’t easy.”


It’s been two years since Ellie last spoke to Edward.  She thinks she’s left the spirit world behind.  But the spirits won’t take no for an answer... When Ellie’s Mum returns to Inchwood Manor, Ellie finds herself going too... and is transported back to the 1930s, discovering a plot to impersonate the King of England.


With the Second World War coming, and the first evil spirits starting to escape into the mortal world, Ellie is fighting alongside some unexpected allies...


Rob Keeley is back with High Spirits, the fourth instalment in his multi-award-listed Spirits series.  The series allows young people to learn more about other times, as well as the time in which they live.     


High Spirits sees the series come of age and picks up with the central character, Ellie in her teenage years as she begins to realise the true nature of her abilities as one who talks to ghosts – and to discover her destiny.  It sees her time-travel to the 1930s, as she discovers evil spirits and Nazi sympathisers working together in a way that will change the course of history.  She then discovers the impact that such a change would have.  It’s a compelling ghostly thriller, which also allows some parallels to be drawn with the present day.  It builds the ongoing story arc to a climax, which will be resolved in the fifth and final book of the series.  


High Spirits works both as a stand-alone novel and as one of a series.  It will appeal to girls and boys of upper primary and lower secondary age – and to parents and teachers reading the book aloud.