The Midnight Zoo Crew Book 3: The Phantom Below the Glass
Author: Eric Henry · Publisher: Questbound Studios Ltd · First edition: 2026 · ISBN: 978-1-0669226-8-0 · Recommended age: 8–12. The finished edition identifies this as Book Three and the concluding volume of the trilogy.
Short product description
A pale face has appeared beneath the glass of Whistlewick Zoo’s oldest aquarium. As animal voices begin travelling through pipes and water, the Midnight Zoo Crew uncover Nix, a mysterious giant salamander, an ancient underwater bell and a secret capable of changing the relationship between humans and animals forever.
The thrilling, emotional final adventure in the Midnight Zoo Crew trilogy.
Long product description
The Midnight Zoo Crew’s final case begins with a face smiling beneath the aquarium glass.
Asha and her friends are finally preparing to leave Whistlewick Zoo when a strange creature appears inside a drained aquarium tank.
It has four long toes, feathery gills and a wide mouth that looks like a smile.
Its name is Nix.
Hidden beneath the aquarium is an ancient network of tunnels, mineral-lit waterways and forgotten chambers connected to Whistlewick’s clock tower and Snow Leopard Mountain. Deep inside that network lie three glowing eggs—and one of them has disappeared.
Soon, animal voices begin leaking through sinks, radiators and water pipes even when the clock has not struck thirteen. Three mysterious glass lenses are missing. A figure wearing an antique diving helmet moves through the tunnels. And Dr Elara Voss, a specialist in animal communication, appears determined to unlock Whistlewick’s secret—whatever the cost.
The trail leads the crew towards the Listening Pool, a vast underwater bell and a system built long ago to carry animal voices throughout the zoo.
But the system was never meant to remain open.
As water runs backwards, foundations begin to crack and every animal voice becomes part of one overwhelming storm, Asha, Zeke, Frankie, Max and their new friend June must cross flooded tunnels and breaking glass passages to reach the hidden Listening Chamber.
There, the crew face their hardest decision: protect the extraordinary gift that has made their adventures possible—or protect the animals who trusted them.
The ancient rules require four listeners to choose together, while June’s ability to understand vibration rather than spoken sound becomes central to saving Whistlewick.
Funny, suspenseful and full of emotion, The Phantom Below the Glass brings every major thread of the trilogy together: the clock tower, the buried river, Snow Leopard Mountain, the magical badges and the mystery of why Whistlewick’s animals can speak.
It is a story about courage, responsibility and the difference between truly listening to animals and demanding that they communicate only in ways humans understand.
Perfect for young readers who enjoy:
- Aquarium and underwater mysteries
- Talking animals and magical secrets
- Giant salamanders and unusual wildlife
- Flooded tunnels and hidden chambers
- Friendship, courage and difficult choices
- Conservation and respect for animals
- Exciting illustrated fiction for ages 8–12
This is Book Three, the final volume in The Midnight Zoo Crew trilogy. It is best read after The Mystery of the Missing Roar and The Secret of Snow Leopard Mountain. The ending deliberately closes the magical mystery while showing that the crew can continue listening and protecting animals without needing the magic