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Friday Barnes #3

Big Trouble (Friday Barnes) by R.A. Spratt

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Friday Barnes has a new case, and this time it's personal!

When Friday's father turns up out of the blue, he brings his daughter some distressing news - Friday's mother has been kidnapped! But who would want to kidnap a theoretical physicist? The Headmaster needs Friday's help too, when Highcrest Academy is thrown into chaos by the arrival of a beautiful new student - Princess Ingrid of Norway. She's rich, she's royal and she's got her eye on Ian Wainscott. Despite heightened security at the school, things start to go missing. It appears Highcrest Academy has been infiltrated by a master thief, The Pimpernel.

Can Friday crack the case of her missing mother, reign in a royal brat and unmask the elusive Pimpernel? If it means she gets to ditch PE, then of course she can!

Paperback

First published August 1, 2015

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638 people want to read

About the author

R.A. Spratt

46 books362 followers
R.A. Spratt is an award-winning author and television writer. She lives in Bowral, Australia with her husband and two daughters.

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5 stars
945 (62%)
4 stars
379 (25%)
3 stars
151 (10%)
2 stars
19 (1%)
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7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Profile Image for Jacob Proffitt.
3,295 reviews2,142 followers
March 24, 2021
This is third in a series and there's some deliberate flow-through (like the zingers at the Spratt puts at the end of the books). So I recommend reading in order, though you don't really have to.

By this time, the pattern is pretty well-established. Friday investigates a string of oddities and solves them, gaining hints and clues to a broader arc along the way. This is not a bad thing. And I missed the in-hindsight-obvious twist at the end again! Which I find delightful!

I wish more had been done with Friday's father joining the faculty, however. And his character was pretty poorly-defined once it was on-page and in context. And the formula is aging poorly for this adult reader. I'm pretty sure middle-grade readers who are actually middle grade won't feel that fatigue; or at least, not in the same way if they do.

And the illustrations by Phil Gosier continue to be a huge draw that bear mention.

So I'm going to give this four stars. It's on par with the others, but is suffering a bit from series fatigue. I'm still invested in the stories, though, so it's likely I'll pick up the next.
Profile Image for Schizanthus Nerd.
1,317 reviews302 followers
March 13, 2021
Now that Friday has solved the mystery of her missing mother, she and her best friend, Melanie, have arrived back at school, along with Friday’s father. However, Dr Barnes is not the only new arrival at Highcrest Academy. Princess Ingrid of Norway has just arrived in a limousine.
‘But this isn’t a Disney movie,’ whispered Friday. ‘Princesses don’t just pop up out of nowhere.’
There’s also another new student, Debbie. Debbie and Princess Ingrid are roommates and their room is next to Friday and Melanie’s. This is especially convenient for eavesdropping.

With one of the Dr Barnes at Highcrest Academy (there are six of them), we get to see some of the family resemblance. It appears Friday isn’t the only Barnes with a fondness for brown cardigans.
‘I try to be quiet and go unnoticed,’ said Friday. ‘That’s the whole reason I wear brown cardigans so I’ll blend in.’
‘Whatever you’re doing, it’s not working,’ said the Headmaster. ‘So stop it.’
Friday is also now not the sole Barnes to have made their acquaintance with the school’s marble statue of Socrates.

I’ve noticed a few offhand remarks in each book in the series so far that I’ve found cringey. There were a couple of times in this book where derogatory terms were used to describe mental health and, call me overly sensitive if you’d like, but I wasn’t okay with that. I did read a first edition copy of this book so it’s possible that these may not appear in later editions.

Binky, Melanie’s older brother, has plenty of page time in this book and he’s absolutely adorable, in his bumbling way. I expected Friday’s father to have more interactions with his daughter than he did.

The main mystery of this book surrounds the identity and motivation of The Pimpernel, who has been stealing items from the school for many weeks. That doesn’t stop the students from participating in sporting activities, like climbing around attic spaces, playing polo or battling it out in the annual Potato Dash.
‘Something sneaky is going on at Highcrest Academy and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.’
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Profile Image for Darla.
4,762 reviews1,202 followers
August 19, 2018
This series continues to be excellent. The illustrations, the quirky characters and Friday Barnes! Love having her family play more of a role in this one. Since her own family seems to be too absentminded to take care of her, it is good to see her boarding school friends becoming her support system.
Profile Image for chloe !.
28 reviews5 followers
April 7, 2023
This is my favourite in the whole series so far. The amount of plot twists there were was so amazing and i loved how Friday and Ian’s bond was developed a lot more in this one, we also go to know more about Fridays father which i enjoyed. Every one of these books has a BIG plot twist and cliffhanger at the end, but the one in this book was INSANEEE and i’m so tempted to go and get the 4th book and read it RIGHT ,now but I can’t. I’m so excited for when i get to read the next one. I also LOVED blinky and debbie’s connection. Omg I just loved this one and i need more NOW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for J. Peters.
175 reviews13 followers
February 25, 2025
This series, I swear. It's a riot. It's perfect for kids and still hilarious for adults - that's a really hard balance to pull off, and this series does it masterfully.

It's a relatively simple premise, but it sure has a lot of charm to it. I'm three books into it so far, and I still haven't grown tired of the characters and the witty rejoinder that goes on between them. I like that Friday is more established in the school now. Sure, she's still regarded as the weird girl and most people look down on her - figuratively and literally. But she's also the first one everyone comes to whenever a mystery needs solving.

I have to give the writer a lot of credit here. There are so many situations where Friday just has all the answers, having figured something out ages ago but not mentioning it until it's relevant or she's sure. And that has a high risk of seeming pretentious or as though she's too good at being a detective.

But honestly, that's a big part of the charm of this series. I love reading how Friday just outsmarts literally everyone around her. The police, the government, foreign dignitaries, smugglers, you name it. There's no problem she can't solve with enough time to investigate. Even the headmaster has started to come to her on a regular basis to figure things out.

I've given five stars to every book I've read so far in the series, and not a single one has failed to make me laugh when reading it. I really can't ask for more from a kids series. I definitely recommend it, and can't wait to finish it up with the next one - though I hope she releases more.

As always, the artwork by Phil Gosier is fantastic. Not only is the cover vibrant and expressive, the various drawings spread throughout the book are great and really bring the characters to life.

Profile Image for ♡ India ♡.
341 reviews4 followers
January 5, 2023
I forgot how good this series is but like it’s good

I lit love this series sm it’s one of my goals to finish it by the end of the yr. The dialogue is so funny and I love all the characters. The writing gets me hooked and the plot twists aren’t predictable, like whenever I read something unexpected happen during the plot my jaw just drops. Only reason this is 4 not 5 is that I wish the whole mum going missing thing was a bigger issue, like in the blurb it seems like it’s going to be one of the main subplots but it turns out Friday’s mum isn’t missing she just went to Sweden and because she has no common sense she made it seem like she went missing. I feel like that was kinda a lazy way to just shrug that whole thing off imo. Btw that isn’t a spoiler we find that out within like 30 pages lmaooo

But that’s literally my only complaint and I forgot abt it after a bit. Ik this is a kid’s series and all but if u don’t mind read this but make sure to start off with the first book so u aren’t confused ofc 👍👍👍
Profile Image for Saskia Murphy.
3 reviews
November 6, 2025
I loved this book so much and I wish it would never end. The way Friday solves the crime of the Pimpernel and saves her dad from going to Gaol! This book is so intriguing and I can’t wait to read the next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashley Anderson.
166 reviews
October 24, 2025
We are hooked on Friday Barnes! There are such quirky characters (not new and returning )and silly mysteries & plot twists. And so far every book has ended on a cliffhanger, which means we need to buy the next book to see what happens next. We'll played, Spratt, we'll played 😉
Profile Image for ~just one hopeless romantic~.
251 reviews2 followers
April 25, 2021
AHHHHHHH okay lemme get this straight Friday Barnes is not Friday Barnes?! I’M FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!!!!! Okay so this book was great!! All I have to say is Dr. Barnes I think your technically cheating on your wife... FOR A DING DANG COOK!!! This book is very confusing but I think that Ian and Friday have to kiss sooner or later! I think you will enjoy this book!-Friday Barnes lover#1

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
5 reviews
September 2, 2018
I find myself laughing aloud throughout these books. I'm not sure how much of the content and vocabulary would be understood and appreciated by an 8-11 year old, but as an adult I find them hilarious. The stories are well paced and full of action. There are multiple short mysteries throughout each book with one overarching mystery that is only solved at the end of the book. Friday Barnes is a clever youngster, yet in many ways mature beyond her years. If only my school years had been as entertaining as Friday's.
Profile Image for Fatima.
409 reviews27 followers
November 26, 2018
Another brilliant Friday Barnes adventure.

As always, it was super clever, very quick, a page turner, and I adored almost all the characters. One thing I really love about this series is that each character has their quirks and eccentricities but none of them are really looked down on for them - I mean, sure Melanie tells Friday her cardigans are ugly, and Ian can be an annoying git at times. But even when they’re saying things like “Friday you have no idea how to behave in social situations,” they aren’t saying it with malice or while looking down their nose. It’s just an observation that they’ve made. It isn’t good or bad. It just is. I love that.

Everything Friday does is logical and she is completely honest with everyone - except sometimes with teachers of course - and to be honest I kinda wish I were more like her. And Melanie. She’s a brilliant character. I wish I could get away with napping everywhere.

And though this is middle-grade fiction, the crimes and mysteries Friday solves are not simple and easy to solve. They are clever and they show that Friday is actually very smart and intuitive. The book doesn’t talk down to its readers, or make assumptions that they won’t be able to understand clever plots and schemes or how Friday solves certain things. It is written in a way that respects and appreciates the cleverness of its target audience. Which is what makes it so enjoyable to read, even as an adult.

And that’s why I recommend it to everyone. Because while it is targeted or marketed toward a certain age group, it is still smart enough to be appreciated by those of all ages. As C. S. Lewis said, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” This is a wonderful children’s story.
Profile Image for The Keepers of the Books.
573 reviews9 followers
June 12, 2017
Friday Barnes and back and, this time, it’s personal. Various cases she has to solve include her mother being kidnapped, someone known as the Pimpernel stealing stuff from students, a new VIP Princess called Ingrid, a missing microwave, and more. Can Friday solve the cases and return to business as usual at her boarding school?

Similar to Encyclopedia Brown and Sherlock Holmes, Friday is a genius detective with spunk. She’s an engaging, entertaining character that is well developed and likable. Although some of the secondary adult characters seem like bumbling characters, the engaging plot helps make up for that. Fans of mystery, detective stories, and realistic fiction will enjoy reading this book.

This book was featured on The Keepers of the Books' "June Weekly Reads Wrapup #1 with Daughter of the Pirate King review" episode. For more book reviews, recommendation, or online librarian advice, please visit us at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3v...

A copy of this review may also be found at kissthebook.blogspot.com

Please Note: A copy of this book was given to us in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed, however, are our own.
Profile Image for Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*.
6,002 reviews220 followers
August 21, 2017
Spratt, R.A. ill. by Phil Gosier. Friday Barnes: Big Trouble. Pgs. 280. Roaring Brook Press, 2017. $13.99. Lanuage: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G

Friday Barnes and back and, this time, it’s personal. Various cases she has to solve include her mother being kidnapped, someone known as the Pimpernel stealing stuff from students, a new VIP Princess called Ingrid, a missing microwave, and more. Can Friday solve the cases and return to business as usual at her boarding school?

Similar to Encyclopedia Brown and Sherlock Holmes, Friday is a genius detective with spunk. She’s an engaging, entertaining character that is well developed and likable. Although some of the secondary adult characters seem like bumbling characters, the engaging plot helps make up for that. Fans of mystery, detective stories, and realistic fiction will enjoy reading this book.Although it is not necessary to read the first two books in the series, readers will be hooked from page one and want to read all three.

EL. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Profile Image for elle.
151 reviews3 followers
September 10, 2021
I freaked out a total of 3 times over Friday and Ian in this book (spoilers? if you care?):

1. When Ian appeared in Friday and Melanie's room because he needed Friday's help in getting his Mum some money.

2. When Friday was chasing after the bad guy but she's not athletic (twinning) and can't run so Ian who is already on his horse gallops after them and picks up Friday while still galloping and dumps her behind him on the horse.

3. When Friday is having her sad girl moment over how her parents don't care about her and IAN WHO STILL IS ACADEMIC RIVALS WITH FRIDAY PHYSICALLY COMFORTS HER WITH A HUG AND A JOKE TO SHOW THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND THAT SHE SHOULDNT BE THAT UPSET OVER HER PARENTS BC HE LIKES HER AS A PERSON.

So what did I learn from this book? I have no life, I'm living my academic rivalry dreams through two fictional primary school characters and I'm a slave to the hurt/comfort trope.
Profile Image for Sofia.
11 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2018
Again, another amazing story inside the series. However, in this book, there is a new student arrived in Highcrest Academy, she is Princess Ingrid of Norway, Princess Ingrid had been told to stay in the dorm room next to Friday and this was the headmaster's order, he had told Friday to look after the princess because he didn't want the school and the dorm rooms to be in a chaos. To be honest this book was a bit more interesting than the others because there was another character taking place in this story.
Profile Image for Bella Clarke.
2 reviews
November 25, 2021
I hate what is happening between Ian and Friday but other than that it is an exciting and thrilling book that you CAN'T put down. But I always figure what she will find out before she says it like how I knew in the second book chris was an escaped prisoner and how the "princess" was the pimpernel and who debbie really was. the only book I didn't figure out it was the first book but I was eight so.....
But other than the Ian and friday thing and that these books are so predictable these books are amazing!
Profile Image for Jeana Laurie.
Author 3 books12 followers
February 6, 2017
As always I found the wit so refreshing. The plot and mini plots are usually on the simpler side, but I honestly don't mind because it's the characters that shine here anyway. It never talks down to a younger audience, and is filled with enough tastefully intelligent wit and humor to appeal to older readers such as myself. Basically a win win. Can't wait for the next volume, it's sort of like a bag of chips kind of thing, it ends too soon so you just reach for another one. lol
408 reviews7 followers
September 18, 2017
I honestly felt this book was really good, the ending was sad, and I still don't understand her parents but its nice seeing her friendships in action.
Its a fun and playful plot with a lot going on, the ending has me interested but also feeling like the "we need to talk with you", at the end of the books is kind of getting old. my god daughter doesn't mind it tho.
Also think the romance is at a good level not over the top and still just cute and not taking over the story.
Profile Image for lj ♡.
306 reviews70 followers
Read
April 17, 2023
i think this is my new comfort series

written for 10-year-olds? yes.
do i care? no.

it has tiny smart socially awkward girls comedically solving mysteries. it's written by the author of nanny piggins. it's hilarious. it's adorable. some of the mysteries are actually pretty intriguing. i would have wholeheartedly loved this when i was 9, 10, or 11, so now i'm loving it just that much in honor of my past self.
Profile Image for Adelaide Van Klaveren.
13 reviews
August 3, 2025
Love this book series! I read them over the summer holidays years ago, since my sister owned the first 8 books, and ever since I've read them over and over again. I fell in love with Friday's personality and nerdy comments, let alone how sisterly and funny Melanie seems, and don't get me started on Ian. It's written well with small details that tie together the whole mystery, making it seem well thought out. Defiantly my favorite book series!
Profile Image for Jassie Grace &#x1f338;.
178 reviews9 followers
August 24, 2025
So cute but her parents piss me off so much, just acknowledge your daughter who’s given her father a place to live for the past few weeks as her mother lowkey just left for her novel piece prize.

You have to understand that if these books were irl the teachers would have been legally bound to report child neglect. Friday is living trauma and needs to be relocated from that household it’s not a safe space for her.
647 reviews4 followers
July 13, 2018
Friday solved quite a few mysteries in this book, the biggest being the disappearance of her mother and her father showing up at the academy. As her father can't be left alone she convince the headmaster to let her father tech at the school until her mother is found. With her best friend Melanie and Ian helping to solve the mysteries things come to fast conclusions.
Profile Image for Anthony.
7,174 reviews31 followers
February 19, 2020
Quirky goings on at Highcrest Academy as Friday Barnes is told by her father that her mother is missing, and items are being stolen from the school, and a princess enrolls into the academy. These are only a few of the mysteries that Friday Barnes must solve around the campus. Never a dull moment or a lull in the humor, or informative science, math and other facts sprinkled throughout the pages.
Profile Image for Anna ✨.
207 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2020
A very predictable book, when R.A. Spratt leaves previous books on cliffhangers they are easily resolved at the start of the book.

I find that most chapters are just mystery after mystery. Sometimes, I find this book series extremely predictable! Anyway, the book series is written well and is moderately exciting...
Profile Image for Kate.
312 reviews12 followers
October 3, 2018
Another brilliant instalment.
Favourite quote:
'Who in this school is a dangerous psychopath?' asked Melanie.
'Half the student body,' said Friday. 'And all the teachers in the maths department.'
4,361 reviews56 followers
May 1, 2021
Fun. Clean fun with no heavy social issues. Those are important too but sometimes you just want easy fun with a touch of mystery to spice things up but not in a keep you up in the night type things. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews

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