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Friday Barnes #12
Collision Course
Friday’s Mum, the Nobel Prize winning physicist, has been accused of espionage. The police think she’s been selling secrets about the CERN Hadron Super Collider.
Friday knows her mother isn't capable of such a thing – this is a woman who can’t even operate a dishwasher. She’s got to smuggle herself into Switzerland to clear her Mum’s name. Fortunately, Melanie is a master of disguise.
After an extremely extreme make-over, Friday arrives at CERN and finds axolotls in the water coolers, graffiti in the great hall and most baffling of all - her sister has fallen in love with an engineer! Can Friday solve these mysteries? Can she keep her family out of prison? And can she recognise Ian if he shaves his head?
Friday knows her mother isn't capable of such a thing – this is a woman who can’t even operate a dishwasher. She’s got to smuggle herself into Switzerland to clear her Mum’s name. Fortunately, Melanie is a master of disguise.
After an extremely extreme make-over, Friday arrives at CERN and finds axolotls in the water coolers, graffiti in the great hall and most baffling of all - her sister has fallen in love with an engineer! Can Friday solve these mysteries? Can she keep her family out of prison? And can she recognise Ian if he shaves his head?
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2024
31 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Spratt
43 books363 followersR.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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 15, 2025
love this series smmmmmm friday you are my babe i love you
October 14, 2024
4.5!!
first off, i need to stop reading books so fast when my exams are starting so soon!! anyways, it's been sooooo long since i've last read friday barnes and OMMMG i miss it smm <3 friday's definitely changed so so much since she first went to highcrest, and after learning more about her family members, she's definitely the most normal one.
"Ian hadn’t really thought about how much Friday meant to Melanie. They were both lonely girls in different ways. They had formed a symbiotic relationship. They were like algae and fungus combining to make lichen. They thrived together, but it was hard for either one of them to cope alone. He realised that Melanie wasn’t necessarily as happy and easy-going as she always outwardly appeared to be."
"‘I spent fifty per cent of every
twenty-four hours asleep, and even I noticed it. What have you been looking at?’
‘Paris is very beautiful,’ said Ian.
‘You can’t take your eyes off Friday, can you?’ said Melanie.
Ian blushed." HSHSHAHH THEY ARE SO CUTE IM GONNA CRY AND THE WAY THEY WERE BOTH SO WORRIED ABT EACH OTHER
"Ian slid into the seat next to her before she looked up.
‘Oh, hello,’ said Friday. She kissed Ian on the cheek," SKIBIDI
‘Yes, I’m the detective one,’ said Friday. Friday was actually strangely
touched. She hadn’t thought her mother was aware of what she did.
no but seriously, friday's become much more emotionally intelligent but AHAHHA THE SCENE ON THETRAIN THAT WAS WILDD
‘I was just so worried,’ sobbed Friday. 😿😻😻 OMG FRIDAYYY
‘What if he never remembers me?’ she asked.
‘You have to make him fall in love with you all over again,’ said
Melanie. ‘That’s the soap-opera formula.’
‘I don’t think I could pull it off twice,’ said Friday.
BRO WHEN IAN GOT AMNESIA I WAS SO FREAKING ANNOYED BC BRUHHH WHYY I HATE THAT TROPE AND I MEAN IT MAKES SENSE CAUSE HE GOT CONCUSSED BUT ITS SOO UNNECESSARY, at least he got out of it though!
"She had to talk to him. To reassure herself it was still Ian. Her Ian." OMG, but actually
omggggggggggggggggg
‘Oh, your whole wonderfully socially incompetent family is a gift that
keeps on giving to a hopeless romantic like me.’ Melanie sighed happily.
‘You must invite us back for the wedding.’
Quantum turned and looked at her. ‘I love you!’ he declared.
‘Whoa! Too much too soon,’ coached Melanie.
‘This is the best happy ending ever,’ said Melanie. ‘Unless you’d like to
add anything.’ She turned to Ian and glared at him expectantly. Ian looked shocked. Friday was embarrassed too. ‘Leave him alone. He’s still recovering from a head injury.
i love melanie omggg SHES SO ICONIC :)
it was really cool to found out more abt friday's family and wow halley kidnapping her mum was crazy and BRO BIKY AND INGRID GETTING KIDNAPPED AND THE CLIFFHANGER UGHGHGH IDK WHEN THE NEXT BOOOK WILL COME OUT
nevertheless, this was a light-hearted and fun read! ps, i had no idea ra spratt was born in england??
first off, i need to stop reading books so fast when my exams are starting so soon!! anyways, it's been sooooo long since i've last read friday barnes and OMMMG i miss it smm <3 friday's definitely changed so so much since she first went to highcrest, and after learning more about her family members, she's definitely the most normal one.
"Ian hadn’t really thought about how much Friday meant to Melanie. They were both lonely girls in different ways. They had formed a symbiotic relationship. They were like algae and fungus combining to make lichen. They thrived together, but it was hard for either one of them to cope alone. He realised that Melanie wasn’t necessarily as happy and easy-going as she always outwardly appeared to be."
"‘I spent fifty per cent of every
twenty-four hours asleep, and even I noticed it. What have you been looking at?’
‘Paris is very beautiful,’ said Ian.
‘You can’t take your eyes off Friday, can you?’ said Melanie.
Ian blushed." HSHSHAHH THEY ARE SO CUTE IM GONNA CRY AND THE WAY THEY WERE BOTH SO WORRIED ABT EACH OTHER
"Ian slid into the seat next to her before she looked up.
‘Oh, hello,’ said Friday. She kissed Ian on the cheek," SKIBIDI
‘Yes, I’m the detective one,’ said Friday. Friday was actually strangely
touched. She hadn’t thought her mother was aware of what she did.
no but seriously, friday's become much more emotionally intelligent but AHAHHA THE SCENE ON THETRAIN THAT WAS WILDD
‘I was just so worried,’ sobbed Friday. 😿😻😻 OMG FRIDAYYY
‘What if he never remembers me?’ she asked.
‘You have to make him fall in love with you all over again,’ said
Melanie. ‘That’s the soap-opera formula.’
‘I don’t think I could pull it off twice,’ said Friday.
BRO WHEN IAN GOT AMNESIA I WAS SO FREAKING ANNOYED BC BRUHHH WHYY I HATE THAT TROPE AND I MEAN IT MAKES SENSE CAUSE HE GOT CONCUSSED BUT ITS SOO UNNECESSARY, at least he got out of it though!
"She had to talk to him. To reassure herself it was still Ian. Her Ian." OMG, but actually
omggggggggggggggggg
‘Oh, your whole wonderfully socially incompetent family is a gift that
keeps on giving to a hopeless romantic like me.’ Melanie sighed happily.
‘You must invite us back for the wedding.’
Quantum turned and looked at her. ‘I love you!’ he declared.
‘Whoa! Too much too soon,’ coached Melanie.
‘This is the best happy ending ever,’ said Melanie. ‘Unless you’d like to
add anything.’ She turned to Ian and glared at him expectantly. Ian looked shocked. Friday was embarrassed too. ‘Leave him alone. He’s still recovering from a head injury.
i love melanie omggg SHES SO ICONIC :)
it was really cool to found out more abt friday's family and wow halley kidnapping her mum was crazy and BRO BIKY AND INGRID GETTING KIDNAPPED AND THE CLIFFHANGER UGHGHGH IDK WHEN THE NEXT BOOOK WILL COME OUT
nevertheless, this was a light-hearted and fun read! ps, i had no idea ra spratt was born in england??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2024
The plot for this was a little bit muddled. I couldn’t really keep track of which was the most important mystery. There were a lot of characters - and most new ones were from Friday’s family and they were all odd. But it was still a fun read. Quick and clever, as always. I can’t wait until my niece is old enough to read chapter books so I can introduce her to Friday and friends.
January 28, 2025
Is it possible that after 12 books this series is slightly losing its appeal, aside from the fact that I'm double the target audience's age? Apparently not
March 3, 2024
Another book the author spent a year writing for me to just read in 2 hours. 👍
(read in paperback)
(read in paperback)
March 1, 2024
I think I decided on 3.5- I liked it, it was good, it made me laugh a bit, but I expected more romance ngl.
also, the cliffhanger- I hate cliffhangers. now I have to wait like another whole fricking year to find out the wellbeing of some of my fav characters. like, how is that fair??
also, the cliffhanger- I hate cliffhangers. now I have to wait like another whole fricking year to find out the wellbeing of some of my fav characters. like, how is that fair??
March 3, 2024
I loved this book sooo much! I flew through it and thoroughly enjoyed the concept. I would just like to see more romance between our characters in the future seeing as now they are officially dating and it’s the 12th book in the series, meaning it’s nearly over!
June 25, 2025
”when did our lives get so complicated?” asked friday.
“for me, it was the day i met you,” said melanie.
when someone asks me what book series shaped my childhood the most, i have a few answers. harry potter (unfortunately), a series of unfortunate events, percy jackson, the land of stories…but among those books, despite not having any adaptation or prominent online fandom, i had friday barnes.
‘obsessed’ would not encapsulate the extent of my friday barnes reading endeavours. i designed posters, drew fanart, wrote tons of fanfiction, contributed to the friday barnes fandom wiki, and an entire hour and a half movie script of girl detective and half of under suspicion. for my 11th birthday, my parents bought a friday barnes cake that featured the cover of my favourite book in the series (danger ahead, obviously). so when i read the dedication in this 12th book in the middle of a bookshop, embarrassingly, i almost burst into tears. despite my mother’s pleas to move on, i bought this book.
the last book i read was undercover, so admittedly i did have a lack of context for many of the scenes - especially at the beginning, as all the books are intertwined very nicely. but i think it’s credit to r.a. spratt as a writer (and also the several references to past books that have clearly etched into my core memory) that this did not hinder my enjoyment of this.
i was the most scared to see what i thought of melanie now as she was my favourite character for literal years. i did not need to have any doubt. i love her more than ever - she is so effortlessly hilarious, and the highlight of this book as she is the highlight of every book. the reference to the archery skills revealed in my favourite book aforementioned literally made me giddy.
reading this sent me to my childhood - and clearly, my mindset was also rewinded to my eleven year old self, as i was still not a fan of friday and ian’s relationship. this is not due to the writing - clearly, my psyche can still resume the “boys have cooties” mindset when prompted to.
the mysteries in this were fun. i love the dehumanisation of people in stem. i feel the need to mention melanie again, because i adore her to pieces. i was smiling while reading this whole book.
it’s weird reading this now that i’m older than them when i was once much younger. as i get ready to study english in one of my dream universities in the uk, i know that i can thank friday barnes for encouraging my love of reading and making me the weird nerd i am today.
“for me, it was the day i met you,” said melanie.
when someone asks me what book series shaped my childhood the most, i have a few answers. harry potter (unfortunately), a series of unfortunate events, percy jackson, the land of stories…but among those books, despite not having any adaptation or prominent online fandom, i had friday barnes.
‘obsessed’ would not encapsulate the extent of my friday barnes reading endeavours. i designed posters, drew fanart, wrote tons of fanfiction, contributed to the friday barnes fandom wiki, and an entire hour and a half movie script of girl detective and half of under suspicion. for my 11th birthday, my parents bought a friday barnes cake that featured the cover of my favourite book in the series (danger ahead, obviously). so when i read the dedication in this 12th book in the middle of a bookshop, embarrassingly, i almost burst into tears. despite my mother’s pleas to move on, i bought this book.
the last book i read was undercover, so admittedly i did have a lack of context for many of the scenes - especially at the beginning, as all the books are intertwined very nicely. but i think it’s credit to r.a. spratt as a writer (and also the several references to past books that have clearly etched into my core memory) that this did not hinder my enjoyment of this.
i was the most scared to see what i thought of melanie now as she was my favourite character for literal years. i did not need to have any doubt. i love her more than ever - she is so effortlessly hilarious, and the highlight of this book as she is the highlight of every book. the reference to the archery skills revealed in my favourite book aforementioned literally made me giddy.
reading this sent me to my childhood - and clearly, my mindset was also rewinded to my eleven year old self, as i was still not a fan of friday and ian’s relationship. this is not due to the writing - clearly, my psyche can still resume the “boys have cooties” mindset when prompted to.
the mysteries in this were fun. i love the dehumanisation of people in stem. i feel the need to mention melanie again, because i adore her to pieces. i was smiling while reading this whole book.
it’s weird reading this now that i’m older than them when i was once much younger. as i get ready to study english in one of my dream universities in the uk, i know that i can thank friday barnes for encouraging my love of reading and making me the weird nerd i am today.
November 24, 2024
Not enough Ian
October 20, 2024
I mean I knew I'd have to read the most recent one at some point but like... what am I supposed to do now???
August 15, 2025
first read:
i just LOVE THIS SERIES sm. with how it always connects to the last book and quickly solves that mystery and then so many more mysteries along the way then the end reveal of the newest mystery. friday FIRST runs from the police which lead to melanie and ian going and finding her and them solving a case in the library. sadly ian gets lost. THEN friday goes and helps her mum get out of jail and ends up babysitting her mum and while doing that, solves many mysteries AND participates in a robot competition filled with physic professors. i ADORE friday and ian SO SO MUCH and when he got amnesia my heart broke. i loved when she went in the water and his memory reminded him and he saved her. like SO CUTEEE. then finding out her sister and sisters boyfriend were planning to kidnap their mum for money. WHAT?! and then so sweet with fridays brother, quantum VANDALISING which i AM ok with since it was an act of LOVEEE. to the lawyer and i loved that scene. we finally then get the end twist when melanie’s brother and the princess get KIDNAPPED?! can’t wait for the next one and really want to re read the series sometime for the stories, characters and FRIDAY + IAN! <3
second read:
the things we do for love. vandalism, kidnapping, jumping into ice cold water. amnesia trope goes crazy. girl really got a nose ring and dyed her hair all not realising because some girl was flirting with her boyfriend… real tho.
i just LOVE THIS SERIES sm. with how it always connects to the last book and quickly solves that mystery and then so many more mysteries along the way then the end reveal of the newest mystery. friday FIRST runs from the police which lead to melanie and ian going and finding her and them solving a case in the library. sadly ian gets lost. THEN friday goes and helps her mum get out of jail and ends up babysitting her mum and while doing that, solves many mysteries AND participates in a robot competition filled with physic professors. i ADORE friday and ian SO SO MUCH and when he got amnesia my heart broke. i loved when she went in the water and his memory reminded him and he saved her. like SO CUTEEE. then finding out her sister and sisters boyfriend were planning to kidnap their mum for money. WHAT?! and then so sweet with fridays brother, quantum VANDALISING which i AM ok with since it was an act of LOVEEE. to the lawyer and i loved that scene. we finally then get the end twist when melanie’s brother and the princess get KIDNAPPED?! can’t wait for the next one and really want to re read the series sometime for the stories, characters and FRIDAY + IAN! <3
second read:
the things we do for love. vandalism, kidnapping, jumping into ice cold water. amnesia trope goes crazy. girl really got a nose ring and dyed her hair all not realising because some girl was flirting with her boyfriend… real tho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
Finished in 2 hours! I loved the part where Ian gets amnesia, and Friday’s and Ian’s makeovers were the best parts! Quantum was a surprisingly good brother, but I was shocked when Halley remembered that Friday had brown hair (since apparently all her siblings are oblivious to her existence) but when Halley and Brad kidnapped her mum? That was the biggest twist in the book. I hate the cliffhanger though😕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2024
Not as captivating as normal but I still LOVED it. I also can’t believe that this book is for grade 2 and 3.
August 4, 2025
First like 3 chapters were good and then the rest just was boring and i was very disappointed with this book.
March 18, 2024
OMG ARE YIU KIDDING ME?!?!?! WHY BINKY AND INGRID?!?!?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2024
the sheer joy and feeling of home that these characters give me should be studied 🥹
March 31, 2024
These new Friday Barnes books are getting really weird. The original series is much better.
I would not recommend this book to primary school age children.
I would not recommend this book to primary school age children.
July 9, 2024
Good but not the best
August 4, 2024
if you enjoyed the other books in the series, you will not be disappointed in this one.
September 8, 2024
Usually when a book series reaches the 4-5th book it starts to go south, and getting a bit boring but Friday Barnes is an exception! I can’t wait for book #13
February 29, 2024
Friday Barnes is the social skills champion of her immediate family. We already knew this, although if you haven’t seen Friday interact with any of her family before (other than Uncle Bernie), you may find this hard to believe. Now we get more Barnes family conversations than I think I’ve ever been a part of as we spend time with a couple of her siblings and her mother.
But eventually we make it to Switzerland, where Friday participates in … a team sport? Wait. That can’t be right. There’s even cardio in this book and now I’m questioning whether this is a Friday Barnes book at all.
Okay, Melanie has just woken up from a nap and explained it all to me. Melanie is in fine form this book, staying awake for entire scenes at a time and reminding us she’s a human lie detector. Every time she calls someone out for lying, she makes me think of Saga’s Lying Cat.
Friday and Melanie’s friendship is just perfect, and is perfectly summed up for us here:
Then the book was released and my plan two months in the making fell apart. I caved and bought my own copy. You’re welcome, next person in the library queue.
Have fun dressing up as Friday Barnes in disguise this Book Week, kids!
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
‘Just when you thought this family couldn’t get any odder.’But first we have to escape Paris and lose Ian. Oh, and witness Friday being tortured by makeover. Torture has never been so much fun!
But eventually we make it to Switzerland, where Friday participates in … a team sport? Wait. That can’t be right. There’s even cardio in this book and now I’m questioning whether this is a Friday Barnes book at all.
Okay, Melanie has just woken up from a nap and explained it all to me. Melanie is in fine form this book, staying awake for entire scenes at a time and reminding us she’s a human lie detector. Every time she calls someone out for lying, she makes me think of Saga’s Lying Cat.
Friday and Melanie’s friendship is just perfect, and is perfectly summed up for us here:
They had formed a symbiotic relationship. They were like algae and fungus combining to make lichen. They thrived together, but it was hard for either one of them to cope alone.I had intended on acting with restraint where this book was concerned. I was going to wait for my library reservation to come in and it was going to be okay because I’d beaten all of the kids to it so I was the first one in the queue.
Then the book was released and my plan two months in the making fell apart. I caved and bought my own copy. You’re welcome, next person in the library queue.
‘Do you still play girl detective?’Why, yes she does. For starters, there’s the Mystery of the Missing Manuscript, the Problem with the Passport, the Cleaning Conundrum, a Blackboard Brainteaser and some Toothbrush Trouble. We also learn about the benefits of babysitting and the joy of jail, and generate zeal for zip ties.
‘When did our lives get so complicated?’ asked Friday.I am so ready for the complications of the next book. I have been (im)patiently waiting for my invitation to Binky’s wedding. I’m not sure if I’m going to need to get all dressed up for the next book or not but the end of this one tells me I’m going to be on the lookout for him at the very least. I can’t wait! I adore Binky!
‘For me, it was the day I met you,’ said Melanie.
Have fun dressing up as Friday Barnes in disguise this Book Week, kids!
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
March 3, 2024
I’ve been reading this book series since it first came out, way back when, and I plan to keep on reading them, forever, to keep this part of my childhood alive.
The important thing to remember is that it’s a middle grade book, so although the crimes were easier to solve than they were when we were twelve, it was really enjoyable. It’s funny and I love Ian 🥰
It’s a super pleasant, easy read with amazing charaters.
The important thing to remember is that it’s a middle grade book, so although the crimes were easier to solve than they were when we were twelve, it was really enjoyable. It’s funny and I love Ian 🥰
It’s a super pleasant, easy read with amazing charaters.
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!
November 15, 2024
Spratt's Jacks #26
Friday Barnes #12
And that is book #12 of Friday Barnes and until number #13 is released we are bereft of any more of Friday - it was another great read and very engaging.
I hope it is not too long before we can enter Friday's universe again.
Friday Barnes #12
And that is book #12 of Friday Barnes and until number #13 is released we are bereft of any more of Friday - it was another great read and very engaging.
I hope it is not too long before we can enter Friday's universe again.
February 27, 2024
It's nice to see the blonde hair and a nose ring can't change Friday :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2024
great myestry
January 12, 2025
I now know the height difference between Friday and Ian and my heart is in shambles.
April 30, 2025
yall if you are ever in a reading slump just read a childhood favourite series
July 8, 2025
The cliff hangers always kill me!! Amazing book! Every other paragraph, in any book in this series makes me laugh these books will stay in my heart forever.
March 19, 2025
year 6 me would’ve SOBBED
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews