Riz Chester: The Fingerprint Code

by R.A. Stephens, Em Hammond (illustrator)

After Riz and her friends successfully led the Counterfeit Bust, Riz has discovered her passion for forensic science. One day at school, she finds the perfect opportunity to break out her new forensics kit and solve a new mystery. On their way to class in the morning, Riz and her friends notice a commotion outside the music room and hear that something has been stolen! They head off to class, but Riz’s observation skills allow her to notice the principal, deputy, office staff, and their music teacher speaking with removalists outside the classroom window. Riz tries to lipread their conversation and deciphers it at break with the help of her friends and Peiter from Grade 6. Instruments have been stolen from the music room in the midst of its renovations!They start their investigation by sneaking into the music room and finding some fingerprints. Riz and her friends collect the fingerprints of all their classmates and compare the patterns, promising their teacher to give the class a presentation on their findings. They break off into teams to collect even more fingerprints at break, from other Grades, and even from their principal! They finally find their match, but before they can bring the information to anyone else, the deputy principal pulls them in for a stern chat. Will they solve another mystery? Another forensic science inspired story for young readers.

96 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2023

About the author

R. A. Stephens is a teacher by day, writer, editor and publisher by night. She is passionate about the written word, what stories can do to take a reader to a new world and open our eyes to love, compassion, the bigger picture and much more. When not working, teaching or writing, she enjoys living in the country and spending time with her kids and cats. R. A. Stephens is a teacher and careers advisor and works with teenagers to help them think about their career past school. She is working on a large range of stories for children with a focus on science, mathematics and investigation. R.A. Stephens lives in country Queensland and writes from the experience of both city and country life.

Reviews

[Benita Al-Samarrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Riz Chester series. In this book Riz and her friends use their forensic skills to solve the mystery of the missing musical instruments using some fingerprints that were left on the door of the music room.

I really enjoyed this second book and would highly recommend it for teachers or parents who have children in middle primary school.

I love how Rochelle integrates science into her storylines and engages the reader with a mystery using the new concept being taught. Riz and her friends are really loveable characters and I can't wait to read book 3!