Meet Friday at Highcrest
Begin with Girl Detective, where Friday solves a bank robbery and uses the reward to enroll at a boarding school full of mysteries.
Book Series · 13 Books
Friday Barnes Books
In order from Girl Detective to In Plain Sight.
An exceptionally clever girl detective solves eccentric crimes at boarding school and later takes her investigations around the world.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Friday Barnes Books
Read the thirteen novels in numbered publisher order. Cases change from book to book, but Friday's friendships, school life, romance with Ian, and move into international investigations carry across the sequence.
Sources: Penguin Australia official 13-book order.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The mysteries are comic and exaggerated, but include theft, kidnapping, arrests, explosions, dangerous chases, school bullying, family neglect, and occasional threats of serious harm. Later books add more international crime and a growing on-and-off romance.
Friday's blunt manner and the adults' absurd behavior drive much of the humor. The series suits readers who enjoy clever deductions without needing the crimes to feel fully realistic.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1398
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014
Girl Detective
By R. A. Spratt, Phil Gosier (Illustrator)
A young detective uncovers mysteries at an elite boarding school, including a Yeti and a rival student.
288 pages
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: Friday Barnes, an eleven-year-old genius, solves a bank robbery and enrolls at Highcrest Academy, only to find it teeming with mysteries. From vanishing homework to a swamp-dwelling Yeti, Friday's sleuthing skills are put to the test. But her biggest puzzle is Ian Wainscott, the charming yet antagonistic student who seems determined to thwart her. Can Friday unravel the secrets of Highcrest and uncover Ian's true motives? Dive into a world of intrigue and humor in this captivating mystery adventure.
In reading order
Friday Barnes Series
13 books · Published 2014–2025
#1
Sale price
$1398
Girl Detective
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014
A young detective uncovers mysteries at an elite boarding school, including a Yeti and a rival student.
#2
Sale price
$2089
Under Suspicion
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015
Young detective must clear her name and solve new mysteries at school.
#3
Sale price
$1498
Big Trouble
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015
A girl genius must solve her mother's kidnapping amidst school chaos.
#4
Sale price
$1348
No Rules
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016
Chaos at Highcrest Academy: Can Friday solve the prank mystery and save the school?
#5
Sale price
$1348
The Plot Thickens
Chapter Book · Ages 9–11 · 2016
A young detective's truth-seeking risks friendships and uncovers school secrets.
#6
Sale price
$1348
Danger Ahead
Chapter Book · Ages 9–11 · 2017
A school camp turns into a rescue mission and ghost hunt. Can Friday survive?
#7
Sale price
$958
Bitter Enemies
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2017
Chaos at Highcrest Academy: Can Friday Barnes solve the mystery amid mischief and mayhem?
#8
Sale price
$1348
Never Fear
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2018
A genius student races against time to uncover hidden gold at her chaotic school.
#9
Sale price
$1348
No Escape
Chapter Book · Ages 9–11 · 2021
Ex-detective Friday faces art thieves in Italy, confronting her past and a charming nemesis.
#10
Sale price
$1597
Undercover
Chapter Book · 2022
A daring journey to Norway uncovers mysteries, court martial threats, and a polar bear attack. Can Friday solve it all?
Sale price
$1299
Last Chance
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023
A hidden letter reveals the Mona Lisa is a fake. Can Friday Barnes uncover the truth?
Sale price
$1597
Collision Course
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024
In Plain Sight
Chapter Book · 2025
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Friday Barnes series?
There are 13 books in the Friday Barnes series. It began with Girl Detective in 2014, and the newest book, In Plain Sight, was published in 2025.
What order should you read the Friday Barnes books in?
Start with Girl Detective and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #13.
What ages are the Friday Barnes books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Friday Barnes to life.
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