Friday Barnes

Someone stole the Mona Lisa. Okay, it was over a hundred years ago, but a recently uncovered letter reveals that the thief forged a copy. That means that the painting in the Louvre now is a fake. And the real Mona Lisa could be anywhere! Friday Barnes needs to find the truth, and the real painting. She's going undercover as an art student, along with her partner-in-crime-solving, Melanie, and her staggeringly good-looking boyfrenemy, Ian. As they watch the comings and goings of France's most famous art gallery, they see some very strange things. Amid digital pickpockets, guerrilla graffiti and projectile perfume, Friday soon discovers that the Paris art scene is a hotbed of crime.

Friday is not running away. Yes, she did get on a train to Norway without telling anyone where she was going, but she had to help Binky. He may or may not have been attacked by a polar bear. Now he's facing court martial for dereliction of duty. Obviously, Friday had to drop everything and travel 3000 kilometres to solve the case. The fact that it's easier to handle her feelings for Ian Wainscott if there's a continent between them is just a coincidence. When Friday arrives in Oslo, there are so many mysteries to solve. Is someone trying to keep Binky and Princess Ingrid apart? How can a painting leave a museum when all the doors are sealed? And will Melanie persuade Friday to go to the royal ball without wearing a brown cardigan? If Friday survives her trip to the remote Global Seed Vault, we may find out.

After Friday Barnes uncovered the truth about her frenemy Ian Wainscott's family dispute, it may bring an end to the friendship side of their relationship for good. As a result, Ian is determined to make Friday's life at Highcrest Academy miserable, and things go from bad to worse with the arrival of a celebrity artist with murky motivations and an over-enthusiastic PE teacher.

Friday Barnes' stay in prison hasn't dampened her curiosity and brilliantly deductive mind one bit--as soon as she gets out and back to Highcrest Academy she begins investigating her school's intrigues again. Then, Uncle Bernie urgently needs Friday's help in protecting the Uffizi Galleries in Italy from art thieves.

A new headmaster at Highcrest Academy has turned everything upside down for Friday Barnes--her extremely high IQ has fast-tracked her for graduation, but if she graduates early she may not be able to help her friend Ian escape expulsion over an incriminating pair of paints. Then, Friday investigates rumors of a stash of gold hidden on campus.

Friday Barnes sadly says farewell to her best friend Ian as he heads out to the Cayman Islands with his father. Along the way, though, Ian is kidnapped--having a white-collar criminal for a father will sometimes do that--and Friday must rescue him. Then, returning to school, the headmaster decides to send the kids on what he thinks is a treat--a four-week survival skills camp at Camp Courage.

Four former headmasters come to Highcrest Academy for the anniversary celebrations, but not all of them seem to be on their best behavior. Their mischief quickly gives Friday Barnes a new case to solve, but that will prove difficult when the school's chef forces everyone to go on a paleo diet, her best friend's brother either does or does not cause a boat accident, and a mysterious admirer--or stalker--begins following Friday around.