Friday Barnes, Never Fear

At long last, we reach the final book in the Friday Barnes series - well, it was originally the final book.  Then, suddenly, I found on Amazon listings for books 9 ... and 10 ... and 11!!!!  The series suddenly got new life breathed into it, as author R.A. Spratt decided to continue beyond this eighth book!  I, for one, am ecstatic, as I have thoroughly enjoyed this series.  Friday Barnes is a unique character - a cross between Sheldon Cooper and Nancy Drew, with a bit of Monk and Columbo thrown in for good measure.  There is always plenty of humor, plenty of surprises, and plenty of mystery - and Spratt manages to end every book with a cliffhanger that leaves you breathlessly waiting for the next book to find out what is going to happen next.

Friday Barnes, Never Fear picks up right where the last one left off - with Friday being advanced from year 8 to year 12, meaning that soon she will graduate, leaving her friends and boyfriend (?!) behind! With a brand new headmaster, a revelation that the school could be hiding a treasure in gold, a famous author living anonymously in the woods outside the school, and a long-awaited first kiss (yes, you read that right!  Friday and Ian FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kiss), this book is chock full of fun and, as usual, there are plenty of mysteries, both big and small, for our sleuth to solve. Plus, readers begin to see the character growth in Friday, as she realizes just how much she has come to depend on her friendship with Melanie and exactly what it is that she feels for Ian.  The sudden displacement from year 8 to year 12, some would say, is a good thing for the character, because what's the old saying?  You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?!

The overall mystery involves the discovery that there could very well be gold hidden somewhere on the school grounds, put there by the school's founder many years ago.  There is also the subject of Dr. Belcredi, the new headmaster at the school.  Friday suspects something is off, because the woman is just too perfect - her credentials are impeccable, her desire to help the school and the students are too altruistic, and her seeming desire to rid the school of Friday doesn't help either.  So, when Friday's uncle reports that a background check reveals that Dr. Belcredi's CV is full of lies - none of the schools she lists have ever had a student by her name there! - Friday knows there is more than meets the eye for this new headmaster.

But, as any fan of this series knows, it's not the big mysteries that make these books so much fun to read.  It's those little mini-mysteries that Friday solves along the way that prove to be hilarious and show just how incredibility intelligent and observant our Miss Barnes truly is!  From figuring out why the former headmaster's blood sugar levels keep spiking at the hospital to revealing why Mirabella's clothes are making her think she's gaining weight to explaining why Ian could not possibly have been cheating on his exam to teaching the science teacher a thing or two about why the custodian's truck isn't starting to determining just what happened to the recluse author's toilet paper - the quick little minute-mysteries are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Because this was originally the final book in the series, the resolution to the "big" mystery, as well as the ending to this book, is actually rather different from those that have come before.  While there is a mild cliffhanger, it is not one that leaves you hanging; rather, it is one that makes you wistful and provides a beautiful "happily ever after" that is to come ... sort of open-ended, while still providing resolution.  And that hidden stash of gold?  Well, let's just say the answer to that truly does bring this series full circle!  And, lest we forget our dear Dr. Belcredi - Friday was right that nothing is what it seems with this woman, and Friday is definitely in for a surprise when she finds out the truth of what the good doctor is up to and how her plans will affect Friday's future!

Overall, another great read, but I will readily admit I am VERY thankful this is not the final Friday Barnes mystery.  This series, and this character, is just way too good not to keep going, and I already have book 9 on my stack of books to read, and will eventually add books 10 and 11 (and hopefully one day 12, 13, 14, and beyond if Spratt keeps them going!).

RATING:  10 old mining carts out of 10 for wrapping up the first chapter of Friday Barnes' adventures with some fun-filled mysteries and unexpected surprises!