The Greek Who Stole Christmas (8 page)

McGuffin had finished talking. The telephone was dead and any minute now he’d be joining it. The stuff he had spilled down his coat was blood, his own blood…

Tim Diamond, the world’s most defective private detective, is broke – as his much smarter younger brother Nick is quick to remind him. So when a mysterious stranger offers Tim a wad of money for his overcoat, it seems like a stroke of good luck.

But there are worse things in life than being broke. Being pumped full of lead, for one – which is what happens to the stranger and could soon be the fate of the Diamond brothers unless they can outwit the unknown assassin on their tail!

“Tim,” I asked. “What’s the French for murder?” Tim shrugged. “Why do you want to know?” “I’ve got a feeling it’s something we’re going to need…”

When the hard-up Diamond brothers win a weekend for two in Paris, it looks like their luck is taking a turn for the better. But looks can be deceptive.

No sooner have they arrived in the French capital than the brothers are up to their necks in danger. There’s a nasty smell in the air and it’s not the cheese. If Nick and Tim aren’t careful, their dream holiday could end up being a nightmare from which they’ll never wake…

It’s not fair. I do my homework. I clean my teeth twice a day. Why does everyone want to kill me?

It’s a dangerous life being the younger brother of the world’s worst private detective – but Nick Diamond has survived … so far. He’s due a holiday, so he should be happy when his brother Tim receives an invitation to a school reunion on a remote Scottish island.

But Nick’s got a bad feeling, and it’s not indigestion. When he meets their fellow guests, the feeling only gets worse. Especially when they start dying in ever more bizarre ways… Could it be the Diamond brothers’ days are numbered?

“My name is Carter,” he said at last. He spoke with an American accent. “Joe Carter. I’ve just got in from Chicago. And I’ve got a problem.”

The man in the photo is so blurry, it’s impossible to make out what he really looks like. And that’s before he was run over by a steamroller! His name was Lenny Smile and he ran a children’s charity called Dream Time, financed by millionaire author Joe Carter.

Now Carter wants to know just what happened to Smile – and to the money. Unfortunately he’s hired Tim Diamond, the world’s most defective private detective, to find out!

ANTHONY HOROWITZ
is one of the most popular contemporary children’s writers. Both The Power of Five and Alex Rider are number one bestselling series enjoyed by millions of readers worldwide.

When Anthony launched the Alex Rider series he created a phenomenon in children’s books, spurring a new trend of junior spy books and inspiring thousands of previously reluctant readers. Hailed as a reading hero, Anthony has also won many major awards, including the Bookseller Association/Nielson Author of the Year Award, the Children’s Book of the Year Award at the British Book Awards, and the Red House Children’s Book Award. The first Alex Rider adventure,
Stormbreaker
was made into a blockbuster movie in 2006.

Anthony’s other titles for Walker Books include the Diamond Brothers mysteries;
Groosham Grange and its sequel, Return to Groosham Grange; The Devil and his Boy; Granny; The Switch;’
and a collection of horror stories,
More Bloody Horowitz
. Anthony also writes extensively for TV, with programmes including
Foyle’s war, Midsomer Murders, Collision and, most recently, Injustice.
His other books include
The House of Silk
— a brand new Sherlock Holmes adventure, written with the endorsement of the Conan Doyle estate.

Although abandoned by both his sons, Anthony Horowitz continues to live in Clerkenwell with his wife, Jill Green and the ghost of his dog, Lucky. You can find out more about Anthony and his books at:

www.anthonyhorowitz.com

www.alexrider.com

www.powerof5.co.uk