Overview
Tim Diamond is the worst detective in the world—he couldn’t find his nose with both hands and a road map. Luckily, his younger brother, thirteen-yearold Nick, is the real brains behind the operation! It’s Christmastime, and once again, Tim and Nick are flat broke. Luckily for them, a famous Greek pop singer and movie star, Minerva, has been getting death threats—and they’re the detectives hired to solve the mystery. Unfortunately for Nick, Tim’s busy fending off Minerva’s amorous advances, and the international star has made plenty of enemies on her way to the top, all of whom seem to want her dead. Can Nick track down the would-be assassin on his own?
Synopsis
It's Christmastime, and Tim and Nick are flat broke. Luckily for them, a famous Greek pop singer has been getting death threats--and the Diamond brothers are hired to solve the mystery, in this latest novel by the New York Times-bestselling author of the Alex Rider series.Editorials
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8
Tim Diamond, a clueless London private detective, and his intelligent 14-year-old brother, Nick, are down on their luck again. Surprisingly, they receive a job just before Christmas to protect a gorgeous Greek celebrity singer named Minerva from recent death threats. Turns out, she is a coldhearted beauty who only cares about two things-money and Minerva. When shots are fired and a body is found strangled, all kinds of trouble ensues between Minerva, her aging husband, her manager, the Diamond Brothers, and the police. There are a few suggestive references to Minerva's appearance and "her silver-plated breasts" but nothing more racy or graphic. The witty banter between the characters keeps this short novel moving at breakneck speed. Tim's literal misinterpretations of everything are absurdly funny, and Nick's skill at solving the crime before anyone else, including the police, is entertaining. Horowitz is a master of tongue-in-cheek wit and groan-worthy puns that both sophisticated young mystery readers and older fans will enjoy.-Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library