The Diamond Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Diamond Brothers is a series of humorous children's detective books by Anthony Horowitz
, the first of which was published in 1986. The books tell the adventures of the world's worst private detective, Tim Diamond, and his little brother, Nick Diamond, who is considerably more intelligent. These books are aimed at young teenage boys, slightly younger than those aimed at with the more recent Alex Rider
series. However, both series star a teenage boy and include guns, fights and world-wide criminals. The most notable difference is that The Diamond Brothers series contains much more humour, with many puns, pop culture references and absurd situations.
The entire series was re-issued in 2007 with new covers.
Early editions of the Alex Rider
novel Scorpia (2004) claimed that Horowitz was planning an Australia
n adventure for the Diamond Brothers, entitled The Radius of the Lost Shark. This title was also mentioned in the introduction to Three of Diamonds and at the end of Ark Angel
. It was again mentioned in The Greek Who Stole Christmas, when Nick and Tim get enough money to go to Australia to visit their parents, and Nick says that's another story, called the "Radius of the Lost Shark".
, which was an adaptation of The Falcon's Malteser.
The Diamond Brothers, a six-episode television series based on the books, was broadcast on ITV
in 1991.
Both the series and the film starred Dursley McLinden as Tim and Colin Dale as Nick.
Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Craig Horowitz is an English novelist and screenwriter. He has written many children's novels, including The Power of Five, Alex Rider and The Diamond Brothers series and has written over fifty books. He has also written extensively for television, adapting many of Agatha Christie's...
, the first of which was published in 1986. The books tell the adventures of the world's worst private detective, Tim Diamond, and his little brother, Nick Diamond, who is considerably more intelligent. These books are aimed at young teenage boys, slightly younger than those aimed at with the more recent Alex Rider
Alex Rider
Alex Rider is a series of spy novels by British author Anthony Horowitz about a 14-15 year old spy named Alex Rider. The series is aimed primarily at young adults. Nine novels have been published to date, as well as three graphic novels, three short stories and a supplementary book...
series. However, both series star a teenage boy and include guns, fights and world-wide criminals. The most notable difference is that The Diamond Brothers series contains much more humour, with many puns, pop culture references and absurd situations.
The entire series was re-issued in 2007 with new covers.
Books
The series consists of the following books:- The Falcon's MalteserThe Falcon's MalteserThe Falcon's Malteser is a comic mystery for children by Anthony Horowitz. The first of the Diamond Brothers series, it was first published in 1986. The title is a spoof of the The Maltese Falcon, to which there are various allusions throughout the story...
(1986) - Public Enemy Number TwoPublic Enemy Number TwoPublic Enemy No.2 is a novel written by Anthony Horowitz, the second in the Diamond Brothers series. The main character in the book is Nick Diamond, His older brother Herbert Simple - who goes by the name Tim Diamond - is an unsuccessful private detective. The novel is particularly known for its...
(1987) - South By South EastSouth By South EastSouth by South East is a children's comedy adventure written by Anthony Horowitz, first published in 1991. It is the third book in the Diamond Brothers series about the incompetent detective Tim Diamond and his smart younger brother Nick. A television series based on the book was broadcast on...
(1991) - Three of DiamondsThree of Diamonds (collection)It follows as the sixth book in the Diamond brothers series about a fourteen year old boy called Nick and his brother Tim who works as a private detective....
(2004):- The Blurred ManThe Blurred Man"The Blurred Man" is the fifth story in the Diamond Brothers series of comedy mysteries, written as a short story by Anthony Horowitz and published as a book on 6 January 2003 by Walker Books. It was included in the omnibus Three of Diamonds in 2004....
- The French ConfectionThe French ConfectionThe French Confection is a children's novel by British author Anthony Horowitz, writer of the successful Alex Rider series, first published on 6th January 2003. It is the fourth in the Diamond Brothers series...
- I Know What You Did Last WednesdayI Know What You Did Last WednesdayI Know What You Did Last Wednesday is a short story in the Diamond Brothers series of comedy thrillers by Anthony Horowitz...
- The Blurred Man
- The Greek Who Stole ChristmasThe Greek Who Stole ChristmasThe Greek Who Stole Christmas is a short Diamond Brothers story by Anthony Horowitz, first published in 2007. It tells the tale of the two Diamond brothers meeting a fictional pop star who is only referred to as "Minerva". It features an increased amount of the comedy from the other books and all...
(2007)
Early editions of the Alex Rider
Alex Rider
Alex Rider is a series of spy novels by British author Anthony Horowitz about a 14-15 year old spy named Alex Rider. The series is aimed primarily at young adults. Nine novels have been published to date, as well as three graphic novels, three short stories and a supplementary book...
novel Scorpia (2004) claimed that Horowitz was planning an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n adventure for the Diamond Brothers, entitled The Radius of the Lost Shark. This title was also mentioned in the introduction to Three of Diamonds and at the end of Ark Angel
Ark Angel
Ark Angel is the sixth book in the Alex Rider series written by British author Anthony Horowitz. The book was released in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2005 and in the United States on April 20, 2006.- Plot summary:...
. It was again mentioned in The Greek Who Stole Christmas, when Nick and Tim get enough money to go to Australia to visit their parents, and Nick says that's another story, called the "Radius of the Lost Shark".
Film and TV adaptations
There was a film made in 1989 called Just Ask for DiamondJust Ask for Diamond
Just Ask for Diamond is a 1988 British comedy crime film directed by Stephen Bayly and starring Colin Dale, Saeed Jaffrey and Dursley McLinden. A pair of brothers are paid to take care of a confectionary box, but soon come under pressure from various people seeking its contents...
, which was an adaptation of The Falcon's Malteser.
The Diamond Brothers, a six-episode television series based on the books, was broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 1991.
Both the series and the film starred Dursley McLinden as Tim and Colin Dale as Nick.