The Diamond Brothers detective agency is brought in to investigate a missing computer hacker. Tim Diamond runs his own detective agency, but he's a little slow witted. That's putting things nicely. Thankfully his kid brother, 14-year-old Nick, is totally switched on and able to pretty much run the show. When the beautiful Jane Nightingale approaches the brothers with a mystery to solve – the strange disappearance of her father, a famed computer hacker – it leads them to all sorts of adventure and near death experiences. They soon find themselves being followed by a bunch of thugs, members of the White Crusaders, a nationalist group headed by Neville Fairfax. Can the brothers stop the xenophobic Fairfax from carrying out his evil plans? Where Seagulls Dare is the latest in the Diamond Brothers series of novels and stories by Anthony Horowitz. It's a rip-roaring, laugh-a-minute caper, with poor older brother Tim the butt of many a joke. Tim makes for an endearing goofball, always eager to slip out of a tricky situation and hopelessly unable to focus on the job at hand. Thankfully Nick keeps the investigation on track, and it is his wit and energy that propels the narrative. The plot nods to contemporary events – Neville Chamberlain is loosely based on Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP; Alistair Nightingale, the computer hacker, seems a reference to Julian Assange – although this isn't belaboured. A crowd pleasing adventure story for kids 9+. Adults may get a chuckle out of it too. Where Seagulls Dare, by Anthony Horowitz. Published by Walker Books. $14.99 Review by Chris Saliba Comments are closed.
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