The Diamond Brothers Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path for The Diamond Brothers

If you are diving into the comedic mystery world of the Diamond Brothers, the best way to experience their adventures is by following the publication order. While the books are largely episodic and can be enjoyed as standalones, starting from the beginning allows you to see the hilarious origin of the Diamond Detective Agency and watch the bond between Nick and Tim develop.

Here is the recommended reading order for the main books and novellas:

1. The Falcon's Malteser (1986) – The novel that starts it all. Nick and Tim are hired to protect a box of Maltesers that turns out to contain something far more valuable.
2. Public Enemy Number Two (1987) – Nick is framed for a jewel theft and sent to a high-security prison to find the mastermind Southalgar.
3. South by Southeast (1991) – A parody of classic spy thrillers where the brothers travel to Amsterdam to crack a conspiracy involving secret agents.
4. The Blurred Man (2003) – A novella where the brothers search for a mysterious philanthropist who seems to have vanished or never existed.
5. The French Confection (2003) – A novella following the brothers to Paris after winning a competition, only to get mixed up in a drug-smuggling ring.
6. I Know What You Did Last Wednesday (2003) – A novella spoofing Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, set on a remote island.
7. The Greek Who Stole Christmas (2007) – A festive novella where the duo investigates the kidnapping of a famous Greek toy manufacturer.
8. Two of Diamonds (2009) – A bind-up edition collecting the novellas The French Confection and I Know What You Did Last Wednesday.
9. The Double Eagle Has Landed (2011) – A short story originally published in the Guys Read: Thriller anthology.
10. Where Seagulls Dare (2022) – The fourth full-length novel, following the brothers to a mysterious island in search of a missing tech genius.

Understanding the Formats: Novels, Novellas, and Collections

The bibliography of the Diamond Brothers can be slightly confusing because Anthony Horowitz has published the stories in several different formats, including full-length novels, individual novellas, and compiled short-story collections. Knowing the difference helps you avoid buying duplicate stories.

The Main Novels

There are four full-length novels in the series. These offer longer, more complex mysteries with more room for Horowitz's signature puns and pacing:

• The Falcon's Malteser (1986)
• Public Enemy Number Two (1987)
• South by Southeast (1991)
• Where Seagulls Dare (2022)

The Novellas

There are four standalone novellas in the series. These are shorter mysteries originally published individually and later grouped into collections:

• The Blurred Man (2003)
• The French Confection (2003)
• I Know What You Did Last Wednesday (2003)
• The Greek Who Stole Christmas (2007)

The Compilation Books

If you prefer to buy the novellas in collected volumes, look out for these three titles:

• Three of Diamonds (2004) – Contains The Blurred Man, The French Confection, and I Know What You Did Last Wednesday.
• Four of Diamonds (2012) – Contains the same three stories as Three of Diamonds, plus The Greek Who Stole Christmas.
• Two of Diamonds (2009 / 2013 World Book Day edition) – A shorter bind-up containing The French Confection and I Know What You Did Last Wednesday.

Chronological Flow and Reading Caveats

One of the most charming aspects of the Diamond Brothers is its flexible timeline. Even though the series spans over three decades from 1986 to 2022, Nick Diamond remains a smart-aleck 13-to-14-year-old schoolboy, while his brother Tim remains an inept, broke 20-something private eye. There is no rigid chronological continuity between the books, and characters who die or go to jail in one story are rarely mentioned in the next.

Because of this, you do not need to worry about strict timelines or missing details if you read the novellas out of order. The only real rule is to read The Falcon's Malteser first, as it introduces the characters and sets up the premise of their detective agency in London.

Adaptations and Spin-Offs

The Diamond Brothers has made the leap to the screen twice, both times with screenplays written by Anthony Horowitz himself:

• Just Ask for Diamond (1988) – A feature film adaptation of The Falcon's Malteser, released in the United States as Diamond's Edge. It starred Dursley McLinden as Tim and Colin Dale as Nick.
• The Diamond Brothers: South by South East (1991) – A six-part television series based on the third book, filmed in London and Amsterdam. The series saw the return of the film's lead actors, but it remains highly obscure as it has never been released on home media.

What to Know Before You Start

If you are a fan of Anthony Horowitz's more famous teen spy series, Alex Rider, you should expect a completely different tone here. The Diamond Brothers is a comedy first and foremost. It parodies classic film noir, detective tropes, and hardboiled fiction with heavy doses of slapstick humor, awful puns, and absurd situations. It is a lighthearted, fast-paced read perfect for younger mystery lovers and adults who appreciate witty parodies.

Horowitz has also mentioned a planned fifth novel in the series, tentatively titled The Radius of the Lost Shark, which fans hope will bring the brothers back for another full-length adventure in the future.