Synopsis: Fortune seems to smile on Tim Diamond once more, as he is invite to a weekend reunion in the luxury home of a wealthy former schoolmate. Nick, his far brighter younger brother, tags along for the ride and once more, a short break turns into a struggle for survival as the luck of the Diamonds turns sour once more.

Review: The second short story in the Three of Diamonds trilogy continues the tradition of dire deeds and worse puns. Both of these elements are present and correct, although by aping the traditions of the slasher movie instead of the detective story, Horowitz steers his hapless heroes into darker waters than usual and the random and unearned deaths of the innocent which are the staple of the form may prove upsetting to some.

Once again, however, Horowitz has produced a pacy and eminently readable work for young fans of the crime genre.

2006-10-28