Anthony Horowitz’s Public Enemy Number Two is about a thirteen-year-old boy who goes on an explosive adventure that he will probably never forget.

             The main character is called Nick, who is thirteen and is found guilty of things he didn’t do. He has an older brother called Tim, who is a private detective and can be very stupid at the wrong times. He also has a cell mate called Johnny Powers who is going to break out of prison with him.

            Nick and Tim live together while their parents are in Australia. Nick has been asked to do a dangerous mission but refuses to do so. Later on in the book, he is framed for a jewel robbery, gets sent to jail and shares a prison cell with Public Enemy Number One, Johnny Powers. His only chance of getting out of there is to solve this dangerous mission which is to find out who is the “Fence” by getting this information from Johnny Powers. Johnny and Nick eventually break out from prison after receiving a letter from Johnny’s mum to come home. Nick realises who framed him; it was the two people who asked him to do the dangerous mission. Nick plays along but actually is helping the police. After the two people who framed him get blown up in a police chasing incident, Nick gets very worried for they are the only people in the world who know that he was framed.

            This book is written in a very good and easy to follow, but also funny style.For example:

            “Sorry, your highness,” Tim muttered.

             The judge frowned. “You can address me as “your worship”.”

            “Oh yes...” Tim was going into pieces and he hadn’t exactly been together to start with. “Sorry, your highship”

              The usher moved forward and said, “I swear to tell the truth,”

              “Do you?” Tim asked.

               "No – you do!” The usher closed his eyes.

“             "Just repeat the words, Mr. Diamond,” the judge sighed.

             This dialogue was funny because, although Tim is supposed to be a mature adult he can be quite stupid.

            Anthony Horowitz is a popular children’s writer who has won numerous prizes for his books. He also wrote in the same series The Falcon’s Malteser, South by South East, The Blurred Man, The French Confection and I Know What You Did Last Night. He wrote a different series called the Alex Rider books and it includes, Stormbreaker, Point Blanc, Skeleton Key and Eagle Strike. Other books by the same author include The Devil and His Boy, Granny, Groosham Grange, Return to Groosham Grange and The Switch.

            I really liked this book. Although this is a boyish type of book, children who like crime and action would really enjoy it and it is very easy to read and also funny. I would definitely recommend this book to children aged 11-14 year-olds.

            I would rate this book five out of five stars.