Public Enemy Number Two facts for kids
1997 edition
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| Author | Anthony Horowitz |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Diamond Brothers |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Walker Books |
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Publication date
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1987 |
| Media type | Paperback (1987) Hardback (2005) |
| OCLC | 951964794 |
| Preceded by | The Falcon's Malteser |
| Followed by | South By South East |
Public Enemy Number Two is an exciting mystery novel by Anthony Horowitz. It's the second book in The Diamond Brothers series. The story first came out in 1987. It follows the adventures of a clever young boy named Nick Diamond. His older brother, Tim Diamond, is a private detective who isn't very good at his job. The book is famous for its funny moments and thrilling plot. The next book in the series is South By South East.
Contents
Meet the Characters
This book is full of interesting characters. Some are heroes, and some are villains!
Main Characters
- Nicholas (Nick) Simple: He's the main character and about 13 years old. He often finds himself in tricky situations.
- Herbert Simple (Tim Diamond): Nick's older brother. He tries to be a detective but usually makes things more complicated.
- Peregrine Palis: Nick's French teacher. He seems normal at first but hides a big secret.
- Johnny Powers: A 15-year-old who is known as a top young criminal.
Other Important Characters
- Chief Inspector Snape: A detective from Scotland Yard. He often asks Nick for help to catch criminals.
- Boyle: Inspector Snape's helper.
- Ma Powers: Johnny's mother.
- Nails Nathan: Johnny's sidekick, who isn't very helpful.
Heroes of the Story
- Nick Simple
- Herbert Simple (Tim Diamond)
- Chief Inspector Snape
- Boyle
The Villains
- Johnny Powers
- Nails Nathan
- Ma Powers
- Big Ed and his gang
- Johnny Powers' gang
- The Fence (who is actually Palis, Nick's French teacher)
The Story Unfolds
The plot of Public Enemy Number Two is full of twists and turns. Nick Diamond gets involved in a big mystery.
Nick's Big Problem
Nick is in detention with his French teacher, Mr. Palis. Suddenly, Chief Inspector Snape and his assistant, Boyle, from Scotland Yard visit him. They want Nick to go to Strangeday Hall. This is a special place for young people who have committed crimes. Their plan is for Nick to become friends with Johnny Powers, a well-known young criminal. Johnny is called "Public Enemy Number One" because of a serious crime he committed. The police want Nick to find out who "the Fence" is. The Fence is a secret criminal leader who controls all stolen goods in London. Nick says no to their offer.
A Setup and a New Friend
Soon after, Nick goes on a school trip to Woburn Abbey. But he gets blamed for trying to steal some valuable jewels called the Woburn Carbuncles. Even though he tries to get away, he is arrested. Nick is then sent to Strangeday Hall for 18 months. Guess who his cellmate is? Johnny Powers! It turns out Snape and Boyle planned for Nick to be framed so he would end up there. They visit Nick and admit they set him up. Nick earns Johnny's trust when he saves Johnny from some dangerous followers of a gangster named Big Ed.
Escape and a Chase
Nick and Johnny manage to escape Strangeday Hall. Nick's brother, Tim Diamond, and Johnny's mother, Ma Powers, help them. The police chase them, but they get away. During the chase, Snape and Boyle's car crashes and explodes. Nick thinks they are both dead. He believes he's the only one who knows he's innocent. Nick and Tim hide at Johnny's secret place in Wapping.
A Mysterious "Penelope"
Nick overhears Johnny talking to Ma about seeing "Penelope." Nick thinks Penelope is the Fence. He follows Johnny to the Wapping tube station but loses him. After getting out onto the street, Nick is captured by Big Ed's gang. They leave him in a very dangerous spot near train tracks.
A Rescue and a Discovery
A man rescues Nick just before a train passes. Nick remembers seeing the man before but can't recall where. The man quickly disappears. To show he's loyal to Johnny, Nick sets fire to Big Ed's hideout. Nick decides to go back to Johnny and Tim. He is still determined to find the Fence to prove his innocence.
Nick realizes his French teacher, Palis, might have seen Snape and Boyle on the day he was in detention. He goes to Palis's flat in Chelsea. The police almost catch him there, but Palis saves him. Nick explains his mission to Palis and stays the night. The next morning, Palis drives Nick back to Wapping.
More Traps and Secrets
At Johnny's hideout, Nick sees a new doorbell. He doesn't remember it being there. He enters through the back and saves Tim from a trap. An explosive device was set to go off if the new doorbell was rung.
Tim explains that Johnny came back and found Nick gone. Johnny didn't like Tim's answers. During the night, Johnny tied Tim up and set the trap. Nick and Tim then discover that "Penelope" is actually a boat. They decide to watch the Penelope from a nearby empty house. They see men putting things onto the boat. Nick remembers Johnny went to "Penelope" through Wapping Tube Station.
The Fence's Hideout
Nick and Tim go to the station. They find a secret tunnel entrance. This is the tunnel where Johnny lost Nick earlier. The tunnel goes under the River Thames to the Fence's secret hideout. There, the brothers see many valuable stolen items.
They run into Nails Nathan, and then Johnny appears. Johnny knows Nick is working for the police. He ties them up and locks them in a room. But they quickly escape. Nick uses the explosive device he brought in his backpack to destroy the door. As they leave, Johnny reappears, ready to harm them.
The Final Confrontation
Suddenly, Snape and armed police officers arrive. Snape had been tracking Nick using a device in his prison shoes. Snape, who survived the car crash and was the one who rescued Nick from the train tracks, plans to arrest Johnny and his gang. But the roof of the underground hideout collapses!
Nick and Tim survive. Ma Powers is arrested. Johnny and Nails Nathan escape. The Fence is still a mystery, but their criminal operation is destroyed. Nick is cleared of all charges against him.
The Truth Revealed
Nick returns to school. In French class, Palis asks Nick to translate a paragraph. As Nick reads, he realizes the message means Palis is the Fence! He also realizes Palis told Johnny Powers that Nick was working for the police. At the end of the lesson, Palis announces he is leaving the school. He dismisses everyone except Nick. Nick realizes Palis wants to harm him. Palis chases Nick to the school roof with a gun. He fires all his bullets trying to hit Nick. Palis then tries to tackle Nick but falls from the building, ending his threat. With Palis gone, Nick's troubles are finally over.
