Anthony Horowitz is best known as a screenwriter and children's novelist. Born in 1955 in North London, he was educated at Rugby School and York University, and published his first book,
Enter Frederick K Bower
, in 1978.
He created the television series
Foyle's War, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders, Crime Traveller
and
Menace
, and has written episodes for many more, including
Agatha Christie's Poirot, Murder Most Horrid
and
Robin of Sherwood
.
His books for children include the
Alex Rider
series about the teenage secret agent:
Stormbreaker
(2000), which became a film in 2006;
Point Blanc
(2001);
Skeleton Key
(2002);
Eagle Strike
(2003);
Scorpia
(2004);
Ark Angel
(2005), winner of the 2006 British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year;
Snakehead
(2007), shortlisted for the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize, and
The Mission Files
(2008), an essential guide for the teenage spy. The latest in the Alex Rider series is
Crocodile Tears
(2009).
Further series include the Diamond Brothers series of mystery stories and the Groosham Grange series, the most recent of which is
Return to Groosham Grange
(2003). He also writes short stories, originally collected as
Horowitz Horror
(1999) and
More Horowitz Horror
(2000), later reissued as
Scared
(2000) and
The Complete Horowitz Horror
(2008).
Recent books include
Necropolis: City of the Dead
(2008), the fourth in the Power of Five series, after
Raven's Gate
(2005),
Evil Star
(2006),
Nightrise
(2007); and
The Greek that Stole Christmas
(2007), the most recent of the Diamond Brothers series.
Anthony was chosen by the Ian Fleming estate to write the new James Bond novel published in 2015. He has won numerous awards, including the Bookseller Association/Nielsen Author of the Year Award, the Children’s Book of the Year Award at the British Book Awards, and the Red House Children’s Book Award. In 2014 Anthony was awarded an OBE for Services to Literature. He has also created and written many major television series, including Injustice, Collision, and the award-winning Foyle’s War.
Horowitz writes children’s and young-adult fiction (teen spy adventures), mystery and crime fiction, supernatural/YA fantasy, and horror short stories. He is also an experienced screenwriter and television creator.
Honours include an OBE (2014) for Services to Literature, the Bookseller Association/Nielsen Author of the Year Award, British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year (Ark Angel, 2006), Red House Children’s Book Award, and shortlistings such as Snakehead for the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize.