Eoin Colfer

Artemis is still plotting for a billion-dollar-plus payoff for the Fowl family, but now his enemies are human (chiefly Jon Spiro, a ruthless businessman Artemis tries to blackmail using stolen fairy technology) and he has to turn to his old adversary-turned-friend Captain Holly Short and cutpurse dwarf Mulch Diggums for help.

"Did you know that if the conditions are just right, and if you add a little electricity, or magic, or luck, that an imaginary friend might appear just when you need one? An imaginary friend like Fred. Fred is the best imaginary friend you could ever hope for, but no matter how hard he tries, the same thing always happens: his friend finds a friend in the real world, and Fred fades away, bit by bit, waiting to be wished for again... Then one day,...