Artemis Fowl rules! My 12 year old likes the Ranger's Apprentice books, also Hiccup the Viking, Redwall, the Shadowmancer series, Mortal Engines, The Edge Chronicles, Alex Ryder, the Fire thief trilogy by Terry Deary, Spiderwicke,

My other boys liked Garth Nix , the ones with the days of the week, anything by Robin JArvis, Cliff McNish, Broken Sky, Phillip Pullman, THe Diamond brothers (Anthony Horowitz) The Windsinger books by William Nicholson, Famous Five (yes really), Series of Unfortunate Events, Bartimaeus Trilogy, Septimus Heap.

Artemis Fowl books are the best books that I have come across for boys this age, I have been buying them since they were first published and all my kids have loved them. I really liked Windsinger books, as well. Diamond brothers are hilarious and a nice change if your DS likes mystery (sort of) books.

DS also likes these

Spooks Apprentice by Joseph Delaney

ds1 loved Skullduggery Pleasant (he gave it 5 stars - he rates all his books ) and has thoroughly enjoyed the Rangers' Apprentice series, which also gets 5 stars

as do Mortal Engines, Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl, first two Inkheart (but InkDeath was turgid apparently)

Thanks all. DS has read the shortlist and opted for Muddle Earth. Amazon here I come!

Yes to Young Bond.

Also Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart series.

yy the Inkheart books are good.

this is the first one

DH says that the Charlie Higson young James Bond books are good

Also - MuddleEarth
The Inkheart series
The Lemony Snicket books

Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve;
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman;
the Alex Rider books;
Artemis Fowl books.