The House of Silk: The New Sherlock Holmes Novel by Anthony Horowitz

Dec 15, 2011

Gav Reads rated it

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I might not have ‘read’ House of Silk as soon as I did if it wasn’t for Derek Jacobi. You see Sir Jacobi has been working his way through recording the Conan Doyle originals of Holmes and I’m really hoping that he gets to finish them (he’s got to be 2/3s done). Anyway, I was looking for a way to get back into the Holmes stories a couple of years ago and had some Audible credit. And after listening to a few samples a love affair was born. Jacobi for me is the voice of Watson and my passion for Ho...moreI might not have ‘read’ House of Silk as soon as I did if it wasn’t for Derek Jacobi. You see Sir Jacobi has been working his way through recording the Conan Doyle originals of Holmes and I’m really hoping that he gets to finish them (he’s got to be 2/3s done). Anyway, I was looking for a way to get back into the Holmes stories a couple of years ago and had some Audible credit. And after listening to a few samples a love affair was born. Jacobi for me is the voice of Watson and my passion for Holmes renewed.

So when I saw that he was reading The House of Silk I couldn’t resist. Now it could have all gone horribly wrong as I’m very used to Doyle’s style and Jacobi’s reading so any failings by Horowitz to get the ‘voice’ right would have been immediately obvious.

And it’s all to the credit to Horowitz that I made it to the end only thinking that Watson was slightly too knowing but never thinking that he wasn’t Watson or doing the job that he has always done; journaling Holmes’s adventures.

What gives it that sense of too ‘knowing’? It’s the framing that’s chosen. This is an adventure that Watson wrote in old age and one that wasn’t to be released until after he’s gone. He is more reflective and judging of the main players but you also get the sense that Horowitz wants you to know how much he knows Doyle’s creation and how he’s being careful to be true to the original and that he has been thinking about the world and the characters and how he could bring them to life.

And without giving away too much it’s certainly a case that Holmes would get himself involved in. An agitated gentleman turns up unannounced at 221B Baker Street asking for Holmes’s help. The man is being stalked by a scar-faced man. Intrigued by his plight Holmes and Watson’s investigations takes them via Boston (though only in told tales) to top of British society and they have no idea what their investigation is going to uncover.

If you’ve listen to the Holmes/Horowitz special of The Readers you might have heard the interview with Horowitz by Simon and heard Horowitz’s top five Holmes short stories. At the time Simon had read it and I hadn’t finished it, which I now realise put him in a really awkward position. The same position I’m in this review… what to reveal.

The answer is not a lot. It’s a mystery and what this man brings into the life of Holmes and Watson is revealed as you read. There are some great moments. Horowitz has poured all his good ideas and chucked in the kitchen sink to make sure gets as much mileage as he can from his one-off officially sanctioned adventure.

And after getting to the end I really want him to write another but I don’t know how he could manage it without it feeling like it’s a ‘lesser’ adventure.

As always Derek Jacobi does an outstanding job bring life to each of the characters by voicing each on differently. There is much more to add. He’s perfect.

If you’re a fan of Holmes or intrigued by him The House of Silk is definitely something to read as not only do you appreciate how clever a character he is and how clever Horowitz is but also (re)ignite a passion to read all his other adventures (just like I’m doing).(less)

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Nov 05, 2011

Marianne rated it

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Holmes and Watson solve an ugly crime - or two or three - outwitting truly depraved criminals and bringing to light a corruption so secret and powerful that even Mycroft warns Sherlock from it -- and cannot come to their aid.

It's a sound, consistent story, and each character rings true. Watson's references to his other adventures with Holmes are both relevant and revealing -- we're brought into the reflections of an older Watson, whose profound respect and love of Holmes remain uncha...more

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Feb 16, 2012

Sarah Madison rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was seriously disappointed in this book. I've read almost every Sherlock Holmes novel and pastiche out there, and I was looking forward to this one based on the previous recommendations I've read. Mind you, there is a lot of good and bad SH fic out there--and the canon work itself is seriously flawed. However, for the most part, I enjoy SH as a character and love the historical setting and the mysteries--so my disappointment surprised me.

I'm not sure why I was so disappointed. ...moreI was seriously disappointed in this book. I've read almost every Sherlock Holmes novel and pastiche out there, and I was looking forward to this one based on the previous recommendations I've read. Mind you, there is a lot of good and bad SH fic out there--and the canon work itself is seriously flawed. However, for the most part, I enjoy SH as a character and love the historical setting and the mysteries--so my disappointment surprised me.

I'm not sure why I was so disappointed. Perhaps it was because at times the writing felt contrived and clunky. Maybe it was the fact that the story didn't live up to the hype. That might have been the biggest factor, to be honest. I'd heard so many good things about this story that I was surprised when it rated only average in my estimation. As a writer myself (albeit of a small, niche genre) I know how devastating a negative (or even lukewarm) review can be, so it is with hesitation I even rank it here.

Here are my problems though: First, the convention of knowing Holmes is dead as the book opens and Watson reminiscing about his past. I know why it was done--it lent an element of uncertainty to the proceedings so that when we got to the part where Holmes is accused of murder, we have a moment of doubt as to whether he makes it out of this or not. He's Holmes though, so we know he does. The maudlin aspect of Watson writing out memoirs in his dotage, of relaying crimes "too heinous to mention" didn't work for me. Especially since in this day and age, the crimes weren't that heinous (not to the jaded modern reader, that is) and whenever Watson in the present started to talk about the past, you could almost see the special effects of the scene spinning into a dream/flashback sequence. As a convention, I found it heavy handed and annoying, and it threw me out of the story. The same effect could have been done with Watson writing the story as it occurred and then prohibiting its release until all the principle characters were dead. The only thing you'd lose is the 'what if' suspense about whether SH is hung for murder, and we all know that wasn't happening.

Ditto the scene with the supposed Moriarty. When it occurred, I thought that maybe, just maybe we'd get to see Watson actually saving the day as far as imprisoned Holmes was concerned--which would have been a neat twist. And yet, when Holmes managed to free himself instead, rendering the whole scene with Moriarty useless, BTW, I couldn't help but think, 'of course Holmes would free himself.' Until I began to think about the fact that his escape all hinged on the chance discovery of someone in the infirmary that he'd previously encountered who'd be inclined to help him.

All in all, the book fell short of my expectations. Though to be fair to the author, the elements of the canon novels were all there. Perhaps it would be wise of me to point out that I am a fan of the Mary Russell novels by Laurie King--which are a far cry from Holmes as depicted in the ACD canon. I can't help but feel however, that King's Holmes made a lively and real impact on me as a reader, that Horowitz's version did not.

I am tempted to increase the rating here simply because I feel bad rating anyone's story as a 2 star--but if I go by the GR standards of 2 stars being 'it was okay', then I have to stand by my rating.(less)

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Feb 10, 2012

Mel rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First book I've read this year. It's an easy read, I read it over a night and and an afternoon.

Tackling such an iconic author and set of characters is always going to be a difficult situation for any person, no matter your credentials. So kudos to Mr Hororwitz for giving it a go.

On the whole, he got the flavour right. I enjoyed 80% of the book. He did his research; nothing in the Victoriana of his England seemed glaringly out of place. THe first part f the book has the right ...more

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Feb 09, 2012

Philip rated it

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Im neuen Sherlock Holmes Roman Das Geheimnis des weißen Bandes von Anthony Horowitz geht es ziemlich heiß her. Neben einem gefolterten und zu Tode gekommenen Straßenjungen kommt der Roman auch mit einem verfolgten Kunsthändler und einem getöteten Verfolger daher. Für viele Sherlock Holmes Fans mag das auf den ersten Blick sehr viel Action sein. Nichtsdestotrotz wurde der Roman von der Arthur-Doyle-Gesellschaft offiziell als 61. Fall des weltberühmten Detektivs anerkannt.

Da stellt sich ...moreIm neuen Sherlock Holmes Roman Das Geheimnis des weißen Bandes von Anthony Horowitz geht es ziemlich heiß her. Neben einem gefolterten und zu Tode gekommenen Straßenjungen kommt der Roman auch mit einem verfolgten Kunsthändler und einem getöteten Verfolger daher. Für viele Sherlock Holmes Fans mag das auf den ersten Blick sehr viel Action sein. Nichtsdestotrotz wurde der Roman von der Arthur-Doyle-Gesellschaft offiziell als 61. Fall des weltberühmten Detektivs anerkannt.

Da stellt sich nur die Frage, ob ein neuer Autor eine alte Geschichte fortführen kann. Leider kann ich das nicht beantworten, da ich nur die Filme und die Serie kenne, die Romane aber bisher nicht.
Was ich aber sagen kann ist, dass mir der neue Roman gut gefallen hat. Anthony Horowitz trifft meiner Meinung nach die Zeit des späten 19. Jahrhunderts in London sehr gut. Die vielen liebevoll geschilderten Details und die Charaktere wirken rundum stimmig und der aus der Sicht von Dr. Watson geschilderte Fall ist sehr knifflig, wodurch man den Krimi geradezu verschlingen muss.

Horowitz gelingt es schon am Anfang durch eine gelungene Einleitung, den Leser zu überzeugen, wieso ausgerechnet nach so langer Zeit noch eine Geschichte um Sherlock Holmes auftaucht. Der Fall ist aus Sicht des Dr. Watson so schlimm, dass man diese erst in 100 Jahren zu Gesicht bekommen darf. Dabei fand ich die Geschichte an sich gar nicht so brutal, sondern für einen Krimi der heutigen Zeit durchaus typisch. Die vielen unterschiedlichen Richtungen, die der Fall nach und nach einschlägt, führen zum Ende zu einer guten Auflösung des Falls, wie man Sie aus den Sherlock Holmes Filmen kennt.
Der geschilderte Fall an sich ist durchaus interessant, passt aber eher in die aktuelle Zeit, was den Fall für mich aber authentischer macht.
Leider gefällt mir die Beziehung zwischen Holmes und Watson nicht. Holmes ist mir zu hochnäsig und verkauft Watson nach Strich und Faden für blöd. Zwar hab ich mit einem überlegenen Sherlock Holmes gerechnet aber in diesem Fall fand ich das zu extrem.

Alles in allem finde ich den Roman gelungen, die Geschichte und die erzählten Wendungen spannend und den Schritt von Anthony Horowitz, einen tot geglaubten Klassiker neu zu beleben, mutig und vor allem lesenswert.(less)

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Feb 07, 2012

Jon rated it

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The best thing I can say about this new Sherlock Holmes story is that it gets Holmes and Watson exactly right. It was wonderful to spend time with them in a new story. But I expected much more from the creator of Foyle's War. The key to the mysterious title will be obvious to any attentive mystery reader long, long before Holmes finally reveals it. An early account of action in Boston reveals a complete ignorance of the neighborhoods of the city and their locations. It was so inaccurate that I w...more

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Feb 01, 2012

Daniel Cann rated it

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Endorsed by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ‘The House of Silk’ has a fine pedigree with renowned author Anthony Horowitz taking on the world’s most famous detective: Sherlock Holmes.

Here we learn that Holmes is dead and Watson has allowed this particular case to see the light of day after a period of one hundred years such was the scandal, corruption and sensation involved.

Set in November of 1890 this adventure concerns a scar-faced man wearing a flat cap stalking an E...moreEndorsed by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ‘The House of Silk’ has a fine pedigree with renowned author Anthony Horowitz taking on the world’s most famous detective: Sherlock Holmes.

Here we learn that Holmes is dead and Watson has allowed this particular case to see the light of day after a period of one hundred years such was the scandal, corruption and sensation involved.

Set in November of 1890 this adventure concerns a scar-faced man wearing a flat cap stalking an English gentleman a gang from Boston becoming entwined with the art world and mention of the ‘House of Silk’ which could threaten Victorian society itself. Holmes and Watson must investigate some terrible crimes and will be tested like never before.

This has a far more introspective and reflective Watson. Horowitz’s love and knowledge of Conan Doyle’s consulting detective is clear in his writing. This has plenty of references and tie-ins with other Holmes stories and key events proving that Horowitz was the right man for the job.

This story has a real sense of foreboding and danger. Usually efforts from other authors have seemed almost cosy and formulaic, you know there will be a grisly murder or two but the avuncular pair of Holmes and Watson will solve the problem and save the day in the end; well here the opposite is true, I had no idea what the outcome would be or what the two crime fighting friends would find themselves up against. That is credit to Horowitz’s skill as a writer of crime.

This one is also packed to the rafters with excellent well-drawn and realized characters. These are not the cockney clichés or supercilious master criminals that we have become accustomed to; rather these are three dimensional multi-layered and complicated people. Who can be trusted and who is hiding a terrible secret? Horowitz manages to make everyone interesting and a potential suspect. This works because I found myself paying attention to even the most incidental of characters in case they re-emerged later in the narrative.

The story keeps you on edge and constantly on your toes. This is not a world of comfy slippers, pipes and inviting fireplaces but rather of a cold harsh winter, malevolent fog and menace lurking down every alley. With surprises and revelations aplenty this must also be without doubt the darkest Holmes novel I have read so far.

Horowitz has managed to be both thrilling and inventive and has taken Holmes and Watson to places they have never been to before.

I really hope this is not a one-off project because this far exceeded my expectations and Horowitz has masterfully created an adventure worthy of Conan Doyle with a very dark and unexpected twist.
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Jan 26, 2012

Dean Turnbloom rated it

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I decided to read House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz for the rather selfish reason of seeing how it stacked up to my own novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Whitechapel Vampire. Since Mr. Horowitz is a rather successful author, I was interested in comparing and contrasting our takes on Doyle’s inimitable detective.

Before I get into the specifics, of which I have many, I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt that on measure, it faithfully recreated the flavor of Conan Doyl...moreI decided to read House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz for the rather selfish reason of seeing how it stacked up to my own novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Whitechapel Vampire. Since Mr. Horowitz is a rather successful author, I was interested in comparing and contrasting our takes on Doyle’s inimitable detective.

Before I get into the specifics, of which I have many, I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt that on measure, it faithfully recreated the flavor of Conan Doyle’s stories for the great majority of the reading. I did, however, find some areas I would take issue with and it is these that this review endeavors to describe.

Of course, the first chapter is taken up with the author attempting to show his familiarity with Holmes and the canon. This can be seen from the opening page where the obligatory astonishing deductive ability of Holmes is demonstrated for Watson, as well as the reader. But really, Watson has been down this road too many times to be truly taken aback, don’t you think? By the end of the first chapter I was anxiously awaiting for Holmes to reach for the Persian slipper on the mantle, and was not disappointed. I did think the author was perhaps trying too hard to show his familiarity.
What I was more troubled by were the instances of inconsistency or words that seemed out of character. For instance, the last paragraph on page eleven begins, “Sure enough…” This sounds out of character for Watson’s chronicle. Also, on page twenty-five, the phrase “wiped out” is used. This seems to me to be too contemporary a term for Victorian England. I doubt it was in Watson’s lexicon.

On page 15, Holmes remarks that the actions of the man in the flat hat made “no sense”. It seems to me that Holmes would have several possible scenarios in which the actions would make perfect sense, or at least remark that their seeming lack of sense was due to a certain lack of “data”. Then on page 16 Holmes contradicts himself, saying in one sentence that the “picture becomes clearer”, and then two sentences later comments that the behavior is “lacking in logic” when this particular behavior is the most obvious, even to the casual observer.

Chapter two is taken up with the back story that gives the impetus for Holmes taking on an investigation. Later, on page thirty-four, once again we see Holmes step out of character saying that were it not for Watson’s chronicling of his adventures he might not have the strength to carry on his investigations, as if it was the adulation of the readers that spurs him on. This is something he might take private joy in, but he’d scarce admit it. It’s always been the odd or curious nature that piques his interest and steels his will, not the crowd.

Another glaring contradiction, this time concerning Watson, occurs on pages fifty-seven and sixty, whereas he first gives an overly admiring description of his sentiment toward Holmes, when a mere three pages later he gives the impression of harboring some annoyance with Holmes, almost to the point of accusing him of cheating in his abilities.

Then there are some factual anomalies. Page fifty-nine puts Mrs. Oldmore’s Private Hotel in Bermondsey and on page sixty-one sets a price of thirty shillings per week for a “mean, dilapidated building”, but in “Dickens’ Dictionary of London, 1888”, “very good” lodging could be had for thirty to forty shillings per week, even though he did mention “the blood and grime of Bermondsey”, which was notable for being a district that housed the leather making industry, which was very bloody indeed. This is a minor point of research barely worth mentioning.

From here Mr. Horowitz appears to hit his pace, with only small glitches, such as Holmes saying “Pshaw!”, page 134. “Nonsense!” I think would have worked better. On page 166, Holmes asks Lestrade, and then Watson nearly the same question that made the questions seem odd and clumsy, “What did you make of it” and “What do you make of it”. Also, I found a typo on page 167 where “span” is used and I believe it should be “swam”. Nothing really detracts from the story here.

The last thing worth mentioning is the introduction of Moriarty purportedly to “aid” Holmes. Not only does this, as well as his assertion he doesn’t “murder children” seem out of character for the evil genius, but his assistance was contrived and ineffectual. The only thing I can conclude was that he wanted to get Moriarty in the story somehow, so he concocted this piece, which I think would have been better left out.

All in all I found the book absorbing with the actual underlying crime being shocking, but not to a degree that once it’d been broken up it necessarily needed to be tucked away for fifty years, per Watson’s assertion. But I suppose that is just a matter of opinion and in the Victorian age, perhaps it would have been. I give the book four and a half pipes out of five. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Doyle and his wonderful detective, Sherlock Holmes.
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Jan 25, 2012

Heather S. W. rated it

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Shelves: mystery

3 stars for the adequacy of the writer, but I didn't like the book enough to finish. Most likely the problem with me and this book is that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Sherlock series on BBC, just finished season 2 and it was FABULOUS. This Sherlock in comparison was milktoast. Also, I hated how I couldn't guess any of the details - just had to listen to Sherlock give his long explanation for his assumption. I found the book to be well written but not atmospheric, I didn't feel the characters and I ...more

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Jan 25, 2012

Jenn Richard rated it

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I liked this book, I did, but there are a few aspects of the narration and the characterization that helped me to enjoy this book just a little bit less.

I feel that Horowitz's Watson is a little too apologetic or regretful over how he has written previous chronicles of his old friend. An older Watson than Conan Doyle's, he looks back at how he has characterized different people, and finds himself unhappy. This, in some cases, is to explain why certain characters who might never have he...more

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Jan 24, 2012

Luanne Ollivier rated it

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Once I discovered Sherlock Holmes in my younger years, I devoured every tale, fascinated with Holmes' powers of observation and deductions.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle died in 1930. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz is the first time a new Holmes story has been sanctioned by his estate.

I started to listen to the book with, I must admit, with more than a little trepidation. Would it do justice to Doyle's characters? Would the story have the same 'feel'?

1890's London...more

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Jan 23, 2012

Josh Hopping rated it

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For the first since April 1927 the famous detective Sherlock Holmes is back in print with a new canonized adventure chronicled by Dr. John H. Watson.

That is correct, the Conan Doyle Estate, who has ultimate control over the writings and characters developed Arthur Conan Doyle, has authorized – nay, they commissioned – a new Sherlock Holmes novel. The author they chose to write is iconic novel was none other than Anthony Horowitz of Alex Rider fame, which by the way are fairly good yo...moreFor the first since April 1927 the famous detective Sherlock Holmes is back in print with a new canonized adventure chronicled by Dr. John H. Watson.

That is correct, the Conan Doyle Estate, who has ultimate control over the writings and characters developed Arthur Conan Doyle, has authorized – nay, they commissioned – a new Sherlock Holmes novel. The author they chose to write is iconic novel was none other than Anthony Horowitz of Alex Rider fame, which by the way are fairly good young adult adventure books.

The book in question is entitled “The House of Silk” and was published a few months ago on November 1, 2011. Luckily Boise has a good library system and I was able to read this iconic book within a timely manner. =D

My reaction to said book? I loved it!!

It was captivating and thrilling from the get go with Dr. Watson writing in the preface why he choose to lock the manuscript up in a vault with instruction for them to be published 100 years later:

“It was impossible before – and I am not just referring to Holmes’ well-known aversion to publicity. No, the events which I am about to describe were simply too monstrous, too shocking to appear in print. They still are. It is no exaggeration to suggest that they would tear apart the entire fabric of society and, particularly at a time of war, this is something I cannot risk.”

In having finished the novel, I do have to say that Dr. Watson was correct – the crime that was committed involved people throughout the highest reaches of society and would have caused untold damages had the people of London known about it at the time. Granted, in hindsight, that might not have been that bad of a think knowing the nature of the crime…

Regardless, the novel is self was fantastic! I can’t really say if the writing style was exactly “Holmism” as I have not read the original is quite some time – that and I’m not really a textual criticism scholar. All I can say was that enjoyed myself thoroughly and hope that Anthony Horowitz will write some more. =D

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Jan 05, 2012

Marlene rated it

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See all my reviews at www.readingreality.net
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz is a new/old Sherlock Holmes story. And I'm an absolute sucker for Sherlock Holmes stories.

Why do I call it a new/old Holmes story? On the one hand, it is written in the style of the Conan Doyle canon. Watson is writing up one of Holmes' cases. On very much the other hand, the case he is writing up is about a subject that proper Victorian gentlemen did not discuss. There are, after all, much worse th...moreSee all my reviews at www.readingreality.net
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz is a new/old Sherlock Holmes story. And I'm an absolute sucker for Sherlock Holmes stories.

Why do I call it a new/old Holmes story? On the one hand, it is written in the style of the Conan Doyle canon. Watson is writing up one of Holmes' cases. On very much the other hand, the case he is writing up is about a subject that proper Victorian gentlemen did not discuss. There are, after all, much worse things than prostitution.

So we come to the case of the House of Silk. This is purported to be a case that Watson is writing up very late in his own life, after Holmes has died in Sussex. It is written in the tone of a man reflecting back, and sometimes you can hear the nostalgia, and of knowledge of later times impinging on the then-present. In "Watson's" preface to the story, he states that the case was too shocking to appear in print and too close to the halls of power to appear during wartime. He purportedly left the manuscript with his private papers, with instructions to his solicitors to have the manuscript published in a century.

And so we have the adventures of The Man in the Flat Cap and The House of the Silk.

The story itself takes place in 1890, a year before that infamous affair at Reichenbach Falls. Watson is still married to his first wife, Mary Morstan that was, but she has just left to nurse one of her former charges through a bout of influenza, and Watson has taken up his bachelor quarters with Holmes at 221B Baker Street for the duration.

An art dealer named Edmund Carstairs engages Holmes (and by association, Watson) to investigate the man in the flat cap who is terrorizing him. It should be an open-and-shut case. Carstairs returned from America a year ago. While he was there, he agreed to sell four impressionist masterpieces to a collector in Boston. The sale would have made his gallery a fortune. The paintings arrived in the States, but, the four Turner paintings just happened to be caught in the middle of a train robbery that went horribly wrong, and were burned to ash. Insurance covered the loss, but the buyer in Boston decided to go after the robbers. The gang, known as the Flat Cap Gang, were killed by the Boston police. All except one. Carstairs believes that the one remaining member of the gang, Keelan O'Donaghue, has followed him to London and is now following him around, leaving messages and generally terrorizing him. The question is, "to what purpose?" Not to mention, "why wait a year to follow?"

Holmes is intrigued by those questions. He is on the trail of a case that is, as usual, more than it appears. But in the process of finding the man who is trailing Carstairs, Holmes employs his "Baker Street Irregulars", the band of street orphans that he hires to watch out when he cannot be everywhere at once. A new boy, Ross, finds not just the man in the flat-cap, but something to his own advantage, or so he thinks. After he collects his guinea from Holmes, he tries a bit of blackmail of his own, and is not just killed for his trouble, but tortured first. And his body left for Holmes to find with a bit of white silk ribbon tied to wrist as a message.

Holmes takes the message to heart and the investigation takes a more personal turn. When Mycroft comes to 221B in person to warn Holmes off, the younger Holmes delves even deeper, because he knows he is on the trail of something that someone does not want him to find. And that's when the situation becomes truly dangerous, possibly even for Sherlock Holmes.

Escape Rating B+:I enjoyed this visit with Holmes and Watson, but it didn't quite fit for me. For one, I figured it out before the end. For another, the non-Conan Doyle version of Holmes that now lives in my mind is Laurie R. King's, so any variant that has Holmes deceased, especially without Mary Russell, just sounds wrong to me. And the only time Watson survives Holmes is after Reichenbach, and we all know how that turned out.(less)

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Dec 27, 2011

Stamatios rated it

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It's been ages since I last read a Sherlock Holmes novel, but I'm quite certain that Horowitz has nailed down the style of the original materials with great precision. Well, I'm sure that there must be some modern vocabulary here and there that both the author and his editor missed, but scouring for it won't do you any good and will detract you from the excellent story.

The main theme of The House of Silk may also be too modern (and too mature) for some readers, but as a result the bo...more

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Dec 20, 2011

Matthew (Bibliofreak.net) rated it

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The House of Silk (2011) is the first Sherlock Holmes book to be officially endorsed by the Conan Doyle estate, Anthony Horowitz claiming to have written not a pastiche, but a new Sherlock Holmes novel. The House of Silk is truly two cases, the titular and The Case of the Man in the Flat Cap. The two cases are set in motion when a Bohemian art dealer visits Holmes in Baker Street, fearing for his life, and being stalked by a scar-faced man who lurks around every corner. Holmes and Watson are qui...moreThe House of Silk (2011) is the first Sherlock Holmes book to be officially endorsed by the Conan Doyle estate, Anthony Horowitz claiming to have written not a pastiche, but a new Sherlock Holmes novel. The House of Silk is truly two cases, the titular and The Case of the Man in the Flat Cap. The two cases are set in motion when a Bohemian art dealer visits Holmes in Baker Street, fearing for his life, and being stalked by a scar-faced man who lurks around every corner. Holmes and Watson are quickly drawn into a sprawling case of twists and turns and, what starts as the fallout from an art deal gone awry, quickly turns into something more sinister, with conspiracy and scandal threatening to “tear apart the very fabric of society”.

A big Sherlock Holmes fans himself, Horowitz recreates Conan Doyle's style effectively and has clearly spent a long time ensuring the novel is of the highest quality. He does, though, afford himself the opportunity to fine tune elements of the work for a modern audience. The novel finds a new and progressive attitude towards social conscience, particularly in reference to the Baker Street Irregulars, with sentiments more akin to Dickens than Conan Doyle frequently expressed. This brings out a warmer, less arrogant side of Holmes. Indeed, Holmes as a whole appears a more balanced individual than the character drawn by Conan Doyle; here he lacks the single-minded harshness - the self-centred petulance - that created such a dichotomous and fascinating character originally. There is a mistrust of authorities and those with power too, and it is suggested that, rather than a few bad eggs, corruption is endemic and inextricably linked with power – a position which smacks of a more modern state of mind.

Horowitz captures the atmosphere of Victorian London and the voice of Watson wonderfully, without ever becoming clichéd or creating a caricature. There is the odd slip in the prose; an Americanism here and there, some modern phraseology, but nothing that one might grumble at. As for the story itself, although the novel is noticeably longer than any of Conan Doyle's four Holmes novels, the plot carries it along at a fair old pace and, whilst the middle of the book sags just a little, it is certainly well-paced by modern standards. There are, however, some indulgences when it comes to the characters included in the story with Moriarty and, to a lesser extent, Mycroft's appearances feeling a little unnecessary to the plot.

The two cases tie together pleasingly at the novel's conclusion and, although one strand is a little too predictable and the other a little too obtuse, the plot is well constructed and forms a delightful mystery. Horowitz has taken Holmes's world and subtly recreated it for a modern audience; the essence of the characters and the world they inhabit maintained, whilst a modern sensibility is allowed to seep, effortlessly, into the framework of the story. There are one or two inconsistencies that will irritate devout Holmes fans but, on the whole, The House of Silk is an excellent addition to the Holmes canon and, whilst never breaking new ground, provides a rollicking new adventure for fans to enjoy. (less)

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Dec 17, 2011

Vicki rated it

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Anthony Horowitz has done an amazing work in this novel! It is so close to Arthur Conan Doyle's style of writing that only Sherlock himself is clever enough to spot the differences.

The premise is that Dr. Watson had chronicled this particular adventure only after all the participants in the adventure have passed away. He instructs his family to keep the document secreted away for 100 years following his own death. He feels that the sensibilities of the society of his day would be so s...moreAnthony Horowitz has done an amazing work in this novel! It is so close to Arthur Conan Doyle's style of writing that only Sherlock himself is clever enough to spot the differences.

The premise is that Dr. Watson had chronicled this particular adventure only after all the participants in the adventure have passed away. He instructs his family to keep the document secreted away for 100 years following his own death. He feels that the sensibilities of the society of his day would be so scandalized by the subject matter that the truths he reveals could upset the very fabric of their nation.

So begins the Preface of the novel, penned by Dr. Watson himself. This case presents itself to Holmes and Watson in the winter of 1890. Watson has already married, but his wife is spending time out of town with her former employer and the child for whom she had previously served as nanny. So Watson returns for a visit to 221B Baker Street with an eye to seeing after Holmes while he recovers from the strains he has put on his body by doing without food and water for days. His purpose had been to fool an adversary in a previous case. He wanted to appear to be at Death's door and has very nearly succeeded.

Shortly after Watson's arrival, another well dressed gentleman calls at Mr. Holmes door. He is Edmund Carstairs, an art dealer, who is concerned about being watched and followed by a stranger, but soon admits that he knows who the man is and why he knows that the man means him harm. He relates a tale that covers several months and involves the sale of some art works that he sent to an American purchaser, and subsequently had to travel to America himself to resolve complications in the transaction. As a result he could be indirectly associated with the death of some gang members whose actions led to the destruction of the paintings, and he believes that the person shadowing him has revenge on his mind.

Holmes agree to look into the case and Watson accompanies him, but it is not long before the case of the Flat Cap Gang segues into a seemingly unrelated case which sweeps Holmes and Watson into the seamier side of London, teeming with opium dens, poverty, orphans and unspeakable evil, which threatens to destroy Holmes' reputation, and what's more, his very life is at risk.

Horowitz leads us through a compelling story, full of plot twists, seedy characters and plenty of intrigue, all in the proper British voice of Arthur Conan Doyle as he spoke through Dr. Watson. Doyle would have been proud to call this tale his own!(less)

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Dec 10, 2011

Nancy rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 07, 2011

Stephanie rated it

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Shelves: stuff-i-would-read-again

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
(*****I've mentioned some things that might be considered spoilers when it comes to characters that show up, but I haven't spoilered any of the mystery itself. Enjoy!******)

Arthur Conan Doyle was famously unpossessive when it came to his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. “You may marry him, or murder or do what you like with him," he once responded to a playwright who was working on a stage adaptation of the stories.

Thus, the fact that English novelist and...more

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Nov 22, 2011

Ruby Scarlett rated it

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I really enjoyed this. I haven't read any of the Sherlock Holmes novels (not for lack of trying, they just bore me) but the characters rang true and the plot was interesting to follow. I can't say I was that impressed with the author's afterword. While I applaud his candidness in all matters literary, his being proud of not having included any female characters or any hint as to Watson and Holmes' ambiguous relationship fell flat of being a source of celebration for me. How pathetic that anyone ...more

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Nov 20, 2011

L.K. Jay rated it

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Shelves: crime

I am an avid Sherlock Holmes fan and as far as I'm concerned, there is only one on-screen version of Holmes and that is Jeremy Brett (with Benedict Cumberbatch coming a close second), so when I heard that someone else was going to write a Sherlock Holmes book I had the same reaction when I heard that Robert Downey Jr was going to play Holmes in that terrible film. When I heard it was going to be Anthony Horowitz writing it though, I changed my tune. Anyone who wrote 'Foyle's War' had to do a g...more

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Nov 19, 2011

Jo Anne B rated it

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I haven't read a Sherlock Holmes book in decades but this conjured up fond memories of the mysteries solved by Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Watson. This was a very fun, pleasurable read.

I thought Horowitz did a great job capturing the voice of Doyle and stayed true to his story telling. Sherlock Holmes is able to solve multiple crimes by making keen deductions about the people involved. He can tell if they got up late, were being poisoned, were telling the truth or not, and ultima...more

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Jan 07, 2012

Mary Ronan Drew rated it

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Shelves: library-book

Having read a great many books like this one, follow-ons to famous and beloved works by Austen, Doyle, and Sayers, I'm prepared to say this is the best of them. The author has captured the language and the plot of an original Sherlock Holmes story and there is a minimum of anachronism, though I doubt one would have said "he slept in" back in 1915, which is when the book was purportedly written.

But the plot, the characters encountered, the scenes, the descriptions of Holmes...moreHaving read a great many books like this one, follow-ons to famous and beloved works by Austen, Doyle, and Sayers, I'm prepared to say this is the best of them. The author has captured the language and the plot of an original Sherlock Holmes story and there is a minimum of anachronism, though I doubt one would have said "he slept in" back in 1915, which is when the book was purportedly written.

But the plot, the characters encountered, the scenes, the descriptions of Holmes and Watson, the "let's wait until tomorrow" of Watson vs the "let's do it now" of Holmes, the fog and the cold and the carriage rides are all captured well. A slightly modern twist in the plot is appropriate as the subject couldn't be talked about when the real Doyle was writing but is now being recorded in this, Watson's last book, not to be published until after his death.

Some of our favorites from the stories appear here, including Mrs Hudson, the Baker Street Irregulars, Lestrade, and brother Mycroft, with a hint at others. I did figure out what was going on fairly early but that didn't detract from the gripping adventure, the "how will he get out of this one" that we love in the Sherlock Holmes adventures.

What did detract was a scene where a gentleman introduces his wife to Holmes instead of introducing him to her. This was an unthinkable breach of etiquette in the 1890s. The lady might be 16 years old and the man 82, but always it was, "Jane, may I introduce the prime minister?" (That's almost as bad as the historical novelists who think "high tea" is a fancy party with whipped cream and scones when in reality it's a working class meal. And the people who, in 19th century Britain, introduce an Anglican clergyman as Reverend Jones instead of the reverend Mr Jones. Ghastly mistakes.)

Also distracting were a few incorrect uses of whom. I have no problem, even in a book purportedly taking place at a time when these distinctions were important, if an educated character uses "who" when "whom" is correct. But when the author has used "whom" and the correct word is "who" you have pretentiousness on top of error.

Ok, with that off my chest, this is a terrific story and highly recommended, especially for those who are not over-educated nit-pickers.

2012 No 5(less)

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Jan 02, 2012

Ariel rated it

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Shelves: mystery-sherlock-holmes

I have never read a Conan Doyle/ Sherlock Holmes novel but after enjoying many of Agatha Christies mystery books this summer I was on the lookout for one. Instead I found the House of Silk which is the first Sherlock Holmes book to be authorized by the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate. Based on the plot summary I decided to pick it up and I am so glad I did. It was wonderful.

The story begins when an art dealer by the name of Edmund Carstairs engages Sherlock Holmes to help him deal with a cri...moreI have never read a Conan Doyle/ Sherlock Holmes novel but after enjoying many of Agatha Christies mystery books this summer I was on the lookout for one. Instead I found the House of Silk which is the first Sherlock Holmes book to be authorized by the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate. Based on the plot summary I decided to pick it up and I am so glad I did. It was wonderful.

The story begins when an art dealer by the name of Edmund Carstairs engages Sherlock Holmes to help him deal with a criminal he believes is stalking him. The stalking has to do with art work that Carstair's was shipping to America and which has been stolen by a Boston gang. Eventually there is a theft at Carstairs residence and Holmes enlists some street children to help him locate a stolen necklace. One of the children he employs is named Ross and when Ross is discovered murdered the case is spun off into another direction from which the book's title is taken, The House of Silk. Both cases are neatly brought together at the end as Holmes solves a particularly despicable case. The subject of this book could have been ripped from today's headlines. Does this sound familiar to you? A charity is set up to ostensibly help boys who are under privileged but instead the charity is used to find victims to sexually abuse. Shades of Jerry Sandusky is it not? The story is fantastic and keeps you guessing until the end. There are lots of references throughout the book to earlier cases which not having read the Conan Sherlock Holmes novels escaped me, but are probably the icing on the cake to the die hard Sherlock Holmes fans. Holmes brilliant powers of deduction are on full display and of course he has his trusty Watson along for the ride. Everyone gets a satisfying round of just desserts at the end. I wish Horowitz would write the screenplays to the Sherlock Holmes movies. I am sure he would do a better job and I would love to see Robert Downy Junior in House of Silk. If you are a mystery fan you will not be disappointed with The House of Silk. (less)

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Feb 12, 2012

Lucy Pegg rated it

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Shelves: favourites

This is the first Sherlock Holmes book I've read and I really enjoyed it. I had quite high expectations because a) it's written by Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider books, a series I recently finished and b) since the second series of the BBC TV show Sherlock aired I'm just slightly obsessed with the consulting detective and his faithful medical friend. So all-in-all The House of Silk had quite a lot to live up to.

The story starts with a case which seems to be entirely unconne...more

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Jan 11, 2012

Catherine rated it

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Certainly a worthy attempt at emulating the Holmes universe created by Conan Doyle. It occasionally seemed strange to read someone else's version of the characters but, for the most part, the voices were perfect and it was easy to accept that this was simply another case, written by our ever reliable storyteller, Dr Watson. The plot is much darker than the original canon (accounting for why it has only come to light now; a nice little addition that makes it more credible) but no less believable ...more

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Dec 18, 2011

sondheim rated it

Okay, so maybe it wasn't perfect, but it made the Sherlockian in me so absolutely addled with glee that I could not find fault with any part of it. Watson's voice was absolutely Watson; Holmes was delightfully himself, eccentric and ingenious and mercurial, and in the end he managed to astonish me just as well as he ever did; and when other characters from Conan Doyle's stories put in appearances they were few enough that they served the story without appearing at all excessive.

One t...more

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Feb 17, 2012

Alicia rated it

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Shelves: favorites

I discovered the Sherlock Holmes stories two years ago. Ever since I finished reading all of them, I've been heartbroken. I thought, "This is it. No more Holmes stories. It's over."

So when I heard that Mr. Horowitz was officially sanctioned to write some more, I was overjoyed. A little skeptical, because when I think of Horowitz I think of Alex Rider (which I love, but still..), but mostly overjoyed. It turns out, however, there was no need for any skepticism. The Hous...more

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Feb 06, 2012

Lisa Ard rated it

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I usually reserve 5 stars for life-changing books - the kind of book I want to own, the one I will re-read 20 years later to see if it had the same effect...okay The House of Silk isn't one of those, but it came at just the right time. I wanted a good, meaty novel to escape with, one that was smart, full of good language, a real page-turner. That it is.

Dr. Watson narrates one of the most upsetting cases the duo faced. In fact, so disturbing that he writes it and seals it for 100 years ...more

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Feb 04, 2012

Chris rated it

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Shelves: 2012, historical-fiction, mystery

This is Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes.

colour_Holmes

Now, despite the fact that Basil Rathbone was the first Sherlock I ever saw, Brett is the best Sherlock, hands down. He is always in motion. He's brillant. If you haven't seen him, rent the DVDs now.

Rent them before you see this book because Horowitz worships at this altar. The introduction contains a nod to the Granda production that featured Brett.

Is Horowitz as good as Doyle? Well, no. But he i...more

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Jan 08, 2012

Julia rated it

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Shelves: mystery

This is the first time the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has authorized a NEW Sherlock Holmes mystery, and I was delighted with how closely Anthony Horowitz came to the diction of the original. The attention to detail that has always been part of the Holmes stories is present, and the use of Dr. Watson as the narrator works very well.

Horowitz is the award-winning author of PBS's FOYLE'S WAR and COLLISION, along with being the creator of the young adult Alex Rider series of novels....more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
The Mystery, Crim...: * Feb/Mar 2012: The House of Silk - Anthony Horowitz	20	55	19 hours, 20 min ago
Baker Street Irre...: The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel	8	53	Feb 21, 2012 06:32pm
Sandpiper Book Club: Setting	1	2	Feb 10, 2012 10:49am
Northumberland Re...: New Sherlock Holmes book	11	11	Nov 09, 2011 01:18am

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