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The House of Silk

(Horowitz's Holmes #1)

Anthony Horowitz (Goodreads Author)

3.98 · Rating details · 44,765 ratings · 4,634 reviews

For the first time in its one-hundred-and-twenty-five-year history, the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate has authorized a new Sherlock Holmes novel.

Once again, THE GAME’S AFOOT…

London, 1890. 221B Baker St. A fine art dealer named Edmund Carstairs visits Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson to beg for their help. He is being menaced by a strange man in a flat cap – a wanted criminal ...more

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Hardcover, First Edition (US/CAN), 294 pages

Published November 2011 by Mulholland Books

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Mar 19, 2018 Candi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery-crime, favorites

I knew I had to read more Horowitz after the grand thrill that was Magpie Murders. While by no means a Sherlock Holmes aficionado, I would still call myself an admirer of Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, having read several of his stories in the past. If Doyle’s estate deemed Horowitz worthy of adding a new novel to this master’s canon, then I certainly was on board with it. I am not a writer, but if I were then I would never presume to replicate an author’s work to the extent that my writing was indi I knew I had to read more Horowitz after the grand thrill that was Magpie Murders. While by no means a Sherlock Holmes aficionado, I would still call myself an admirer of Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, having read several of his stories in the past. If Doyle’s estate deemed Horowitz worthy of adding a new novel to this master’s canon, then I certainly was on board with it. I am not a writer, but if I were then I would never presume to replicate an author’s work to the extent that my writing was indistinguishable from that of the original. In my opinion, Horowitz has upheld the spirit and voice of Holmes and Watson and sustained that wonderful Victorian atmosphere of late nineteenth century London, while at the same time offering the reader a new, fresh adventure with his own spin. Some would say this is a bit darker than the originals, and I would have to agree. Regardless, I loved this novel and became completely wrapped up in it!

Just as in the originals, The House of Silk is written from the perspective of Holmes’s associate and companion, Dr. Watson. This works so well for me because Holmes’s genius is evident even though he is always one or two steps ahead; yet the reader, like Watson, never quite gets the full story, the unraveling if you will, until the very end. This makes for an entertaining, suspenseful read that keeps your mind engaged and searching for solutions at every turn of the page.

"Show Holmes a drop of water and he would deduce the existence of the Atlantic. Show it to me and I would look for a tap. That was the difference between us." – Watson

In this book, we are taken on a ride into the dark side of London as Holmes and Watson investigate a case that began with a gang of ruthless thieves in Boston that somehow made its way across the Atlantic and straight to the doorsteps of 221B Baker Street. But what does the Flat Cap gang have to do with the mystery and the whispers surrounding the name ‘The House of Silk’? Holmes has been warned by no less than his brother, Mycroft, to remove himself from any thoughts of delving into this dangerous investigation which can lead to nothing but disaster and ruin. Anyone who understands Holmes will know that he can do anything but stay away from such a threat! "He had entered a veritable miasma of evil, and harm, in the worst possible way, was to come to us all too soon." Buckle up and be prepared to plunge even further into the pit and the seamy underbelly of the city!

There are so many twists and turns in this spine-tingling plot that I was never once bored. Like Watson, I could not keep up with Holmes, but had oh so much fun trying to do just that! Horowitz writes his characters so well from the famous duo right down to the most contemptible of all. I loved meeting Holmes’s Baker Street division once again in this installment – a gang of boys that the illustrious detective calls on from time to time for assistance in his work in exchange for a coin or two: "A scruffier, more ragged bunch would be hard to imagine, boys between the ages of eight and fifteen, held together by dirt and grime, their clothes so cut about and stitched back together that it would be impossible to say to how many other children they must have at some time belonged." It was a pleasure running into some other intriguing characters as well. These you will likely recognize if you are at all familiar with Doyle’s work.

I would highly recommend The House of Silk if you are a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories or of stimulating and well-written detective stories in general. The setting is one that never fails to draw me in and the characters are colorful and seem very much alive. I will definitely continue with my new Horowitz quest, as he has not yet failed to tick of all the boxes on my list! ...more

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Jun 05, 2015 Sean Barrs rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-crime-and-thrillers, 4-star-reads

A brilliant 4.5 stars- Horowitz has (somehow) breathed new life into Sherlock Holmes!

description

When reading this I could imagine that Conan Doyle would be proud of Horowitz’s attempt at Holmes. He has delivered it in such a way that it could easily fit into the Sherlock Holmes story arc and be read with as much joy as the original novels. Indeed, this is as every bit as good as the classic Sherlock Holmes novels that I’ve already read. This really is fan fiction at its finest.

Sherlock Holmes is such ...more

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Jan 07, 2014 Sanjay Gautam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It took me a while (perhaps three years) to pick this book from my shelve, and read. I was ~~actually~~ skeptical about this book. On seeing the pastiches of Sherlock Holmes there's always one question that comes to my mind: Could this new author be at par with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (let alone surpass him)? This book, I accept, does not come at par with the original for die hard fans of Sherlock Holmes. But its not bad either. And to be honest, I liked the story that Horowitz has woven. Its a very ...more

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Nov 25, 2018 Jaline rated it it was amazing

Shelves: xx2018-completed

I purchased this eBook approximately 6 months after it was published – and it has taken me 6 years to finally get around to reading it. Even though I love Anthony Horowitz’s writing. Even though I enjoy the appeal of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as much as any lover of Golden Age of Mystery stories. Time does have a way of getting away, and great books are flooded by more great books every single day. As a reader, this makes me very happy – time is far more elastic than we might think, and thi ...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Arah-Lynda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lod, i-said, top

There is so much more to the reading experience than the mere consumption of words on a page.

No…. I love me the look and feel and smell of an actual book. My mind remembers these things, the cover art, the heft and sense of the page, how some fall open and give them selves up to you while others can be heavy, cumbersome, high maintenance reads. I remember the print or type face, whatever the right term is, my mind is able to recreate these images and sensations as I recall a particular experie ...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Jonathan Terrington rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sherlock-holmes, mystery, want, favourites

I tip my hat off to you Anthony Horowitz. Having loved your Alex Rider novels because of their brilliant plotting I now see that you are capable of turning your hand to constructing an incredible Sherlock Holmes novel.

In an age where to the majority of people Sherlock Holmes means either Benedict Cumberbatch or Robert Downey Jnr it is refreshing to see some who still recall that Holmes was first and foremost one of the greatest creations of literature. Few who know that still don't know that it ...more

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Jul 18, 2019 JanB rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce

As an avid fan of the author’s books, Magpie Murders, The Word Is Murder, and The Sentence is Death, I was anxious to read this one. Horowitz received approval from Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate to write a new Sherlock Holmes novel, and this book was the result.

I confess that I have not read a Sherlock Homes book, so I have nothing to compare this one to, but in typical Horowitz fashion, it was well-written and I trust the author stayed true to the characters. I found the dynamic between Holmes a ...more

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Aug 05, 2015 Steve rated it really liked it

Much game has been afoot post-dating Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant creation. As everyone knows, countless movies, books and shows have been produced featuring the great detective with varying degrees of consistency. But before Anthony Horowitz, none had had the blessing of the ACD estate. Why him, you may ask? I suspect it has something to do with the fact that he’s very good – a professional writer since the age of 20, an OBE honoree, creator and writer of one of my favorite TV series ever (Fo Much game has been afoot post-dating Arthur Conan Doyle’s brilliant creation. As everyone knows, countless movies, books and shows have been produced featuring the great detective with varying degrees of consistency. But before Anthony Horowitz, none had had the blessing of the ACD estate. Why him, you may ask? I suspect it has something to do with the fact that he’s very good – a professional writer since the age of 20, an OBE honoree, creator and writer of one of my favorite TV series ever (Foyle’s War), and the one commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate to write the next Bond novel.

As far as I’m concerned, Horowitz did a creditable job capturing the voice and feel of the original. The sentences were long and the language ornate, though not to the point of distraction. And as you would expect, the same characters and traits were showcased. Holmes would no doubt know in a single glance my way that I spent too much time on the internet last night, ate more spicy food than I should have for dinner, and was overly annoyed by the man on the morning train shouting Gujarati into his phone to explain figures on a spreadsheet. Watson, the good doctor, was always up for another adventure, and would always write about it later, faithfully and admiringly. Inspector Lestrade had a role, as did the Baker Street Irregulars and Sherlock’s brother Mycroft. Even a repeat nemesis got a trot out, but I won’t tell you who.

I shouldn’t talk much about the plot either, aside from saying it had twists. Red herrings were de rigueur, as were improbable deductions. (That’s part of the fun.) Without divulging details, I will say the principal crime was pretty horrific. It was certainly conceivable, but I think ACD would have avoided it. That was one of the few aspects of the book that didn’t seem true to the canon.

We made this our audio book of choice for a long road trip home. I find there’s an art to choosing these well. For one, it helps when the story is strong since the beauty of cornfields in Illinois might otherwise divert us. Also, since the words are all spoken, cadences matter. You want a kind of meter and flow, and this one delivered. Of course, the reader is most important. Derek Jacobi was more than up to the task, I thought. The rare times he tried his American woman voice didn’t convince us, but everything else was top-notch.
...more

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May 01, 2018 Phrynne rated it really liked it

Anthony Horowitz shows himself here as a man of many talents. He very skilfully adopts the style and purpose of the original Sherlock Holmes series and produces a book which Arthur Conan Doyle would not have been ashamed of.

The story is told from the point of view of Dr. Watson and his character rings true throughout the book. Other familiar characters are also portrayed as we have come to expect - Sherlock himself, Mycroft, Lestrade and even Moriarty who has a small part.

It was all very enjoyab ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Barbara rated it liked it

3.5 stars

This is Anthony Horowitz's first addition to the 'Sherlock Holmes' canon and he does a good job capturing the voice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

As the book opens, Holmes is dead and Watson is an elderly man who's decided to write up one of his friend's old investigations - a case so hush-hush that it can't be released for 100 years.

The 100 years is now up.

*****

The sensitive inquiry begins when Holmes is visited by Edmund Carstairs, a wealthy art dealer who claims he's being stalked by an ...more

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Feb 04, 2018 Robin rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, english, mystery, literary-fiction

I've been a fan of Anthony Horowitz since reading Magpie Murders last year. The guy is a fantastic storyteller. He successfully appropriated Agatha Christie's voice in that instance -which lead me to believe he would be able to assume the voice of Arthur Conan Doyle in this, the first book that the author's estate approved to be written in over a century, featuring Doyle's infamous detective.

I've only read a few of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, so I am by no means an expert on Doyle's I've been a fan of Anthony Horowitz since reading Magpie Murders last year. The guy is a fantastic storyteller. He successfully appropriated Agatha Christie's voice in that instance -which lead me to believe he would be able to assume the voice of Arthur Conan Doyle in this, the first book that the author's estate approved to be written in over a century, featuring Doyle's infamous detective.

I've only read a few of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, so I am by no means an expert on Doyle's style or the intricacies of his plotting and characterization. I simply came to this novel as a curious reader, eager to be transported to Victorian England, hoping for a compelling mystery that would keep me flipping through the pages.

I wasn't disappointed. I loved following the story, narrated by the humble and likeable Doctor Watson, on a labyrinthine mystery that took he and Holmes all over London, and featured a myriad of characters that include street urchins, a dandyish art dealer, creepy husband/wife school masters and a menacing police officer.

Watson fairly drools over the intellect and general persona of the great Sherlock, at one point being forced to swear on their friendship (not his own marriage) when forced to pick something of the greatest value to him. The "bromance" is alive and well (perhaps overly so). There were some elements to this mystery that were too modern - frankly, the hinge on which the entire mystery sits - but I leaned into it instead of bristling and enjoyed the ride.

Can you blame me? Horowitz writes a dazzling plot, and throws in all kinds of goodies. We get to linger in opium dens, and witness Sherlock Holmes in prison. We meet Mycroft, and even devilish Moriarty makes an appearance. I was hoping against hope that Irene Adler would saunter in wearing nothing but a trench coat and then Benedict Cumberbatch would... oops, sorry, wrong Sherlock.

It was fun. Can't wait to read the next!

4.5 stars

I listened to this on audiobook. British actor Derek Jacobi was an utter pleasure to listen to. The combination of Horowitz' writing and Jacobi's delivery was magic! ...more

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Nov 19, 2017 Chris Horsefield rated it it was amazing

I have forgotten how many Sherlock Holmes stories I have read over the years hoping that someone might catch the essence of Holmes but always being disappointed to greater or lesser degrees. It backed up my feeling that Conan Doyle had an innate genius that perhaps even he did not appreciate. Some authors have come close - Steven King probably the best - but all have in some way missed the mark and some by a considerable margin.

However Horrowitz has pulled it off beautifully. I always thought of I have forgotten how many Sherlock Holmes stories I have read over the years hoping that someone might catch the essence of Holmes but always being disappointed to greater or lesser degrees. It backed up my feeling that Conan Doyle had an innate genius that perhaps even he did not appreciate. Some authors have come close - Steven King probably the best - but all have in some way missed the mark and some by a considerable margin.

However Horrowitz has pulled it off beautifully. I always thought of him as being a children's author as my son used to read the Alex Rider series, but it would appear that Horrowitz writes for TV, film and adult audiences. He is a what one could term a professional author, able to turn his hand to most forms of writing.

He does Sir Arthur Conan Doyle proud. Sherlock Holmes has been brought to life well using language that is reminiscent of Victorian era but modern enough for it to flow in the 21st century. Rather than just try and copy slavishly he has taken the essence of Sherlock and woven it perfectly into a new book that captures all that is good about the originals. He has avoided the trap that many writers have done which is to concentrate on the darkness that runs through many of the original stories forgetting that much of the canon is light and easy to read. This makes for a balanced book where the less admirable qualities of Sherlock are touched on but not expanded to the detriment of the book as a whole. Very like Conan Doyle managed so well.

The plot is well written and has an adult theme which is relevant to what we see today in distressing amounts. It is not turned into some twisted thing that distracts from the book and is dealt with in a perfect balance. Clever, brave and relevant.

I was overjoyed to find that Sherlock is also present in large amounts. That seems odd but I'm sure that many of us Sherlock fans have read books where he has almost become a bit player with little to do with the story beyond some background flavour. Here Sherlock is and remains the central character and he is very much how I imagine him to be when reading the originals. Complicated, aloof but still with a human heart beating. Often Sherlock is turned into some form of dark disturbed character but here Horrowitz I think has remained true to the original vision.

Overall I cannot recommend this too much. It is by far and away the best non Sir A Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes book written that I have read and I sincerely hope he writes more. ...more

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Aug 25, 2015 Hasham Rasool rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, crime, favourites, classic, anthony-horowitz

I love this book Alhamdulillah.

I respect both authors: Horowitz and Conan Doyle.

If you haven't read Sherlock Holmes books/ complete of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle then you should read Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books first then when you have finished reading it then read this book.

If anyone who is a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes then I would recommend you to read this book. Trust me you will love this book.

I would recommend anyone who really likes to read crime fiction to ...more

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Sep 05, 2019 Liz rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio

3.5 stars, rounded up

I’ve never been a big Sherlock Holmes fan, but I am a huge Anthony Horowitz fan. So, I decided to give The House of Silk a try.

It’s an interesting story. An art dealer enlists Holmes’s help as he is being menaced by an American criminal, who has followed him back across the Atlantic. The next thing you know, the dealer’s house is broken into, his family is threatened and people are being murdered. Holmes and Watson find themselves now researching multiple murders and being ...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Terry rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2012-books

A frustrating novel--Horowitz gets the style mostly right, and the plot moves at a nonstop clip, but the mystery itself is disappointing. From the very beginning, I had an inkling of where the story was going, lessening both the suspense and the emotional impact that the novel could generate. While there were some clever twists along the way--Holmes' time in prison, for example--even in these examples it felt as if Horowitz was simply reacting to other plots rather than coming up with something ...more

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Aug 23, 2014 K.J. Charles rated it it was ok

That is not what 'egregious' means. Or 'ribaldry'. Or 'infer'. The artist is not spelled Pissaro, and opium was legal in 1890 so smuggling it would have been uniquely pointless. The sexual mores are ahistorical, which is a major problem if the whole plot hinges on 'we must kill everyone to keep our secret'.

I don't usually nitpick edits but really, if you're going to presume to ventriloquise Holmes, there's no space for sloppy English and failed fact checking. And no excuse for the old 'criminal ...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Jamie Bernthal rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: detective-fiction

First off: Arthur Conan Doyle would never have written this novel. Book length, paragraph structure, and an emphasis on over-explained historical detail mark this out as pastiche, however reverent. But that in itself doesn't matter: Arthur Conan Doyle is dead. Much as we might like to read another work by him, we won't (except for John Smith and the like, but, really.... no). Sherlock Holmes means different things to us now so an attempt to mimic his creator's style, which cannot be successful, First off: Arthur Conan Doyle would never have written this novel. Book length, paragraph structure, and an emphasis on over-explained historical detail mark this out as pastiche, however reverent. But that in itself doesn't matter: Arthur Conan Doyle is dead. Much as we might like to read another work by him, we won't (except for John Smith and the like, but, really.... no). Sherlock Holmes means different things to us now so an attempt to mimic his creator's style, which cannot be successful, arguably shouldn't be the most important part of the 'first' new official Holmes novel.

Some things did matter, though. The prose is barely edited (Since when did Watson call Holmes 'Sherlock'? and one of the other reviewers here has pointed out flora/fauna and council/counsel); it is frankly messy. Anthony Horowitz's style here is inconsistent, flitting between pastiche and his own unique voice. And unfortunately, Horowitz generally writes prose for children. He is a master plotter – hence his success with conservative middlebrow television viewers – but not a master prosist. While Arthur Conan Doyle was hardly Balzac, Horowitz is worse. He doesn’t just tell, rather than show; he is preachy without quite knowing what he’s being preachy about, and seems incapable of doing any historical research without drawing our attention to it.

For example: "It sometimes occurs to me now, having witnessed so many momentous changes across the years, that I should have described at greater length the sprawling chaos of the city in which I lived, perhaps in the manner of Gissing - or Dickens, fifty years before." Yeah, this totally hooks us in and convinces us that we're in the nineteenth century. Yeah, this is totally not written for kids.... Oh. Wait.

Although the style suggests a children’s novel – and I believed that this was one for the longest time – the novel’s conclusion (rendering it a whodunit style narrative rather than a really Holmesian adventure) is most certainly adult in content. Horowitz is very proud of this conclusion, which he reckons allows him to explore the conditions of vice and sin in Victorian London upon which ACD was 'unable' to reflect. Was he really unable to reflect? Really? Doyle was very involved in politics, social justice, charity, and the military. He was regularly consulted by Scotland Yard and voiced opinions on Jack the Ripper, the laws against homosexuality, the first world war, homelessness, and even the disappearance of Agatha Christie. He did not bring these things into his Holmes stories because, far from being incapable of reflecting upon them, he deemed them inappropriate, once pointing out that 'a man passes a merry hour with a detective story' but should never under any circumstances have learnt anything after reading it! His fiction was escapist, not provocative-for-the-sake of it, and Horowitz's reflection on child prostitution (I won't say more, since I don't want to spoil the story for you) doesn't quite know what it's doing in this kind of novel.

Well-plotted, clichéd, intellectually vapid, and with utterly un-Holmesian characters, Horowitz's novel resembles a children's book that has been revised by PD James and proofread by someone from The Guardian. On two occasions, Horowitz unconsciously paraphrases Agatha Christie, who is much more in evidence (though not well-served) here than is Doyle.

And yet! What did I find in the back of my paperback edition? Only an excellent essay by the author, explaining all the challenges he faced in writing 'The New Sherlock Holmes Novel'. His experience writing formulaic whodunits, he avers, is 'absolutely completely irrelevant' since 'Doyle's approach was completely different'. For one thing, he notes, Doyle did not really write about murder and rarely reflected on the historical and social conditions of Victorian London. He sets out ten rules for writing a Holmesian pastiche that is faithful both to its predecessors and to a modern audience. These include, 'no women', 'no drugs', appropriate research, no homoeroticism, and a modest body count.

If only he had stuck to any of these rules or practised anything of what he'd preached! It would have been a very different novel. While we're on homoeroticism, I should point out one thing that struck me as authentic *and* appropriate for a neo-Victorian novel. Three times, Dr Watson's friendship with Holmes is compared to his marriage. Watson, Mrs Watson, and the sinister (and pointlessly-inserted) Professor Moriarty all note that the doctor seemingly loves and values his friend more than he does his wife. At one point he rushes off to help Holmes escape from prison while his wife dies of cholera. I thought this was one of the most interesting aspects of a dreadfully dull novel, and surprisingly on-the-ball for Horowitz.

Without being commissioned by Doyle’s estate, THE HOUSE OF SILK would never have been written. And without that estate’s endorsement, it would not be garnering any attention whatsoever. ...more

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Jun 13, 2020 Carolyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, historical, 2020

Anthony Horowitz has really captured Conan Doyle's writing style. Straight away I was transported back to reading the Sherlock Holmes stories as a teenager. It would be hard to pick the recreated Watson and Holmes from the originals and the settings, events and language are all redolent of the Victorian era. Mycroft, Lestrade, Mrs Hudson and even Moriarty also all make a welcome appearance.

The plot is a dark and complex one, commencing with an art dealer who believes he is being watched by a de ...more

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Dec 03, 2017 Faith rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, overdrive

I admit that I am not a huge fan of the Sherlock Holmes books, and I was hoping for something more like "Magpie Murders" but this was just straight forward Sherlock Holmes. I liked some of the period detail but the story did seem to drag on. There was a lot of intricate plotting, so if you are a Holmes lover you'll probably enjoy this more than I did. I got a little bored. ...more

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Apr 07, 2018 Diane rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries-thrillers, audiobooks

About five years ago I read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories in one summer. I listened to them on audio, performed by the marvelous Derek Jacobi. This experience was so rewarding that it got me completely hooked on audiobooks.

Last week I read Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, and loved it so much I looked up his other novels. I was thrilled to see he had written a new Sherlock Holmes mystery, and even better, that the audiobook was performed by Derek Jacobi. Double win!

I was impressed by how ...more

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Jul 18, 2019 Marialyce rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-of-2019, jan-mar, library

Looking for a good book to share, Jan and I thought to pick up another Anthony Horowitz book. Hoping that once again Mr Horowitz could not only thrill us, but also provide a story that was pure story telling, with no gimmicks. We wanted a book that honored the tradition set by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his famous Sherlock Holmes stories. The House of Silk met all our expectations and then some.

When I think of Sherlock Holmes, I think of London of the late 1800s. For many it was a dark, dismal, Looking for a good book to share, Jan and I thought to pick up another Anthony Horowitz book. Hoping that once again Mr Horowitz could not only thrill us, but also provide a story that was pure story telling, with no gimmicks. We wanted a book that honored the tradition set by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his famous Sherlock Holmes stories. The House of Silk met all our expectations and then some.

When I think of Sherlock Holmes, I think of London of the late 1800s. For many it was a dark, dismal, and somewhat eerie type of place, a place where the fog rolled in and the crimes rolled out. I think of Basil Rathborne as Sherlock, the old black and white movies that captured so much of the aura of the books that were written by Arthur Conan Doyle. So it was with that image in mind that I picked up The House of Silk and began my trek once again into old time London and the dank underground that inhabited it.

Happily, I was ever so pleased to read this book as I felt that Mr Horowitz kept the tradition of Holmes so alive and made the mystery present in The House of Silk one that kept me guessing. Isn't that what a great mystery book does?

Accompanied by Dr Watson, of course, we travel the road with the characters and we have Sherlock a few steps, (well truthfully many) ahead of both Dr Watson and we, the readers. This was sheer fun and as the indomitable Sherlock figured it all out, we became immersed in a story that was both cunning and dangerous. “The few questions I had asked had been futile and I was suddenly dispirited, for it had occurred to me that had Holmes been present, he would have probably have solved the entire mystery by now.”

To all those who have loved the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and those who love mysteries that are well done, well written and well executed, this is a story for you. Mr Horowitz kept it real and so in the tradition that we Sherlock readers and watchers have loved.

Thanks are extended to the author who has thrilled both Jan and I on many occasions. If you haven't read a Horowitz book, best get busy. They have all been wonderful.
Our duo reviews as well as a podcast with the author can be seen here:
http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...
...more

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May 22, 2018 Li'l Owl rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: uk-author-setting, stand-alone, history-historical-fiction, owl-s-books-own, detective-police-procedural-sheriff, mystery-crime-suspense-thriller, owl-s-absolute-favourites

Frightening and oppressive!
One of the most harrowing and dangerous cases that Holmes and Watson have ever come up against! "He had entered a veritable miasma of evil, and harm, in the worst possible way, was to come to us all to soon."

1890 London England. 221 Baker Street.
Art dealer, Edmond Carstairs, comes to Holmes and Watson for help in discovering the identity a man who has been following him. Taking the case, Holmes, pipe in hand, turns to Watson and smiles. 'The game's afoot... '

Holme ...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Mark rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-adventure

An excellent tale of Holmes and Watson, it kept me reading and fits very well among the series as written by Arthur Conan Doyle. It was marketed as the first official allowed sequel makes you wonder what the status is of the other official sequel written by Caleb Carr "The Italian Secretary". While Horowitz doesn't delve as deep in the Victorian world (as Carr was able to do) he does give the impression that he knows his stuff and nowhere does the novel stray of in unbelievable mistakes in time ...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Christine rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-english, keep-calm-and-sherlock

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 is close (and sometimes Doyle wasn't as good as himself). Hor ...more

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Nov 13, 2018 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: borrowed-from-library, mystery, detective

I was sure this Sherlock Holmes novel was going to be worthy when I read that the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate had authorized its publication. My hat is off to Anthony Horowitz for channelling Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so perfectly. Holmes and Watson stayed completely in character and the plot was one that Doyle himself would have admired, despite its having a rougher edge than the original author would have employed. I enjoyed every moment once the game was afoot (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

He could n ...more

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Mar 06, 2018 Melania 🍒 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3,85/5
This is everything I hoped for a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Watson was the only one who seemed a bit out of the character .I believe that, in this book, he represented the reader, but I always thought he’s Holmes’ peer , more than just a spectator of his partner’s abilities. But other than that, every character fitted so well in this universe.
The book starts as a light read, a mystery that turns out to be much more than that. It tickles some class problems and it shows parts of a dark end o ...more

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Sep 22, 2018 Josh rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, sherlock, read_2018, private_detective, crime

As a reader who hasn't read all that much by way of Sherlock Holmes, I have to say this was a great way to be introduced to the character for the more novice readers out there.

Set in 1890, Sherlock and Dr. Watson (the character responsible for chronicling Sherlock's adventures) are accosted by a desperate art dealer, Mr Carstairs, who is being harassed by a dangerous criminal from Boston, with whom he has a history; this mysterious flat-cap wearing man has been seen standing outside of Carstair ...more

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Dec 05, 2014 Mona rated it really liked it

As Good or Better than the Original Conan Doyle Stories

Anthony Horowitz has done a brilliant and masterful job of recreating the world of Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. John Watson.

He was evidently endorsed by the Conan Doyle estate to write a brand new Sherlock Holmes story.

He's succeeded admirably. The prose is crisp, and the story's pacing and tension keep us involved through the entire bumpy journey.

I'll try to avoid spoilers by only giving the bare outlines of the story and chara ...more

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Apr 16, 2017 Connie G rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, england

Anthony Horowitz has written a new mystery story about Sherlock Holmes. It's 1915, and an older Dr John Watson is setting down his memories about another Sherlock Holmes adventure. In the preface Watson tells us that he did not write about this case earlier because "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 ...more

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Feb 28, 2015 Ivonne Rovira rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote four novels and 56 short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes; while such an output might have been sufficient for a lesser light, fans of the Great Detective have been clamoring for more for more than a century now. Authors ranging from Tod Browning to Roger Zelazny — B to Z, as it were — have featured Holmes in their own work.

Now comes Anthony Horowitz. While not getting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s voice exactly right (only Laurie R. King seems able to do so), Horowitz ...more

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About Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz

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Anthony Horowitz, OBE is ranked alongside Enid Blyton and Mark A. Cooper as "The most original and best spy-kids authors of the century." (New York Times). Anthony has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recent ...more

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“Show Holmes a drop of water and he would deduce the existence of the Atlantic. Show it to me and I would look for a tap. That was the difference between us.” — 101 likes

“Childhood, after all, is the first precious coin that poverty steals from a child.” — 88 likes

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