Sherlock Holmes Series by Anthony Horowitz Starting 'Moriarty' on the 1st March 2016

[Amy]

In freezing London, November 1890, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson receive a man unnerved by a scarred-face stalker with piercing eyes. A conspiracy reaches to the Boston criminal underworld. The whispered phrase 'the House of Silk' hints at a deadly foe. Authorized by Doyle's estate.

Starting on the 12th of January with Manveer, anyone else is welcome to join. :)

[Manveer]

Ah great, the thread is up! This looks interesting :D

[Manveer]

We starting tomorrow?

[Amy]

We are indeed :)

[Manveer]

Ah, great! :D

[Amy]

Up to chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ I'm really enjoying this so far! I don't like Historical fiction usually but so far this has been quite funny and has the same feel of Doyles novels. I don't have any theories yet but Carstairs seems a little naive to me, especially the situation with his wife, the key going missing etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "Up to chapter 5 [spoilers removed]"

Read 5 chapters myself. Couldn't update earlier. Yeah, you are kinda right.
Though I won't say it's exactly in the Doyle style. I found a couple of peculiarities in chapter 1, but it was kinda fine from there on.

[Amy]

End of chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ Oh my god, why would Sherlock shoot Sally? She just seemed like a scared child to me, maybe she knew more than what was let on or sold her brother out. Hmm, whatever she did couldn't have been good, or maybe Sherlock just made a stupid decision. Ohh, Watson said it was a trap, maybe he's been set up... hmm (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Up to chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ I don't really see how Sherlock is going to get out of this one. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Though I'm a fast reader, still stuck at chapter 6.
The thing is, College started and I was busy travelling, cleaning up and settling in.
Now that the work is done, I will continue later tonight :)

[Ann]

Started last night and am on Chapter 4.
This book has a slow start but I like the atmospheric 1890s, smoggy London.
I've not read any Conan Doyle so don't know the original Sherlock books.

I kind of found it odd that Carstair's recount of all that happened in the USA was so detailed. It felt like a narrator's account - since for many of the incidents he describes he wasn't actually there...

[Manveer]

Chapter 7 done.

(view spoiler)[ ‘If this was directed to me as a challenge,
it is one I now accept,’ he said. He punched at the air, his fist
closing on the white ribbon. ‘And I tell you, Watson, that I
shall make them rue the day that it was sent.’ (hide spoiler)]

I found this striking. This is not something Doyle's Holmes would do.

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "End of chapter 10 [spoilers removed]"

So I just read 10 chapters myself.

(view spoiler)[ This shooting seems so unholmeslike. You are probably right about the trap. But then, this book is different. So many of his actions have not been what one would expect from the great man. The story has been great so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "Up to chapter 13 [spoilers removed]"

13 Chapters done.
Seems grim, yeah. I have a few theories of my own , though. Let's see what happens.

[Manveer]

YES! This book, though predictable at certain times, was immensely satisfying :D

A couple of points worth mentioning, before I review it completely.

(view spoiler)[ During the prison escape, I was pretty sure Rivers was Holmes in disguise. This was probably the most predictable moment in the book. I had also guessed that the old man who gave Watson the key was Moriarty, but since the incident at Reichenbach Falls had already happened, I was a bit sceptical. I mean, all the evidence pointed to him and yet we had known him for dead. So he too survived, then? How and why did he wait so long? And why did he help Holmes? I guess gotta read Moriarty by Horowitz to get the answers. But still, bringing him outta nowhere. (hide spoiler)]

[Ann]

wow - you both go quickly, I'll have to catch up this weekend -'
I'm not a speed reader!
are all buddy reads so fast?

[Amy]

They can last a few days or a week, it depends on how many people are buddy reading, how long the book is etc.

I haven't got any further with this yet Ann and I have other BR this week so I will be going slower than usual don't worry!

[Amy]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ I find it bizarre how wherever Sherlock goes everyone has read Watson's stories. The way Sherlock escaped from prison seemed to well done, maybe I'm being picky but I don't think Sherlock would have pulled off disguising as Rivers. I mean, it would take one person to recognise him or overhear a conversation of them planning and it would have all gone wrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "Chapter 18 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ And that is one of the things I mentioned in my earlier spoiler, which you haven't read. I knew instantly that Rivers was Holmes, so I did not find that much commendable. That was probably the most predictable part of the book (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

DONE!

Reviewed. Spoilers hidden, so yeah, you can read it :P

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Amy]

I also have if you want to set a date after I have finished House of Silk? :)

[Amy]

Manveer wrote: "Amy wrote: "Chapter 18 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I'm so rubbish with mystery novels, I never see anything coming! :)

[Amy]

All done! (view spoiler)[ I had no idea The House of Silk was so sinister. I thought it would be some type of drug scandal but I should have guessed that it had something to do with the children. Like Sherlock said, you have to think like a criminal when you are a detective but some things are just so bad they are not even thought of. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "I also have if you want to set a date after I have finished House of Silk? :)"

Yes please! Please set the date. Though let me see if I can find the book or the ebook somewhere. I'll let you know.

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "All done! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Even I hadn't though of the exact same thing it was, but I certainly had a hunch that it would be way more that a drug circle. I knew for sure that the involvement of England's top men and completely secrecy could only mean a secret society or a cult indulging in some filthy ritual. I wasn't entirely wrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Manveer wrote: "Amy wrote: "I also have if you want to set a date after I have finished House of Silk? :)"

Yes please! Please set the date. Though let me see if I can find the book o..."

Okay, let me know :)

[Manveer]

Do you happen to have a soft copy of Moriarty available? I can't seem to be able to find it. I will find it hidden somewhere on the internet for sure, but still.

[Ann]

I'm on chapter 19 and really enjoying the story. Spent a cold Saturday curled up on the warm sofa with my book.

I loved this from Watson - '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.'

[Ann]

Following from your comment Manveer
(view spoiler)[ I didn't see at all that Rivers was Holmes in disguise.

I think the way we always see Holme's activities through the eyes of Watson was a style later so well copied by Agatha Christie - she often had a side kick (less bright) who relayed events (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Manveer wrote: "Do you happen to have a soft copy of Moriarty available? I can't seem to be able to find it. I will find it hidden somewhere on the internet for sure, but still."

I had a copy for Christmas from my Amazon wishlist so you should be able to get a copy from there. I can wait until you get a physical copy if that works better.

[Ann]

I finished House of Silk last night. I enjoyed the read. Here's my review -
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(I shall add Moriarty to my reading list)

[Amy]

Just started this, I'm on chapter four (view spoiler)[ It was very obvious that the message was so.e sort of code but I was lost when they were figuring it out, I'm not much of a logical thinker. I'm a little disappointed that this isn't in Watson's POV. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

I started it too. Read first two chapters. Couldn't progress much due to a project due tomorrow. Should read some today :)

[Amy]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ It was pretty obvious from the start that he was obsessed with Sherlock but I don't really understand why. Surely the man humiliated him? I'd want to stay well clear of Sherlock and Watson. Elspeth seemed really nice and patient though. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ I think that Edgar is still alive, they should have been able to find him in the water, there was enough officers to search. I'm finding this book a little tedious in places. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[ Wait, wow, what? I had no idea that this was Moriarty. His back story was brief but oddly detailed I didn't doubt Jones for trusting him. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Well, this book earns an extra star from me as I did not see that coming at all. I liked that everything was laid out for us at the end and we saw Moriarty's scheming. I was shocked how brutal Moriarty was though. Throughout the book he seemed genuinely nice, maybe I'm just naive though. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Whoa. That was fast. I spent the entire day on the assignment :/

[Amy]

That's okay, i'll still discuss with you. :)

It was actually a really fast paced read once I got into it.

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "Just started this, I'm on chapter four [spoilers removed]"

Just finished chapter three.
(view spoiler)[ First couple of chapters gave out a lot about the characters. Initially, Chase seemed like a noob, but he's kinda good, I guess? And Jones? Well, The author has created Jones as a spitting image of Holmes. I mean, change the name and it might just be Holmes. The way he talks, the way he deduces and all that. What's the fun in that? And Clarence is clearly the American Moriarty. He might not even exist. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Finished Chapter 7

(view spoiler)[ While the story is gaining momentum, I'm pretty much pissed about two things. First, Chase certainly seems like a noob. Second, Jones and Chase are almost Holmes and Watson with names changed. I mean, come on! (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Lestrade shook his head solemnly. ‘I’ll admit that I’ve been wrong about one or two things in the past,’ he said. ‘Particularly where Sherlock Holmes was concerned. But this time I have looked at the evidence and I can tell you without any doubt at all that he is dead. I would stake my reputation on it.’

Get rekt m8

[Sophie]

Ooh. Read this book. Felt very nostalgic for the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle series by the end of it. Liked Moriarty though, obviously. :) who doesn't like an evil genius every once in a while?

[Sophie]

Ooh. Read this book. Felt very nostalgic for the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle series by the end of it. Liked Moriarty though, obviously. :) who doesn't like an evil genius every once in a while?

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "Chapter 12 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, it was pretty obvious. But for someone to have reached his level seems too far fetched. And it doesn't help that Horowitz has portrayed him like Holmes. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Amy wrote: "Chapter 21 [spoilers removed]"

On Chapter 21. And I'm pissed. Really really pissed.

(view spoiler)[ I had doubts Chase was not who he was supposed to be. He was acting way too weird. But then, wasn't he the narrator? I mean, how could he be Moriarty? I dismissed the very thought early on, and it did come to bite me in the very end. I call bullshit. (hide spoiler)]

[Manveer]

Finished.

(view spoiler)[ This is the sort of book you hate and like at the same time. I had a strong feeling that something was amiss with Chase, but he was the narrator ffs! How in the world could I guess? Moriarty did explain everything in detail at the end.

So he went to America, then? Did he and Holmes ever come across each other again. I would love if Horowitz wrote a third book in the series regarding that, because without that, this simply doesn't make any sense. (hide spoiler)]