The House of Silk (Horowitzs Holmes, #1) by Anthony Horowitz

The House of Silk (Horowitzs Holmes, #1) Reviews

• 
  Candi

  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!
• 
  Sean Barrs

  A brilliant 4.5 stars- Horowitz has (somehow) breathed new life into Sherlock Holmes!
  
  
  
  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 a perceptive man. Few thing escape from his gaze and remain hidden from view; no trails become cold or dead as nothing eludes him because he is the master of deduction. Anthony Horowitz, like Holmes, is also a perceptive man because he has re-created the legendary consulting-detective with as much skill and finesse as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did himself. I recognise that this is a bold claim to make but, nonetheless, it is a completely true one.
  
  “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.”
  
  It's told in the same way as the classic, which is through the point of view of John Watson: Holme’s most dear friend. I’ve always wondered why the original author made this choice. When reading this the fact was made very clear to me: he did it to keep Sherlock an enigma.
  
  The plot of the book is a complex puzzle that the reader will not understand till the final few pages, like Watson himself won’t, so by having the narrative focused through Watson the reader isn’t privy to Holmes internal thoughts. This is because, as always, Sherlock Holmes has worked out the case very early on. If we were aware of his mind then there really would be no reason to read a Sherlock Holmes novel whatsoever.
  
  An incredibly deceptive plot
  
  The plot of this appears incredibly simple, in the beginning, as Holmes and Watson are called upon to investigate a very mundane matter. However, in the midst of it a murder occurs, which reveals a trail of crimes that ends at The House of Silk whatever that may be; it is something shrouded in mystery and rumour, but ultimately harbours a heart blacker than any Holmes has encountered. When the House is defined the I began to put the clews together and see the connections of the plot. Through this Horowitz has been very subtle and deceptive. Moreover, Watson encounters a most mysterious character whose identity leads us into the next book. I even began to actually believe that Holmes was in some real moral danger in this.
  
  “He had entered a veritable miasma of evil, and harm, in the worst possible way, was to come to us all too soon.”
  
  This is a novel I enjoyed highly and recommend to all fans of Sherlock Holmes. However, there was only one thing that stopped me giving it five stars, and it may sound petty. Horowitz favours long sentences, but sometimes they are just too long and could really do with a little bit of grammar. The result is a feeling of breathlessness as they go on too long.
  
  But, that was my only criticism of the novel. Overall, this is an absolutely fantastic read.
  
  
  Twitter |
  Facebook |
  Instagram |
  Academia
• 
  Sanjay Gautam

  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 dark and sinister story, but gripping nonetheless.
  
  As soon as I started reading it, I knew it does not bear the signature of the original. But as I progressed I found it, from time to time, to come close to the original; well, writing was not bad. And actually, the author really did succeed in executing a Sherlock Holmes novel.
  
  Its a story intricately designed and is well structured. The story Horowitz has woven is made up in layers, one on the top of other. I do not want to spoil the plot. All I can say, if we were living in the 19th century, this story would have left us in a state of shock.
  
  And on a different note- this novel has all the elements which fans of Sherlock Holmes would like to see. Arresting of our beloved sleuth, his trial in court, and above all- his great escape from prison. A story in which even James Moriarty is on the side of Holmes, and does a cameo.
  
  Recommended!
• 
  Anne

  4.5 stars
  
  The game's afoot!
  Again.
  
  
  
  I can see why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate sanctioned Anthony Horowitz to write another Sherlock Holmes story now.
  This sounded like a Sherlock Holmes story. It was only updated in the sense that it had a bit more realistic drama, and the stakes were higher this time around. I wasn't sure how Horowitz was going to pull off adding another story to Watson's collection but he did it in a fairly ingenious (yet organic) way.
  
  
  
  Watson felt like readers of his day would be too shocked if this tale were to become common knowledge, that it would rock British society as he knew it. He basically wished he didn't know what he now knew, and didn't think his world was ready to know, either. But at the end of his life, he took pen to paper and wrote down one last tale.
  The House of Silk.
  Once it was written it was given over to a law firm with instructions not to publish it for 100 years. His thoughts were that all the players would be dead, and perhaps in the future, society could handle hearing the story.
  
  
  
  I'm not going to spoil any of the mystery for you.
  But I will say that as a huge fan of Doyle's original stories, this was excellent.
  Well done, Mr. Horowitz!
  Highly Recommended!
• 
  Jaline

  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 this novel is a great example of that.
  
  In the Prologue, Dr. Watson is in hospital and writing “therapeutically” of one of the last great mystery adventures that he and Sherlock Holmes experienced. He plans to ask his family to ensure that the book not be presented for publication until after 100 years have passed.
  
  Not only is this a fascinating mystery, but it’s a time capsule – back in time to Victorian England, to a time when observation and deduction and the accumulation of facts is how mysteries were solved. Back in time to when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s brainy super-sleuth and his sidekick achieved what others couldn’t. And this story flows from the mind of Mr. Horowitz who picks us up, places us in that time capsule, and deposits us into the story.
  
  And what a story it is. Dark, disturbing, with what first appears to be parallel plots running through it. Until both plot lines meet near the end.
  
  Sherlock Holmes is arrested at one point, leaving Dr. Watson attempting to figure out how to get him out of prison before some very nasty people can eject Sherlock Holmes from the case – permanently.
  
  This is Golden Age mystery writing with an edge. I loved it, and if you are fond of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous characters, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and/or if you already love Anthony Horowitz’s writing, or feel like you might want to explore what he has to offer as a writer, I highly recommend that you find this novel and read it.
• 
  Jonathan Terrington

  
  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 was Edgar Allan Poe's Dupin who inspired one of the greatest detectives of all time. But all of that is mere water under the bridge when it comes to this tale.
  
  The writing:
  
  Horowitz manages to capture the style and tone of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing to excellent effect. His characterisation of Watson and Holmes is spot on and one could almost be forgiven for forgetting that Doyle died years ago and this is a modern tale. However it must be noted that in this tale the use of apostrophes at certain points is unwarranted. In fact I wonder how the editor did not pick up the fact that in Victorian times apostrophes were not used so much as they are today. I'm referring to the fact that the novel is intentionally written to suggest that Watson wrote it centuries ago. And - as another source so helpfully pointed out - Doyle's phrase was "the game is afoot" not "the game's afoot" as Horowitz chooses to write. That said this is a small blemish compared to the rest of the book for on the whole he writing is superb.
  
  The characters
  Or capturing the spirit of Doyle's work:
  
  Horowitz handles Doyle's characters with love and devotion. Perhaps an apt metaphor would be to say he devotes himself to the story like a man who finally marries the woman he has loved for years after she has been widowed for a time. A lengthy expression to be sure but you can forgive me this once. For certainly the tales of Sherlock Holmes have been 'widowed' for many years and few writers capable of continuing the stories have stepped forward.
  
  Holmes is portrayed properly as the detective his fans (I one of them) know and love with his casual deductions and use of disguises. Watson is again shown as the loyal doctor, biographer and friend to Sherlock Holmes who both humanises the sometimes mechanical Sherlock and provides a window to the detective's greatness. The often incompetent (well compared to Holmes) Inspector Lestrade provides an appearance along with Mycroft Holmes. So too does Watson's wife Mary albeit briefly. There are a few other familiar faces but I won't spoil the surprise of who they are by telling. References are also made to past adventures and to the magazines which Doyle's adventures were published - although Watson claims to have published them of course.
  
  The plot:
  
  Now the most important part of any Sherlock Holmes novel is the plot as well as the two main characters. And I am pleased to say that the plot did not disappoint in the slightest.
  
  The book begins with a prologue informing the viewer that since Sherlock Holmes is dead Watson can safely put his pen to paper and reveal a very strange set of adventures. Which of course provides the reader with the foresight that no matter what next commences neither Watson nor Sherlock will die. The following case branches out into two seemingly disconnected adventures and it may be disconcerting at first for the reader to pick up what's really going on.
  
  The real brilliance of the plot however is how, like all truly strong Holmes adventures, you cannot easily pick the ending until it ends. You may have suspicions but truly the ending remains a secret. And I for one as someone who usually finds it easy to tell how the plot of a book may end appreciates a nice twist that wraps everything together. You'll find most of my favourite books have this twist or are incredibly beautifully written. Anyway this had fast paced plotting that was brilliant and surprising and cannot be put into words.
  
  Conclusion?
  
  This was a Sherlock Holmes feast for the fans. It had references, it had the characters it had the plot and it had the writing. Even for those who are not fans of the original canon I still recommend this because it is a great book nonetheless. Perhaps my opinion is biased because Anthony Horowitz is a favourite author and because he accomplished something I believed near impossible but still it is a good book.
  
  To sum it up in three words: read this book. I've already explained why and if you don't understand why then: "you see but you do not observe."
• 
  Arah-Lynda

  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 experience or revisit a favoured passage, reminisce over long, lost lyrics, selected poems.
  I have a coveted Bronte book that I love to leave laying about, offering ample opportunity to pick up and touch, open, experience again.
  
  Sometimes all of these many elements converge, conspire if you will, to deliver the whole package. It is then that a sort of magic emerges, infusing every page. Take this example; it actually feels like silk when I pick it up, no shit, real silk and the cover art..... classic, elegant, simple; effectively conveying a sense of mystery. It calls out, from my peripheral, beckoning.
  Even the print, I mean I know this must sound ridiculous but it actually supports and envelopes; embraces the pace and tone and rhythm of this story. Call me crazy or trust me, it just all works. Well!
  
  I have never read an actual Arthur Conan Doyle story so I cannot speak to the authenticity of this recreation of Sherlock Holmes. What I can say is that I sure did enjoy this and it feels somehow authentic, in keeping with my already gleaned knowledge of this character. I was swept away to London and 221B Baker Street, to Holmes & Watson and a story that longed to be told………
  
  And tell me, Mr. Horowitz did, never once losing my attention whilst he spoke... I was in an automatic sort of, sensual overdrive, throughout.
  
  Breathing……………….
  
  That was excellent she said, thank you, I need a smoke.
  
• 
  JanB

  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 and Watson delightful. This book is the perfect example of the Golden Age of Mystery where the powers of observation and deduction in solving crimes reigns supreme.
  
  A buddy read with my friend Marialyce, we both found this book well-written, entertaining, and suspenseful. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
  
  For the duo review of this book, and others, please visit
  https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
• 
  Steve

  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.
  
• 
  Phrynne

  
  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 enjoyable and I look forward to more!
• 
  Barbara

  
  
  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 Irish mobster named Keelan O'Donaghue - who blames Carstairs for the death of his brother.
  
  
  
  Shortly afterward, Carstairs' home is burgled and the thief - presumably O'Donaghue - makes off with cash and an heirloom necklace.
  
  
  
  In an attempt to track down the stolen necklace, Holmes calls on the 'Baker Street Irregulars' - a band of street urchins who know their way around London's underbelly. The Irregulars trace the necklace to a pawnshop....and the thief to a cheap hotel.
  
  
  
  A lad called Ross is left to watch the hotel while Holmes is fetched.
  
  
  
  When the detective arrives - with Watson and Carstairs - they find O'Donaghue murdered in his hotel room. Ross, who seems badly frightened by this development, runs off. Could he have seen the killer?
  
  Inspector Lestrade arrives to investigate the case, but - true to form - he misses all the important clues and goes haring off in the wrong direction.
  
  
  
  In the aftermath of these events a boy is murdered and an unsavory enterprise - involving VIPs at the HIGHEST levels - is suspected. The latter issue is so sensitive that Mycroft Holmes, who's 'in' with the most important British officials, warns his brother to back off the investigation - but Sherlock does no such thing.
  
  
  
  This is unfortunate for Holmes, since the miscreants will do ANYTHING to cover their asses.
  
  At the book's climax - after Holmes and Watson have survived more than one life-threatening situation - the criminals are revealed in true 'Sherlockian' fashion. That's all I can say without spoilers.
  
  
  
  The book contains many elements of the original stories, including several instances when Holmes deduces information about complete strangers. (I always get a kick out of these scenes.)
  
  The novel retains the flavor and mood of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, but it's too long.....and some plotlines could have been tightened up (IMO). Still - as a big Sherlock Holmes fan - I liked the book, and recommend it to other Holmes enthusiasts.
  
  You can follow my reviews at
  https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
• 
  Robin

  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!
• 
  Chris Horsefield

  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.
• 
  Diane S ☔

  4.5 Once again I start listening to a Horowitz authored book and I can't stop. I was a big reader of Sherlock Holmes back in the day and thought this one lived up to the trust placed with this author by the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle. Can't think of anyone who could have done it better. The case is twisty and Sherlock has amole opportunity to showcase his observational talents. The book flew by, aided by the wonderful narration by Derek Jacobi. Another perfect narrator for a Horowitz book.
• 
  Liz

  
  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 warned off from investigating. The story moves at a fast pace and I was along for the ride, having no idea how this would play out. At times, it felt like there were two separate stories. Watson even comments that if he had been writing the story, he would have thought the characters from one narrative had gotten “muddled together” with an entirely different narrative.
  
  As complicated as Horowitz tried to make the story, the crimes of the House of Silk were obvious to me, as were some of the connections between the characters.
  
  I like that Horowitz uses the idea of Watson looking back and relaying this story years after it happened. It allows him to give us more background into the time and social mores.
  
  But in the end, it was a little too muddled for me to love the book. Interesting, yes, but nowhere close to five stars like Horowitz’s Hawthorne series.
  
  I listened to this and Derek Jacobi was a wonderful narrator.
  
  
• 
  Terry

  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 new. To be fair, referencing other plots is the novel's strength; the connections to Doyle's stories come fast and furious. But I kept waiting for a transcendent moment when the novel would take Doyle's detective to the next level...and it didn't really come.
  
  Or, rather, it did, but in an unsatisfying manner. Rather than trying to surpass the cleverness of Doyle's plots, Horowitz plays up the emotional side of the case. Except that it doesn't quite work. The plot takes a turn for the lurid in a way that is meant to engage the reader's sympathy; instead, however, it left me feeling emotionally manipulated. Without a truly clever payoff, the plot's sensationalism feels gratuitous, and I left the novel wanting to reread the originals.
• 
  Jamie Bernthal

  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.
• 
  Carolyn

  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 desperate criminal from Boston. As Watson and Holmes set about investigating, they step into even muddier waters when they hear rumours of the 'House of Silk', a secret organisation that seems to involve some of those at the very highest levels of society and Holmes is warned by Mycroft that he will be moving into great danger if he continues his investigation. A good plot with a thrilling ending that I think Conan Doyle would have appreciated.
• 
  K.J. Charles

  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 gang refers to itself with easily guessable reference to its public ID' at all.
• 
  Faith

  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.
• 
  Marialyce (absltmom, yaya)

  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...
  
• 
  Diane

  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 well Horowitz has recreated Holmes' world and Watson's narrative voice. The House of Silk was a delightful read, and now I'm even more excited to read Horowitz's other books. Highly recommended for fans of Victorian mysteries.
  
  Opening Paragraph
  "I have often reflected upon the strange series of circumstances that led me to my long association with one of the most singular and remarkable figures of my age. If I were of a philosophical frame of mind I might wonder to what extent any one of us is in control of our own destiny, or if indeed we can ever predict the far-reaching consequences of actions, which, at the time, may seem entirely trivial."
• 
  Lori Elliott (catching up)

  “If I were of a philosophical frame of mind I might wonder to what extent any one of us is in control of our own destiny, or if indeed we can ever predict the far-reaching consequences of actions which, at the time, may seem entirely trivial.” ― Anthony Horowitz, The House of Silk
  
  What a treat & a refreshing change of pace!
  
  Horowitz’s touches on the writing of this novel in his Susan Ryeland Series which I really enjoyed so I went into this with pretty lofty expectations. Happy to report that this turned out to be just as well written and entertaining. I loved Sherlock and Watsons fun camaraderie.
  
  Derek Jacobi‘s narration was an unexpected surprise and perfectly done. 4.5 stars.
• 
  Li'l Owl

  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... '
  
  Holmes had made it clear that the adventure of the man in the flat cap was over, the case solved and all that remained was for him to launch into one of those explanations that would leave me wondering how I could have been so obtuse as to have not seen it for myself from the start.
  But this wasn't the end of the case. Not even close.
  
  Watson
  "He rushed out, leaving me alone with my misgivings. At lunchtime he returned but did not eaty, a sure sign that he was engaged upon some stimulating line of enquiry. I had seen him so often like this before. He put me in mind of a foxhound, running upon breast-high scent, for just as an animal will devote it's entire being to one activity, so could he allow events to absorb him to the extent that even the most basic human needs — food, water, sleep — could be set aside."
  
  Holmes
  "How does the House of Silk fit into this conundrum and what are we to make of the strip of silk around the boy's wrist? That is the crux of the matter and once again I am blameworthy. I was warned!"
  
  The fog, thick and yellow, was unfolding through the streets, deadening every sound. Vile, it seemed, like some evil animal snuffling through the darkness in search of it's prey and as we made our way forward it was as if we were delivering ourselves into it's very jaws.
  
  ******
  
  The House of Silk by
  
  Anthony Horowitz instantly pulled me back in time to London's historical 1890's, a time in which I was completely unprepared for! You'll have to read it for yourself to understand what I mean.
  Horowitz deftly combines a perilous, and foreboding mystery shrouded in a spooky, historically accurate setting that made me feel completely immersed in the case and enveloped in the freezing cold and fog along side Holmes and Watson. Both of which made me shiver!
  
  It's not difficult to understand why
  Anthony Horowitz was chosen by the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle estate to continue writing mysteries starring the most celebrated detective in history, Sherlock Holmes, and his best friend and biographer, Dr. John Watson.
  My introduction to was the audiobook,
  Magpie Murders, which I really loved. I'm thrilled to report that this didn't disappoint in any way. As in Magpie Murders, there are some cleaver twists involved in this book and it's one of the things that I love about this talented author.
  
  *Note - don't let the start and finish date fool you. I was rivited to the pages, reading it in two sittings. As usual, curiosity gets the better of me and I stop to research things that interest me.
  
• 
  JimZ

  What was the longest Sherlock Holmes book…Hound of the Baskervilles? I think it is well under 200 pages? All I remember is being spooked out by the writing…it was really good. This novel was 294 pages long. It was too long. Other than that, and because the pace picked up in the last third of the book, it was 3 stars for me…a good read and worth it because I like Sherlock Holmes so much but Horowitz could have made it shorter, and it would have been better in my humble opinion because it would have kept me more interested than I was. 😐
  
  And I spotted a typo in the book!
  • ‘You bath every day.’ 😯 😦 😧 😮
  
  The ending (who-dunnit) was quite clever. But the subject matter (the denouement) was very disturbing.
  
  Reviews (all very positive):
  •
  https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
  •
  https://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/A...
  •
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
  •
  https://www.popmatters.com/150437-the...
  
  Note:
  • Anthony Horowitz wrote Foyle’s War and that was a fave PBS Masterpiece Theater series of mine.
• 
  Sara

  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 not have been more than thirteen years old and yet, like all of them, he was already quite grown up. Childhood, after all, is the first precious coin that poverty steals from a child.
  
  The streets of Victorian London are full of poverty and children, and this tale takes on a Dickensian quality as we see the Baker Street irregulars figure into this story in a unique and clever way. Every twist is believable and every clue to there, but as is always the case, we are Watson and not Holmes, and we cannot put the puzzle into place alone.
  
  When I was young, I devoured Holmes. I loved the process and hoped that eventually I would become clever enough to solve the entire mystery before the master did. Of course, part of the fun was that I never could. If you loved Doyle, you will love Horowitz. You will feel as if you have been given the gift of a new Holmes, cast in the exact mold of the old one, and sharp as ever. I wonder how it feels to be Horowitz, open your mind and your mouth, and have the voice of Doyle and Holmes come out.
  
• 
  Christine

  This is Jeremy Brett as Sherlock 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). Horowitz does an excellent job of channeling Brett as Holmes and both Hardwicke and Bruce as Watson.
  
  The story is a bit darker than some of the Holmes' stories, but even this is in keeping with Doyle. Horowitz takes Holmes and Watson places where Doyle couldn't because of the time period. Doyle took Holmes places that other writers wouldn't take. Horowitz also references several Holmes' stories, so it is nice to travel once again with them, where they are in character.
  
  Holmes and Watson are called upon to solve a robbery and quickly find that there is a connection to the mysterious House of Silk. Horowitz is nice enough to let readers see other beloved characters from this series, and because this is Watson writing from his arm chair, we learn more about them.
  
  What I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that Horowitz kept the focus on Watson. He realize that the icon that Holems is makes him difficult if not near impossible to write. By keeping the focus on Watson, not only does the beloved doctor get fleshed out a bit more, but the book seems more authentic, far more than those stories where Holmes marries, and even far more than the enjoyable recent television and movie Holmes. Substance not flash rules here.
  
  Enjoyable read.
  
  (BTW - if you want to see Sherlock sing, watch My Fair Lady where Brett plays Freddie).
• 
  Connie G

  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 of war, this is something I cannot risk."(6) Watson arranged for the story to be locked up in his solicitor's vaults for one hundred years. Now, a century later, we are reading about the disturbing events involving the House of Silk.
  
  Anthony Horowitz did a stellar job of replicating the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing. He included all the usual secondary characters--the landlady Mrs Hudson, the boys in the Baker Street Irregulars, Mycroft Holmes, and Inspector Lestrade. Sherlock Holmes, with his incredible powers of deduction, and his trusty sidekick Watson start with a case involving the destruction of some famous paintings during a train robbery. A dark mystery involving the House of Silk is also being investigated. The reader finds out the link between the two cases in a good twist at the end. The story is riveting with good characterizations and an exciting plot. Kudos to Anthony Horowitz for an excellent Sherlock Holmes novel.
• 
  Mark

  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 and place. The language employed by Horowitz makes the book easier to read than some of Doyles' tales but then again there is almost a century between the writers prose.
  
  AN very enjoyable read, an better continuation novel than any that I have read recently.
• 
  Melania 🍒

  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 of 18th century London. The main mystery itself turned out to be a difficult problem to speak or read about, but the subject matter was treated with sensibility . I believe that Holmes’ final act was exactly what the reader needed. In a world that’s so f^ck up , it’s nice to have some poetic justice.
  Am I going to read Moriarty? I don’t know just yet, since the reviews for the second book are not so good . But it was wonderful to be back in Holmes’ world (now 30% more woke 😆)