patchworkbunny reviewed The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
Review of 'The House of Silk' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
It starts off with a simple case, a man followed across the Atlantic by a criminal, intent on revenge, and a theft. They do not appear to be related except that consequences would say they are, so Sherlock Holmes starts an investigation with the help of his Baker Street Irregulars. When one of the street boys runs into trouble, Holmes feels he is to blame and is drawn into a shady world of conspiracy. No one speaks of The House of Silk and it is therefore surely at the centre of this mystery.
Horowitz has done an excellent job writing in the style of Conan Doyle, although designed to bring Holmes to a new generation it certainly feels like it fits with the original books. Narrated, of course, by Dr Watson, the premise is that he is writing this story after the death of Holmes and puts it into trust …
It starts off with a simple case, a man followed across the Atlantic by a criminal, intent on revenge, and a theft. They do not appear to be related except that consequences would say they are, so Sherlock Holmes starts an investigation with the help of his Baker Street Irregulars. When one of the street boys runs into trouble, Holmes feels he is to blame and is drawn into a shady world of conspiracy. No one speaks of The House of Silk and it is therefore surely at the centre of this mystery.
Horowitz has done an excellent job writing in the style of Conan Doyle, although designed to bring Holmes to a new generation it certainly feels like it fits with the original books. Narrated, of course, by Dr Watson, the premise is that he is writing this story after the death of Holmes and puts it into trust to be opened 100 years later. His reasoning? The subject was just too scandalous for its time. The frame narrative is a hallmark of the Holmes canon but one modern day readers might find a little old-fashioned. Where events are not within Watson's first hand experience, other characters talk at length to describe them. Let's face it, it isn't very realistic, not many people talk in speeches, especially without interruption. However, fans of the original stories will have nothing to complain about and this is just an observation in regards to the claim that it's updating Holmes for a modern readership.
It's a good twisting plot and I didn't feel that I knew what was coming despite Watson's warning that it was taboo. I am not a rival for Holmes' intellect obviously!