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The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

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THE HOUSE OF SILK is Anthony Horowitz‘s authorized addition to the Sherlock Holmes canon, written with the approval of the Conan Doyle estate. It aims to deliver a new Holmes adventure that feels authentically Victorian while still offering modern narrative momentum. It is widely regarded as one of the strongest modern pastiches of Sherlock Holmes. ⬇️

dabbe Horowitz blends fidelity to Conan Doyle with his own contemporary sensibilities, crafting a mystery that feels respectful without being static. The book‘s darker subject matter and streamlined pacing differentiate it from the originals, which may divide opinion, but they also help the novel stand on its own. For readers who enjoy Holmes, Victorian mysteries, or modern crime fiction with a classic flair, ... ⬇️ now

dabbe ... THE HOUSE OF SILK is a thoughtful and engaging addition to the extended Holmes universe. For Holmes' purists, it may feel somewhat too modern—but it is still crafted with clear admiration for the original source material. now

AnnCrystal Grand review 👏🏼🕵🏻‍♂️👍🏼📚💝. now

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Wow! Amazing review!! now

dabbe @DrSabrinaMoldenReads TY! 🖤🕵️‍♂️💛 now

7 likes5 comments

dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#haikuaday #haikuhive #thelitsyirregulars #sherlockpastiche #haikureview

Just finished this one yesterday. Once it got going, I couldn't put it down!

Holmes stands in the rain––
a boy's death shifts every clue
as the Silk grows near.

Kristy_K, DebinHawaii, Mimi28, TheBookHippie, JenlovesJT47, Susanita, Reggie, vivastory, Itchyfeetreader, jdiehr, Bookwomble, CBee, dabbe, kelli7990, Jari-chan, ImperfectCJ, lil1inblue, The_Book_Ninja, julieclair, AnnCrystal, bellabella, BooksandCoffee4Me

JenlovesJT47 Sounds intriguing! 🧐🩶🕵🏻💛 now

AnnCrystal 👏🏼🐝📚🕵🏻‍♂️📚💝. now

dabbe @JenlovesJT47 It was! 💛🕵️‍♂️🖤 now

dabbe @AnnCrystal 💛🕵️‍♂️🖤 now

8 likes4 comments

DrSabrinaMoldenReads

House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

pick

I have literally been searching for years to find a Mystery writer who can keep me baffled all the way until the end of the novel. . For me, this was a wonderful reading experience, filled with suspense, likable and intriguing characters, “especially Holmes and Watson” and many out loud WOWs from me. Highly recommended for those who resonate with this. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

dabbe Excellent! 🖤🕵️‍♂️💛 now

19 likes1 comment

dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#thelitsyirregulars #tli @Cuilin

Thoughts, Pastiched-Sherlockians?

DrSabrinaMoldenReads, kspenmoll, CogsOfEncouragement, AnneCecilie, Librarybelle, mcipher, Read4life, CatLass007, Mollyanna, eeclayton, Bookwomble, dabbe, MaGoose, kelli7990, TheAromaofBooks, Sparklemn

Librarybelle Life isn‘t easy at the moment, and I did not get to read this but read it years ago for a mystery discussion group I led. I don‘t remember every detail about the book, but I did like it and felt that it paid good homage to Conan Doyle and Holmes (the group agreed too). It takes talent to bring a new story such as this close to an original. I adore Horowitz and his books, so of course I vote for reading Moriarty! 21h

kelli7990 I enjoyed this book. I would read more books by him. 13h

eeclayton I'm not sure I'd pick it up on my own, but if #TheLitsyIrregulars decide to read it together, then I'll certainly join in the fun! 13h

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kspenmoll I second @Librarybelle opinion. I love this author & will read anything he likes. I did find this book had a more chilling effect on me than Holmes stories penned by Watson. 8h

kspenmoll Thanks for hosting & coming up with questions that made me dig deep & THINK on a Sunday! 8h

DrSabrinaMoldenReads I am happy to have found this author. For literally years, I have been searching for a mystery author on the same level as I remember Agatha Christie to be. I was never able to figure out her mysteries but as an adult have been able to figure most mysteries out before finishing. That has taken away the fun. I can‘t wait to read Moriarty. I would love other author recommendations. 7h

CogsOfEncouragement I have read books with SH as a side character, as well as books with SH as a great great great uncle or something and I really enjoyed them.

If I had read House of Silk on my own, I would not have finished it and I wouldn't be interested to read book 2.

I do enjoy hearing what others think about books, even the ones that didn't appeal to me. Thank you for continuing to host these discussions. I think they are important. 5h

dabbe @kspenmoll YW! 🤩🤣😘 1h

dabbe @DrSabrinaMoldenReads Any of his books are excellent IMHO. They definitely keep you guessing! 🤩 1h

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement TY! 🤩 1h

DrSabrinaMoldenReads @dabbe Yay about his books! now

dabbe @DrSabrinaMoldenReads 🎯♥️🎯 now

29 likes12 comments

dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#thelitsyirregulars #tli @Cuilin

Thoughts, Pastiched-Sherlockians?

eeclayton The foreword really piqued my interest, I was eager to find out why this manuscript needed to be hidden for such a long time. Now that I've finished, I'm not sure if it's because of the scandal and well-known people's involvement in it, or because of the episode with Moriarty.
As for the latter, do we really believe that Watson never said a word about this to Holmes, not even after Moriarty's death? 🤔 13h

kspenmoll Maybe Watson needed time & reflection to get the story just right. It could have bern because he did not want to expose & publicize the depth of the corruption in government for fear that it would cause a crisis & instability. Other European countries were becoming nationalists at the time, & England was as well. Any spark might become what happened inevitably WWI. 8h

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Maybe there was some element of truth about the scandal 😳 From my work and the present stuff in the news, such groups actually exist. Even in small town communities. But I had no idea that‘s where it was going in the novel. (edited) 7h

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dabbe @eeclayton @kspenmoll @DrSabrinaMoldenRead Truly interesting points! To add my two cents re: the effect the later release had on us, the readers:
•First, it establishes that the story belongs to an earlier period and is being revisited with hindsight, which allows Watson to foreshadow certain developments or comment on the lasting significance of the case. ⬇️
1h

dabbe •it creates a sense of finality and distance: readers know that Holmes is no longer alive in the “present” of the framing narrative, which can add a reflective or elegiac tone.
•it positions the case as exceptional or sensitive compared to typical Holmes adventures, since Watson implies that it was withheld for specific reasons. ⬇️ 1h

dabbe This framing signals to the reader that the events of the story differ in seriousness or impact from the cases Watson published during Holmes‘s lifetime. 1h

25 likes6 comments

dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#thelitsyirregulars #tli @Cuilin

Thoughts, Pastiched-Sherlockians?

kspenmoll Legal justice was explored through Holmes arrest, imprisonment, the corruption in the system. When all the people involved in the corruption were exposed, some served jail time. The “ minister” who thought he was untouchable was murdered if I remember correctly. So sometimes justice was served within the system, mos times outside its boundaries - morally justice was served that way. When Holmes “punished” & razed the building down, that seemed⬇️ 8h

kspenmoll Out of anger & anguish rather than mortality. 8h

eeclayton @kspenmoll That's a great point, Holmes's arrest and imprisonment illustrating how the system has broken down. 6h

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dabbe @kspenmoll @eeclayton 🎯🎯🎯!
I thought the novel explored the theme of justice by showing how legal justice and moral justice do not always align in Victorian society. The novel presents several situations in which official institutions—such as the police, courts, and charitable organizations—either fail to protect vulnerable individuals or are unable to confront powerful offenders (talking to you, Mycroft!). ⬇️ 2h

dabbe At the same time, the story shows characters pursuing a form of moral justice that extends beyond legal procedures. Holmes‘s investigation continues even when his actions bring him into conflict with the authorities or place him under suspicion. His pursuit is driven not by legal obligation but by a belief that certain wrongs must be uncovered regardless of institutional barriers. ⬇️ 2h

dabbe Watson‘s narration also reflects the distinction between what the law can accomplish and what individuals may feel ethically compelled to address. The conclusion of the novel further emphasizes this difference. Although some aspects of the conspiracy become known, the full legal consequences do not reach every participant because of the involvement of socially protected figures. ⬇️ 1h

dabbe Nevertheless, the exposure of the crimes and the protection of future victims represent a form of moral justice within the narrative. Overall the novel examines justice as a dual concept: the official, procedural kind handled by the state, and the broader ethical responsibility pursued by individuals when the legal system proves insufficient. 1h

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dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#thelitsyirregulars #tli @Cuilin

Thoughts, Pastiched-Sherlockians?

eeclayton While I knew that the Flat Cap Gang storyline would have to have something to do with the House of Silk mystery, I honestly forgot about it for most of the book. It was much less intricate, and for me personally, the solution to it, when it came, had shock value but felt a little WTF. The HoS part, on the other hand, held my interest all the way through. 14h

kspenmoll I was mostly caught up in the House of Silk as more intricate & intriguing. It did not cross my mind that the author would connect the two. I was surprised that one of the twin leasers of the gang was female. Never crossed my mind- that was a clever way of connecting the storylines. (edited) 8h

DrSabrinaMoldenReads Where‘s the best place to start with Sherlock Holmes? I have not read his mysteries? What‘s next for us and when in this group? 7h

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CogsOfEncouragement I had the feeling of coincidence - which SH didn't believe in - that Carstairs was one so vile as well. 5h

dabbe @DrSabrinaMoldenReads If you search #noplacelikeholmes, you will see how our group read the entire canon. We read in exact chronological order by publication date. Here's a link to all of the stories in order and online: https://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/index.html 2h

dabbe @eeclayton @kspenmoll @DrSabrinaMoldenReads @CogsOfEncouragment I, too, forgot about the Flat Cap Gang and was stunned by how he pulled it all together at the end. I read 60% of the book yesterday and couldn't put it down once the suspense really started rolling. I did feel I had to suspend my disbelief a bit, though, but I find I pretty much have to do that with a lot of mysteries. 2h

DrSabrinaMoldenReads @dabbe Whoa! Thanks for the link! Where has this been hiding all my life. now

dabbe @DrSabrinaMoldenReads That website will keep you busy for a while! now

16 likes8 comments

dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#thelitsyirregulars #tli @Cuilin

Thoughts, Pastiched-Sherlockians?

kspenmoll I think he achieved a really good balance until his drive to punish those at the end- I did like the prison escape; just like what Houdini Holmes might do. 8h

eeclayton @kspenmoll I enjoyed the prison break too, the twist on the coffin idea was clever, although this was the one twist in the book that I was able to figure out much earlier than Watson 😁 6h

dabbe @kspenmoll @eeclayton On the side of remaining faithful to the canon, Horowitz preserves the familiar framework of a Sherlock Holmes case: Dr. Watson narrates in a Victorian style, Holmes follows recognizable deductive methods, and the story includes many canonical features such as Baker Street, The Irregulars, Scotland Yard, and Holmes‘s standard investigative techniques. ⬇️ 2h

dabbe Character dynamics also remain consistent, with Holmes as the central problem-solver and Watson as the recorder and interpreter of events. The novel also uses devices common in Doyle‘s stories, such as red herrings, nested clues, and the gradual revelation of hidden motives.

As an innovator, Horowitz expands the thematic scope beyond what Conan Doyle typically addressed. ⬇️ 2h

dabbe The plot involved a more elaborate criminal network, a wider social critique, and subject matter that was darker and more systemic than the individual or domestic crimes common in the original canon. The novel also increased the emotional and institutional stakes by depicting Holmes confronting entrenched corruption and facing personal jeopardy in ways that Doyle used less frequently. 2h

17 likes5 comments

dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#thelitsyirregulars #tli @Cuilin

Thoughts, Pastiched-Sherlockians?

eeclayton He fails to see the link between the two storylines early on -- but let's be patient with him: he's never had to do this before 😁 14h

kspenmoll He fails to see the house for boys for what it truly is earlier on, despite noting many wheel tracks in front of the certain building. Or the Carstairs for the evil people they are. 8h

DrSabrinaMoldenReads I was thinking he did not reveal how much he knew. 7h

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DrSabrinaMoldenReads The prison escape was like what occurred in another famous novel which I loved. Don‘t want to do a spoiler. It was a French author. 7h

dabbe @eeclayton @kspenmoll @DrSabrinaMoldenReads Some failures of Holmes that I noticed:
1. His failure to understand what Ross was truly afraid of until it was too late. He totally went the wrong way on that one.
2. Holmes does not foresee the plot that results in his arrest. The antagonist‘s ability to manipulate evidence and exploit legal structures reveals a space where Holmes‘s deductive skills cannot protect him ... ⬇️ 2h

dabbe ... from coordinated efforts designed to undermine him.
3. Although still largely rational, Holmes becomes emotionally affected by Ross‘s death and by the nature of the crimes uncovered. The novel presents this emotional reaction not as a flaw in character but as a situation where personal investment temporarily disrupts the neutrality associated with his deductions. 2h

19 likes6 comments

dabbe

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel | Anthony Horowitz

#thelitsyirregulars #tli @Cuilin

Thoughts, Pastiched-Sherlockians?

eeclayton My impression is that in the ACD originals, Holmes isn't as much interested in the moral layers of the crimes as the clues and the logic to the mysteries. Here, however, he very much acts to punish the culprits. The final bit about him setting fire to the school felt a bit over the top for me. 14h

kspenmoll I don‘t think of Holmes as his actions being dictated by emotions but just observation & logic. His investment in punishment of the perpetrators seems unlike him. 8h

CogsOfEncouragement I liked W's subtly in the canon. Readers had to pay attention to each sentence, especially in the short stories to realize that SH did care, and did take action after a case, etc. Those stories had to fit into a periodica after all.
This novel - to me - overly criticises SH and W rather than extending the canon in a way to make the reader forget it was written in 2011. 5h

dabbe @eeclayton @kspenmoll @CogsOfEncourgement Agree with all you said! #mytwocents: THE HOUSE OF SILK expanded the moral and thematic stakes beyond those in many of Conan Doyle‘s original Holmes stories by introducing subject matter and institutional critiques that Doyle typically did not address directly. While the original canon often focused on individual crimes, personal vendettas, or puzzles rooted in deception, ... ⬇️ 2h

dabbe ... this novel incorporated themes involving systemic abuse, exploitation of vulnerable populations, and organized wrongdoing tied to respected social institutions. The “House of Silk“ crime was more sordid than anything I think Doyle did or could have done during that actual time period. The fact that these horrors involved innocent boys is what enabled me to believe Holmes of his fiery act at the end. 2h

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