The House of Silk

A Sherlock Holmes Novel

By: Anthony Horowitz

Narrated by: Derek Jacobi

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Sherlock Holmes is the greatest detective in literary history. For the first time since the death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a new Holmes story has been sanctioned by his estate, whetting the appetites of fans everywhere. Information about the book will be revealed as deliberately as Holmes himself would unravel a knotty case, but best-selling novelist and Holmes expert Anthony Horowitz is sure to bring a compelling, atmospheric story to life. With access to the estate's archives and careful study of the original stories, Horowitz is sure to weave a tale that satisfies new fans as well as the most dedicated Baker Street Irregular.

©2011 Anthony Horowitz (P)2011 Hachette

This Holmes Makes Elementary Mistakes

I appreciate Anthony Horowitz's recent novels that have arrived in the style of Doyle, and of Christie and Fleming.

"The House of Silk" ambitiously combines many of our favorite elements (Holmes' brother Mycroft, his nemesis Moriarty, his occasional addictions, and his willingness to plunge into the heart of crime with his friend Watson armed with their revolvers to wreak justice in an extra-legal fashion) together with a sordid crime, which may involve conspiracy reaching to the highest levels of government and society.

I was disappointed in this telling; Holmes underestimates the menace and the mean-ness of the threat to his own and to others' peril. The twists and turns of plot seemed to me to be contrivances that made the author's take easier rather than the story advancing in a credible manner.

The narrator, Derek Jacobi, is one of the most gifted actors of his generation (I Claudius, a nearly complete Shakespearian canon with the Royal Shakespeare company), so even his uninspired reading is wonderful with one exception: Sherlock himself is rendered in the most unenjoyable manner.

5 Stars from Sherlock Holmes fans

As die-hart Sherlock Holmes fans, we are thrilled that this write continues in the Donan style. Great story, great deductions and lots of twists.

My Dear Watson!

What did you love best about The House of Silk?

I'm a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and this new story was totally in keeping with the canon.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sherlock (of course!)

Have you listened to any of Derek Jacobi’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love Derek Jacobi's performances, but have never listened to his audiobook narrations before. Before now, in my mind, there were only two narrators that do any Sherlock Holmes audiobook justice. That was Simon Vance and John Telfer. Now I have a third, Derek Jacobi.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Loving Holmes and Watson as I do, the prelude in chapter one was both wonderful and sad, to hear Watson talk about his longtime friendship with the "great man".

Any additional comments?

Truly hope Anthony Horowitz will publish another Sherlock Holmes. Sir Anthony Conan Doyle would be proud!

Sherlock fan

I was hesitant to trust a new voice with Holmes, but it was wonderfully done.

Fantastic!

Enjoyed the multi-layered story and character development. The story didn't drag or have any redundant parts. Mr. Jacoby's narration was spot on and smooth. I liked this story so much that I will likely listen again which is very rare.

Lives Up to the Legacy of the Character.

In the Hawthorne and Horowitz series the character of Horowitz mentioned that he's been selected by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write a new official Sherlock Holmes novel. I thought, "Wow this guy really does think highly of himself."

THEN I FOUND OUT THAT WAS A THING THAT HAPPENED IN REALITY!

Taking on the mantle of the best known detective in the history of mysteries is a huge task and Horowitz does so admirably. Classic Holmes.

Near perfection - dare I say better than ACD?

[4.5 stars] Having read this absolutely wonderful novel, I understand why this is the first time the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate authorized a new Sherlock Holmes novel. Horowitz is masterful, giving period appropriate details, weaving a plot and conspiracy as complex as it is deplorable, and hitting all the right notes to make this feel authentically Holmes-ian without merely aping Conan Doyle.

The novel opens as Dr. Watson, an old man now, reveals that he is about to put in writing a tale that he has been sworn to secrecy about. A mystery whose unraveling so shook the halls of power he could not risk telling it until now, when many of the main actors have passed away and he himself nears the end of his life. The story is one of two intertwined mysteries, one on a smaller scale of personal revenge and one larger with machinations at the highest levels acting concertedly to cover it up. We quickly are reacquainted with characters and set pieces known from the original canon – from 221B Baker Street and Ms. Hudson, to Lestrade and the Irregulars, to Holmes’s meditative moods and Mycroft’s rotund presence at the Diogenes Club.

The mystery itself is layered and slowly revealed. Astute readers may have a guess at what could be happening behind closed doors at the eponymous House of Silk. But what made me truly love this book was how Horowitz respected the groundwork laid in the original Holmes stories but was not bound by the conventions of the time. Where some older novels, Conan Doyle’s included, can feel stilted in language and emotionally staid, Horowitz gives the characters and their reactions a verisimilitude and resulting warmth and approachability, ire and coldness, disdain and fear, that is sometimes missing in in the original novels.

This is one of my favorite iterations of Sherlock Holmes. The balance of old school mystery with human touches makes it a pleasure to read, though disturbing and infuriating at the conclusion. The ending especially is all too plausible. Where power often evades a full reckoning for what was done, and the downtrodden are only partially saved and only for a short period of time. Still, despite the grounding in real life, this still was a pleasurable read. Highly recommended.

Exception to "the rule"

Most post-Conan Doyle Holmes books are deplorably absent of style. They focus on the twists of missed observations and not on the literary bend surronding and supporting Holmes' observations. This book is an exception. Though is is difficult to distinguish between the written words of Anthony Horowitz and the wonderful style of narrator Derek Jacobi, it "feels" like the Watson and, by extension, Holmes of the originator's work. I applaude everyone associated with the production.

A must for Sherlock Holmes fans

If you like Sherlock Holmes this is a must listen, excellent job of narration. Would recommend to everyone.

Sherlock?...

3.5 stars. Not bad but it missed the oomph for me that is so prevalent in Sir ACD's work. Parts were over verbalized and I found my mind wondering, but it did not matter much because it was usually not relevant to the story. About half way through I figured out where the story was going and for me the endless mystery of Sherlock Holm's is what made his adventures such a good ride. The narrator did a good job but it could have been better with more destinct voices.