I’m not a fan of contemporary pastiches of old classics. I’ve had enough experience of reading silly and hideous stories based on my beloved Austen and Gaskell novels which, in my fierce loyalty to the authors, I had found unpardonable. So when I came across The House of Silk, I was of two minds. I’m a die-hard fan of Sherlock Holmes and have read the entire collection of Arthur Conan Doyle. They hold a special place in my heart. So, I was a bit uneasy to plunge into a contemporary take on Sherlock Holmes. At the same time, I couldn’t help being curious to see how someone other than Doyle would manage Sherlock Holmes. My curiosity got the better of me, and I’m quite pleased with the results.
First of all, Anthony Horowitz has done justice to Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. He has firmly grasped the essence of Holmes’s character that I didn’t feel any difference between Doyle’s Holmes and Horowitz’s. That was important. Any change, even the minutest, would have broken the spell for me. But the transition was done so smoothly that the spell was kept intact. It was the same with other familiar characters. Doctor Watson, Inspector Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, and even the “Baker Street Irregulars” led by Wiggins stepped right out from Doyle’s collection into Horowitz’s novel. Preserving the characters, tone, and setting of a century ago is no easy task. And Horowitz has done an admirable job of it.
The best part of reading this novel is meeting the dear old characters once again. Holmes is ever the same eccentric genius while Doctor Watson is a wee bit improved. 🙂 The story sorely tests friendship and loyalty, and Watson and Inspector Lestrade become exemplary. Doctor Watson refers to past cases of Sherlock Holmes within his narrative linking Doyle and Horowitz perfectly. Where Doyle ended, Horowitz has begun. That is how I felt. No change, whatsoever.
The mystery of The House of Silk is complex. Two separate plots run parallel to one another, but always giving the impression that they are interconnected. The connection when revealed at the end was shocking and unpleasant. The mystery plot is grandly done by Horowitz. I couldn’t make head or tail about it until everything was eventually explained. And now I know what it’s to be like Doctor Watson; privy to all that happens but cannot make connections. I’ve always been proud that, as a seasoned mystery reader, there is very little that escapes from my power of deduction. Sadly, I couldn’t be more mistaken. It wasn’t all that gratifying to have the illusion broken. 🙂 I must credit Horowitz’s writing for it.
The only difference between Doyle’s Sherlock collection and Horowitz’s The House of Silk is found in the mystery element. First, Horowitz’s story is far darker than any Doyle had ever written. Second, Doyle would never have imagined to base his mystery on such a scandalous topic. But it is different for Anthony Horowitz. He lives and writes more than a century later. With the passage of time, the public has become more accommodative and tolerant towards openly talking about the subjects once considered taboo. So, Horowitz had more freedom of expression than Arthur Conan Doyle.
The House of Silk is an awesome continuation of Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Coming from a die-hard Arthurian Sherlock Holmes fan, it is a great recommendation. However, the novel is not without its flaws. The biggest issue I had was its length. Having associated Sherlock Holmes with short-length stories, I had to fight my urge to skip certain sluggish parts and get into action. Impatience is not an admirable quality in a reader. Sadly, I suffer from that malady. The other was that certain factors were left unexplained. I don’t enjoy being left in the dark, even if it is trivial. Moreover, this was never the case in Doyle’s Holmes novels. Everything is neatly tied and explained.
Overall, I’ll say that Anthony Horowitz had done an admirable job in bringing Sherlock Holmes to life again. I learned that the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle had approved its publication which says a lot. The fact that Horowitz has taken pains to well acquaint himself with the style of Doyle, the mood and setting of a time gone by, and the character of Holmes is in my opinion the key reason for the novel’s success. And his own brilliant skill at mystery writing adds to the rest.
Rating: 4/5
