The magic of Sherlock Holmes recreated! The game is afoot once again as Holmes is back with his most gruesome case ever

THE NEW Sherlock Holmes novel — The House of Silk — is not a tribute to the great man’s work, it’s not a continuation of his stories and it’s not an imitation. It is a brand new Sherlock Holmes novel, set in Victoria’s England, with familiar characters spouting similar lines and sporting familiar characteristics. Visit 221 B Baker Street yet again. Inside the house there’s the usual bunch — “Baker Street Irregulars” (remember Wiggins?), with Mrs Hudson and her scones, the rat-faced inspector Lestrade and the almighty Mycroft Holmes (brother to Sherlock) — all present in this new novel which received the nod from the Conan Doyle Estate, giving it a familiarity and tone which manages to strike a chord with the reader accustomed to Doyle’s creations, yet again. The setting of the novel is certainly age-old, and yet, the reader will also feel the difference of pace in Anthony Horowitz’s The House of Silk. Sherlock Holmes first made his appearance in the year 1887 in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, a paperback magazine printed in England annually between 1860 and 1898, founded by Samuel Orchart Beeton. The series was created by Scottish author and physician, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Soon after the first story came out, the fictional ‘consulting detective’ — famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take on almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills — became such a rage that fans from across the globe would write to the detective ‘living’ at 221 B Baker Street. Several of these letters were from children, seeking Holmes’ help. With such a loyal and dedicated fan base, it’s not erroneous to suppose that Holmes’ deerstalker cap is more talked of than Cleopatra’s nose in modern literature. So how does a new author manage to bear the burden of such a legacy? The answer is simple — by writing a fantastic detective novel, which is neither different from the old ones nor very similar. Horowitz manages to do that with great finesse. It is a Holmes adventure at its best. A wellwritten story with carefully etched characters and a plot knitted beautifully. The best bit is that Horowitz makes Sherlock his own, creating a story with a bit more action than Conan Doyle gave us. The story unfolds with two unrelated threads, the action builds and Horowitz captures your imagination. As is often the case, the chronicler is Dr Watson, narrating the story of one of “the most dangerous cases” taken up by them. A case which, as Watson puts it was “too shocking to be revealed until now”. It’s 1890 and Watson’s wife is out of town; so he is boarding yet again at 221 B Baker St with Holmes. At that time, a Mayfair arts dealer pays them a visit. He alleges that he is being followed by the only surviving member of an infamous Irish gang in America. Holmes recruits the newest member of the Irregulars — Ross — to guard the place where the gang member lives. After he leaves the scene, Ross is found brutally murdered, and thus begins the most challenging case in the history of Sherlock Holmes. Why did Ross die? Why were the dealer’s paintings burnt? Will Sherlock survive a case where every little step taken will take him closer to doom and destruction? The danger involved in the case is such that we see the great Mycroft — never known to pull himself out of his armchair at the Diogenes Club — pay a visit to Baker St with a warning: “stay away from the case or suffer a fate from which even you cannot be saved”. Soon enough, Mycroft’s predictions come true in more ways than one. For the older readership, the adventure saga will bring back the memories of a childhood spent solving mysteries with the great detective. For those reading Holmes for the first time — it’s not a bad start. If one likes mysteries at all, this is not one to miss. If you love Sherlock Holmes, this is a must read. Horowitz is already being considered the true heir of the Conan Doyle heritage. And this fast-paced, gripping and spine-chilling novel is proof that he is fit to follow in the famous doctor’s footsteps. So, wander in the dark and dingy lanes of fog-covered England, as the game is afoot, once again.