The House of Silk
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Anthony Horowitz |
| Products | Sherlock Holmes novel |
The House of Silk is a Sherlock Holmes novel authored by British writer Anthony Horowitz, first published in 2011.
Plot summary
The narrative of The House of Silk begins with Dr. Watson describing his initial encounter with Holmes, mentioning the Afghan War and a case deemed "too shocking to disclose until now."
In the story, Edmund Carstairs, an art dealer, approaches Holmes regarding "The Flat Cap case" after his paintings are vandalized by an Irish gang. Following the murder of a client and the failure of another detective, Carstairs seeks Holmes's assistance. Holmes recruits the Baker Street Irregulars to investigate Keelan O'Donaghue, the gang’s leader. Ross, a newcomer among the Irregulars, is assigned to surveil a hotel but is discovered murdered by operatives linked to the House of Silk.
Holmes is then falsely accused of murder and incarcerated. During this time, Watson encounters a shadowy criminal figure who is eventually identified as Professor Moriarty. Moriarty provides Watson with a key to help liberate Holmes, motivated by his desire to dismantle the House of Silk—a criminal enterprise even he finds reprehensible. Holmes manages to escape prison disguised as an assistant to a prison doctor whom he had previously aided. Their investigation leads them to a travelling funfair where they fall into an ambush but are saved by Inspector Lestrade.
Together, Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade discover the "House of Silk," a secret club operated by a pastor and his wife who run an orphanage that rents out boys to affluent clients. Scotland Yard arrests those involved; however, no trial takes place due to connections with the royal family. It is ultimately unveiled that Mrs. Carstairs is the true architect behind The Flat Cap case and acts as the second leader of the Irish gang.
Critical reception
Reviews for the novel were predominantly favorable. A The Guardian critique featured on Anthony Horowitz’s official website observed:
All essential elements are present: comprehensive data and details. Nothing significant is omitted. But can Horowitz, akin to Holmes, transform these mere droplets into vast oceans or towering waterfalls? Can he captivate and exhilarate us? Are there "rapid deductions, as swift as intuitions, yet always grounded in logic" that readers long for? The answer is emphatically affirmative.
Sequel
Horowitz published a follow-up in 2014 titled Moriarty, which notably excludes Holmes and Watson, instead focusing on detectives from earlier investigations such as Athelney Jones and Lestrade.