The House Of Silk By Anthony Horowitz

The novel that I have read last month is The House Of Silk, written by Anthony Horowitz. This novel is the first follow-up to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes case. The House Of Silk was the most mysterious and complicated case that had been through by Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The story is about Sherlock Homes and Dr. Watson find themselves get into a sinister event that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of society.

The client of the “Flat Cap” case is introduced as a man by the name of Edmund Carstairs, an art dealer whose paintings had been destroyed by a gang of Irish robbers. After the murder of Carstairs' client, he turns to Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes locates the hotel where  Keelan O'Donaghue (one of the leaders of the gang) is currently staying. One of the newest recruits of the Irregulars, a boy named Ross, is stationed to monitor secretly outside the hotel . When Sherlock Holmes arrives, Ross is found brutally murdered by thugs of the House of Silk. When Holmes makes inroads with the case, he is framed for murder and sent to prison. Meanwhile, Watson meets with a mystery criminal, later revealed as Professor Moriarty, who provides him with a key to free Holmes from prison, before the detective can be assassinated. Professor Moriarty's motives are uncertain, except that he wishes Holmes to rid the world of the House of Silk. When Watson arrives at the prison, he discovers Holmes has escaped of his own accord. Various leads draw them to a travelling carnival, where they are ambushed, before being saved by Inspector Lestrade. After that, they makes their way to the "House of Silk", a club operated by a pastor and his wife who also govern a boy's orphanage, and rent the boys to wealthy customers. The members are promptly rounded up by Scotland Yard. In the end of the story,  their arrests, however, the case does not come to trial, due to a royal family member having been purportedly involved. It is eventually revealed that Mrs. Carstairs is the true person responsible for The Flat Cap case, being the second leader of the Irish gang.

I do like the ending of this story because in the end, Sherlock Holmes managed to reveal the truth of the “House Of Silk” case. Even though Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson have went through twists and turns, they did not give up. Their determination have helps them to solve the case. The other reason why I like the ending of this story is because the justice has been uphold. Sherlock Holmes observes closely all the evidence to find out the truth. He uses his intelligence to solve the “Flat Cap” case and “House Of Silk” case. Moreover, the story has taught me that crime does not pay. Criminals will always be punished, if not by the law of the land, then by their own conscience. Thus, we have to face the consequences of our actions. This is shown when Mr. and Mrs. Carstairs have been arrested by the police because of their criminal. Sherlock Holmes hard work finally paid off and he managed to clean Ross’s unjust treatment.

In conclusion, The House Of Silk is an interesting story. I was really impressed by this novel and I think that Conan Doyle Estate had made a correct choice in Anthony Horowitz to continue the Sherlock Holmes series with this final book------The House Of Silk.

Koo Chong Jing

4 Cergas

3rd June 2014