The House of Silk

This is author Anthony Horowitz writing a Sherlock Holmes novel, and it was well done in my opinion. This is the first addition to the official Sherlock Holmes canon approved by the Conan Doyle estate.  I have read and posted on 4 other mysteries by Horowitz: Magpie Murders, The Word is Murder, The Sentence is Death, and Moonflower Murders. Having watched the Sherlock series with Benedict Cumberbatch, it's hard to read this book without picturing him and Martin Freeman in the roles of Sherlock and Dr. Watson (respectively). As usual, Dr. Watson is the ostensible author and reporter of events and, for this story, he is writing after the death of Sherlock Holmes about two cases that intersected and were very distressing to both  men at the time. Sherlock is first contacted by an art dealer who is fearful about a man who has been watching his house; he is convinced that the man is a gangster from New York who has followed him home to England and is seeking revenge for the death of his brother. Sherlock sets the task of finding and following the watcher to the Baker Street irregulars, the loose group of street children he has often enlisted. They find him but when Sherlock and Watson arrive, the watcher himself has been murdered. This would seem to solve the problem for Sherlock's original client, but of course Holmes wants to know who murdered the gangster. When the young boy who was watching the hotel at the time of the murder is himself found brutally beaten to death, Sherlock feels responsible and will not rest until he finds the culprits. A strip of white silk is tied to the boy's mangled wrist and Sherlock begins to investigate a mysterious source called the House of Silk. Even his highly placed and influential brother, Mycroft is fearful  of assisting Sherlock, however, and when Sherlock is effectively framed for the murder of the boy's sister, he cannot rescue him. The people behind the murders and the manipulation of wealthy and influential men seem to be beyond Sherlock and Watson's reach, but of course, Sherlock will find a way.  

The Guardian's review enthuses that Horowitz has hit a home run with characters, essential elements of the series, and plotting: "This is a no-shit Sherlock." Publishers Weekly says, "Horowitz gets everything right—the familiar narrative voice, brilliant deductions, a very active role for Watson, and a perplexing and disturbing series of puzzles to unravel..."