Tag Archives: Anthony Horowitz

Amy Caudill’s Reviews : Moriarty

Book Reviews, , ,
Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Moriarty (Horowitz’s Holmes, #2) by Anthony Horowitz (Goodreads Author)

Amy Caudill‘s review

Once again, modern author Anthony Horowitz has stepped into the shoes of Arthur Conan Doyle, with the full blessing of the latter’s estate, and produced a new Sherlock Holmes era story. This installment picks up from the end of Doyle’s “The Final Problem,” a short story which details the demise Sherlock along with his arch enemy.


The principals, Watson and Holmes, are not actually present in this story, but only mentioned in passing. However, to compensate for the lack of our favorite detective duo, we are introduced to Detective Inspector Athelney Jones, of Scotland Yard, who actually appeared in at least one other Holmes’ story; and his new friend and cohort, Pinkerton agent Frederick Chase.


The two join forces to find a new criminal mastermind, Clarence Devereux, who reputedly intended to align with Moriarty, and set up shop in London. Chase is familiar with some of Devereux’s henchmen, while Jones has studied Holmes’ methods and believes he is ready to apply his techniques to finding this new threat.


The detectives chase clues all over Europe before returning to London to face off against ruthless gangsters and a criminal network that seems to be one step ahead of them. In the end, they finally face off to the real threat, only for one of the protagonists to realize the enemy wears a familiar face. Spoilers: there is no indication until nearly the end of the story, but the reader has been following an unreliable narrator all along.


The final twist was shocking, but made the entire novel, already a fascinating read, truly worthwhile. Horowitz’s characters seamlessly fit into the world of Victorian London and Baker Street in Doyle’s universe. I award this novel five stars, and hope that Horowitz will find time to venture into that world again in the future.

Amy Caudill’s Reviews : The Word is Murder

Book Reviews, ,
The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

The Word is Murder (Hawthorne & Horowitz #1) by Anthony Horowitz (Goodreads Author)

Amy Caudill‘s review

It is very rare for a published author to insert himself as a character into a story, “in the flesh,” but that is exactly what Anthony Horowitz has done in his popular series, Hawthorne and Horowitz.

This series features a former detective inspector, Daniel Hawthorne, an abrasive, temperamental and brilliant investigator, who works as a consultant for the constabulary.  He has decided that he wants a book written about his work and cases.  He picks Anthony Horowitz to write said book, as he is familiar with his writing due to the fact that Hawthorne consulted on a TV show for the author previously.

Horowitz needs some convincing to begin a partnership with the abrasive detective, and often is frustrated with him over his handling of suspects, and his lack of sharing information about theories and anything “personal” which would allow Horowitz to write said book.  Despite this, the author finds himself drawn into the intrigue of the case, and realizes that he wants to see it through just as desperately as it seems Hawthorne does.

Diana Cowper, a woman who appears to have a very successful, though quiet life, makes arrangements for her own funeral at a funeral parlor, and later that same day is murdered.  Is the case a simple coincidence and burglary gone wrong, or is there something more sinister involved?  The investigation will unearth facts pertaining to the victim and her famous though often absent son that will establish a number of motives for murder.

While the author is a first person narrator, he is not omniscient; he seems to rarely understand Hawthorne’s motives and is often in the dark about his actions till after the fact, supporting the premise that Hawthorne is a “real” detective and separate person.  All in all, the two have a very interesting dynamic that makes for a novel take on the typical detective story.  

The case itself is interesting for the reader, and contains plenty of twists and turns for fans of the genre.  All in all, an excellent story, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I award this book 4.5 stars.

Amy Caudill’s Reviews : The House of Silk

Book Reviews, ,
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

The House of Silk (Horowitz’s Holmes, #1) by Anthony Horowitz (Goodreads Author)

Amy Caudill‘s review

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then it’s easy to see why Anthony Horowitz was granted something no other author has before-official endorsement from the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  Horowitz was officially “allowed” to publish stories depicting the legendary detective.  Since I have recently re-read some of the original author’s short stories, I can attest that he easily captures the style of the original, including alluding in his stories to others from canon as well as current events of the day, just as Doyle sprinkled throughout his famous stories.

This tale contains two mysteries for the price of one.  Only in the final pages are readers permitted to learn what Holmes had long suspected, that the mysterious events around Carstairs and with the obscure House of Silk are connected.

We open with Holmes as he is requested to assist a local nobleman who thinks he is being stalked by a foreign gangster who he inadvertently wronged.  Unfortunately before that case is resolved, Holmes is detained and framed for murder in pursuit of another criminal.  

When a well-respected police inspector, a local nobleman, and a doctor with a reputation for charity bear witness against him, without him being permitted to speak in his defense, it appears Holmes may be doomed.  With even Mycroft’s hands tied, it appears Watson may be his last hope of avoiding a noose, especially when the latter has a clandestine meeting with none other than Professor Moriarty months before the events of Reichenbach Falls.

Watson comes to the rescue, only to find out he is too late, because somehow Holmes has already affected an impossible escape from an impregnable prison.  From this point on, Watson does his best to pursue unexplored avenues until he finally is reunited with the missing detective in time for them to make a shattering discovery as they call in police reinforcements to dismantle an establishment so evil that even the master criminal wants no part of it. 

I enjoyed this “new” Sherlock Holmes novel just as much as I’ve always loved the original works.  The name and legend of Sherlock Holmes have inspired an entire sub-genre of like-styled stories and books, as well as modern adaptations into television series and movies.  Horowitz has proven, backed by Doyle’s estate, to be a worthy successor to the detective’s legacy and I look forward to reading some of his other works.