Book of the Month: Horowitz’s Holmes

The launch of Anthony Horowitz’s new Sherlock Holmes book, The House of Silk, went swimmingly. You might say it was elementary, if you couldn’t resist the temptation to talk Holmesian. Many could not.

An astonishing number of people turned out for the exclusive book signing this evening at Waterstone’s Piccadilly, which had been turned into 221B Baker Street. Leather armchairs stood idle, punch cartoons hung on walls and a violinist scratched away at Bach. Only Mrs Hudson was missing.

Not all of the punters were the shabby second hand book dealers who usually pollute these events, begging for a scribble to increase the value of their goods. There was a great showing from the Baker Street Irregulars, and small crowds of enthusiastic adolescents queued patiently. Horowitz admitted, not without a note of apology, that most of the younger signature-hunters were paying homage to Alex Rider rather than Sherlock Holmes. But, who knows, perhaps the latest three-pipe problem will win some more converts for the cult of Holmes?

Now to the book; the game’s afoot.