Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz (book review)

Moriarty

Author:  Anthony Horowitz

Published: December 2014

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 304

Genre:  Mystery

Source: A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher and TLC book tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

The game is once again afoot in this thrilling mystery from the bestselling author of The House of Silk, sanctioned by the Conan Doyle estate, which explores what really happened when Sherlock Holmes and his arch nemesis Professor Moriarty tumbled to their doom at the Reichenbach Falls.

Internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s nail-biting new novel plunges us back into the dark and complex world of detective Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty—dubbed the "Napoleon of crime" by Holmes—in the aftermath of their fateful struggle at the Reichenbach Falls.

Days after the encounter at the Swiss waterfall, Pinkerton detective agent Frederick Chase arrives in Europe from New York. Moriarty’s death has left an immediate, poisonous vacuum in the criminal underworld, and there is no shortage of candidates to take his place—including one particularly fiendish criminal mastermind.

Chase and Scotland Yard Inspector Athelney Jones, a devoted student of Holmes’ methods of investigation and deduction originally introduced by Conan Doyle in “The Sign of Four”, must forge a path through the darkest corners of England’s capital—from the elegant squares of Mayfair to the shadowy wharfs and alleyways of the London Docks—in pursuit of this sinister figure, a man much feared but seldom seen, who is determined to stake his claim as Moriarty’s successor.

A riveting, deeply atmospheric tale of murder and menace, Moriarty breathes life into Holmes’ dark and fascinating world.

Available Now: “The Three Monarchs”, an e-original Sherlock Holmes short story from Anthony Horowitz, including a preview chapter from Moriarty (on sale: December 9th). In “The Three Monarchs”, Sherlock Holmes and James Watson come together once again to uncover the motive behind a robbery gone awry. When an elderly man shoots an intruder he finds in his home, it seems like a clear case of self-defense. What’s not so clear is why the robber was there….Get your copy now!

My Thoughts:

Who doesn't love Sherlock Holmes?  So if you do, you know that Moriarty is his chief enemy... the criminal mastermind Holmes is determined to see behind bars.  In Horowitz's tale, Holmes and Moriarty are both dead after a struggle at a cliff's edge.  With Moriarty's death, the way is clear for other criminal elements to make a stronghold in London and America is not too far a departure point for one such criminal.

A few short days following the demise of Holmes and Moriarty, Pinkerton agent Frederick Chase arrives in Europe on the trail of an American criminal whom he was assigned to bring back to America to face charges.  Chase soon meets Scotland Yard Inspector Athelney Jones, a "student" in the ways of Sherlock Holmes, and together they scour London in search of the wanted criminal. 

Horowitz is a phenomenal writer!  I was drawn in from the start and let me just say, the climax is a jaw dropper!!!  It's been a long time since a book has had that effect and I was taken off guard by the twist that took my breath away!! That's a sure sign of success.

I highly recommend Moriarty to all detective, mystery, and Sherlock Holmes fans.  You will not be disappointed.  5/5!!  Let me know if your jaw drops.  ;)

Meet the Author:

Anthony Horowitz is the author of the international bestseller The House of Silk and the New York Times number one bestselling Alex Rider series for Young Adults. As a television screenwriter he created both Midsomer Murdersand the BAFTA-winning Foyle’s War, both of which were featured on PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery. He regularly contributes to a wide variety of national newspapers and magazines, and in January 2014 was awarded an OBE for his services to literature. He lives in London.

Find out more about Anthony at his website and connect with him on Twitter.