( CNN ) -- Sherlock Holmes is back , and it 's more than elementary my dear Watson . Eighty-one years after the death of his creator , Sir Arthur Conan Doyle , and more than 100 years since the last original story , the world 's greatest detective returns in a new novel , `` The House of Silk . '' The novel may be the peak of what 's been recent Holmes renaissance , including `` Sherlock , '' a successful , modern adaptation for the BBC . There 's also a Hollywood film starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law which re-imagines Holmes and Watson as steampunk action heroes , it was a hit with movie-goers , even spawning a sequel this holiday . Bookstore shelves are loaded with tributes , pastiches , spinoffs and repackaged versions of the `` sacred 60 , '' Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 's 56 original short stories and 4 novels , but `` The House of Silk '' stands apart . It 's the first new Holmes novel authorized and written with the endorsement of the Conan Doyle estate . Picking up the Meerschaum pipe is Anthony Horowitz , a bestselling novelist and television producer from Britain . Horowitz penned the extremely popular , Alex Rider series , about a teenage super-spy . He 's also written and produced several popular television dramas , including `` Foyle 's War , '' and `` Midsomer Murders '' both seen on PBS . Horowitz says he did n't tinker much with Conan Doyle 's creation , hoping to preserve the flavor and tone of the original stories while giving the new novel a modern sensibility and pace . `` The House of Silk '' is set in 1890 , a London shrouded in fog and shadow , where Hansom cabs still roam the streets . Watson now lives in a retirement home , Holmes is dead a year . Watson recounts one of their earlier cases , so shocking ; the pages of its telling have stayed in his solicitor 's safe for 100 years . Now , the usual cast of characters is reunited ; Mrs. Hudson , Inspector Lestrade , the Baker Street Irregulars , Holmes ' brother Mycroft , even the evil Professor Moriarty . There 's a train robbery , a prison break , a carnival freak show , a high-speed chase by horse drawn carriage and a criminal gang that leaves a strip of white silk as their calling card . Once again , the game is afoot . CNN recently spoke with Horowitz about continuing the Sherlock Holmes canon ; the following is an edited transcript . CNN : How long have you been a fan of Sherlock Holmes ? Do you remember reading your first Holmes story ? Horowitz : I was given a complete collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories and the four novels when I was 16 . I remember reading `` The Sign of Four '' first and loving it . The book has a wonderful story with the tentacles of imperial India spreading all the way to suburban London . It has great characters , a macabre murder and a terrific chase down the River Thames . From that moment , I was hooked . CNN : This is the first time the Conan Doyle estate has authorized a new Holmes novel , how did you get involved ? Horowitz : An agent approached me , but in the end I had very little to do with the estate . It was important to me that I should be allowed to work on my own so nobody gave me notes , I did n't have to show my manuscript to the estate , I was n't told what I could or could n't do . To be fair to the estate , they put their complete trust in me and I hope I 've repaid it . CNN : With so many fans worldwide , how daunting a challenge was this ? Horowitz : To be honest , I would n't have accepted the assignment if I did n't think I could do it and in the end I found the process , if not exactly easy , then remarkably stress-free . In fact , I loved every minute of the writing . It was a huge privilege to inhabit 221b Baker Street for four months in the company of two great literary figures . CNN : Much about `` The House of Silk '' has been kept top secret until now . What can you tell us about the book ? Horowitz : It 's set in the winter of 1890 , in London and begins with an art dealer who believes he is being followed . He has come into contact with a vicious American gang and it seems that one of their number is out for revenge . But very soon the story spirals out of control and Holmes finds himself drawn into a much wider and deadlier conspiracy that could destroy the entire fabric of British society . CNN : Do you have a favorite Holmes story ? Horowitz : `` The Dying Detective '' is my favorite story . It has no murder and very few characters but it 's wonderfully ingenious and shows Holmes at his best . `` The House of Silk '' starts three days after `` The Dying Detective '' ends . CNN : Why do you think Holmes has remained arguably the world 's most popular detective for more than 100 years ? Horowitz : Well , he was the first , the father of all modern detectives . But I think what makes him so unforgettable is his relationship with Watson . He is austere , irritating , aloof . Watson is warm , loyal , affable . Together , they have the greatest friendship in literature . CNN : You have a hugely successful career in books , film & TV , how big an impact did the Holmes stories have on you as a writer ? Horowitz : It 's probably true to say that they helped to steer me towards murder mystery . I always had a love of puzzles , illusions , magic . Holmes pressed all the right buttons . Author , Anthony Horowitz reads an excerpt from his Sherlock Holmes novel , `` The House of Silk . ''
The world 's greatest detective returns in Anthony Horowtiz 's new novel , `` The House of Silk '' New Holmes novel authorized and written with endorsement of Conan Doyle estate . In the story , Watson now lives in a retirement home and Holmes is dead a year .