LONDON  – Sherlock Holmes is to be brought back to life in the first new novel about the great Baker Street detective to be officially approved.

Anthony Horowitz, author of stories about teenage spy Alex Rider, has been chosen by Arthur Conan Doyle's estate to write the full-length novel, which will be published by Orion in September.

"I fell in love with the Sherlock Holmes stories when I was 16 and I've read them many times since," said Horowitz.

"I simply couldn't resist this opportunity to write a brand new adventure for this iconic figure and my aim is to produce a first rate mystery for a modern audience while remaining absolutely true to the spirit of the original."

No details of the new tale or even its title have been revealed.

Scottish author Conan Doyle wrote four novels and 56 short stories featuring the pipe-smoking Victorian detective.

Conan Doyle famously attempted to kill Holmes off, but was eventually forced by public pressure to resurrect him.

Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson have appeared in a vast legion of films and plays, but this is the first time the estate has given official approval for a story since the last novel was published in 1915.