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Clue
When Mr. Boddy is murdered at Hill House, all of his mysterious guests become suspects.
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 12, 1985
7 people are currently reading
1226 people want to read
About the author
Michael McDowell
73 books2,109 followersMichael McDowell is a prolific horror writer who has distinguished himself with a varied body of work within the genre. He was born in Enterprise, Alabama, in 1950 and died of AIDS-related illness in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1999.
His first horror novel, The Amulet, relates the tragedies that befall various individuals who come in possession of a supernatural pendant in a small town.
In McDowell's second novel, Cold Moon Over Babylon, a murdered woman's corpse is dispatched into a river, but her spirit roams the land, and in the evening hours it seeks revenge on her killer even as he plots the demise of her surviving relatives.
Don D'Ammassa, writing in the St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers, noted that McDowell's ability to maintain a sense of mundane normalcy against supernatural activity provides the novel with "a fine balance between reality and unreality," and he called Cold Moon Over Babylon "one of the best ghost stories ever written at novel length."
A similarly disturbing tension between dull reality and the supernatural is produced in The Elementals, wherein a host of visitors come to stay at a secluded house occupied by embodiments of elemental forces.
McDowell's Katie, meanwhile, concerns a clairvoyant serial killer whose powers of perception enable her to evade her trackers. The attractive but deranged heroine of this novel manages to conduct her murderous activities despite the awareness of her parents, who are content to derive financial gain from their daughter's crimes.
Madness is central to McDowell's Toplin, which details the vile imaginings of a man who suffers from mental illness but nonetheless determines to conduct himself within society. D'Ammassa praised Toplin as "perhaps the best novel ever written from the point of view of a schizophrenic."
Among McDowell's other writings is the six-part serial novel Blackwater, a chronicle of a southern family drawn to the supernatural. In addition, McDowell has also supplied the screenplays for various films, including director Tim Burton's horror comedy Beetlejuice and his animated production The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Stephen King called McDowell one of the "finest writers of paperback originals in America today." Tabitha King was asked to complete McDowell's unfinished novel Candles Burning, which was published in 2006 to good reviews. Concerning his career, McDowell never tried to be something he wasn't. "I am a commercial writer and I'm proud of that", he said in the book Faces of Fear in 1985. "I am writing things to be put in the bookstore next month. I think it is a mistake to try to write for the ages."
His first horror novel, The Amulet, relates the tragedies that befall various individuals who come in possession of a supernatural pendant in a small town.
In McDowell's second novel, Cold Moon Over Babylon, a murdered woman's corpse is dispatched into a river, but her spirit roams the land, and in the evening hours it seeks revenge on her killer even as he plots the demise of her surviving relatives.
Don D'Ammassa, writing in the St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers, noted that McDowell's ability to maintain a sense of mundane normalcy against supernatural activity provides the novel with "a fine balance between reality and unreality," and he called Cold Moon Over Babylon "one of the best ghost stories ever written at novel length."
A similarly disturbing tension between dull reality and the supernatural is produced in The Elementals, wherein a host of visitors come to stay at a secluded house occupied by embodiments of elemental forces.
McDowell's Katie, meanwhile, concerns a clairvoyant serial killer whose powers of perception enable her to evade her trackers. The attractive but deranged heroine of this novel manages to conduct her murderous activities despite the awareness of her parents, who are content to derive financial gain from their daughter's crimes.
Madness is central to McDowell's Toplin, which details the vile imaginings of a man who suffers from mental illness but nonetheless determines to conduct himself within society. D'Ammassa praised Toplin as "perhaps the best novel ever written from the point of view of a schizophrenic."
Among McDowell's other writings is the six-part serial novel Blackwater, a chronicle of a southern family drawn to the supernatural. In addition, McDowell has also supplied the screenplays for various films, including director Tim Burton's horror comedy Beetlejuice and his animated production The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Stephen King called McDowell one of the "finest writers of paperback originals in America today." Tabitha King was asked to complete McDowell's unfinished novel Candles Burning, which was published in 2006 to good reviews. Concerning his career, McDowell never tried to be something he wasn't. "I am a commercial writer and I'm proud of that", he said in the book Faces of Fear in 1985. "I am writing things to be put in the bookstore next month. I think it is a mistake to try to write for the ages."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 23, 2019
Movie novelizations are amongst the lowest genre in terms of literary merit, and yet it's common to see them go for high prices on eBay. This “Clue” novelization by Michael McDowell is particularly pricy, rarely going for anything less than $150. Possibly because the movie remains a cult masterpiece, or maybe because Michael McDowell was a noteworthy horror writer on his own, I understand why fans are constantly seeking it out. I certainly was.
When I at last got my hands on a copy, I decided to not just read it but literally transcribe every word. The archivist in me felt it was important to save a digital copy should it ever disappear completely to the dusty shelves of rare book collectors. This transcription process was one of my most cherished reading experiences. There are few ways to be more intimate with a book than to retype every word. It requires a slower reading and allows the discovery of technique you would normally never notice, such as stylized word repetition, clever usage of punctuation, and white space.
I'm also happy to report that this novelization has literary merit. Content-wise, it never strays from the movie and yet it is still delightful to essentially re-watch the film through McDowell's superb narration. Consider, for example, this delicious description of Yvette:
Yvette was the nec plus ultra of downstairs maids. She was young. She was astonishingly beautiful. She had better curves than a major league pitcher. She was dusting the books in the library with a feather duster that wasn’t half as soft as the waves of her lustrous hair. Yvette was not only a French maid; she was a fetishist’s dream of a French maid, and she had an outfit to match: a glossy black dress, cut high on the thigh and low in the bosom, so tight it whined when she walked. A starched white cap was perched absurdly atop her head, and a starched white apron was slung low across her waist, like a remembrance of chastity. Her stockings were at once black and sheer, and the seam that ran along the back of her calf was a draftman’s ecstasy of curve. Her shoes were high in the heel and tight in the toe, completing a figure that was—all in all—at once startling, grotesque, and divine.
So often as I was reading/transcribing my way through, I would crack up at McDowell's hilarious use of language to depict scenes that I knew by heart. Other times I simply marveled at the quality of his tight, efficient prose.
There is one other big attraction this book has to offer—an extra ending not included in the film. It's an outlandish, preposterous ending and I'm not surprised it was scrapped from the movie, but it's also one of the most fun. Probably not $150+ fun, but if you are obsessed with the movie as much as I am, you might very well consider this money well spent.
Overall, while this book is a line-for-line replica of the iconic film, McDowell's talented way with words adds next-level charm that isn't possible even if you've watched the movie a hundred times. McDowell notices little quirks and clues in the characters that I never picked up on, and he even offers subtle jabs at some of the more absurd moments of the movie. It's a shame this novelization will likely never be re-printed, because it's truly a fabulous read that works on so many levels.
When I at last got my hands on a copy, I decided to not just read it but literally transcribe every word. The archivist in me felt it was important to save a digital copy should it ever disappear completely to the dusty shelves of rare book collectors. This transcription process was one of my most cherished reading experiences. There are few ways to be more intimate with a book than to retype every word. It requires a slower reading and allows the discovery of technique you would normally never notice, such as stylized word repetition, clever usage of punctuation, and white space.
I'm also happy to report that this novelization has literary merit. Content-wise, it never strays from the movie and yet it is still delightful to essentially re-watch the film through McDowell's superb narration. Consider, for example, this delicious description of Yvette:
Yvette was the nec plus ultra of downstairs maids. She was young. She was astonishingly beautiful. She had better curves than a major league pitcher. She was dusting the books in the library with a feather duster that wasn’t half as soft as the waves of her lustrous hair. Yvette was not only a French maid; she was a fetishist’s dream of a French maid, and she had an outfit to match: a glossy black dress, cut high on the thigh and low in the bosom, so tight it whined when she walked. A starched white cap was perched absurdly atop her head, and a starched white apron was slung low across her waist, like a remembrance of chastity. Her stockings were at once black and sheer, and the seam that ran along the back of her calf was a draftman’s ecstasy of curve. Her shoes were high in the heel and tight in the toe, completing a figure that was—all in all—at once startling, grotesque, and divine.
So often as I was reading/transcribing my way through, I would crack up at McDowell's hilarious use of language to depict scenes that I knew by heart. Other times I simply marveled at the quality of his tight, efficient prose.
There is one other big attraction this book has to offer—an extra ending not included in the film. It's an outlandish, preposterous ending and I'm not surprised it was scrapped from the movie, but it's also one of the most fun. Probably not $150+ fun, but if you are obsessed with the movie as much as I am, you might very well consider this money well spent.
Overall, while this book is a line-for-line replica of the iconic film, McDowell's talented way with words adds next-level charm that isn't possible even if you've watched the movie a hundred times. McDowell notices little quirks and clues in the characters that I never picked up on, and he even offers subtle jabs at some of the more absurd moments of the movie. It's a shame this novelization will likely never be re-printed, because it's truly a fabulous read that works on so many levels.
June 4, 2022
Given that I've loved the movie Clue since it first came out in 1985 (yes, I saw it around then, or whenever it came out on VHS), finding this novelization has been a minor quest. I was able to interlibrary loan a copy of this book -- I'm in Illinois, and this copy came to me from South Carolina! Yay libraries! I'm glad I got an opportunity to read it before this torn, yellowed, broken old paperback (originally sold for $2.95) is retired. It obviously follows the movie closely, but McDowell plays up the noir elements of the story, especially in the beginning as they're all arriving at the house in the stormy dark. The fourth ending is pure lunacy; I loved it.
August 12, 2016
Famous for its fourth ending, infamous for its outrageous price, Michael McDowell's novelization of Clue is pure fun start to finish. It even has some strengths the movie lacks (of course, the reverse is true too). I give it 5 stars. That's one plus two plus two plus one.
September 20, 2023
Loved the movie. Loved the book. Pretty much a carbon copy. A few new things thrown in. Even has the four different endings.
September 3, 2016
Clue: It was a dark and stormy night Going into this, I had a faint feeling of dread. The book was either going to be so bad, it would ruin the movie for me, or so good, it would ruin the movie for me. This novelization nailed it. I don't think I've ever read a movie novelization that so perfectly captured the movie. Some of the humor didn't quite carry over; it's kind of hard to capture the visual aspect of Wadsworth's explanations at the end, but it did a decent job of it. I really only have the one complaint and that is the fourth ending; it was pretty awful. I'm actually glad it was left out of the movie because it was so over the top and cliche and the tone of it was just jarring compared to the other three.
October 13, 2023
Honestly pretty good.
January 21, 2018
I have waited a very long time to get my hands on this book. I’m very thankful for the Interlibrary Loan department at my library.
For the most part, this read like the movie. I enjoyed reading the differences and especially the fourth ending!
The five stars are more for nostalgia than anything.
For the most part, this read like the movie. I enjoyed reading the differences and especially the fourth ending!
The five stars are more for nostalgia than anything.
August 18, 2024
5⭐
"I hated her so...much. I-i-it, th-the fla-flame....flames...on the side of my face. Heathing...breath, heathing..."
I'd be remiss if I didn't say I absolutely loved this book. I loved this movie so much, and reading the book just made me so happy. Michael McDowell basically repeated the majority of the film and lines in the book - which is fine, in my opinion - but, he added some good one-liners and zingers or scenes that I think separate it from the film a little bit.
If you're a fan of the film, you'll reading this and get a good few laughs. Also, the addition of the potential fourth ending was so cool to read!
The only difficulty is where to find this book. (Don't even get me started on why it costs $200 on Amazon.) The only place I was able to find the book was online at the Internet Archive. So, if you want to enjoy this book for yourself, or know of someone who wants to read, this book, check it out at the link below:
https://archive.org/details/clue-mich...
"I hated her so...much. I-i-it, th-the fla-flame....flames...on the side of my face. Heathing...breath, heathing..."
I'd be remiss if I didn't say I absolutely loved this book. I loved this movie so much, and reading the book just made me so happy. Michael McDowell basically repeated the majority of the film and lines in the book - which is fine, in my opinion - but, he added some good one-liners and zingers or scenes that I think separate it from the film a little bit.
If you're a fan of the film, you'll reading this and get a good few laughs. Also, the addition of the potential fourth ending was so cool to read!
The only difficulty is where to find this book. (Don't even get me started on why it costs $200 on Amazon.) The only place I was able to find the book was online at the Internet Archive. So, if you want to enjoy this book for yourself, or know of someone who wants to read, this book, check it out at the link below:
https://archive.org/details/clue-mich...
November 28, 2022
**** 4 STARS ****
Because of the multiple endings it's difficult to say who did what. The only thing I know for sure is, I didn't do it!
If you haven't seen the movie (why haven't you?) this book is based on, then you're in for a treat. This book is so much fun. However, if you have seen the movie, this book is pointless. It's a carbon copy of the movie. That is, until you find out there's a fourth ending. It's the weakest, but still fun.
There's just one thing I don't understand.
One thing?
Why did the filmmakers decide not to keep the 4th ending.
Anyway, to make a long story short...
Too late.
Clue is a very good book.
Now that the reviews done, I'm gonna go home and sleep with my wife!
Because of the multiple endings it's difficult to say who did what. The only thing I know for sure is, I didn't do it!
If you haven't seen the movie (why haven't you?) this book is based on, then you're in for a treat. This book is so much fun. However, if you have seen the movie, this book is pointless. It's a carbon copy of the movie. That is, until you find out there's a fourth ending. It's the weakest, but still fun.
There's just one thing I don't understand.
One thing?
Why did the filmmakers decide not to keep the 4th ending.
Anyway, to make a long story short...
Too late.
Clue is a very good book.
Now that the reviews done, I'm gonna go home and sleep with my wife!
March 16, 2020
Out of print and going for notoriously high prices on the secondary market, Clue is a book I've been wanting to read for a few years. I like the movie well enough, but the novelization was written by Michael McDowell! Boy howdy! Surely it would contain the kinds of subtlety and atmosphere that populate his original novels, right?
Well, sorta. There's a bit of subtlety at the beginning, when McDowell is introducing the characters and the setting, but once the story gets underway, it's pretty much a note-for-note retelling of the story of the movie (including the fourth ending). On the one hand, that's pretty good, since that's what you want out of a novelization; on the other hand, if the book is just a note-for-note retelling for the movie, what's the point in reading the book?
I did like seeing McDowell's sense of humor in the narrative, since it's not something I see in his other books. True, much of the humor of the dialogue and situations should be credited to the screenwriter, since that's what McDowell worked from, but there are bits and pieces in the descriptions that have to be McDowell's own voice, and they made me chuckle.
I'm glad I was able to get this through the library, since the after-market prices for this book are outrageous, and also because had I paid that much for the book, I would have been sorely disappointed at the book itself. It's worth it to read the fourth ending, but you can still find summaries online. If you can find it through interlibrary loan or other means, though, give it a read. Even mediocre McDowell is worth reading.
Well, sorta. There's a bit of subtlety at the beginning, when McDowell is introducing the characters and the setting, but once the story gets underway, it's pretty much a note-for-note retelling of the story of the movie (including the fourth ending). On the one hand, that's pretty good, since that's what you want out of a novelization; on the other hand, if the book is just a note-for-note retelling for the movie, what's the point in reading the book?
I did like seeing McDowell's sense of humor in the narrative, since it's not something I see in his other books. True, much of the humor of the dialogue and situations should be credited to the screenwriter, since that's what McDowell worked from, but there are bits and pieces in the descriptions that have to be McDowell's own voice, and they made me chuckle.
I'm glad I was able to get this through the library, since the after-market prices for this book are outrageous, and also because had I paid that much for the book, I would have been sorely disappointed at the book itself. It's worth it to read the fourth ending, but you can still find summaries online. If you can find it through interlibrary loan or other means, though, give it a read. Even mediocre McDowell is worth reading.
October 26, 2020
4th alternate ending 🤣🤣
July 19, 2021
Clue is a fantastic novelization of one of my all-time favorite movies.
The 1985 movie Clue is the classic whodunit where six strangers attend a dinner party and become suspects when their host, and blackmailer, Mr. Boddy is murdered. This book is the novelization of the movie, adapted from the screenplay by the author, with an added fourth ending. Setting aside the added ending for now, the book is for the most part pretty spot on when compared to the movie. I will admit I have seen the movie hundreds of times, so I am quite familiar with it which meant I did notice when things were slightly off.
The author takes some liberties in describing scenes which I didn't mind as I felt it helped flesh out the scenes in their written form. There were a few dialog lines that are slightly altered from the movie, mainly adding a sentence or a few additional words. I also noticed a few lines were swapped around in terms of who said them compared to the movie. In particular I noticed this with Miss Scarlet and Colonel Mustard who had some of their lines swapped compared to who said them in the movie. The order of the endings was also changed around which threw me off at first. A few other minor details were different, but those were the main ones.
The added fourth ending was interesting and one of the main reasons I wanted to pick up this book. Of the different endings, the new one is definitely the most outlandish and I can see why it ultimately didn't make it into the movie. However, I thought it was a fun ending and other than a few implausibilities, I really enjoyed it.
Overall this was a fun, new way to enjoy one of my favorite movies. If you're a fan of the movie, I highly recommend picking this up.
The 1985 movie Clue is the classic whodunit where six strangers attend a dinner party and become suspects when their host, and blackmailer, Mr. Boddy is murdered. This book is the novelization of the movie, adapted from the screenplay by the author, with an added fourth ending. Setting aside the added ending for now, the book is for the most part pretty spot on when compared to the movie. I will admit I have seen the movie hundreds of times, so I am quite familiar with it which meant I did notice when things were slightly off.
The author takes some liberties in describing scenes which I didn't mind as I felt it helped flesh out the scenes in their written form. There were a few dialog lines that are slightly altered from the movie, mainly adding a sentence or a few additional words. I also noticed a few lines were swapped around in terms of who said them compared to the movie. In particular I noticed this with Miss Scarlet and Colonel Mustard who had some of their lines swapped compared to who said them in the movie. The order of the endings was also changed around which threw me off at first. A few other minor details were different, but those were the main ones.
The added fourth ending was interesting and one of the main reasons I wanted to pick up this book. Of the different endings, the new one is definitely the most outlandish and I can see why it ultimately didn't make it into the movie. However, I thought it was a fun ending and other than a few implausibilities, I really enjoyed it.
Overall this was a fun, new way to enjoy one of my favorite movies. If you're a fan of the movie, I highly recommend picking this up.
February 6, 2023
In my early teens I loved novelizations so I have read several and they are not usually very good. This one is the best one I have read. This is not surprising since gay horror novelist and Beetlejuice writer Michael McDowell wrote this particular novelization. And he had his work cut out for him. There are a lot of visual gags in this movie, humor that depends on comedic timing, lots of characters, and multiple endings. McDowell navigated this all amazingly, its a delight to read, it never strays far from the movie but captures its tone and humor perfectly, and it has an extra ending! Came across this at a Multnomah County Library Sale and I'm glad I grabbed it when I did.
December 28, 2023
Well, there was no way I wasn’t going to love this. The ultra-rare and long out-of-print novelization of what just might be my favorite comedy movie of all time was given to me as a birthday gift, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled—it’s been on my wishlist for years, ever since I found out that (1) an actually well-regarded writer penned it and (2) it has a fourth ending which was (allegedly) filmed but never released. And though nothing on the page can completely recapture the lighting in a bottle of the cult classic film’s inimitable cast (and their impeccable timing and line delivery), McDowell’s faithful transcription comes as close as it can. The rapid-fire, hilarious dialogue is all here (minus Madeline Kahn’s improvised and beloved “Flames” monologue—understandable but unfortunate), and McDowell’s descriptions and mystery-novel sensibilities are a welcome addition, making this slightly less cartoonish and more “serious” than the film. It’s a great companion piece for fans of the movie, definitely worth grabbing if you can find it, especially for its “lost” ending. That conclusion might be the most bonkers of them all, and while I can see why it was left out of the movie (it’s a little darker than the other three), it was an absolute joy to finally experience it here.
May 12, 2024
One plus one plus two plus one… that’s five. Five stars. I love this movie and I loved the novelization. It even has a fourth ending that’s not in the movie that is, putting it mildly… unhinged. This book is out out of print and crazy expensive in online auctions. You can read it online here.
https://archive.org/details/clue-mich...
https://archive.org/details/clue-mich...
April 4, 2022
Great adaptation of a great movie. It even has an extra ending that was deleted from the final cut of the movie.
Originally read this back in 2007-2008. Reread in 2022 after showing my kids the movie for the first time.
Originally read this back in 2007-2008. Reread in 2022 after showing my kids the movie for the first time.
September 8, 2021
Like I said in my last review, Clue is one of my favorite movies. This is more of a 4.5, although I liked the fourth ending.
May 21, 2025
Love the movie, and enjoyed this novelization which mostly follows it to a 'T.' But, it does have the unseen 4th ending!
November 7, 2017
Look, I'm wild and crazy about Clue (the movie, but also the board game). My brother gave me this book and I fairly lost my mind. I didn't read it because I expected great literature. I didn't read it to be surprised (though there is an included fourth ending). I read it because I love Clue and this seemed a fun way to start the year.
Achieved! Michael McDowell was the screenwriter (story) of Beetlejuice and has a number of horror books to his name. This novelization is obviously from early in his career, but it's not as bad as some reviews suggest. I was mostly interested in those moments that he deviated from film dialogue (notably missing was Mrs. White's brilliant "flames" oration). It made me wonder if he was working from the screenplay and not the finished, edited film (which likely included some improvisation, thanks to those heavy comedic hitters).
But it's a lark and I enjoyed myself. If you, like me, love Clue, there are worse ways to spend your time.
Achieved! Michael McDowell was the screenwriter (story) of Beetlejuice and has a number of horror books to his name. This novelization is obviously from early in his career, but it's not as bad as some reviews suggest. I was mostly interested in those moments that he deviated from film dialogue (notably missing was Mrs. White's brilliant "flames" oration). It made me wonder if he was working from the screenplay and not the finished, edited film (which likely included some improvisation, thanks to those heavy comedic hitters).
But it's a lark and I enjoyed myself. If you, like me, love Clue, there are worse ways to spend your time.
April 30, 2021
Some of the minor details are different, but overall it aligns well with the story in the film.
I greatly enjoyed hearing (in my mind) the actors' voices speaking through their characters in the book!
There is another ending (4 total) included, but it is (at least) a little creepy, which is most likely what kept it out of the final cut of the movie.
Overall, a very enjoyable read - adding that much more enjoyment to the game and film :-)
I greatly enjoyed hearing (in my mind) the actors' voices speaking through their characters in the book!
There is another ending (4 total) included, but it is (at least) a little creepy, which is most likely what kept it out of the final cut of the movie.
Overall, a very enjoyable read - adding that much more enjoyment to the game and film :-)
December 24, 2020
One day, you shall be mine. Just.you.wait.
October 31, 2018
My favorite movie is the 1985 murder mystery comedy Clue. In my desire to collect all things related to Clue, I purchased the novel tie-in, written by Michael McDowell, based on Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay. Clue the novel is noteworthy for being notoriously expensive, because Clue the movie is amazing, and people like me want to buy everything associated with it. I’m a little embarrassed to admit how much I paid for it; suffice it to say that it was much more than the original list price of $2.95.
The novel is well done, and McDowell’s talent is evident. The first few pages of the novel delve into the history of Route 41, the fictitious highway off of which Hill House, the mansion that is the setting for the movie, is located. It’s the kind of detail you couldn’t include in a movie, and it makes the novel fun to read.
Throughout the novel, McDowell has some great descriptions of the characters. One of my favorite lines was “Yvette was the ne plus ultra of downstairs maids.” (p.6) This statement is true, as anyone who has seen Collen Camp as Yvette can attest to. There’s also a great sentence about “Wadsworth’s tediously detailed recapitulation of the evening.” (p.144)
For dedicated Clue watchers like myself, the novel gives us some minor differences from the movie. (If you haven’t seen the movie a million times like I have, this will no doubt bore you to tears.) In the novel, the cook says that dinner will be ready at 9:30. Who eats that late? In the movie, dinner is served at the more reasonable time of 7:30. The novel also gives us some details of the scenes missing from the movie, but featured in the trailer, like this exchange:
Colonel Mustard: “Why are you screaming?”
Mr. Green: “Because I’m frightened!”
Colonel Mustard: “Of what?”
Mr. Green: “Screaming!”
Another tiny detail from the novel that didn’t make it into the film is a line about whoever shot the singing telegram girl seeing the headlights of her car coming up the drive towards the house. It makes sense that someone would see the headlights, and thus be alerted that someone else was coming to the house, but I’d never thought of it before.
Clue the movie is famous for having three different endings, each of which featured a different suspect as the killer. A fourth ending was also shot, and it’s included in the novel. The gist of it is that Wadsworth killed everyone, and then poisoned all of the guests, who will die within three hours if they don’t get an antidote. The police show up, and Wadsworth starts another reenactment of the entire evening, but then steps out the front door and steals a police car. He is then attacked by the police dogs in the back seat. (Presumably, the guests get the antidote in time.) It’s understandable why this ending was cut from the film, but it’s interesting to read. Presumably the film of it is lost, since it’s never reappeared on any of the DVDs of the movie.
As a Minnesotan, I have to fault McDowell for one error in the book, as he refers to Joe McCarthy as “the Senator from Minnesota,” instead of Wisconsin. (p.67)
If you’re a fan of Clue the movie, you’ll definitely enjoy Clue the novel. Hopefully you can find a copy somewhere for $2.95.
The novel is well done, and McDowell’s talent is evident. The first few pages of the novel delve into the history of Route 41, the fictitious highway off of which Hill House, the mansion that is the setting for the movie, is located. It’s the kind of detail you couldn’t include in a movie, and it makes the novel fun to read.
Throughout the novel, McDowell has some great descriptions of the characters. One of my favorite lines was “Yvette was the ne plus ultra of downstairs maids.” (p.6) This statement is true, as anyone who has seen Collen Camp as Yvette can attest to. There’s also a great sentence about “Wadsworth’s tediously detailed recapitulation of the evening.” (p.144)
For dedicated Clue watchers like myself, the novel gives us some minor differences from the movie. (If you haven’t seen the movie a million times like I have, this will no doubt bore you to tears.) In the novel, the cook says that dinner will be ready at 9:30. Who eats that late? In the movie, dinner is served at the more reasonable time of 7:30. The novel also gives us some details of the scenes missing from the movie, but featured in the trailer, like this exchange:
Colonel Mustard: “Why are you screaming?”
Mr. Green: “Because I’m frightened!”
Colonel Mustard: “Of what?”
Mr. Green: “Screaming!”
Another tiny detail from the novel that didn’t make it into the film is a line about whoever shot the singing telegram girl seeing the headlights of her car coming up the drive towards the house. It makes sense that someone would see the headlights, and thus be alerted that someone else was coming to the house, but I’d never thought of it before.
Clue the movie is famous for having three different endings, each of which featured a different suspect as the killer. A fourth ending was also shot, and it’s included in the novel. The gist of it is that Wadsworth killed everyone, and then poisoned all of the guests, who will die within three hours if they don’t get an antidote. The police show up, and Wadsworth starts another reenactment of the entire evening, but then steps out the front door and steals a police car. He is then attacked by the police dogs in the back seat. (Presumably, the guests get the antidote in time.) It’s understandable why this ending was cut from the film, but it’s interesting to read. Presumably the film of it is lost, since it’s never reappeared on any of the DVDs of the movie.
As a Minnesotan, I have to fault McDowell for one error in the book, as he refers to Joe McCarthy as “the Senator from Minnesota,” instead of Wisconsin. (p.67)
If you’re a fan of Clue the movie, you’ll definitely enjoy Clue the novel. Hopefully you can find a copy somewhere for $2.95.
February 19, 2023
Michael McDowell is best known for his horror novels. He favors strong women characters for both villains and hero roles, often Southern. His unique brand of dark, wry humor is prevalent.
McDowell's bibliography can provide a thread leading to this movie novelization. He also co-authored screenplays for Beetlejuice and Stephen King's Thinner: he's at home in the horror-comedy spectrum. For a while in 1985 this Clue paperback would have been on display at supermarket checkouts to promote the movie, and I'm sure it helped McDowell pay the bills while it unceremoniously ran out of print.
Jonathan Lynn and John Landis wrote the story for the Clue film, and even though McDowell is confined to their fundamental dialog and action, fans will see enough of his skill to enjoy the book. McDowell's strength is dialog (something he obviously couldn't pursue too freely here), but his narrative voice is just as engaging. It carries excellent visual description, and dishes up an ironic gossiping tone.
The screenplay is set in the 1950s, which is coincidentally McDowell's favored era in his own novels. McCarthyism holds sway, homosexuality is shunned and soon to be made illegal. Like Mr. Green's character, McDowell was gay; a fact that might slightly enhance your reading if you observe the subtext of what's said about it, what isn't.
McDowell successfully transfers the best qualities of the Lynn-Landis film: fast-paced, chained action, and snappy dialog:
McDowell's dry, sniping humor drives the narrative:
McDowell's bibliography can provide a thread leading to this movie novelization. He also co-authored screenplays for Beetlejuice and Stephen King's Thinner: he's at home in the horror-comedy spectrum. For a while in 1985 this Clue paperback would have been on display at supermarket checkouts to promote the movie, and I'm sure it helped McDowell pay the bills while it unceremoniously ran out of print.
Jonathan Lynn and John Landis wrote the story for the Clue film, and even though McDowell is confined to their fundamental dialog and action, fans will see enough of his skill to enjoy the book. McDowell's strength is dialog (something he obviously couldn't pursue too freely here), but his narrative voice is just as engaging. It carries excellent visual description, and dishes up an ironic gossiping tone.
The screenplay is set in the 1950s, which is coincidentally McDowell's favored era in his own novels. McCarthyism holds sway, homosexuality is shunned and soon to be made illegal. Like Mr. Green's character, McDowell was gay; a fact that might slightly enhance your reading if you observe the subtext of what's said about it, what isn't.
McDowell successfully transfers the best qualities of the Lynn-Landis film: fast-paced, chained action, and snappy dialog:
"But seriously," said Professor Plum, who'd evidently been thinking for a few moments, "I don't see what's so terrible about Colonel Mustard visiting a house of ill-fame. Most soldiers do, don't they?" he asked Miss Scarlet, at the same time--as if by accident--dropping his hand upon her knee.
Miss Scarlet quietly removed Professor Plum's hand. With an admonitory finger, she directed the Professor's attention to Wadsworth, who was studying yet another page of the typewritten notes.
McDowell's dry, sniping humor drives the narrative:
Yvette's accent was on a level with her costume. It was the expected carried to the extreme. Beyond parody, it was a thing unto itself.
The kitchen of Hill House was vast and old-fashioned, having been equipped in a time when the only real labor-saving device was a full complement of servants.
... a moment later the rumble of thunder, like a warning to look out that comes after the blow is struck.
Mrs. Peacock once again, squeezed past the body on the floor... [she] was a Washington hostess, and perhaps was more accustomed to ignoring little embarrassments, like corpses.
February 27, 2025
Firstly, I loved this movie so much that I saw it several times in the theater as a child. My parents bought the novelization for me and I read it too many times to count. Even though (as others have noted) the additional ending isn't particularly funny, I was so hungry for all things Clue that I loved it anyway. The narrative itself has some very funny passages, with hilarious descriptions of the scenes and situations that I loved so much on the screen.
When I met my wife, one of the things we bonded over was our love for the movie Clue. A couple years ago, I wanted to give it to her for her birthday. I searched for a copy online, only to discover that it's long out of print, and used copies were selling for hundreds of dollars (and I moved several times and I no longer have a copy). So I found a PDF on the amazing Archive.org and recorded an audiobook for my wife. I'm a musician, so I'm used to recording my voice, but it was quite an undertaking to convincingly perform all of the voices. I finally finished it and gave it to her for Christmas. I'd imagine that others would enjoy listening to it, but I don't know how to go about releasing it. Michael McDowell is deceased and the publishing company, Gold Medal Books/Fawcett Publications, is no longer in business. The Fawcett imprint is still a common law trademark using the domain name, FawcettBooks.com, which directs to the Penguin corporate webpage. I just signed up for ACX, the Audible "marketplace for independent creators to produce, distribute, and market audiobooks". Hopefully, that could lead to a release, or maybe some work as a narrator for other books.
Anyway, I highly recommend this book to fans of Clue (and humor and murder mysteries in general)!
When I met my wife, one of the things we bonded over was our love for the movie Clue. A couple years ago, I wanted to give it to her for her birthday. I searched for a copy online, only to discover that it's long out of print, and used copies were selling for hundreds of dollars (and I moved several times and I no longer have a copy). So I found a PDF on the amazing Archive.org and recorded an audiobook for my wife. I'm a musician, so I'm used to recording my voice, but it was quite an undertaking to convincingly perform all of the voices. I finally finished it and gave it to her for Christmas. I'd imagine that others would enjoy listening to it, but I don't know how to go about releasing it. Michael McDowell is deceased and the publishing company, Gold Medal Books/Fawcett Publications, is no longer in business. The Fawcett imprint is still a common law trademark using the domain name, FawcettBooks.com, which directs to the Penguin corporate webpage. I just signed up for ACX, the Audible "marketplace for independent creators to produce, distribute, and market audiobooks". Hopefully, that could lead to a release, or maybe some work as a narrator for other books.
Anyway, I highly recommend this book to fans of Clue (and humor and murder mysteries in general)!
November 26, 2020
In 'Clue', a number of guests show up at the grand Hill House where they are greeted by the butler, Wadsworth and addressed by their given pseudonyms. As they are grappling with the reason behind the invitation, one of them - Mr. Boddy drops dead.
What a fun, brilliant and riveting read. The characters had such diverse backgrounds, had a voice of their own and possessed personality. Their conversations and dynamics were believable. Their reactions to everything that happened varied from one person to another yet were all realistic.
Amidst the fear, chaos, assortment of weapons and dead bodies, there were comical interjections that I enjoyed such as:
"I buttle, sir," replied Wadsworth with perfect equanimity.
"If this was dessert," Miss Scarlet went on irrepressibly, "I'm glad I said no."
"Husbands should be like Kleenex - strong, soft and disposable."
As the plot thickened and the suspense heightened, there was never a dull moment. The characters physically recapping the sequence of events which involved dashing from one place to another and being deliberately hit was hilarious. Wadsworth was truly a butler like no other.
The book ended with four plausible answers, all of which were well-thought-out. Version C was my favourite:
Overall, 'Clue' was an enticing and thought-provoking murder mystery with a bunch of interesting characters and a dash of humour.
What a fun, brilliant and riveting read. The characters had such diverse backgrounds, had a voice of their own and possessed personality. Their conversations and dynamics were believable. Their reactions to everything that happened varied from one person to another yet were all realistic.
Amidst the fear, chaos, assortment of weapons and dead bodies, there were comical interjections that I enjoyed such as:
"I buttle, sir," replied Wadsworth with perfect equanimity.
"If this was dessert," Miss Scarlet went on irrepressibly, "I'm glad I said no."
"Husbands should be like Kleenex - strong, soft and disposable."
As the plot thickened and the suspense heightened, there was never a dull moment. The characters physically recapping the sequence of events which involved dashing from one place to another and being deliberately hit was hilarious. Wadsworth was truly a butler like no other.
The book ended with four plausible answers, all of which were well-thought-out. Version C was my favourite:
Overall, 'Clue' was an enticing and thought-provoking murder mystery with a bunch of interesting characters and a dash of humour.
September 14, 2022
So here’s the thing: this is a novelization of a movie. Typically these are TERRIBLE, and if you’ve seen the movie, they very rarely offer anything new or interesting. This one is a bit of an exception: Michael McDowell is a pretty great novelist (The Elementals) and an excellent screenwriter (Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas) so even though this is almost (ALMOST) shot for scene a copy of the movie, it’s actually kind of fun to read. And if you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know that there were three alternate endings—this book famously (and expensively) offers a fourth that is pretty charming. Would it be worth the amount of money most people are charging for a copy of the paperback? Definitely not. The new alternate ending is fun but the rest of the book doesn’t offer too much new. Now, if you happen to find a pdf online and you’re a big fan of the movie? That might be worth a read.
April 12, 2025
This book is nearly identical to the movie. And since the movie is maybe my favorite film of all time, I obviously liked the book. They did make a few additions and you can see why they left out some of the dialogue which is sort of flat in the book. There are a couple of plot holes and a change or two that does not make a ton of sense, but it is mostly the movie. They never explains who pushes Mustard in the secret passage and that is not in the movie so I feel like it was a mistake that was never edited out.
They have four endings in the book as opposed to the three in the movie. So that was fun. The fourth ending is pretty different which was good, but the very end of the additional ending needed work. Anyway if you like the movie this is awesome and now I shall go home and sleep with my wife.
They have four endings in the book as opposed to the three in the movie. So that was fun. The fourth ending is pretty different which was good, but the very end of the additional ending needed work. Anyway if you like the movie this is awesome and now I shall go home and sleep with my wife.
June 2, 2022
Horror and mystery writer McDowell has fleshed out the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and (it seems) has retained all the zingy dialogue. ("Communism was just a red herring") from the movie.
The book is a breezy read, and although the four alternate endings presented at the conclusion were each preposterous (albeit nothing was meant to not be in this tale), it's a good time to be had by anyone just looking for a fun read. Perfect for an airplane trip where you can fantasize about getting even with airline and oil company executives while sitting on the tarmac.
The book is a breezy read, and although the four alternate endings presented at the conclusion were each preposterous (albeit nothing was meant to not be in this tale), it's a good time to be had by anyone just looking for a fun read. Perfect for an airplane trip where you can fantasize about getting even with airline and oil company executives while sitting on the tarmac.
January 12, 2023
This book gets 5 stars not because it changed my life, but because I have been a fan of this movie for years and was delighted to finally get my hands on an elusive copy. It is very much a line by line recreation of the film...but if you know the film like the back of your hand, this book is a delightful new perspective. McDowell's narration and description of the house and the guests who have congregated there is top notch. (And when the dialogue or action did subtly differ from the movie I was entranced!) What a treat!
September 10, 2022
Una muy divertida novelización, aunque puede resultar un poco enrevesado.
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