Murder By Decree

by Robert Weverka

Noveilzation of the 1979 Sherlock Holmes/Jack the Ripper movie.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, British Literature

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 1979

About the author

Robert Weverka (pseudonym Robert McMahon) was born in Los Angeles and educated at USC where he majored in economics. His novels include March Or Die, The Sting, Murder By Decree, Moonrock, Apple's Way and The Widowed Master.

Reviews

[Lexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few months ago, I started reading collections of Sherlock Holmes stories written by authors other than Arther Conan Doyle. Many are fun, but some are too formulaic--a bit too many "It's elementary Watson"s and such. This, a novel adapted from some 1970s movie, is one of the latter. Watson is a bumbling idiot (and of course narrowly avoids being murdered), Holmes is sneering (and much too late to do any good), and the whole social order is in danger (only this time it's the socialists instead of the anarchists). Plus, it adds nothing to the intrigues of the actual Jack the Ripper murders. Sigh, you'd think if they were going to combine one of history's most fascinating unsolved crimes with one of fiction's best detectives they would have actually made it interesting!

Well, it did pass 2 hours at least.

[LuAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Watson in this book is an insufferable fool. He’s whiny reactive, irritable, naive, doubtful and questioning of Holmes, more of a hindrance than a help. Holmes would never work with or befriend this version of Watson who is unworthy of him.
The plot (originally a screen play) is clever though Holmes is not clear on how he reaches all his conclusions nor are the “Ripper’s“ motives fully elucidated. The writing is well done.

[Book Lover · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are not a big Sherlock Holmes fan then this book might be OK. If you are a fan it is insufferable. The characters are a parody of the originals. The story itself us men, not particularly interesting but not terrible.

[Scott Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always liked this film ever since I was young and didn’t know it was a book

Now I’ve finished it I’ll have to dig out the film and watch it again

[Michael P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in a period when I at least started every Sherlock Holmes pastiche I could find, this is one of the above average few that I actually finished. Never mind that best version of this story is the 1979 film released shortly after this. The book works on its own terms. It ain't Conan Doyle, but it ain't bad.