Sherlock Holmes - Holmes and the Ripper

By: Brian Clemens

Narrated by: Nicholas Briggs, Richard Earl, India Fisher

Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

The grisly serial killings of prostitutes and vulnerable women in Victorian Whitechapel, dubbed by the popular press as the work of 'Jack the Ripper', are the talk of London, and from deep within the smog-ridden slums yet another piercing shriek is heard.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson are drawn into one of the darkest plots ever to shake the foundations of England. There are freemasons, conspiracies and plots at the highest level of the establishment. But for Holmes, there is a uniquely personal element to this new and terrifying case....

This full-cast audio drama is brought to life with eerily engrossing sound design and a brand new, cinematic music score.

©2010 Big Finish Productions (P)2010 Big Finish Productions

Critic reviews

"The real revelation is Nicholas Briggs's performance as Holmes. Confident and assured, yet understated, and shot through with just the right amount of emotion, bravado and eccentricity, Briggs has delivered one of the definitive portrayals of the character...along with Rathbone, Brett and Lewellyn." (Mass Movement Magazine)

"Holmes and the Ripper is deliriously exciting entertainment. I'm delighted to know that Big Finish plans to record more Sherlock Holmes plays." (Roger Johnson, editor of The Sherlock Holmes Journal)

"Briggs, who had played Holmes on stage with style and authority, takes the lead in the rest of the Big Finish productions, with Richard Earl as his stalwart Watson." (The Sherlock Holmes Miscellany, by Roger Johnson and Jean Upton)

The Ripper and Sherlock Holmes' private life

Would you consider the audio edition of Sherlock Holmes - Holmes and the Ripper to be better than the print version?

Haven't seen the print version

What did you like best about this story?

It's quick paced and logical and seems a reasonable explanation to the Ripper mystery

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was a little irritated by the revelation of Holmes' past, but I got over it.

Any additional comments?

Without giving too much away, Big Finish's Holmes & the Ripper is an entertaining audio drama that appears to be based on the Christopher Plummer movie Murder by Decree as well as the books, The Ripper File by Elwyn Jones and John Lloyd and Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution by Stephen Knight. I always thought that the Ripper solution made sense in that material and it's still as compelling.

If I have any negative comments it's that the special effects are sometimes muddled. It is hard to tell what is happening when there's sounds of scuffles, footsteps, etc. And the background music, at times, overpowers the foreground action.

But that's only a minor quibble. This audio drama is perfect for a long commute or a quiet evening with headphones.

Nicholas Briggs makes a wonderful Holmes. Richard Earl plays Watson as a hearty companion and adds some comic relief (though not as much as Nigel Bruce did).

The story for "Death by Decree"

As I listened to this book, I realized I knew what was around the next corner. Then I understood! This is the story behind the movie "Murder by Decree" which starred Christopher Plummer and James Mason. I love that movie, but didn't realize that there was an actual story that had been published that was the same tale. I found that none of the "good" parts were missed, and the story fleshed out the movie. This is usually rare, but both are good and well-performed in their own genres. But do wait for a foggy night to listen, it feels more London-like.

Best Sherlock Holmes story to date...

Totally loved it! The musical score and sound effects really pulled me in and helped to imagine as if I was really there. And the fact they gave Holmes a sort of love interest with Ms. Kate Mead...it's an awesome book to listen too..not just for "Sherlockians" but also for any mystery lover.

not bad

the story being about ripper wasn't bad in itself. but the actions and personality of Watson was annoying. his jealousy and seemingly greed and. temper was distracting as was Sherlock's romance. Acting was fine

Great performances, terrible writing.

The actors were all great. I have nothing negative to say about them. Whoever wrote the script, however, should’ve been fired. All the interesting, easily found, and readily available information surrounding the Whitechapel Murders, and this is the best you could think of? Seriously?

And don’t even get me started on Holmes’ and Watson’s weird personalities here. Watson is a jealous sidekick, and Holmes is some kind of love sick school boy for some reason. I’m not saying you can’t do different and interesting things with the characters, but frankly these two versions were kind of a drag.

And the whole psychic thing had to be one of the most blatant writing crutches I’ve ever heard. So much of the information she gave could’ve been discovered somehow through investigation, but no, couldn’t be bothered, psychic chick shows up and moans about how her “curse” just gives her all the information needed to progress the plot.