“The Valley of Fear” is two stories in one: a Sherlock Holmes murder puzzle in England, then the American backstory that explains it. Some readers find that second half drawn out before it pays off; others enjoy the novel’s rougher, almost pulp tone. Some place it below the other Holmes novels. It suits readers happy to see a detective story turn into a tale of crime in America.

The view of the BookRank editors, written from readers’ ratings and comments. It does not affect the score or the book’s place in a ranking.

About the book

The Valley of Fear is the fourth and final Sherlock Holmes novel by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The backstory is loosely based on the Molly Maguires and Pinkerton agent James McParland. The story was first published in the Strand Magazine between September 1914 and May 1915. The first book edition was copyrighted in 1914, and it was first published by George H. Doran Company in New York on 27 February 1915, and illustrated by Arthur I. Keller.

Description: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Reading order · canon of Sherlock Holmes

Full order & progress →

On screen

This book has been adapted for the screen 4 times — from 1916 to 1983.

FilmSherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace1962dir. Terence FisherIMDb
FilmThe Valley of Fear1916dir. Alexander ButlerIMDb
FilmThe Triumph of Sherlock Holmes1935dir. Leslie S. HiscottIMDb
FilmSherlock Holmes and the Valley of Fear1983IMDb

Adaptation data: Wikidata · On screen →

Where the score comes from

The sources average 7.9 across 233 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 61% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Crime & mystery average of 7.6. That is how 7.8 comes out.