Arthur Conan Doyle's 15 Best Sherlock Holmes Stories

Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the most visionary and prolific writers of all time, and the creator of the ever popular Sherlock Holmes series of stories. ACD began publishing stories about the renowned detective in 1887, when he released his first novel, A Study in Scarlet. Then, in 1891, he began to compile and publish short stories revolving around Holmes within The Strand Magazine which ended up having record sales as a result of his collected works appearing regularly in the magazine.

Altogether, the detective appears in four novels, and 56 short stories, which all see Holmes set about to work on various cases. Holmes uses his remarkable skills of reasoning and determination to accurately solve and detect things that most other people fail to observe and understand. His gifted mind and remarkable intelligence make him one of the greatest detectives of all time, but he is also an eccentric figure who has several unsavory quirks.

15 The Adventure Of The Bruce-Partington Plans

Among the 60 stories of Sherlock Holmes from ACD, only a handful feature Holme’s brother, a man who has lofty connections within the British nobility. Mycroft Holmes plays a prominent role in The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans, as he brings the case to his brother in the hopes of keeping a sensitive situation under wraps, while also recovering stolen documents with important plans.

The story includes some genius twists and Sherlock’s trademark insight and attention to detail, as he is able to piece together the minor clues to form a full picture of the crime that has taken place. The interactions between Sherlock and Mycroft are also thoroughly enjoyable. And considering this is the second to last appearance of Mycroft in the Sherlock Holmes stories, it is made all the more special.

14 The Adventure Of The Six Napoleons

The Adventure of the Six Napoleons is another story which highlights levity in the Holmes stories, as the crime being investigated is, on its face, quite absurd. Inspector Lestrade, another popular character within the Holmes stories from Arthur Conan Doyle, comes to Holmes with an unusual case which he has theories about. However, Holmes bursts Lestrade’s bubble as he finds the deeper meaning within the crime, which leads him piece by piece to the criminal at large.

Within London, a rambunctious looter appears to be smashing busts of Napoleon in various locations. While this is certainly odd, even more unusual is the fact that nothing else is damaged or stolen. However, when a subsequent bust smashing occurs, the gang also find a dead body, immediately adding to the tension and pressure to solve the case. Fortunately, Holmes is able to use his extraordinary wit, and some sly false journalism to coax the villain out, and solve the case ahead of time.

13 The Valley Of Fear

The Valley of Fear is the final of four novel-length stories about Sherlock Holmes from ACD. While the mystery at the heart of the story remains fairly straightforward, at least for these kinds of stories, there is an even more exciting element which runs beneath the surface of the narrative. As Holmes investigates a murder which has links to his rival, Moriarty, he successfully uncovers a plan to kill a former detective who fled from America to England.

Holmes does all he can to save the man and ensure he does not meet his end, but Moriarty’s wickedness and clever planning means, ultimately, he succeeds in his nefarious plans. The cat and mouse game, and Sherlock’s relationship with Moriarty make this one of the best stories for connecting the narratives within the larger set of stories. However, it primarily hints at the grander story to come when Moriarty and Sherlock will finally come to blows.

12 The Adventure Of The Dancing Men

One of the more intriguing stories from the Sherlock Holmes collection revolves around a mysterious message which features small stick figures performing seemingly random dance moves. The Adventures of the Dancing Men is one of only two stories in the series where Holmes’ client is murdered after hiring the renowned detective. While Holmes does manage to solve the case, his fallibility is proven due to his failing to act quickly enough.

Holmes almost immediately recognizes the code which the dancing men stand for, and he is able to decipher this and make contact with relevant authorities to prove his theories correct. But while he chases the puzzle and attempts to set a trap for the criminal, the client is brutally killed. Adding to the tragedy of the story, the man responsible for the killing is given a reduced sentence, and the widowed wife suffered enormously after her husband’s death. Despite the sad ending, the story provides another side of Holmes, and his flawed nature of loving puzzles, over his commitment to protecting people.

11 The Adventure Of The Empty House

After ACD had supposedly retired the character of Sherlock Holmes, he was eventually convinced to bring his most popular creation back from the dead. The Adventure of the Empty House serves as the story which sees that revival occur. Initially, Dr. Watson is working on a case in the absence of his apparently deceased partner. However, a mysterious figure reveals themselves to be Sherlock at an opportune moment and the pair reunite.

Holmes explains that he came out victorious after his conflict with Moriarty, but he spent the intermediary years on a long and slow path home, whilst exploring other parts of the world. The central mystery of the story revolves around a murder, and Holmes is able to apply his considerable and varied talents to lure the killer out and catch them in the middle of another attempted murder. The story shows Holmes back on form, and fills in some important blanks for the overarching story.

10 The Final Problem

The story which immediately precedes The Empty House is The Final Problem, which is one of the most remarkable short stories to ever feature Detective Holmes as it was initially written to create an end for the series. The story introduces the great villain, Professor Moriarty, and features the death of the hero, Holmes, within its narrative. However, Doyle did eventually choose to pick up his pen once again and continue telling stories around his greatest ever work. This story is so profound and prolific, due to the presence of the incredible villain that is now well-established in popular media as Sherlock’s greatest rival.

In the 2011 film starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the film ends with a scene which replicates Holmes’ fate in the short story, falling over the edge of the cliff along with Moriarty. The popular BBC show, Sherlock, also featured an amalgamation of stories where Moriarty was present, drawn from inspirations in the works by Doyle, and titled the final episode of the series with “The Final Problem” as a tribute, despite the story being very different.

9 The Adventure Of The Musgrave Ritual

In general, the stories about Sherlock Holmes written by Doyle were all written through the perspective of his dear friend, Dr. John Watson. While this is true for almost all of the stories, there are a small number that deviate from tradition. The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual is one such example, where Sherlock himself takes the lead in recording and recounting the story.

This story is a brilliant example of Holmes’ exceptional skills at deduction and problem-solving. When presented with an old, mysterious poem, Holmes is able to dig deeper into the source material and gain insight about the meaning and solve a centuries-old mystery. The story is full of intrigue and mystery, until Holmes makes the events clear and plain in his typical manner.

8 A Study In Scarlet

The very first story about Sherlock Holmes came in 1887, in a full-length novel titled A Study in Scarlet. Doyle only ever wrote four novels about Holmes in total, with most of the other stories detailing his adventures existing in the form of short stories. However, this first story was already a very full and clear idea of the character and the world around him which has endured to this day.

The relationship between Holmes and his friend Watson are developed within the narrative, along with the introduction of prominent returning characters like Inspector Lestrade. The story is also the first work of detective fiction to use a magnifying glass within the investigation, which became an intrinsically linked idea to the character of Holmes. Finally, it also reveals how and why Watson chose to record Holmes’ adventures, establishing the canon that would take the character far beyond this novel.

7 The Sign Of The Four

The Sign of the Four was Doyle’s next entry into the narrative of Sherlock Holmes, and the second of his four novels, released in 1890. This story steps up the mystery and intrigue with a secret treasure and letters being sent with gifts by anonymous authors. As the story unfolds, it appears that more and more people are tied up in secret activities, but many are now dead, or unaware of the extent of what is going on.

This novel is the second and last time that Holmes’ Baker Street Irregulars are used to help him unravel the mystery by employing the large group of homeless children. However, later stories would include one or two individual children working to aid Holmes. It also introduces Mary Morstan, who would become Watson’s wife, and a recurring character in later stories.

6 The Adventure Of The Blue Carbuncle

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is a simple short story which was first published in The Strand Magazine in 1892, but it contains all of the signature elements that mark a Sherlock Holmes story to this day. The mystery revolves around a hat and a goose found together on the street. The goose has a tag which indicates it belongs to a Mr. Henry Baker, but due to how common that name is, it requires a professional sleuth to uncover their identity.

While the case seems less profound than Holmes’ typical workload, he is able to make connections that identify the owner based on the most minute details. The story is fun and simple, while also revealing the extent of Holmes’ powers of deduction. And it leads to a much larger mystery than a simple found goose as the events unfold.

5 The Adventure Of Silver Blaze

Silver Blaze is among the most beloved stories of Sherlock Holmes by Doyle himself. The short story was initially released in 1892, and it revolved around an exceptional race horse who disappeared. In addition to the horse vanishing, a man has been murdered. The story excels at building details throughout, before finally tying everything together for the story’s epic reveal at the end.

Holmes visits Dartmoor, where he has been summoned to work on this case. In his investigation, he finds a series of unusual details that could be written off as unconnected or unimportant, but Holmes’ keen eye and discerning mind cause him to find connections where others overlook them. Holmes finally discovers the truth behind the murder and the horse’s disappearance, and reveals everything in an exciting and engaging monologue.

4 A Scandal In Bohemia

A Scandal in Bohemia is Doyle’s third Holmes story overall, and the first short story ever released. It is famous for introducing another of the most popular characters to ever appear in Sherlock Holmes stories, Irene Adler, who frequently features in adapted works. However, in Doyle’s writing, this is the only story in which she makes an appearance.

When the King of Bohemia is set to marry his fiancée, he fears that she will find out about an affair he had several years earlier with a woman named Irene Adler. Adler has a photo of them as a couple, which is the only evidence that remains of their relationship, and he hires Sherlock to recover the photo. While Sherlock is able to find Adler, locate the photo, and set up a plan to retrieve it, Adler outmaneuvers him, and escapes with the original picture, leaving one of herself in its place with a letter to Holmes.

3 The Red-Headed League

The Red-Headed League was another early short story by Doyle about a mysterious organization that employed and provided for red-headed men by way of performing simple tasks. The premise is incredibly intriguing and witty, and it provides the rest of the story with plenty of intrigue. However, once Holmes is called in, it’s only a matter of time before the mystery is solved.

Holmes takes as many details as he can from the man who was employed in this unusual red-headed league before it suddenly closed. With descriptions, and his powers of reasoning, Holmes starts to put the pieces together long before anyone else, and takes them into a bank vault where everyone is wondering why they are there. Then, the criminals behind the league pop up through the floor of the vault, and Holmes reveals his conclusions, which led him to discover their crime before it happened.

2 The Hound Of The Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles is Doyle’s third novel, which was initially released in serial format through The Strand Magazine. The parts were released in monthly installments between August 1901 and April 1902, and following this, the complete story was compiled and released as a novel. What makes this story distinct from the others is the fact that it served as a revival for the character after his intended final adventure in The Final Problem.

The story is incredibly compelling and widely regarded as the best and most popular of the four novels. While the mystery initially appears to be supernatural in nature, Doyle does a tremendous job at taking the story down a logical path which explains the unexplainable. Much of the story follows Watson as he embarks on an investigation of his own ahead of Sherlock, but when the team is reunited, the case rapidly races toward its conclusion.

1 The Speckled Band

The Speckled Band is one of the best stories ever written by Doyle, with a clever mystery at its center. A young woman named Helen Stoner approaches Holmes for help, and recites her troubling life story and the relationship with her abusive father. As the story develops, it appears that there may be supernatural elements at play. However, Holmes’ impeccable insights reveal the truth.

Holmes conducts a thorough investigation of where the mystery and previous deaths have occurred, and he gathers all of the facts together. Doyle proves his remarkable skill for building mystery mysteries, which is only fully revealed at the last moment, while building the narrative in a way that can only be explained by supernatural means. This subversion and intrigue is just one part of the incredible storytelling that helped to make Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes so spectacular and gripping from start to finish.