Before you go...
Check Out
The Bestselling Books of All Time
See the List
The ReadDown

Where to Start: The Must-Read Sherlock Holmes Stories

“Elementary,” “Sherlock,” “House,” “Sherlock Holmes”: These are just some of the more obvious adaptations of the great series of work by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made in recent years. If you are a fan of any one of these, or if you are simply looking to dive into classic literature that has shaped detective-storytelling for decades, here is a cheat sheet for the must-read stories from Doyle’s fantastic collection of works.
  1. 1
    A Study in Scarlet Book Cover Picture
    A Study in Scarlet Book Cover Picture

    A Study in Scarlet

    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    If you want to acquaint yourself with Sherlock Holmes and his partner-in-crime-solving, Dr. John Watson, you should really start at the beginning. Doyle’s characters are still taking shape in this first tale, but it’s truly essential to set up the rest of the stories. In it, we learn how the pair came to meet and work together, and are introduced to Sherlock’s idiosyncratic and ingenious ways.
    A Study in Scarlet Book Cover Picture
    A Study in Scarlet Book Cover Picture

    Paperback
    $9.00

    Also available from:

  2. 2
    The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture
    The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture

    The Sign of Four

    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    “The Sign of Four” explains how Watson came to be married: a key point in the relationship between the two men. Watson as the domesticated man is a stark contrast to Holmes’s independent and disconnected nature, and is often depicted in — and at the core of — various adaptations of Doyle’s work.
    The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture
    The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture

    Paperback
    $11.00

    Also available from:

  3. 3
    The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture
    The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture

    The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    The first story in the collection The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, this may not be Doyle’s longest tale, but it has left quite a lasting impression as the only piece to reference “The Woman” Irene Adler. Doyle’s stories frequently refer to “women’s intuition” and many of his female characters are perceived as quite clever (if not, perhaps, untrustworthy), but only Adler has gone on to be repeatedly portrayed in television and films as one of the people held highest in Holmes’s esteem. For anyone interested in the character’s origins, “A Scandal in Bohemia” is essential. Other stories from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes worth noting are: The Boscombe Valley Mystery, The Man With the Twisted Lip, The Speckled Band, and The Copper Beeches.
    The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture
    The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture

    Hardcover
    $23.00

    Also available from:

  4. 4
    The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture
    The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture

    The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Brought to the reader in the final story of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, James Moriarty is considered to be the arch-nemesis of detective hero Sherlock Holmes. He is described by Holmes as the “Napoleon of crime” and the only man to match him in wit. Simply put, no list of Holmes must-reads would be complete without the tight but significant story of their battle at the falls of Reichenbach. Other stories from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes to consider adding to your list are The Gloria Scott, The Greek Interpreter, and The Naval Treaty.
    The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture
    The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Book Cover Picture

    Available from:

  5. 5
    The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture
    The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture

    The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four

    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Written after The Final Problem but set before, The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably Doyle’s most famous Holmes adventure and therefore should not be missed. Rather than a short, Hound is a longer novel like A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four and an enjoyable romp of a mystery that stands alone better than any other Holmes work.
    The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture
    The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four Book Cover Picture

    Hardcover
    $25.95

    Also available from:

Find other titles in

Mystery & Suspense

Related Lists:

Back to Top

Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

Brightly

Raise kids who love to read
TASTE img

TASTE

An online magazine for today’s home cook

LitFlash

The eBooks you want at the lowest prices

Read it Forward

Read it first. Pass it on!