How Many Sherlock Holmes Books Are There? Best Update [ecis2023]

[Ecis2023]

Only the novels can convey the mystery, intrigue, and originality of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. The Sherlock Holmes stories are engaging and fascinating. You won’t want to miss out on reading these. You will love reading these stories, whether with your family or by yourself. So, How Many Sherlock Holmes Books Are There? The entire episodes of this excellent book series will be listed in the article below by Penn Book. Continue reading.

You are reading: How Many Sherlock Holmes Books Are There? Best Update [ecis2023]

Table of Contents

1 How Many Sherlock Holmes Books Are There?
2 Original titles
3 The Essential Guide for Reading Sherlock Holmes Books
- 3.1 1. A Study in Scarlet (1887, novel)
- 3.2 2. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892, short story collection)
- 3.3 3. The Sign of Four (1890, novel)
- 3.4 4. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (1927, short story collection)
- 3.5 5. The Valley of Fear (1915, novel)
- 3.6 6. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894, short story collection)
- 3.7 7. The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905, short story collection)
- 3.8 8. His Last Bow (1917, short story collection)
- 3.9 9. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902, novel)
- 3.10 10. Shadows Over Baker Street, eds. Michael Reaves and John Pelan
- 3.11 11. The House of Silk and Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz
- 3.12 12. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King
- 3.13 13. The Final Solution by Michael Chabon

How Many Sherlock Holmes Books Are There?

Arthur Conan Doyle published 62 stories about Sherlock Holmes between 1887-1927.

There are 62 stories, including four novels and 58 shorter stories. Fifty-six short stories were serialized in US and UK magazines. They were collected in the volumes The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, His Last Bow, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (x13), The Return of Sherlock Holmes and His Last Bow (x7). Two short stories were also published on special occasions: How Watson Learned the Trick (1924) and The Field Bazaar (1896).

Other stories, even those by Arthur Conan Doyle’s son Adrian, are pastiches. They cannot be used in Sherlock Holmes studies. Untold Stories are the stories Watson mentions but has not published.

Original titles

Title (1st UK ed. — 1st US ed.)

01. A Study in Scarlet 1887 — 1890

02. The Sign of Four 1890 — 1890

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

03. A Scandal in Bohemia 1891 — 1891

04. The Red-Headed League 1891 — 1891

05. A Case of Identity 1891 — 1891

06. The Boscombe Valley Mystery 1891 — 1891

07. The Five Orange Pips 1891 — 1891

08. The Man with the Twisted Lip 1891 — 1891

09. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle 1892 — 1892

10. The Adventure of the Speckled Band 1892 — 1892

Related read:

11. The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb 1892 — 1892

12. The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor 1892 — 1892

13. The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet 1892 — 1892

14. The Adventure of the Copper Beeches 1892 — 1892

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

15. The Adventure of Silver Blaze 1892 — 1892

16. The Adventure of the Cardboard Box 1893 — 1893

17. The Adventure of the Yellow Face 1893 — 1893

18. The Adventure of the Stockbroker’s Clerk 1893 — 1893

19. The Adventure of the Gloria Scott 1893 — 1893

20. The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual 1893 — 1893

21. The Adventure of the Reigate Squire 1893 — 1893

22. The Adventure of the Crooked Man 1893 — 1893

23. The Adventure of the Resident Patient 1893 — 1893

24. The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter 1893 — 1893

25. The Adventure of the Naval Treaty 1893 — 1893

26. The Adventure of the Final Problem 1893 — 1893

27. The Field Bazaar — 1896

28. The Hound of the Baskervilles 1901 — 1902

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

29. The Adventure of the Empty House 1903 — 1903

30. The Adventure of the Norwood Builder 1903 — 1903

31. The Adventure of the Dancing Men 1903 — 1903

32. The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist 1904 — 1903

33. The Adventure of the Priory School 1904 — 1904

34. The Adventure of Black Peter 1904 — 1904

35. The Adventure of Charles us Milverton 1904 — 1904

36. The Adventure of the Six Napoleons 1904 — 904

37. The Adventure of the Three Students 1904 — 1904

38. The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez 1904 — 1904

39. The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter 1904 — 1904

40. The Adventure of the Abbey Grange 1904 — 1904

41. The Adventure of the Second Stain 1904 — 1905

His Last Bow

42. The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge 1908 — 1908

43. The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans 1908 — 1908

44. The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot 1910 — 1911

45. The Adventure of the Red Circle 1911 — 1911

46. The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax 1911 — 1911

47. The Adventure of the Dying Detective 1913 — 1913

49. His Last Bow 1917 — 1917

48. The Valley of Fear 1914 — 1914

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

50. The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone 1921 — 1921

51. The Problem of Thor Bridge 1922 — 1922

52. The Adventure of the Creeping Man 1923 — 1923

53. The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire 1924 — 1924

54. How Watson Learned the Trick 1924

55. The Adventure of the Three Garridebs 1925 — 1924

56. The Adventure of the Illustrious Client 1925 — 1924

57. The Adventure of the Three Gables 1926 — 1926

58. The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier 1926 — 1926

59. The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane 1926 — 1926

60. The Adventure of the Retired Colourman 1927 — 1926

61. The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger 1927 — 1927

62. The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place 1927 — 1927

The Essential Guide for Reading Sherlock Holmes Books

It cannot be very clear to read the many Sherlock Holmes books, novels, and short stories collections. It was also impossible to read the books in the correct order. We are here to help you get started with Arthur Conan Doyle’s works.

Below is our reasoning. But without further ado, here are the Sherlock Holmes books that we recommend.

A Study in Scarlet
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Sign of Four
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
The Valley of Fear
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
His Last Bow
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Shadows Over Baker Street
The House of Silk and Moriarty
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
The Final Solution

1. A Study in Scarlet (1887, novel)

It’s no surprise that the first book is so popular. A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887, was the first Sherlock Holmes book. If you’re here to watch BBC’s Sherlock, please take a moment to forget about your smartphones, cars, and GPS systems. And, although we don’t hate to say this, Benedict Cumberbatch will also have to go. The novel introduces readers to the late Victorian Sherlock and Watson. It’s also the first time they meet.

Watson acts as the narrator and Watson as the protagonist, trying to understand Sherlock’s superhuman mind. They move in together to the fictional apartment at 221B Baker Street, London. There they work on a complex murder case that involves a wedding ring and several pills. Watson is also present. However, we recommend the reader read the entire novel to get to know the duo chronologically. Please keep reading for the second part — it’s worth the effort to get to the end.

2. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892, short story collection)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a great way to learn more about Sherlock’s fascinating personality. This collection’s first story, “A Scandal In Bohemia”, features a certain Irene Adler. This story also started the Sherlock fandom, even though it wasn’t the first Sherlock tale published. We believe it is important to deviate from the publication date better to understand Sherlock Holmes’ fascinating methods and approach. This is a book you can pull out whenever you need the satisfying spark of intelligence Sherlock Holmes always delivers.

3. The Sign of Four (1890, novel)

The Sign of Four is the second Sherlock Holmes book. It is here that Sherlock’s drug use is first described. This is also where readers get to know the man behind the detective. The novel also features Mary Marston, Dr. Watson’s future spouse (130-year spoiler alert). This darkly atmospheric book is filled with strange London streets, mysterious annual packages of pearls, and a missing father. It has a more intricate plot than most short stories.

4. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (1927, short story collection)

We are not following the publication order, but this book should be read before The Memoirs or The Return. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes offers a variety of simple detective adventures that Holmes and Watson pursue. These can be read independently. Sherlock narrates two of these stories, making for an interesting reading experience.

Last note: If you try to be selective but can’t read the whole Sherlock Holmes canon, this book is often considered the weakest Sherlock Holmes book. The author seems tired of the detective at this stage in his career. It would help if you left nothing out. This is why we don’t recommend reading this book last, even if you are reading them in the order they were published. It’s sadly quite anticlimactic.

5. The Valley of Fear (1915, novel)

The chronology of Sherlock Holmes books shows that The Valley of Fear occurs before The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. This is even though Sherlock claims he has never met James Moriarty. The mysterious murder of a manor house in a book cipher message leads to a series of intriguing but promising clues. This is one of the best Sherlock books. The plot is well-planned and detailed, and Holmes and Watson’s detective process is conveyed with a suspenseful pace that Conan Doyle doesn’t have in his shorter works. With its intrigue of secret societies and captivating plot, the Valley of Fear is a compelling tale.

6. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894, short story collection)

Did you know that Arthur Conan Doyle became so bored writing Sherlock Holmes books that he decided to kill him in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes? However, he had to come up with a way to bring him alive due to fan outrage. Yes, that’s correct. Conan Doyle wrote to his mother, saying that Sherlock “took his mind from better things.” But, she was horrified and advised him to stop. The Memoirs also contains the introductions to Sherlock’s archenemy, Professor James Moriarty, and his brother Mycroft, respectively.

7. The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905, short story collection)

Conan Doyle “revived Sherlock Holmes” with The Return of Sherlock Holmes. There is no zombie stuff, though. Conan Doyle found a way for his readers to be satisfied with the ending to Memoirs, and the legend was continued three years after Sherlock’s apparent suicide. As usual, Dr. Watson is there for the reader: as confused by Sherlock’s return, he helps to clarify the events. Although things aren’t as they used to be, the duo is back in the same area as their Baker Street apartment. However, their humorous dialogue is strong again!

8. His Last Bow (1917, short story collection)

His Last Bow is the final book in the chronology about Sherlock’s life. However, it is not the last book to be published despite Watson’s assurance that Holmes had retired and would not allow him to write more books. (Remember, The Casebook takes place in the past). His Last Bow, which was published while the First World War was still in progress, features a final story with Watson and Sherlock as part of British intelligence efforts. Their war service included catching foreign spies and feeding Germany unreliable and confusing intelligence. Gone are the days when the duo was known for their iconic detective work. We recommend that you don’t end this book, regardless of the chronological closure.

9. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902, novel)

The Hound of the Baskervilles, Conan Doyle’s first published book after his initial killing of Sherlock, was set before the story’s events. This novel is widely regarded as the best Sherlock Holmes book. We’ve left the best for last. Charles Baskerville, a man found dead in Devon’s moors with a horrified expression, leads to speculation that a folk tale about a demon hound living in the area may be true. Sherlock is summoned to investigate and begins this darkly Gothic novel. It features marshes, suspense, and candle signals from nightly windows. This truly terrifying novel is chilling, immersive, and extremely satisfying. The Hound of the Baskervilles is a literary masterpiece that expertly blends suspense and mystery with supernatural horror.

10. Shadows Over Baker Street, eds. Michael Reaves and John Pelan

Shadows Over Baker Street is an anthology of short stories edited by John Pelan and Michael Reaves. Twenty contemporary writers, including Neil Gaiman, are featured here. Contribute a story in which Sherlock must solve a mystery set in H. P. Lovecraft’s world. These stories are a perfect blend of the supernatural worlds of horror and logic.

11. The House of Silk and Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

The Conan Doyle estate permitted Anthony Horowitz to write a new Sherlock Holmes pastiche. He is the author of the Alex Rider series. The House of Silk and Moriarty are the two novels that have been published. The first is set in 1890. Sherlock is hired to investigate an art dealer whose business is in trouble with an Irish gang. However, as the story proceeds, it becomes clear that Sherlock has discovered a loose thread leading to a powerful global conspiracy.

The second novel is set after events in ‘The Final Problem’ and sees Detective Frederick Chase join Inspector Jones to pursue a criminal mastermind who wants to replace Moriarty. These novels offer a great opportunity to return to the world of Sherlock Holmes. They are fast-paced, suspenseful, and extremely satisfying.

12. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King

The Beekeeper’s Apprentice is the first of a long-running series. It sees a retired Sherlock and Mary Russell, a teenage detective talent. When she is made the detective’s pupil, her life changes, as they discover that they are facing a formidable opponent, the book follows them from the Sussex Downs to Oxford and Wales, Palestine, and back.

13. The Final Solution by Michael Chabon

The Final Solution by Michael Chabon sees a retired Sherlock Holmes (referred to as “old man”) deciphering the meaning of a parrot’s list of seemingly random German numbers. A young German-Jewish refugee owns the parrot, and his interest in his mumblings abruptly ends. Sherlock Holmes is now faced with another mystery. Sherlock Holmes fans will love this suspenseful novella for its clever and funny mystery.