Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) trained as a physician and wrote the first Holmes novel while waiting for patients. The four books here cover the beginning of the canon (1887), its first sequel, the short-story format that made Holmes famous, and the novel most often named as the best of them.
Books on this site
- A Study in Scarlet — Arthur Conan Doyle, 1887
- The Sign of the Four — Arthur Conan Doyle, 1890 · ~44,000 words · ~2.4 hours
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes — Arthur Conan Doyle, 1892 · ~105,000 words · ~5.8 hours
- The Hound of the Baskervilles — Arthur Conan Doyle, 1902 · ~59,000 words · ~3.3 hours
Where to start
If you want the method explained, start with A Study in Scarlet. If you want the atmosphere, start with The Hound of the Baskervilles. If you want the format that defined the detective short story, start with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Sherlock Holmes book to start with?
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the twelve short stories of 1892; for a single novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
In what order should I read Sherlock Holmes?
Publication order: A Study in Scarlet (1887), The Sign of the Four (1890), the stories (1892), then The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902).
Did Conan Doyle write other things besides Holmes?
Yes — historical novels, the Professor Challenger stories, and a great deal of journalism and spiritualist writing.
Are the Sherlock Holmes stories public domain?
The early stories and novels are public domain in the US; some later stories have only recently entered it.
How many Sherlock Holmes stories are there?
Four novels and fifty-six short stories, published between 1887 and 1927.
Are these editions the complete texts?
Yes, complete, with the original chapter divisions and titles.