
Short stories often lack the depth that comes with full-length novels, but with the iconic character of Sherlock Holmes, much is already known before you pick up the first collection. To his own mother’s chagrin and large public outcry, Conan Doyle - spoiler alert - tried to kill off the sleuthing detective, only to reverse his decision a short time later. Conan Doyle famously grew tired of Holmes and felt he was being held back by the beloved character. That’s because of how significant Sherlock Holmes has become to the literary world and how much the short stories contribute to that legacy.įor example, if you’re a fan of the BBC television adaptation, some of your favourite episodes may be adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories.įurthermore, the stories are masterfully written, while also depicting Conan Doyle’s interesting relationship with his most famous character. While you may not usually be a fan of short stories, the Sherlock Holmes short stories should be your exception. Why You Should Read the Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

We place it here because they are autonomous detective stories and serve as an opener for the interweaving of stories of the following books. Doyle also reveals his vices.Īt this point, we will make a small jump to one of the last books published, the collection of stories The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes. We continue with the second novel, The Sign of Four, where we will get to know Holmes beyond his figure as a detective. Only then continue with The Adventures, to delve a little deeper into the main character. However, in the novel, A Study in Scarlet, Holmes meets Watson, and we find it prudent to start there.
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Both are great openers for the series as they introduce the characters, their witty interactions, and their clever methods.
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How to Read the Sherlock Holmes Books in OrderĪlthough there is a heated debate about whether it is better to start the series with A Study in Scarlet or The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, we stay true to canon and suggest starting with the first one. We’ll briefly explain the science behind it below. This is why many fans of the series recommend not reading the series in the publication order but rather in the order we’ve specified here. The Sherlock Holmes books in order of publication does not follow a chronological fictional storyline.

#2 Sherlock Holmes Books in Chronological Order (Recommended) The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (1927) (Short Stories).The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905) (Short Stories).The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894) (Short Stories).The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) (Short Stories).However, it is not the reading order we recommend. The Sherlock Holmes books in order of publication is a very straight-forward way to read these Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books. #1 Sherlock Holmes Books in Order of Publication In this article, you’ll learn exactly how to read all the Sherlock Holmes books in order. His creator, Scottish writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories about his cases and adventures, narrated mostly through the eyes of his truthful assistant, Dr.

Sherlock Holmes is arguably the most well-known fictional private detective of all time and also one of the first.
