The Sherlock Holmes is a Crime Fiction series by Arthur Conan Doyle, made up of 5 books published between 1887 and 1915. It begins with A Study in Scarlet (1887), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is The Sign of Four (Short Story) (1890), spanning 28 years of storytelling.
| # | Title | Year | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | |||
| 1 | A Study in Scarlet 🎬 6 adaptations → | 1887 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 2 | The Sign of the Four | — | Search on Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 1900s | |||
| 3 | The Hound of the Baskervilles 🏆 Audie Award 2015Full award history → 🎬 18 adaptations → | 1901 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 1910s | |||
| 4 | The Valley of FearLatest Macavity Award 2006Agatha Award 2005Full award history → 🎬 4 adaptations → | 1915 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
| 1890s | |||
| 5 | The Sign of Four (Short Story) 🎬 7 adaptations → | 1890 | Buy from Amazon U.S / Intl. Buy from Amazon Australia |
Sherlock Holmes series: frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Sherlock Holmes series?
Start with A Study in Scarlet (1887), the first book in the Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.
How many books are in the Sherlock Holmes series?
There are 5 books in the Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle, published between 1887 and 1915.
What is the first book in the Sherlock Holmes series?
The first book in the Sherlock Holmes series is A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887 by Arthur Conan Doyle.
What is the latest book in the Sherlock Holmes series?
The most recent book in the Sherlock Holmes series is The Sign of Four (Short Story) (1890) by Arthur Conan Doyle.
About the Sherlock Holmes series
Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in all of fiction and the template for nearly every sleuth who followed. From 221B Baker Street, the brilliant, eccentric Holmes applies his powers of observation and deduction to baffling mysteries, narrated by his loyal friend and chronicler, Dr John Watson.
The canon — four novels and fifty-six short stories — practically invented the detective genre's furniture: the genius investigator, the everyman sidekick, the forensic clue, the dramatic reveal. Holmes himself, with his violin, his cocaine, and his nemesis Professor Moriarty, remains endlessly adaptable and endlessly imitated.
The stories largely stand alone, so you can dip in anywhere; "A Study in Scarlet" introduces Holmes and Watson, while collections like "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" hold the most beloved short cases.