Perhaps the most famous and beloved character ever put to paper, Sherlock Holmes is the protagonist in 56 short stories and four novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and has since been adapted in countless films, television shows, and further stories. Of those original 56 short stories, certain ones stand the test of time better than others, and for some, this is perfectly justified, but there are also exceptional cases among the more obscure stories. To those who wish to uncover them, here is a list of the top ten Sherlock Holmes short stories.
1. “Wisteria Lodge"
One of the longest of Conan Doyle’s short stories, it is nonetheless an interesting read from start to finish. The story begins with a man seeking the help of Sherlock Holmes after spending the night at an acquaintance’s house and waking up to find the place completely deserted. However, it quickly becomes a murder investigation when it is discovered that house’s owner had been killed that very night. The only downside is that there are many characters involved in this story, and the ending may be a bit confusing for some people.
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2. “The Abbey Grange”
This story starts rather abruptly, launching directly into the adventure, unlike many other Conan Doyle stories, which begin at 221B Baker Street, with the client telling his or her tale or Holmes relating it to Watson shortly after the fact. The latter does occur in this story, but only after Watson is roughly shaken from his slumber and whisked away onto a train headed from London to Kent. An interesting character in this story is Inspector Stanley Hopkins of Scotland Yard, who actually gets along rather well with Holmes, unlike many of his coworkers.
3. “Charles Augustus Milverton”
The title character is the main villain in this story. Charles Augustus Milverton is a cunning blackmailer who takes sadistic pleasure in what he does. The client that leads Milverton and Sherlock Holmes to cross paths is Lady Eva Blackwell, who cannot afford the price Milverton has set for some compromising letters he has in his possession. When bargaining doesn’t work, Holmes turns to more drastic measures. The ending is quite a shocker and shows an aspect of Holmes’ personality not seen until this point.
4. “The Dancing Men”
A unique and intriguing case. The villain’s motives are disappointingly predictable, but the story still offers plenty of surprises. Certainly the highlight of this tale is the code that Holmes must decipher: drawings of little stick-figures dancing around in various poses. Examples of the drawings can be seen throughout the entire story, which gives the reader the small opportunity to try and decipher it on their own.
5. “The Musgrave Ritual”
This story is different from most in that Watson was not present for the case itself, though it’s still narrated by him. Watson relates to the reader the story that Holmes told him regarding his third case. It’s certainly an uncommon method of storytelling, but it is very effective. The culprit is rather obvious and is even stated fairly early on – by the client himself, no less – but there’s a wonderful twist ending to make up for it.
6. “The Blanched Soldier”
The first and one of only two Conan Doyle stories to be narrated from the point-of-view of Sherlock Holmes (the other being “The Lion’s Mane”). It gives the story a unique voice and the reader finally gets the chance to understand what’s actually going on inside of Holmes’ mind. The case itself is also pretty interesting, in which the client is searching for an old army friend, but the family is refusing to help or even answer any questions.
7. “The Three Garridebs”
The plot to this story is very similar to at least two other Conan Doyle stories, but this one, arguably, holds up the best. It starts out as a simple consultation but turns into quite the adventure for Holmes and Watson involving a major crime. “The Three Garridebs” is also the source of one of the greatest quotes in any Sherlock Holmes story:
“It was worth a wound – it was worth many wounds – to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.”
8. “The Dying Detective”
This story begins with Mrs. Hudson – Holmes’ landlady – visiting Watson at his home (Watson moved out of 221B Baker Street after he married) and telling him that Holmes is dying. The main plot revolves around Watson trying to find a doctor who can cure the rare and foreign illness that Holmes has contracted. The ending may be obvious to some, but it remains a worthwhile read. It might even be surprising.
9. “The Speckled Band”
One of the more recognizable Sherlock Holmes stories, this case involves the death of a young woman and her sister’s search for answers. The conclusion is widely known, even for those that haven’t yet read it. This story is so good, though, that it can be read multiple times with the same level of enjoyment as the first. Those who are fortunate enough to not already know the ending before reading will find it very gratifying.
10. “A Scandal in Bohemia”
This is the first Sherlock Holmes short story ever published and one of the most popular. It holds up incredibly well. Irene Adler is a formidable opponent for Holmes and is an unusually strong and independent female character for the time period (albeit not an unwelcome one). The story also introduces Holmes as a master of disguise – a plot device used many more times in future stories. It’s an all-around great read with a fun plot that never loses the reader’s interest.
