Favourite Sherlock Holmes Stories

by Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Giddings (Afterword)

"When this competition was first mooted I went into it in a most light-hearted way, thinking that it would be the easiest thing in the world to pick out the twelve best of the Holmes stories. In practice I found that I had engaged myself in a serious task . . ."

 

In 1927, Strand magazine challenged its readers to guess which of his Sherlock Holmes stories Arthur Conan Doyle himself rated as his very best. (Mr R. T. Newman of Spring Hill, Wellingborough, won £100 for successfully guessing 10 of the 12 stories correctly.) Doyle revealed his choice and, in his own inimitable way, explained his reasoning in an article for the magazine. The stories included "The Speckled Band," "The Final Problem," and "The Dancing Men." Arthur Conan Doyle’s favorite 12 Sherlock Holmes stories are now published together for the first time, with his original Strand article to introduce his own selection.

(back cover)

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Crime

332 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.

Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.

Reviews

[Khawlah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began reading this book when I first bought it in 2011. But I never finished it for some reason even though I enjoyed it immensely. Maybe it was because I went on to read other books and this went on the shelf because it was a collection, which made me think that I did not need to read them consecutively.
So now in 2014, I am in the mood for Sherlock again, and for some reason I have decided to restart and read the book from the very beginning, and so far it is an amazing experience. The writing style, the wit and cleverness, the humor, all of these qualities make these stories an unforgettable and enjoyable experience.


Finished the book 18/12/2014

Arthur Conan Doyle never ceases to amaze me, even after many years have passed since I first began reading Sherlock stories. This book contained the most fresh, incredible, thrilling, new and humorous stories of Sherlock that I have ever read. Six of these twelve stories I had read before in Arabic when I was younger, yet it always feels like reading them for the first time.
Sherlock still takes me by surprise every time and with everything he does, whether it is a genius way of uncovering a criminal, or a snarky remark that keeps me laughing.
Reading Sherlock is an experience like no other, and is one that transcends time and will in my opinion never grow boring, even after many years. This just proves how much of a genius this writer was.

[Katheryn Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Sherlock Holmes stories was chosen by Arthur Conan Doyle himself (in 1927), and the reasons why he chose these twelve as his favourites are also included. I think that makes a very interesting basis for the collection.

Sherlock Holmes is, for me, the ultimate comfort read. His stories are often familiar, but always delight and entertain, and I just adore the eponymous detective, with all his eccentricities and abruptness. Having recently watched some of the BBC programme starring Benedict Cumberbatch, it was nice to be reminded of moments of that interpretation as I read.

As well as the odd story I've surely read here and there, I've also read The Best of Sherlock Holmes, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, and The Hound of the Baskervilles & The Valley of Fear.

[Book-Social · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premis around this book, a competition. The article included as a forward by Conan Doyle explains why he picked each book and is a lovely little appetiser. I’ve read a Study in Scarlett but these are 12 short stories dotted around Holmes’ career including the infamous The Final Problem and ‘that woman’ Irene Adler.

Baker Street, Moriarty and all the classic hallmarks of Sherlock are included as well as references to his cocaine habit, funnily enough not picked up on by the BBC in their adaptation.

I enjoyed the stories, all around 30 pages, but found after a while they became a bit too formulaic and a bit too repetitive. A character would enter Baker Street with a seemingly unsolved crime. Holmes would have virtually solved the crime before said character had left but kept his cards close to his chest whilst figuring out the final jigsaw piece. Holmes and Watson would then go off gallivanting for the night, often with Watson’s pistol at the ready, before Holmes would apprehend the guilty party and explain all to Watson and the reader. Maybe if there had only been 10 it wouldn’t have quite grated as much as it did but alas, 12 there were and the last couple were more of a chore than a pleasure. A shame as really on their own they are quite good.

[ghostly_bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

CAWPILE 8.00
4.5 STARS

Read for the Buzzwordathon Cover Challenge for January 2025- Pattern on the cover.
I really enjoy Sherlock Holmes, I've read a few stories but not all of them.
This was a lovely collection of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 12 favourite short stories in one collection and I spread them out over a week, allowing myself to endulge in 2 per evening. I loved this- I don't always love short stories but because I know the characters it was easy to dip in and out of the various crimes and mysteries we found ourselves in during this collection.
This is probably one I will keep and re-read in the future.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The creation of Sherlock Holmes was one of the true acts of British literary genius in the late nineteenth century. To create Dr Watson, as his friend and chronicler, was almost as inspired. This is Doyle's own choice of his favourite sleuthian adventures and it's a cracking read. Buy it. Read it and feel patriotically proud of the work of this great Englishman....written by a Scot... of Irish descent!

[Andrew Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 12 of the Sherlock Holmes short stories, as chosen by Arthur Conan Doyle himself. It's a good selection, though I would recommend reading 'A Study in Scarlet' first if you haven't read any of the Sherlock Holmes novels or stories before. This cook also includes Conan Doyle's article from Strand magazine explaining his choice of the 12 included stories, and interesting 'case notes' (mainly biographical) by Robert Giddings at the end.

[Tippe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le storielle sono carine, ma non so se sia il genere che non fa per me, oppure proprio Sherlock Holmes. Descrizioni e pensieri ricchi di dettagli, talvolta spiegati anche in modo leggermente complicato perché sono vicende complesse e ingarbugliate. Però ottima suspence. Personalmente mi ha mandato un po’ in blocco perciò non mi sono presa la briga di forzarmi a finirlo, ho letto un paio di storielle (la più bella “gli omini danzanti”) e poi sono passata ad altro.

[Mehul Pal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of Sherlock Holmes tales, great for any fan of mystery and the great detective.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of Sherlock Holmes stories because they were selected by Conan Doyle himself as his own favourites. It was the result of a competition in which people were asked to guess which 12 stories he would think were his best. It was just before the publication of the last collection, ‘The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes’, so it doesn’t include any of those stories. There’s a short introduction in which Conan Doyle explains why he chose these particular stories. The winner correctly guessed 10 of them.

I enjoyed the stories but what really struck me is that with one exception (The Speckled Band, which he says everybody guessed) the plots are really not great. They were innovative at the time of course, but I think the real appeal is the character of Sherlock Holmes and his ‘troubled genius’.

[JCVerrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read any Holmes before and I just loved this collection of stories. My first 5 star review of 2011. A classic character for very good reasons.

[Michelle Chan]

A collection of mysteries not to be missed by Sherlock Home fans.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved the bbc series but this was the first time i had read any sherlock holmes books, and they definitely lived up to all my expectations! just a shame they are all so concise.

[Fabiola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will continue (probably) reading the whole saga.

[Claudio Rodrigo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't comorehend the majority. Flew through it though