How Many Sherlock Holmes Stories Are There?
A clear answer to how many Sherlock Holmes stories there are, including the four novels and 56 short stories.
Tags: Canon, FAQ, 4 Novels, 56 Stories
The clear answer
The standard answer is: 60 Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. That total is normally counted as four novels and fifty-six short stories.
The four novels are A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear. The short stories were collected into five main volumes.
The five short story collections
| Collection | What it contains |
|---|---|
| The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Early classic stories and many of the easiest entry points. |
| The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes | Includes important mythology, including Moriarty and Reichenbach. |
| The Return of Sherlock Holmes | The post-Reichenbach return era. |
| His Last Bow | Later stories with a more Edwardian mood. |
| The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes | The final collection, sometimes more uneven but still essential for completists. |
Why some counts differ
You may occasionally see higher numbers because some readers include extra Doyle pieces, parodies, stage material, or non-canonical curiosities. For normal readers, bookshops, libraries and most guides use the 60-story canon.
Best way to approach all 60
Do not try to sprint them. Read the short stories in small batches, use the novels as milestones, and mark your progress with the canon checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to read every Sherlock Holmes story?
No. You can enjoy Holmes by reading selected stories first, then returning to the full canon later.
How many original Sherlock Holmes stories are there?
The standard count is four novels and fifty-six short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Where should a beginner start?
Most beginners should start with the short stories, especially The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, before moving into the novels.