Written and published after a ten-year gap in Holmes's published adventures, but set earlier in his career. The most celebrated and self-contained novel in the canon - it can be read at any point without affecting your understanding of the wider story.

Although published in 1914, the events of this novel take place earlier in Holmes's career than its publication date suggests. Readers who prefer internal chronology may wish to read it before The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, but it works equally well here in publication sequence.

Placed here in publication sequence. Note that the events of this novel take place earlier in Holmes's career than its position in this list suggests - but it reads equally well at this stage and the context you have by this point makes it more rewarding.