Ever wonder which books are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s greatest works of fiction? As the creator of the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle’s mystery novels and short stories have become classics, but he wrote so much more than that too. You’ve probably read some of his most well-known stories, but it’s certainly worth delving into his other brilliant works of fiction too.
Over the course of his prolific writing career, Conan Doyle crafted some of the most memorable characters and gripping tales in popular fiction. Here are the 10 best books by Arthur Conan Doyle, full of adventure, romance, humour, and of course, mystery.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes contains some of the most well-known mysteries starring the famous detective. Originally published in 1892, this collection of 12 short stories will have you guessing until the very end.
In “A Scandal in Bohemia”, Holmes matches wits with the cunning Irene Adler to recover compromising photos of a European king. “The Red-Headed League” features a bizarre case of a man with red hair who is paid to copy entries from an encyclopaedia. One of the most famous tales, “The Speckled Band”, involves a woman who fears her stepfather is trying to kill her.
The Poison Belt
The Poison Belt, written in 1913, is one of Doyle’s most underrated science fiction stories. In this tale, Professor Challenger assembles his team from The Lost World for another adventure. This time, rather than exploring a plateau full of dinosaurs, they must face a potentially apocalyptic scenario.
Challenger learns that Earth will shortly pass along a belt of poisonous ether in space that could suffocate all life on the planet. He invites his comrades from the Maple White Land expedition— journalist Malone, big-game hunter Lord John Roxton, and sceptical physicist Summerlee—to his country estate to observe this dangerous phenomenon. However, they are trapped in the mansion as the poisonous ether descends upon the Earth, knocking out birds in mid-flight and asphyxiating their neighbours.
Sir Nigel
Sir Nigel is a historical novel published in 1906. Set in the Middle Ages during the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, the story follows Sir Nigel Loring in his quest to become a knight.
As a young squire in service to the Earl of Salisbury, Nigel longs to prove his worth on the battlefield. He gets his chance when King Edward III leads an expedition to France to claim the French crown. Nigel joins the foray, taking part in the Battle of Sluys and the siege of Cambrai. Despite his eagerness and chivalry, Nigel struggles to find a knight willing to dub him.
A Study in Scarlet
A Study in Scarlet introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson. In this first novella, you follow Holmes and Watson as they meet for the first time and team up to solve a mysterious murder case.
The story begins with Dr Watson returning to London after serving in the British army during the Second Afghan War. He runs into an acquaintance, Stamford, who introduces him to Sherlock Holmes. Watson finds Holmes’ knowledge and observation skills fascinating. Holmes needs a roommate to share lodgings at 221B Baker Street, so Watson moves in.
The Sign of the Four
The Sign of the Four is one of Doyle’s most well-known Sherlock Holmes novels. In this story, Holmes and Dr Watson take on a bizarre case involving a mysterious pact between four convicts, stolen treasure, and murder.
You’ll meet Jonathan Small, a one-legged man who was once imprisoned in India where he shares details of a hidden treasure with three fellow inmates. Years later, Small seeks out the treasure but finds that one of his co-conspirators has already claimed it. Enraged, Small vows to track down the remaining men who know about the treasure.
The Mystery of Cloomber
The Mystery of Cloomber is one of Doyle’s earliest works, published in 1889. This Gothic novella will appeal to those who enjoy a creepy tale of the supernatural.
The story follows John Fothergill West, a man who has returned from India to inherit his ancestral estate in Scotland, called Cloomber Hall. However, the Hall seems to now be inhabited by strange tenants, the Heatherstones. General Heatherstone, his daughter, and his son rent the Hall and keep to themselves, rarely socializing with others. West’s confrontation with the Heatherstones results in strange events.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of short stories featuring everyone’s favourite detective. Published in 1893, it’s the third book in Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series.
In these tales, Holmes’ brilliance is on full display as he solves seemingly impossible cases with his uncanny observational skills and logical reasoning. You’ll follow along as Holmes deduces the truth behind mysterious disappearances, unsolved murders, and strange occurrences that baffle Scotland Yard.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
One of Doyle’s most well-known mysteries, The Hound of the Baskervilles follows the famous detective as he investigates the legend of a supernatural hound haunting the Baskerville family. When Sir Charles Baskerville, the head of the Baskerville estate, is found dead, rumours spread that he was chased by the demonic hound.
In a peak scene, Holmes and Watson save Sir Henry, Sir Charles’s nephew, from the hound just in time. Stapleton dies in a mire, his plot foiled. Like in other Holmes tales, reason and science triumph over superstition and evil. Overall, the mystery is a classic that popularized many of the tropes now common in detective fiction. No wonder The Hound of the Baskervilles remains one of Doyle’s most popular and adapted works.
Micah Clarke
Micah Clarke is one of the earliest historical novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1889. Set during the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, the story follows a young man named Micah Clarke who joins the Duke of Monmouth’s rebel army.
As a historical novel, Micah Clarke provides insight into 17th-century England, from life in rural Somerset to the political and religious tensions of the time. You’ll learn about the various factions involved in the rebellion, experience vivid battle scenes, and follow Micah as he comes of age amidst the conflict. While not as well-known as the Sherlock Holmes stories, Micah Clarke is a classic example of Conan Doyle’s skill at crafting a gripping historical tale.
The Tragedy of the Korosko
The Tragedy of the Korosko, one of Doyle’s most underrated works of fiction, is a thrilling tale of danger and survival in the desert. This short novel follows a group of European tourists sailing up the Nile River in Egypt who are ambushed by Dervish warriors.
After their boat is sunk, the tourists must traverse the harsh Korosko desert to reach safety. Food and water quickly become scarce, tensions rise, and their survival is far from certain. Two strong leaders emerge – the pragmatic Colonel Cochrane who is concerned only with escape, and the more compassionate Father Pierre who refuses to abandon the weak.
There we have it, our list of 10 best books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. What do you think about our picks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below: