The 12 Best Sherlock Holmes Adventures - chosen by Arthur Conan Doyle himself in 1927.

Well, here’s a compilation of Sir Arthur’s favourite dozen Sherlock Holmes stories out of the 56.* I thought it worth putting these stories together in one audio file, just in case anyone wants to power through the ‘best ones’.

Timestamps
0:00 The Speckled Band
57:32 The Red-Headed League
1:49:50 The Dancing Men
2:48:28 The Final Problem
3:33:25 A Scandal in Bohemia
4:23:44 The Empty House
5:18:14 The Five Orange Pips
6:03:06 The Second Stain
7:05:01 The Devil’s Foot
8:11:53 The Priory School
9:24:51 The Musgrave Ritual
10:08:17 The Reigate Squire

It was in March 1927, as the book version of ‘The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes’ was about to go to press, that the Strand came up with a readers’ competition. Sir Arthur himself would select the very best of the Holmes tales, and whoever then guessed the author’s list “most nearly” would win the £100 prize. 

“It is as a little test of the opinion of the public that I inaugurate the small competition announced here,” Conan Doyle wrote. “I have drawn up a list of the twelve short stories contained in the four published volumes (excluding The Case-book) which I consider to be the best, and I should like to know to what extent my choice agrees with that of Strand readers. I have left my list in a sealed envelope with the Editor of the Strand.”

In June 1927, the Editor plucked open the envelope to reveal the list, and helpfully for posterity (is that us?) Doyle had also written down the process he went through to whittle down the list. Here is part of it:

“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 the first place I had to read the stories myself with some care. ‘Steep, steep, weary work,’ as the Scottish landlady remarked.

"I am now faced with some forty odd candidates to be weighed against each other. There are certainly some few an echo of which has come to me from all parts of the world, and I think this is the final proof of merit of some sort. There is the grim SPOILER story, “The Speckled Band.” That, I am sure, will be on every list. Next to that in popular favour and in my own esteem I would place “The Red-Headed League” and “The Dancing Men,” on account in each case of the originality of the plot. Then we could hardly leave out the story which deals with the only foe who ever really extended Holmes, and which deceived the public (and Watson) into the erroneous inference of his death. Also, I think the first story should go in, as it opened the path for the others, and as it has more female interest than is usual. Finally, I think the story which essays the difficult task of explaining away the alleged death of Holmes, and which also introduces such a villain as Colonel Sebastian Moran, should have a place. This puts “The Final Problem,” “A Scandal in Bohemia,” and “The Empty House” upon our list, and we have got our first half-dozen..."

And so he goes on... until:

"It is proverbially a mistake for a judge to give his reasons, but I have analysed mine if only to show any competitors that I really have taken some trouble in the matter.

The list is therefore as follows:
1. The Speckled Band (1892)
2. The Red-Headed League (1891)
3. The Dancing Men (1903)
4. The Final Problem (1893)
5. A Scandal in Bohemia (1891)
6. The Empty House (1903)
7. The Five Orange Pips (1891)
8. The Second Stain (1904)
9. The Devil’s Foot (1910)
10. The Priory School (1904)
11. The Musgrave Ritual (1893)
12. The Reigate Squire (1893)"

As usual this video/audio is read by Greg Wagland for Magpie Audio.

I recorded the earliest of these stories in a chilly pantry/studio somewhere on the Suffolk coast. Please feel free to leave comments about your favourite stories. As you know I was much struck by The Veiled Lodger!

Cheers!

*Although ACD didn't include the Case-book stories in this list, as it hadn't been published as a book at this point.. So this list of 12 is really out of 44 or so, including His Last Bow stories.

[ddouglas]

Wow! 10 hours of listening to you read Sherlock Holmes stories! Doesn't get any better.

[sebastianvakarian]

That's some first-rate voice acting! Really adds to the experience.

[hayleysmith]

I simply cannot listen to any one else. Your skills are exceptional I have listened to you over and over and over again. No one can perform the voices like you. And your narrative is also at exactly the correct listening speed. I think I am in love xxxx❤

[MrRobertJW]

I cannot quantify why, but I have to confess you are my favorite of Sherlock narrators . There's a spirit of the work you seem born to

[clairbarnard]

Thank you Greg. My comfort listening! All is good in my world when I can close my eyes and relive these exceptional stories again. And again! I do hope you know how much your work is appreciated. X

[rtt]

10 hours of Holmes: excellent. The reader, BTW, is outstanding. Thanks.

[danielwegrzynek]

REALLY enjoy these stories. Listen at night, while retiring for the night. THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TREASURES

[Someone_s]

10 hours of Sherlock Holmes, thank You so much ❤ And also, the way you read the stories is just perfect!

[lilbits]

Thank you for the list. And if Sir Arthur was still with us, he would have chosen you as the official reader/narrator/performer of his magnificent stories.😊

[debwell]

How marvelous to find close to 11 hours of Sherlock Holmes uninterrupted! I must complement you Mr. Wagland, on your superlative narration.

You have the perfect voice for reading aloud. Thank you so much for all that you have shared on your YouTube channel. I am finding much entertainment here. 😊

[Miles-tdkh]

Literally the best Sherlock audiobook there is hands down in the whole planet. Love the voice actor tremendous work. I love listening to it before going to bed it really helped with my insomnia quite a lot ❤️❤️❤️

[beckerabstracts]

It's like Mr. Doyle reading a bedtime story. I think your tone is exactly what the author intended.

[catherine]

Thank you super much/TYSM, Greg. I listen in sequence until I get to sleep and then start where i believe I drifted to sleep.
As I've said before your voice is soothing.
❤️
Catherine from AZ

[wordjunkys]

Nice compilation, excellently performed by Mr Wagland!

[WatName]

You make me cry. Thank you Greg and Magpie Audio for your continued dedication.

I really really do appreciate your works, God Bless you all ❤

[liamoconnor]

This is brilliant! As a HGV driver, I shall be binge-listening to these as I work. Thank you.

[spookyghost]

Amazing voice and reading - best Sherlock Holmes voice acting I've ever heard! Thanks for making these available.

[ravenkeefer]

Great extended grouping... TY Greg. The orator is phenomenal.
Mahe Ohna ✌️ Favour ALL

[nicolawallace]

Just want to say a big thank you for all the Sherlock Holmes stories, I have absolutely loved them and I'm now on to the Father Brown ones, I hope one day you will do Agatha Christie 🙏🏼

[SDW]

I remember the first time I read the opening story as an adolescent. I was fascinated by the ending. Even better now listening to Mr. Wagland.