This is an attempt to classify the 60 published Sherlock Holmes cases, as recorded by Dr. John Watson, into categories. It must be remembered, however, that many of the cases Holmes actually handled have yet to come to light. The true measure of the World's First Consulting Detective will have to await the verdict of history.

SPOILER WARNING: In some cases, this list may spoil the story. If you haven't read the stories recently, please do that before you read any more of this page.

   
 

 

 

 
 
   
 

Holmes handled 23 known cases of murder, 14 resulted in the perpetrator either being arrested, killed, or otherwise satisfactorily handled. In 3 of the cases the agent was non-human. Holmes sucessfully solved each case.

BLAC

 

CARD

 

DYIN

 

EMPT

 

FINA

 

LION

The victim was killed by a giant sea medusa

GOLD

 

REIG

 

RETI

 

SIGN

 

SILV

The victim was killed by a horse

SPEC

The victim was killed by a snake

STUD

 

HOUN

 


 

Holmes solved 4 other murder cases but let the perpetrator go free.

ABBE

 

BOSC

 

DEVI

 

VEIL

 


 

Holmes also solved 5 additional murder cases but the perpertrators escaped justice.

FIVE

 

GREE

 

MUSG

 

RESI

 

WIST

 
   
   
 

   
 
 
 

THEFT OF GEMS

 
 

MAZA

 

SIXN

 

BERY

 

BLUE

   

THEFT OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS

 
 

BRUC

 

LAST

 

SECO

 

NAVA

   

THEFT OF MONEY

 
 

REDH

 

STOC

 

3GAR

   

THEFT OF MANUSCRIPT

 
 

3GAB

   

 

 
 
 
 

 Abduction

 
  All abducted persons were recovered.
   

LADY

The abductors escaped

PRIO

The abductors were punished

SOLI

The abductors were punished
   

Voluntary Disappearance

 
  All missing persons were found
   

MISS

No crime was committed

NOBL

No crime was committed

VALL

Villain slain in self-defence. The missing person was subsequently lost overboard at sea
   
 

 

 
 
 
 
  Holmes provided the correct solution but when the police went to arrest the forgers, they had fled.
   

ENGI

 
   
   
   
 
   
 

BLAN

Fear of disease

CHAS

Blackmail
   

Fear of physical harm or public scandal

 
  Holmes sucessfully solved each of the cases.
   

COPP

 

CREE

 

GLOR

 

TWIS

 

SUSS

 

SCAN

Holmes did not regain the item his employer wanted recovered but the case was correctly solved and the possibly of scandal was over.

3STU

Holmes saves a tutor from an awkward situation
   
   

Fear of Retribution

 
   

CROO

The berayal ended years later by shock and accidental death

ILLU

Indiscretions were paid in full

REDC

Villian died at the hands of a hero
   
   
 
   
 
   
 

IDEN

A misdeed not prosecutable. Holmes solved the case and alleviated the distress as much as he could.

YELL

Holmes came to the wrong conclusion but his actions caused a happy ending

SHOS

Fear of mounting debt. Holmes solved the problem but the debt was paid because of a winning horse.

THOR

Holmes saves an innocent person from a false murder charge

NORW

Holmes saves an innocent person from a false murder charge.

DANC

The case is solved but someone is killed. The killer is apprehended.
   
 

  In Summary, of the 60 cases in which we have a record, although there are several cases in which the solution was not as neat as Holmes wanted, Holmes correctly solved 59 of them = 98%.
   
 

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