The Structure of a Series: Conan Doyle II

Let's run through that minimalist Holmes series again. The idea is to list only works presenting beginnings, turning points or endings, thus outlining the structure of the series, so that all other works are defined by their relationship to these key works:

before or after Watson's first meeting with Holmes;
before or after Watson's first marriage;
before or after Reichenbach;
before or after retirement etc.

We are concerned neither with publication order nor with the order of Watson's narration but solely with the chronological order of fictitious events.

Holmes recounts to Watson both his first case and the case that started his career:

"The Adventure of the Gloria Scott"
"The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual"

Since these cases were pre-Watson, they must be the beginning of the series. Watson meets Holmes and moves into Baker St in an introductory novel, A Study in Scarlet, then marries and moves out of Baker St in the sequel, The Sign of Four. Thus, the Holmes series would have been complete in only two volumes had Doyle not then started the series of short stories, including the two already mentioned. This second series begins with "A Scandal in Bohemia" and ends with "His Last Bow." So far, the minimalist series comprises:

"The Adventure of the "Gloria Scott"
"The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual"
A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
"A Scandal in Bohemia"
"His Last Bow"

To these, we should add the middle (the "death" and the return):

"The Adventure of the 'Gloria Scott'",
"The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual"
A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
"A Scandal in Bohemia"
"The Adventure of the Final Problem"
"The Adventure of the Empty House"
"His Last Bow"

the two Mycroft stories:

"The Adventure of the 'Gloria Scott'"
"The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual"
A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
"A Scandal in Bohemia"
"The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter"
"The Adventure of the Final Problem"
"The Adventure of the Empty House"
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans"
"His Last Bow"

one story announcing the retirement and one describing the retirement from which Holmes temporarily returns in "His Last Bow":

"The Adventure of the 'Gloria Scott'"
"The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual"
A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
"A Scandal in Bohemia"
"The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter"
"The Adventure of the Final Problem"
"The Adventure of the Empty House"
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans"
"The Adventure of the Second Stain"
"The Adventure of the Lion's Main"
"His Last Bow"

two other stories that I have argued are significant enough to be included:

"The Adventure of the 'Gloria Scott'"
"The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual"
A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
"A Scandal in Bohemia"
"The Red-Headed League"
"The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter"
"The Adventure of the Naval Treaty"
"The Adventure of the Final Problem"
"The Adventure of the Empty House"
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans"
"The Adventure of the Second Stain"
"The Adventure of the Lion's Main"
"His Last Bow"

The remaining two novels, written after the account of the "death" but before the account of the return, have to be regarded as occurring before the "death." This is explicit in the case of The Valley of Fear which retcons Moriarty. Thus, the complete minimalist series comprises, in this order:

"The Adventure of the Gloria Scott" (first case)
"The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" (the start of Holmes' career)
A Study in Scarlet (first meeting with Watson)
The Sign of Four (Watson's first marriage)
"A Scandal in Bohemia" (the first short story)
"The Red-Headed League" (an important pre-Moriarty case)
"The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter" (introduces Mycroft)
"The Adventure of the Naval Treaty" (an important international case)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (the most famous and most filmed novel)
The Valley of Fear (retcons Moriarty)
"The Adventure of the Final Problem" ("death")
"The Adventure of the Empty House" (return)
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" (explains Mycroft's job)
"The Adventure of the Second Stain" (announces the retirement)
"The Adventure of the Lion's Mane" (describes the retirement)
"His Last Bow" (temporary return from retirement)