Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 19 Favorite Sherlock Holmes Stories, in descending order of merit:

1. "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"

2. "The Redheaded League"

3. "The Adventure of the Dancing Men"

4. "The Final Problem"

5. "A Scandal in Bohemia"

6. "The Adventure of the Empty House"

7. "The Five Orange Pips"

8. "The Adventure of the Second Stain"

9. "The Adventure of the Devil's Foot"

10. "The Adventure of the Priory School"

11. "The Musgrave Ritual"

12. "The Reigate Squires"

13. "Silver Blaze"

14. "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans"

15. "The Crooked Man"

16. "The Man with the Twisted Lip"

17. "The Greek Interpreter"

18. "The Resident Patient"

19. "The Naval Treaty"

source: The Complete Guide to Sherlock Holmes by Michael Hardwick