The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

This collection delves into the earlier days of the detective's career and leads inexorably to his fateful encounter at the Reichenbach Falls. It features the introduction of his brother Mycroft and his first documented case, shedding light on the formation of his genius. The stories are tinged with a sense of impending loss, culminating in the "Final Problem" where Holmes faces his intellectual equal, Professor Moriarty. It is a dramatic and emotional arc that showcases the cost of a life devoted to fighting crime.