We all know that the wait for series 3 of Sherlock will be a long and terrible one. This is a big problem for Sherlock fans, who need new mysteries — and explanations of the old ones — more desperately than Holmes needs his cigarettes.

Production isn’t even starting until early 2013, and for all we know, the world could have ended by then! But have no fear: here is a list of books, TV shows, and movies that can help you get your Sherlock fix (or at least something reasonably close to it) until the real thing is available.

To read

The Classics

Of course, the first thing a Sherlock fan should do is go back to the classic Holmes stories. Luckily, there are plenty of them — 56 short stories and 4 novels! Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories have the same subtle humor and intriguing mysteries as the show, and the interactions between the characters (especially the humorous ones) will seem very familiar.

Even better, reading the original stories will allow you to understand and enjoy all the tongue-in-cheek references to them in the show itself. Seemingly unremarkable lines like, “I’m lost without my blogger,” or “Dear me Mr. Holmes. Dear me,” become extra funny when you understand the allusion to one of Doyle’s original stories.

The Sherlockian

To get both the mystique of Victorian London with the modern twist that makes Sherlock so amazing, try The Sherlockian, by Graham Moore. The entertaining novel follows two different stories: Arthur Conan Doyle attempting to solve a mystery in 19th century London, and a devoted Holmes fan doing the same in modern London.

You get both the setting and style of the original Holmes and the story of a modern-day “Sherlockian” (a massive Holmes fan that all us Sherlock nerds should be able to relate to) adapting Holmes’ methods to the 21st century — a blend of eras and styles that makes this read an easy transition from Sherlock.

Agatha Christie

If you’re willing to go a little farther away from Holmes, there are plenty of excellent mysteries with unconventional detectives that a Sherlock fan would probably enjoy. Agatha Christie, one of the most famous mystery writers of all time, wrote a seemingly never-ending list of excellent mysteries — many of which feature detectives with methods that are just as unorthodox as Holmes’.

Her crime solvers include a little old lady, an (apparently) unassuming Belgian private detective, and an adventurous married couple. Like Holmes, her protagonists seem unreliable at first, but quickly win the trust and admiration of the reader (and the bumbling police force). To see more books for Sherlock lovers, check out this list we published a while back.

To watch

Classic Holmes

Again, the desperate Sherlock fan can always go back to the originals. There are PLENTY of Holmes film and television adaptations to choose from. In fact, The Guinness Book of World Records claims that Holmes is the most portrayed movie character of all time — in other words, you have enough Sherlock Holmes to keep you busy for a long, long while.

The first on-screen Holmes was seen in 1900, and the most recent one appeared in 2011 – that’s over a century of Sherlock Holmes. Jeremy Brett (right) is often considered the definitive Holmes, but there are definitely other great ones. Whether you prefer Basil Rathbone or Robert Downey Jr, there WILL be a classic Holmes that suits you.

Dirk Gently

Dirk Gently is a relatively unknown TV series that has a lot in common with Sherlock. The three-episode series features an unconventional detective with great hair and a down-to-earth sidekick that solve London crimes against all the odds — sound familiar? Detective Gently’s methods differ from Holmes’: while Holmes favors observation and deduction, Gently prefers to rely on “the fundamental interconnectedness of all things,” and something called “zen navigation.”

Basically, Dirk Gently is a lot stranger — the characters are zanier, and the show even incorporates subtle sci-fi elements. However, the feel of the show is very similar to Sherlock, and there are even several references to Sherlock hidden within it.

Doctor Who and Torchwood

Although this is probably not very helpful for most of you, it’s worth mentioning that Doctor Who is a good bet for anyone who likes Sherlock (and also just anyone). We imagine that most readers already watch the show, but if you don’t, know that it’s amazing, and written by the same person who writes Sherlock.

Along the same lines, Sherlock fans may enjoy Torchwood, a Doctor Who spinoff show. Like Sherlock, Torchwood is a lot grittier than Doctor Who and a lot more adult. Imagine that Sherlock Holmes had to defend Earth from a wide variety of alien menaces…and you kind of get Torchwood. Okay, that’s a bit of a reach, but Torchwood is still worth a try for Holmes fans.

Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch

Lastly, like many Sherlock fans, if you need your weekly dose of Benedict Cumberbatch, there are plenty of options. As you probably know, Cumberbatch and his famous cheekbones have been everywhere recently, so finding him won’t be difficult. Films like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and War Horse are great (and critically acclaimed) options.

Also, he’ll be in Parade’s End, a drama series that will air later this year. And of course, many Cumberbatch enthusiasts are looking forward to Star Trek and The Hobbit! Sherlock seems to have been the launching point of what is sure to be a long and illustrious career – hardly surprising for Sherlock fans, who have known about his talent for a while.

Hopefully, some of the books and shows we’ve mentioned will help take the edge off until series 3 airs. If you have any other suggestions, mention them below to ensure that we’ll all survive the Sherlock drought!