Lessons from Sherlock Holmes: Preconceptions and the Blunting of Imagination

I normally have no quarrel with this set of fine articles, Lessons from Sherlock Holmes at Scientific American, but in this instance, I think I can forgive Holmes for not rushing to the scene. He can’t chase down every murder, disappearance and abduction but must wait to see whether the matter is quickly resolved. I think this may be a case of Holmes somewhat jokingly admitting to a blunder. After all, this is not an instance like Five Orange Pips where he blithely allows his client to leave, only to killed shortly afterward. That case surely deserves further scrutiny. Nevertheless, this is another fine article in the series.