There's a whole comic strip associated with that shirt. It's called "Unshelved", and it's set in a public library. The young adult librarian, who is a guy, starts the book club. The creators of the strip are also big fans of all things Whedon, and the current week's strips are about how the YA librarian's girlfriend is annoyed with him for having already seen Serenity eleven times when they were supposed to go see it together.

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I love that comic. Also finished the selection, but then work and interviews and holidays yada yada yada. Happy to discuss...Ginger?

and, in 14 cases, Holmes freed the guilty person.

On purpose?

On purpose?

Generally so, because he figured there were enough extenuating circumstances involved, ie, someone dealing with an abusive situation.

From the assigned selections, Holmes comes off as being more in it for the meaty mystery, than for making sure justice is done.

The ones I've read, I agree. I was wondering if there had ever been a Holmes story where he hadn't figured out the corrent answer.

But, I think there's an interesting gap between "he figured there were enough extenuating circumstances" and "was in it more for the mystery than the justice." I agree with both, but saying that Holmes gets to be the arbiter of when the circumstances extenuate means that he is the arbiter of justice to some degree.

Which ties back into why you don't see the incarceration of the criminal in classic detective stories, I think; the detective is also the judge and jury to an extent.

saying that Holmes gets to be the arbiter of when the circumstances extenuate means that he is the arbiter of justice to some degree.

Oh, definitely. He makes few apologies for that, often saying he has more latitude than the police since he's not a policeman. I'm sure part of him gets off on the power. Watson expressed discomfort for Holmes' high-handedness more than once.

(BTW, I'm quite enjoying having the current discussion being on such a famous character, because everyone is likely to be able to chime in, regardless of what they've read)

From Carbuncle:

"After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief feature."

To me, it felt like Holmes was letting him go because he was eager to move on, and the rest is just rationalization.

I was wondering if there had ever been a Holmes story where he hadn't figured out the corrent answer.

He doesn't figure out the right answer in A Scandal in Bohemia until the criminal has made a clean escape.