Even with that, there are some mistakes that cannot be forgiven. I also like to write (I write, but I am not a writer) and I can't conceive not only those chronological mistakes but also simple maths mistakes. And speaking about that, I am now at the start of "the veiled lodger" and just at the very beginning we have another inconsistency: Watson said Holmes' career was 23 years, 17 of those were with him cooperating. Well, considering that Holmes retired December 1903, since 1875 we have 28 years, and since 1881, 22 years. I mean, I am sure ACD knew some simple maths, didn't he? It is not an excuse (at least for me), that he didn't like the character much. I will always love SH, but for those kind of things is that I found the original stories kinda disappointing, and I have a lot to say about how the stories are written. I have no doubt that SH has trascended due to his many adaptations rather than the original stories. And may sound like a cliché, but I consider that the best adaptation by far is BBC's Sherlock.
By the way, can anyone really believe that Sherlock Holmes retired in 1903 until his death in 1957? Because I DON'T. A man that was constantly craving a crime to occur, a man that shot at the wall when he was bored, etc, he retired to Sussex to be a beekeeper. That's where I think ACD could have written something more interesting for Holmes' end, such as being shoted, or making him have a terminal ill from 1903 to 1914. Those things would justify that he retired. But sorry, I am just venting. With that, I am three stories away from finishing, and having read all of them in a row for four months, I would lie if I say it has been an adventure that I haven't enjoy.