 Critic Michael Brodhead argues that " Biggers 's sympathetic treatment of the Charlie Chan novels convinces the reader that the author consciously and forthrightly spoke out for the Chinese – a people to be not only accepted but admired . Biggers 's sympathetic treatment of the Chinese reflected and contributed to the greater acceptance of Chinese @-@ Americans in the first third of [ the twentieth ] century . " S. T. Karnick writes in the National Review that Chan is " a brilliant detective with understandably limited facility in the English language [ whose ] powers of observation , logic , and personal rectitude and humility made him an exemplary , entirely honorable character . " Ellery Queen called Biggers 's characterization of Charlie Chan " a service to humanity and to inter @-@ racial relations . " Dave Kehr of The New York Times said Chan " might have been a stereotype , but he was a stereotype on the side of the angels . " Luke agreed ; when asked if he thought that the character was demeaning to the race , he responded , " Demeaning to the race ? My God ! You 've got a Chinese hero ! " and " [ W ] e were making the best damn murder mysteries in Hollywood . " 
