This volume, the first, contains two novels and several short stories.  Among the earliest of the CSI genre, they seem clearly patterned after Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson.  There is a highly logical detective and a pleasant,but not particularly perceptive assistant (two different characters essentially interchangeable).  The cases are pretty well described for the reader with enough left out to make me feel smarter than the assistant, but not as smart as Thorndyke.  The writing is old fashioned but clear and quaint.