"Dead Men's Letters" is a collection of six episodes originally published in Black Mask magazine during 1926-27. Each installment has enough background information to be read on its own, but there is a sequential continuity to the narratives. The hero in these stories is Ed Jenkins, wanted by law enforcement in several states and known as the "Phantom Crook." There are elements present here which were, or have since become, central within the hard-boiled detective genre: A lone hero on the outskirts of society; a code of ethics which champions the underdog; beautiful and adoring women; and the hero's knowledge that he will never enjoy love from a committed relationship or respectability in society. These are plot-driven stories, and the action is nearly non-stop. The exploits are fast-paced - chases and escapes are in every episode. The speed of physical movement - of fist, foot or automobile - frequently drives the story. Still, Gardner's text has significantly more description of characters and their environment than was his style in the Perry Mason novels.