"Cleek of Scotland Yard: Detective Stories" by Thomas W. Hanshew is a collection of detective stories written in the early 20th century. The book follows the adventures of Cleek, a master detective famed for his brilliant sleuthing abilities, as he unravels mysteries that baffle the London police. The stories focus on various intriguing cases, including murders shrouded in enigma and the procedural depth of Scotland Yard's investigations. The opening of the collection introduces us to Superintendent Maverick Narkom of Scotland Yard, grappling with a string of mysterious deaths that have created terror in London. As the press bombards him with criticism, he converses with Detective Sergeant Petrie about the situation and the absence of their key ally, Cleek. Through their dialogue, we learn that five men have died under suspicious circumstances, their deaths linked by a similar pattern of events, which suggests foul play. Narkom's desperation to reach Cleek becomes evident as he contemplates placing an advertisement in the papers to find him, thus setting the stage for Cleek's re-entry into the story and the thrilling cases awaiting resolution. (This is an automatically generated summary.)