Critics have observed that Hornung 's stories and novels are well @-@ structured . George Orwell wrote that Hornung was " a very conscientious and on his level a very able writer . Anyone who care for sheer efficiency must admire his work " . Watson state that Hornung 's " writing have pace . The stories , however ridiculous , carry the readers along briskly " . According to Cox , " Hornung 's work showed steady maturation " during his career , a point that Doyle also agreed with , although Edwards disagree , and think The Crime Doctor to be one of Hornung 's weaker books .