Professor Craig Kennedy is a scientist detective at Columbia University. He uses his knowledge of chemistry and psychoanalysis to solve cases, and uses exotic devices in his work such as lie detectors, gyroscopes, and portable seismographs. "The Exploits of Elaine" tells the story of a young woman named Elaine who, with the help of a detective Craig Kennedy, tries to find the man, known only as "The Clutching Hand", who murdered her father. "The Romance of Elaine" is the sequel of the story of Elaine and Professor Kennedy who, this time, get involved in a conflict with Wu Fang, the master of "The Clutching Hand".

Arthur B. Reeve (1880-1936) was an American mystery writer. He is best known for creating the series character Professor Craig Kennedy, sometimes called "The American Sherlock Holmes", and Kennedy's Dr. Watson-like sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter. Kennedy is a scientist detective at Columbia University who uses his knowledge of chemistry and psychoanalysis to solve cases, and uses exotic devices in his work such as lie detectors, gyroscopes, and portable seismographs. Many of Reeve's novels were turned into films.