Van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat who liked 18th century popular Chinese detective novels. He chose Judge Dee, a real but legendary magistrate from about a thousand years earlier as his chief good-guy. These period pieces all involve detective storytelling in the older Chinese style.

This book is longer than most (they're all short) and relfects van Gulik's talent in a slightly raw state. BTW I think most of this work is gone over in the others. It's the only such case.

The mysteries are fine, but I'm not really a mystery buff - I like these for the storytelling and the period/culture work. If you don't like one, don't try the rest - they're pretty similar.

My recommendation: don't read them all at once. Save them and spread them out - and read them in chronological order.