It may be easy to criticise Archer's lack of characterisation but he does tell a cracking good short story. Two of my favourite writers are Roald Dahl and Somerset Maugham, both short story specialists, and while Archer isn't quite in that class, his work is immensely enjoyable.
I read this in a couple of days and to use the cliche 'I couldn't put it down' would be an overstatement, but I was compelled by it. It's cosy (aside from one tale about prisoners), it's comforting, it's pleasurable, it's nice, it's the sort of book to read in your favourite armchair.
The endings may occasionally be underwhelming, but it's always fun getting there.