Earl Derr Biggers Books In Order

Charlie Chan Books In Publication Order

  1. The House Without a Key (1925)
  2. The Chinese Parrot (1926)
  3. Behind That Curtain (1928)
  4. The Black Camel (1929)
  5. Charlie Chan Carries On (1930)
  6. Keeper of the Keys (1932)
  7. Charlie Chan in the Temple of the Golden Horde (1974)

Charlie Chan Collections In Publication Order

  1. Celebrated Cases of Charlie Chan (1985)

Standalone Novels In Publication Order

  1. Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913)
  2. Love Insurance (1914)
  3. Inside the Lines (1915)
  4. The Agony Column (1916)
  5. The Ebony Stick (1916)
  6. Fifty Candles (1926)

Short Story Collections In Publication Order

  1. Earl Derr Biggers Tells Ten Stories (1933)

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Earl Derr Biggers Books Overview

The House Without a Key

The House Without a Key is a novel that was written in 1925 by Earl Derr Biggers. It is the first of the Charlie Chan mysteries written by Biggers. The novel is remarkable in two respects. First, although Chan is ostensibly the detective, his role in the book is fairly small. He does figure out the solution to the case, but it is at the same time as Winterslip, and it is the Bostonian who has the honor of collaring the murderer. Second, the novel’s portrayal of the Chinese, specifically Charlie Chan, is forward looking for its era. The Bostonians find it hard to accept a Chinese detective on the case, but the locals know him by reputation and show him respect. While, some of the descriptions evince some of the stereotypes of the day, Chan is portrayed sympathetically, as an equal to the whites that surround him. Indeed, Charlie Chan’s superior, a white Captain of Detectives, puts him on the case and trusts him completely. wikipedia. org

The Chinese Parrot

1926. The character of Charlie Chan was based in part on the experiences of two Chinese detectives, Chang Apana and Lee Fook, who Biggers had read about in a Honolulu newspaper while on vacation. Biggers wrote six Charlie Chan mysteries. The Chinese Parrot is the second book in the series and begins: Alexander Eden stepped from the misty street into the great, marble pillared room where the firm of Meek and Eden offered its wares. Immediately, behind showcases gorgeous with precious stones or bright with silver, platinum and gold, forty resplendent clerks stood at attention. Their morning coats were impeccable, lacking the slightest suspicion of a wrinkle, and in the left lapel of each was a pink carnation, as fresh and perfect as though it had grown there.

Behind That Curtain

The third novel in the Charlie Chan series. set almost exclusively in California as opposed to Chan’s native Hawaii, and tells the story of the former head of Scotland Yard, a detective who is pursuing the long cold trail of a murderer. Fifteen years ago, a London solicitor was killed in circumstances in which the only clue was a pair of Chinese slippers, which he apparently donned just before his death. Sir Frederic Bruce has been following the trail of the killer ever since. He has also been interested in what appears to be a series of disappearing women around the world, which has some connection to the disappearance of a woman named Eve Durand in rural India also fifteen years ago. Just when it seems he might finally solve the murder case, at a dinner party to which a number of important and mysterious guests have been invited, Inspector Bruce is killed and was last seen wearing a pair of Chinese slippers, which have vanished. It is left to Chan to solve the case and tie up all loose ends.

The Black Camel

The Black Camel is the fourth of the Charlie Chan novels by Earl Derr Biggers. Plot summary:It tells the story of a Hollywood star, shooting a film on location in Hawaii, who is murdered during her stay. The story behind her murder is linked with the three year old murder of another Hollywood actor and also connected with an enigmatic psychic named Tarneverro. Chan, in his position as a detective with the Honolulu Police Department, ‘investigates amid public clamor demanding that the murderer be found and punished immediately. ‘Death is The Black Camel that kneels unbidden at every gate,’ Chan tells the suspects.’ CONTENTS: I. Morning At The CrossroadsII. The House On The BeachIII. Flowers For Shelah FaneIV. The Camel At The GateV. The Man In The OvercoatVI. Fireworks In The RainVII. The Alibi Of The WatchVIII. The Beach Comber’s ShoesIX. Eighteen Important MinutesX. ‘Shelah From Denny’XI. Midnight In HonoluluXII. Nobody’s FoolXIII. Breakfast With The ChansXIV. The Pavilion WindowXV. ‘Two Juices Of The Orange’XVI. A Word Of WarningXVII. How Denny Mayo DiedXVIII. The Bell Man’s StoryXIX. Tarneverro’s Helping HandXX. One Corner Of The VeilXXI. The King Of MysteryXXII. What The Beach Comber HeardXXIII. The Fateful ChairXXIV. The Veil Is Lifted a selection from: Chapter I MORNING AT THE CROSSROADSThe Pacific is the loneliest of oceans, and travelers across that rolling desert begin to feel that their ship is lost in an eternity of sky and water. But if they are journeying from the atolls of the South Seas to the California coast, they come quite suddenly upon a half way house. So those aboard the Oceanic had come upon it shortly after dawn this silent July morning. Brown misty peaks rose from the ocean floor, incredible, unreal. But they grew more probable with each moment of approach, until finally the watchers at the rail were thrilled to distinguish the bright green island of Oahu, streaked with darker folds where lurk the valley rains. The Oceanic swung about to the channel entrance. There stood Diamond Head, like a great lion if you want the time worn simile crouched to spring. A crouching lion, yes; the figure is plausible up to that point; but as for springing well, there has never been the slightest chance of that. Diamond Head is a kamaaina of the islands, and has long ago sensed the futility of acting on impulse of acting, as a matter of fact, at all. A woman traveler stood by the starboard rail on the boat deck, gazing at the curved beach of Waikiki and, up ahead, the white walls of Honolulu half hidden in the foliage behind the Aloha Tower. A handsome woman in her early thirties, she had been a source of unending interest to her fellow passengers throughout that hot monotonous voyage from Tahiti. No matter in what remote corner of the world you have been hiding, you would have recognized her at once, for she was Shelah Fane of the pictures, and hers was a fame equal to that of any president or king. ‘A great piece of property,’ film salesmen had called her for eight years or more, but now they had begun to shake their heads. ‘Not so good. She’s slipping.’ Golden lads and las*ses must, like chimney sweepers, come to dust, which is something the film stars think about when they can not sleep of nights. Shelah had not been sleeping well of late, and her eyes, as they rested on peaceful Tantalus with its halo of fleecy cloud, were sad and a little wistful.

Charlie Chan Carries On

In Room 28 on the 3rd floor of Broome’s super respectable hotel in London, lay an American tourist, one Hugh Morris Drake, kindly automobile manufacturer from Detroit. He had been murdered in the night. Drake was a member of a round the world travel party, and before Inspector Duff of Scotland Yard could discover any convincing evidence, the group was moving on. By train and ship they widened the distance between themselves and Broome’s Hotel, while Death hovered like a brooding hawk above, and Duff tried frantically to get the answer to the puzzle. How Charlie Chan comes into it, the reader will want to discover for himself. Suffice it to say that he does come in the same old Charlie with his fresh aphorisms and delicious mannerisms…
CONTENTS: CHAPTER I RAIN IN PICCADILLYCHAPTER II FOG AT BROOME’S HOTELCHAPTER III THE MAN WITH A WEAK HEARTCHAPTER IV DUFF OVERLOOKS A CLUECHAPTER V LUNCHEON AT THE MONICOCHAPTER VI TEN FORTY FIVE FROM VICTORIACHAPTER VII AN ADMIRER OF SCOTLAND YARDCHAPTER VIII FOG ON THE RIVIERACHAPTER IX DUSK AT SAN REMOCHAPTER X THE DEAFNESS OF MR. DRAKECHAPTER XI THE GENOA EXPRESSCHAPTER XII THE JEWELER IN CHOWWRINGHEE ROADCHAPTER XIII A KNOCK AT CHARLIE’S DOORCHAPTER XIV DINNER ON PUNCHBOWL HILLCHAPTER XV BOUND EAST FROM HONOLULUCHAPTER XVI THE MALACCA STICKCHAPTER XVII THE GREAT EASTERN LABELCHAPTER XVIII MAXY MINCHIN’S PARTYCHAPTER XIX THE FRUITFUL TREECHAPTER XX MISS PAMELA MAKES A LISTCHAPTER XXI THE PROMENADE DES ANGLAISCHAPTER XXII TIME TO FISHCHAPTER XXIII TIME TO DRY THE NETS

Keeper of the Keys

In Biggers’ final novel, Charlie Chan is invited to millionaire Dudley Ward’s home in Lake Tahoe to try to find his missing son. However the murder of Dudley Ward’s ex wife, the soprano Ellen Landini, soon occupies his complete attention, and potential suspects abound. He examines the evidence but seems unable to persuade Ah Sing, the titular Keeper of the Keys, to break his loyal silence and give him the key to solving the mystery.

Charlie Chan in the Temple of the Golden Horde

Earl Derr Biggers’ classic detective Charlie Chan investigates a cult called the Temple of the Golden Horde, which may be involved in murder! This short novel, by Edgar Award nominee Michael Collins, originally appeared in Charlie Chan Mystery Magazine in 1974. This is the first book publication. Features a new introduction by the author.

Seven Keys to Baldpate

A YOUNG woman was crying bitterly in the waiting. room of the ‘railway ‘station at Upper Asquewan Falls, New Yor A beauti ful young woman? That is exactly what Billy 1. fagee wanted to kriow as, closing the waiting room door behind him, he stood staring just inside. Were the features against which that frail bit of cambric was agonizingly pressed of a pleasing contour? The girl’s neatly tailored corduroy suit and her flippant but channing millinery augured vell. Should he step gallantly forward and inquire in sympathetic tones as to the cause of her woe? Should he carry chivalry even to the lengths of Upper Asquewan Falls?Table of Contents CONTENTS; eRAl”ntJl GII; I ‘WEEP No MollE, MT’LADY’ 1; II ENTU A LoVELORN HABERDASHER , 25; III BLONDES AND SUFFllACE’lTES Sl; IV A PROPESIlONAL HERMIT ,ApPEARS 70; V THE MAYOR CASTS A SHADOW BEFORE B9; VI GHOST’S OF THE SUMMER CROWD 111; VII THE MAYOR BEGINS A VIGIL 134; VIII MR, MAX TELLS A TALE OP SUSPICJOIC 152; IX MELODRAWA IN THE SI’OW 161; X THE COLD GJtAY DAWN US; XI A FALSEHOOD UNDEIt THE PAlMS 205; XII WOE IN NUMBEIt SEVEN 224; XIII THE EXQUISITE MR HAYDEN 2 2; XIV THE SIGN OF THE OPEN WINDOW 261; XV TABLETAL 279; XVI A MA11 FROK THE DAR 29S; XVII THE PllOFESSOIt SUMS Up 311; XVIII A RED CAllD 333; XIX ExEUNT OMNES, AS SHAKESPEARE H,u IT 3049; THE ADMIRAL ‘ GAME 366; :XXI THE MAYOR IS WELCOMED HOME 379; XXII THE USUAL THING 39SAbout the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology. Forgotten Books’ Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst di

Love Insurance

This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR’d book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Inside the Lines

World War I drama, based on the Broadway play by Earl Derr Biggers. Includes a selection of photographs from the play.

The Agony Column

This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare’s finesse to Oscar Wilde s wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim s Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must have addition to any library.

Fifty Candles

Biggers had always been interested in mystery fiction, but his interest in Hawaii clearly stems from a 1919 vacation in Honolulu. While there, he read a newspaper article on a Chinese detective named Chang Apana. Apana would become the model for Charlie Chan in Biggers’ 1925 novel, House Without a Key, and there quickly followed five more Charlie Chan novels. Fifty Candles published just two years after that 1919 vacation shows how Hawaii, China, and murder had already begun to come together in Biggers’ imagination. The story starts in a courthouse in Honolulu, moves to China, then to fog shrouded San Francisco. Many of the elements used in the Charlie Chan series are present: Chinese characters both sinister and sympathetic, the Honolulu legal system, a shrewd detective in this case, the lawyer Mark Drew rather than a policemen, and a baffling murder complete with red herrings and plenty of suspects. Though Fifty Candles is a murder mystery, it is also a romance, with the romantic elements at times in the forefront. Mostly, though, it is a book that will delight Biggers’ many fans as they trace the origins of Charlie Chan.

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