The House Without a Key (1925) is a mystery novel by Earl Derr Biggers. The first in a series of novels featuring Chinese American detective Charlie Chan, The House Without a Key is notable for its nuanced depiction of race and class on the edges of American empire. Based in part on the life of Chinese Hawaiian detective Chang Apana, the character of Charlie Chan was intended by Biggers as an alternative to racist Yellow Peril stereotypes of the early...

Lord Harrowby visits Lloyds of London and takes out an insurance policy on his future wedding, which guarantees a hefty payout if the ceremony stalls. It's an odd request that leads to desperate measures from both parties. Lord Allan Harrowby is engaged to marry a wealthy American heiress. Prior to their nuptials, he decides to take out an insurance policy on their wedding. If it doesn't occur by a certain time, Harrowby will receive a massive claim...

Honolulu detective Charlie Chan goes undercover in the California desert in this classic mystery adventure. The transfer of a valuable string of pearls from Hawaii to California draws Honolulu detective Charlie Chan into the orbit of an eccentric financier with a penchant for exotic pets. When he encounters a Chinese-speaking parrot, Chan is intrigued by the provocative and dangerous question it asks. And when the bird mysteriously dies, Chan is determined...

John Quincy Winterslip, membre de l'alta societat de Boston, viatja a Hawaii per visitar els seus familiars Dan i Amos, que fa anys que van deixar la ciutat a favor de la calma paradisíaca. Ara bé, a l'illa l'espera una sorpresa: Dan ha estat assassinat. Mentre investiga per descobrir la veritat, es deixa seduir per l'estil de vida de Honolulu, radicalment diferent de l'estrès bostonià. Per resoldre el misteri comptarà amb l'ajuda de la seva...

The House Without a Key is the classic novel in which Charlie Chan makes his debut as Inspector of the Honolulu Police Department. Earl Derr Biggers brings Honolulu to life with deft descriptions of the landscape and of its hybrid ethnic communities. With the creation of Detective Chan, Biggers also shatters stereotypes and is ahead of his time in highlighting the positive aspects of Chinese-Hawaiian culture, just as his skillful rendering of San...

Inspector Duff works with the Scotland Yard. He is called in to investigate a mysterious murder that occurred at a famous local London hotel. A deaf old man, traveling on pleasure trip from America with his daughter and granddaughter, has been murdered during the night. At first, the investigation seems to be pointing towards Doctor Lofton, the leader of the tour group, as the culprit. Much to the chagrin of the other travelers in the group, they...

Renowned detective Charlie Chan is off to the races in this exciting equestrian adventure about murder on the hoof! When a prominent racehorse owner winds up dead, allegedly kicked to death by his prized stallion, Charlie Chan is called in to investigate. But when the indomitable detective discovers evidence of foul play, he's soon hot on the hooves of an international gambling ring with an evil plot.

This mystery pits Charlie Chan against international spies who are using the Berlin Olympic games as the perfect cover for cold-blooded murder. The detective is aided by his son who just happens to be on the U.S. swim team.

When Chan sets out to investigate the link between several suspicious deaths and a mysterious psychic named Dr. Zodiac, he soon finds himself up to his third eye in intrigue. But as the great detective edges closer to the shocking truth, he finally begins to see that behind every great mystic is an even greater magician.