Earl Derr Biggers Libri

Questo romanzo vede Charlie Chan, il flemmatico investigatore cinese, alle prese con una diva della lirica e i suoi quattro ex mariti. Come al solito, il simpatico cinese darà prova del suo straordinario acume e delle sue capacità deduttive, riuscendo a risolvere l'omicidio - anzi, gli omicidi - in poco più di una giornata. Molta ironica eleganza, molti proverbi orientali e un'eccezionale capacità di venire a capo degli intrighi e dei moventi più complessi; da questo affascinante romanzo fu tratta un'opera teatrale che trionfò a Broadway nel 1933, l'anno in cui Biggers morì.

Sally Jordan non ha più un soldo. Non le resta che una possibilità per uscire dai guai: vendere il suo filo di perle ed entrare così in possesso di trecentomila dollari. Charlie Chan, sergente investigativo della polizia di Honolulu, viene incaricato di portare la preziosissima collana a San Francisco, dove l’attende un potenziale acquirente. Un affare da nulla, sembrerebbe. Ma appena Charlie Chan giunge a San Francisco la faccenda si complica: ad attenderlo solo un misterioso invito a recarsi per la consegna in un ranch sperduto nel deserto. È solo l’inizio di una lunga storia.

Charlie Chan is back! Earl Derr Biggers' crackling six-volume series featuring the clever, chubby Chinese Detective of the Honolulu Police Department, is coming back into print. Biggers brings Honolulu to life with his deft descriptions of the landscape and its hybrid ethnic communities. And with the creation of Inspector Chan, Biggers also shatters stereotypes and is ahead of his time in highlighting the positive aspects of Chinese-Hawaiian culture. In this first novel, published in 1925, Chan comes to the aid of an aristocratic Boston family who find themselves in dire straits over what has befallen Dan Winterslip, the black sheep of the family, who lives in a mansion on Waikiki Beach — the house without a key. The troubles begin when a young nephew is dispatched by the family in Boston to retrieve a wayward aunt who has overstayed her welcome in Dan Winterslip's house.

A mysterious millionaire with a penchant for strange pets takes a flyer on a string of pearls and finds that death is the broker. "Charlie Chan embarks on an incognito journey across the desert to find the answer to a question - a question posed by a dead parrot who spoke in Chinese . . . "

Featuring two intriguing mysteries, this collection showcases the legendary detective Charlie Chan as he unravels complex cases with his keen intellect and unique methods. Readers will be drawn into the suspenseful plots filled with twists and turns, highlighting Chan's cultural insights and deductive reasoning. These stories not only entertain but also delve into themes of justice and morality, making them timeless additions to the mystery genre.

The story unfolds with a shocking murder in a beach house in Waikiki, where a wealthy man is found dead with a knife in his heart and a lizard leaving a bloody trail on his pajamas. This gripping mystery introduces Charlie Chan, who must unravel the circumstances surrounding the violent crime. The vivid setting and unusual details set the stage for a thrilling investigation that combines elements of suspense and intrigue.

The final installment of the Leonaur series features two captivating Charlie Chan mysteries. In the first story, the detective aids Scotland Yard's Inspector Duff, who is injured while pursuing a global murderer. Chan steps in to solve the case. The second tale takes Chan to California, where he is a guest of an opera singer and quickly becomes entangled in a murder investigation involving various suspects, including ex-husbands and a dog named Trouble. Both narratives showcase Chan's keen investigative skills and the complexity of human relationships.

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.

Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, the story unfolds a gripping mystery involving a series of murders that shake the city. As the protagonist delves into the investigation, they uncover dark secrets and hidden connections among the victims. The narrative explores themes of betrayal, justice, and the complexities of human relationships, all while capturing the vibrant and often perilous essence of urban life. The intertwining of personal stakes with a broader societal commentary adds depth to this thrilling tale.

Charlie Chan-the famous and popular Chinese-Hawaiian police detective-has entertained his audience through several different mediums, from the written word to the movie screen, A number of authors have turned their pens to the character, but, in fact, Charlie Chan appeared originally in just six novels written by Earl Derr Biggers between 1925 and 1932. It is these colourful tales of the original Charlie Chan that comprise the Leonaur collection of three volumes-this volume contains the first two novels. In The House Without a Key we are introduced to Chan, a corpulent father of nine, as he uses all his considerable faculties to solve the mystifying case of a murdered father and a missing jewel box. In The Chinese Parrot, Chan dons a disguise and goes undercover to solve a complex triple intrigue involving a fake identity, a kidnapping and a murder. These wonderful examples of twentieth century detective fiction bring the world of 1920s Hawaii to vibrant life once again-and richly deserve their classic status.