Keeper of the Keys

I have read all the books written by Biggers' narrating Charlie's adventures and I am posting this review to all of them in general.Biggers' writing style is unique and easily distinguishable,his characters amusing and very realistic and his star detective (Charlie Chan) one of the most balanced individuals in crime fiction;this guy will make you laugh and he will make you think harder on the values of life,he will praise patience yet he will deliver justice swiftly and effectively,he will be kind and he will be cunning.Having read contemporary as well as older works of crime fiction,I recommend every single one of this books hands down.Just read it!Thank you for reading this review.

The sixth and last Charlie Chan mystery by Earl Derr Biggers is an unmitigated delight. The plot unfolds with an intriguing scenario. Wealthy and hospitible Dudley Ward gathers together all the ex-husbands of his ex-wife, opera singer Ellen Landini, at his home on Lake Tahoe. Ward is trying to discover the whereabouts of a son he never knew he had until now, kept hidden from him by the capricious star. He thinks the husbands might know something. Charlie Chan has also been invited to help Ward with the inquiry. There are four ex-husbands, including Ward, all of them angry with Landini, who is about to marry a fifth husband, also present, with his sister, at this bizarre gathering. Landini herself arrives on the scene to complete the madness, and is promptly murdered. This book is rich in fun characters, half of them suspects. The French maid is jealous of Landini, who has seduced her husband in the past. The ancient Chinese family servant is always turning up under foot and never knows anything. The handsome young sheriff promptly falls in love with one of the suspects, the sister of the once-future husband. It's all wonderfully complicated, and suspicion shifts with every chapter. Charlie Chan's wise sayings flow generously from the pen of Earl Derr Biggers and are always amusing. I'm very sorry to be finished with the series, and recommend it highly. Earl derr Biggers has created an unforgettable, totally original detective in Charlie Chan, and the books now have a vintage flavor that only increases the reader's pleasure. The new paperback editions by Academy Chicago Publishers are very nicely produced.