Charlie Chan in Keeper of the Keys

On January 24, 1925, The Saturday Evening Post began its serialization of the book that would make Earl Derr Biggers famous: The House Without a Key, the first of the Charlie Chan series. Chan, the first Chinese detective in literature, was modeled after Chang Apana, a real-life police detective in Honolulu.

Charlie Chan in Keeper of the Keys is the sixth and final novel in the Charlie Chan series. Published in 1932, the story features the Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan solving another intricate mystery. In this novel, Chan is called to investigate the murder of a wealthy and influential woman named Ellen Landini. The murder takes place in her secluded estate, where a variety of characters, each with their own secrets and motives, are gathered. As Chan delves deeper into the case, he uncovers hidden relationships, old grudges, and surprising twists. The novel showcases Biggers skill in creating engaging characters and suspenseful plots, and it is celebrated for its blend of mystery and cultural insight.

Earl Derr Biggers ultimately wrote six Charlie Chan mystery novels: The House Without A Key, The Chinese Parrot, Behind That Curtain, The Black Camel, Charlie Chan Carries On, and Keeper of the Keys. Each of these books is wonderfully told, and through the later films, radio shows, comics, and television series, Charlie Chan became an enduring popular figure.