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 Carries On, published in 1930, is the fifth novel in the Charlie Chan series. It follows the famous Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan as he investigates a murder that occurs during a round-the-world tour. The story begins in London, where a wealthy American businessman is found dead in his hotel room. As the investigation unfolds, Chan travels across multiple continents, following clues and questioning suspects from various walks of life. The novel is known for its intricate plot, rich character development, and the blend of humor and suspense that characterizes the series.
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.