LARGE PRINT EDITION. 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 twentieth
century.
Shaken by the murder of his uncle, a Bostonian aristocrat living in
Hawai'i, John Quincy Winterslip travels to the islands to manage his
estate and encourage his aunt Minerva to return home. Uncomfortable at
first, he soon grows to appreciate both the natural beauty of life in
the Pacific and the youthful attraction of a young woman he meets on his
trip. Winterslip makes the decision to break off his engagement with
Agatha and remains in Hawai'i to help with the investigation into his
uncle's death. As he grows familiar with the case, he comes to respect
Chinese American detective Charlie Chan, an intelligent and honest man
who dedicates himself to his work with passion and honor. The House
Without a Key, the first in a series of six novels featuring Chan,
rejuvenated Biggers' career as a leading writer of popular fiction in
the early twentieth century.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript,
this edition of Earl Derr Biggers' The House Without a Key is a
classic of American detective fiction reimagined for modern readers.
