Charlie Chan in the Black Camel

<p>On January 24 1925 <em>The Saturday Evening Post</em> 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.</p><p><em>The Black Camel</em> is the fourth novel in the Charlie Chan series by Earl Derr Biggers published in 1929. The story takes place in Honolulu and centers around the murder of a famous Hollywood actress named Shelah Fane who is in Hawaii for the filming of a movie. The actress is found dead at a luxurious beachfront estate and suspicion falls on various members of the film crew and other individuals with whom she had close ties.</p><p>Charlie Chan the astute and methodical Chinese-American detective from the Honolulu Police Department is called to solve the mystery. As Chan delves deeper into the case he uncovers a series of complex relationships hidden motives and past secrets that all play a part in the murder. The novel is noted for its vivid portrayal of 1920s Hawaii its engaging characters and its well-crafted plot which keeps readers guessing until the end</p><p>Earl Derr Biggers ultimately wrote six Charlie Chan mystery novels: <em>The House Without A Key</em> <em>The Chinese Parrot</em> <em>Behind That Curtain</em> <em>The Black Camel</em> <em>Charlie Chan Carries On</em> and <em>Keeper of the Keys</em>. 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.</p>