The House Without a Key

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The House Without a Key (1925) is the first novel in Earl Derr Biggers' Charlie Chan series. It's a classic mystery set in 1920s Hawaii, introducing the iconic Chinese-Hawaiian detective Charlie Chan, who would go on to become one of the most famous fictional detectives of the era.

John Quincy Winterslip, a young Bostonian from an old and proper New England family, visits his relatives in Honolulu, only to become entangled in a murder investigation. His uncle, a wealthy and somewhat scandalous man, is found dead in his home. Enter Charlie Chan, a brilliant and unassuming Honolulu police detective, who takes on the case with his signature mix of wisdom, patience, and subtle humor. As the investigation unfolds, Chan and Winterslip uncover family secrets, hidden motives, and a web of deception.

This novel was hugely popular and led to several sequels, as well as numerous film adaptations that helped shape Charlie Chan into a legendary detective character.