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      The House Without a Key

      by Earl Derr Biggers
      Published
      Jan 1925
      Main Genre
      Law Enforcement Law Enforcement
      Rating
      Pages
      240
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      Series
      Charlie Chan Book 1

      About This Book

      The first book in the mystery series that served as the basis for the classic films—inspired by a real-life Chinese-Hawaiian police detective.

      A young man has traveled from Boston all the way to Hawaii to try to convince his aunt to return to their wealthy New England family. Instead, he too finds himself seduced by the islands. But when his aunt is murdered, a shadow falls over the sunny Pacific paradise.


      Set against the fascinating backdrop of 1920s Waikiki, this novel introduced readers to Asian sleuth Charlie Chan, who was modeled on a real-life Chinese detective in the Honolulu Police Department and would become one of the most famous crime solvers of twentieth-century popular culture.


      "Charlie Chan's appeal, which depends on his self-effacing charm and trademark aphorisms, remains constant from one case to the next." —Kirkus Reviews

      Series Placement

      Book 1
      View full series order

      Genres & Themes

      Genres

      Suspense

      Subgenres

      Hard-Boiled Law Enforcement

      Characters & Occupations

      Women Sleuths

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      Formats & Editions

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      Paperback

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      Mass Market Paperback
      Sep 1986 Popular Library ISBN13 9780445402195 ISBN10 0445402199
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      Oct 2008 Academy Chicago Publishers ISBN13 9780897335799 ISBN10 0897335791
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      Oct 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781518644467 ISBN10 1518644465
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      Dec 2015 Createspace ISBN13 9781522881988 ISBN10 1522881980
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      Jul 2016 Createspace ISBN13 9781535395953 ISBN10 1535395958
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      Jul 2016 Createspace ISBN13 9781535433334 ISBN10 1535433337
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      Aug 2016 Createspace ISBN13 9781536989915 ISBN10 1536989916
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      Hardcover

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      Hardcover
      Dec 1988 Random House ISBN13 9780517347072 ISBN10 0517347075
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      Oct 1995 Amereon Limited ISBN13 9780848809171 ISBN10 0848809173
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      Mar 1998 Otto Penzler Books ISBN13 9781883402235 ISBN10 1883402239
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      eBook

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      May 2007 Tower Publishing ISBN13 2940149066650
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      Oct 2008 Academy Chicago Publishers ISBN13 9780897336420 ISBN10 0897336429
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      Jul 2012 VRE Publishing ISBN10 B008NWJWU6
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      May 2013 Tri-Fold Media Group ISBN13 2940016704715
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      Oct 2013 Bloomsbury ISBN13 9781448213245 ISBN10 144821324X
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      Feb 2014 Hillside Publishing ISBN13 2940148566786
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      Aug 2015 Magic Fairy Tales ISBN13 2940151059527
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      Jan 2021 Mysterious Press ISBN13 9781504000840 ISBN10 1504000846
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      Jun 2026 Waking Lion Press ISBN13 9781434108661 ISBN10 143410866X
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      Audio

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      Apr 2021 John D. Rayburn ISBN10 B08XR25PRY
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