Now on the final chapter of The House Without A Key, the first novel in the original, six-volume Charlie Chan series by Earl Derr Biggers. Such a different style from Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Brother Cadfael's Ellis Peters. and Judge Dee's Roberr van Gulik but I like, I like! They are all deliciously clever (not the sleuths but the authors, I mean.)

This read like a modern-day Wilkie Collins--the crime and the perpetrator take back seats in favor of characters, their relationships, and interesting subplots. In the end, though, everything is airtight and falls into place. What confused me at first was the time frame, until a Google search informed me that these novels were written long before World Wars I and II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Love the Hawaiian backdrop--words and phrases, food, drinks, and customs--and I would have desired to fly to Honolulu except that I already live in one, exotic, tropical country.

Reading The Chinese Parrot next.

A brief note to other Charlie Chan fans: these original novels are not to be confused with the teleplays and movie scripts that were later developed for popular viewing.