You can almost feel the gentle trade winds of Hawaii during the 1920s in this classic novel by Earl Derr Biggers. Romantic and full of atmosphere, this is a most enjoyable read that was our first introduction to Charlie Chan. Biggers was always a great romance writer who simply incorporated mystery into his books to propel the story forward. This is never more evident than in The House Without a Key.

The story centers on young and proper John Quincy Winterslip of Boston, who has been sent to retrieve the elder Minerva Winterslip from the 'semi-barbaric' Pacific Islands of Hawaii. When his ship stops in San Francisco on its journey to the islands, however, John Quincy's idea of who he is begins to change. The possibility that there is a world outside of Boston and Beacon Hill, has begun to take shape in Quincy's soul. A mysterious errand in an exciting and mysterious San Francisco for the black sheep of the family, Dan Winterslip, who is also living in Hawaii, will kick off an adventure that will, in the end, turn John into a man.

A murder shortly before John's arrival will reveal old family secrets from a time when Hawaii was wild and dangerous, and a port for all the world. John Quincy does not understand the nostalgia Minerva and others feel for this time in Hawaii's history, but soon discovers for himself that romance is alive in those trade winds blowing the palms fronds. John will meet Carlota Egan, a girl who could not be further away from the fiancée awaiting him back in Boston. As John Quincy begins to help his lovely cousin Barbara and Minerva get to the bottom of the murder, Boston seems more and more like a distant memory.

Luckily for John, Hawaii's best police detective will become his friend while helping to unravel the clues. That detective, of course, is Charlie Chan. An Asian who has been in Hawaii many years, Chan navigates the mystery with little to go on, but with much wisdom and humor. The Charlie Chan of The House Without a Key is subtle and endearing. Chan may be Chinese, but his very American take on a piece of pie with which he is unhappy he is a hoot!

Biggers truly makes both his characters and the islands of Hawaii come alive in the first novel in which Charlie Chan appeared. His descriptions of Hawaii as seen through the eyes of the characters are both nostalgic, and filled with beauty. The House Without a Key is that rare novel which can be read with pleasure by those who love a good mystery, or those who love a light and atmospheric romance. If both are your cup of tea, this great classic is definitely for you. It is a great read during summer, when things are bright and cheery, or during winter, when you want a tropical escape. The writing style is of another era, of course, but all the lovelier for it. A true mystery classic. ( )

En «La casa sin llaves» Chan deberá enfrentarse al asesinato de un antiguo «blackbirder» (eufemismo con el que se conocía a «reclutadores de trabajadores» para las plantaciones de cocoteros de los Mares del Sur, esclavistas para entendernos) llamado Dan Winterslip, hombre rico y ahora respetado que reside en Honolulu, por entonces pequeña ciudad en medio del paraíso en la que también viven su hermano Amos, con quien no se habla desde hace más de 30 años y su prima hermana Minerva, las tres ovejas negras de una familia puritana del más rancio abolengo bostoniano. Dan aparece muerto en su casa frente a Waikiki Beach justo cuando a puerto llega un barco con John Quincy Winterslip, sobrino de Minerva, a bordo. Chan entra en escena para poner calma e iniciar las pesquisas: «A mí me gusta que las cosas sigan su orden». Nadie parece inocente. Sin duda, una de las novelas de detectives más jugosas para leer en el solaz veraniego.

Un asesinato de un viejo “mercader de carne humana” en su propia casa, ya mayor y viejo, trae a la acción a Charlie Chan, un detective singular, al que acompañara el sobrino del muerto, John, que desea limpiar el nombre de la familia y castigar al asesino. Este joven se vera sorprendido por el ambiente de la isla, su alegría, el calor y la playas, y las jóvenes esplendorosas. Inician la investigación con una colilla, una visión de un reloj fosforescente de pulsera con el dos muy desvaído, una hoja quitada del libro de visitas de la casa, un botón de guante. Así se inicia la investigación que ira de sorpresa en sorpresa hasta el descubrimiento del asesino, que harán, casi al unísono, Chan y el joven que, en esa etapa, encontrara al amor de su vida.

Když je ve svém domě nedaleko mořského pobřeží zavražděn jeden z nejbohatších mužů ostrova, vedou stopy k řadě podezřelých, kteří s ním měli nevyřízené účty. A tehdy uvádí autor na scénu detektiva místní policie Charlieho Chana, moudrého rozšafného muže, který se vyjadřuje svéráznou květnatou angličtinou, jedná vždy se svrchovanou zdvořilostí, ale má skvělou intuici a neúnavnou vytrvalost. V pátrání mu pomáhá sympatický, trochu naivní mladý Američan z Bostonu, který přijel na Havaj jen nakrátko z pověření své rodiny, ale podobně jako už mnozí návštěvníci podlehl kouzlu exotického ostrova. Pátráni po pachateli je výtečně rozehráno, ač zprvu začíná jen několika málo stopami. Nevynechá jediného z podezřelých a neopomine jediný motiv vraždy, od starých neodčiněných vin až po lačnost po majetku.

This novel from 1925 exceeded whatever expectations I might have had. The author takes his time introducing the reader to his characters and 1920's, briefly but well done San Francisco and then Honolulu, Hawaii. There's no rush. We meet people and follow them and see how we think they fit in to the puzzle. There is mystery from the very beginning. I thought the first quarter to perhaps a third of the way in was the best part of the novel. Did I guess whodunnit? No, I had considered the person only briefly.

The Detective Charlie Chan appears here. I wouldn't quite call him a major character but he plays a good part and I liked him more and more as the story went on.

Overall I liked this quite a bit. ( )