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bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
3.0
The Chinese Parrot (1926) is the second in Earl Derr Biggers's mystery series featuring Charlie Chan. The Charlie Chan stories were first serialized in The Saturday Evening Post. What is interesting is that these stories were running during the same time period as Sax Rohmer's "yellow peril" Fu Manchu. Biggers's representation of Asians may not be perfect, but it is certainly far more positive than most of the Western literature of the early 20th century. The Chinese detective from Honolulu manages to outsmart everyone in this snapshot of 1920s America. And he's using his intelligence for good, rather than in an evil "yellow" plot to wipe out civilization.
A society lady who has fallen on hard times (read: her wastrel son has squandered the fortune his father had left) is forced to sell her valuable string of pearls in order to meet debts and have something to live on. Millionaire P. J. Madden is determined to have the pearls as what he calls a just revenge for how this lady looked right through him when he was a nobody bellhop. A deal is arranged by Eden, a prominent San Francisco jeweler (and friend of the lady's family). Charlie Chan, formerly a houseboy in the lady's home and now a detective with the Honolulu police, is asked to transport the pearls to San Francisco where he will join the jewler's son, Bob, for the journey to New York to deliver the pearls.
But the jeweler receives a phone call changing the plan--Madden has decided to visit his desert ranch and wants the pearls delivered there instead. There are known criminals lurking about and Bob Eden--and Chan--begin to be worried about the arrangements. It is decided that the two will travel separately and Chan will disguise himself as a man in need of work in order to get into Madden's home. He masquerades as Ah Kim, a "boy of all work" who tends the fireplace, cooks, picks up supplies, and occasionally chauffeurs. Once established on the ranch, they encounter a Chinese-speaking parrot who dies before he can tell all, someone else will be murdered, and Bob will play poker with a millionaire and one of the shady characters. There will be tales of arsenic and Chan will find a hidden bullet hole as well as the missing gun which was responsible.
I grew up watching the Charlie Chan movies on Saturday/Sunday afternoon television and I must say that I appreciate this novel much more. I enjoyed the mystery and the wisdom of Chan. It didn't matter that I suspected who was responsible the entire time...there were enough twists and turns and unknowns to make for an enjoyable read. Three and a half stars.
This was first posted to my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks!
A society lady who has fallen on hard times (read: her wastrel son has squandered the fortune his father had left) is forced to sell her valuable string of pearls in order to meet debts and have something to live on. Millionaire P. J. Madden is determined to have the pearls as what he calls a just revenge for how this lady looked right through him when he was a nobody bellhop. A deal is arranged by Eden, a prominent San Francisco jeweler (and friend of the lady's family). Charlie Chan, formerly a houseboy in the lady's home and now a detective with the Honolulu police, is asked to transport the pearls to San Francisco where he will join the jewler's son, Bob, for the journey to New York to deliver the pearls.
But the jeweler receives a phone call changing the plan--Madden has decided to visit his desert ranch and wants the pearls delivered there instead. There are known criminals lurking about and Bob Eden--and Chan--begin to be worried about the arrangements. It is decided that the two will travel separately and Chan will disguise himself as a man in need of work in order to get into Madden's home. He masquerades as Ah Kim, a "boy of all work" who tends the fireplace, cooks, picks up supplies, and occasionally chauffeurs. Once established on the ranch, they encounter a Chinese-speaking parrot who dies before he can tell all, someone else will be murdered, and Bob will play poker with a millionaire and one of the shady characters. There will be tales of arsenic and Chan will find a hidden bullet hole as well as the missing gun which was responsible.
I grew up watching the Charlie Chan movies on Saturday/Sunday afternoon television and I must say that I appreciate this novel much more. I enjoyed the mystery and the wisdom of Chan. It didn't matter that I suspected who was responsible the entire time...there were enough twists and turns and unknowns to make for an enjoyable read. Three and a half stars.
This was first posted to my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks!
lauraellis's review against another edition
3.0
This is a remarkable book for its time, because it was written by an American in 1926 and it presents a positive view of a Chinese American, Charlie Chan. He is a detective sergeant in the Honolulu police force. But even with this, racism of the time slips in ("slanty-eyed flappers"). Also, Charlie Chan is not really the main character. Instead, it is Bob Evans who is the lead character, who assists Charlie in the search for the answer. One of the amazing things was how Bob seemed to feel compelled to bring every new friend he makes into the search, without any thought that they may be involved or may not be as nice as they seem.
This is a very traditional mystery, aside from the positive view of Chinese Americans. I enjoyed it, both as a mystery and as a glimpse into a view of the times, but I will not be keeping the book in my library.
This was my selection for the “Less than a hundred reviews on Goodreads” category in the 2019 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge.
This is a very traditional mystery, aside from the positive view of Chinese Americans. I enjoyed it, both as a mystery and as a glimpse into a view of the times, but I will not be keeping the book in my library.
This was my selection for the “Less than a hundred reviews on Goodreads” category in the 2019 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge.
a20261's review
3.0
I picked this up not knowing it was a Charlie Chan mystery. The main story meanders through the novel, without any significant subplots, and in the end wraps up neatly. There isn't any real chance for the reader to piece together the mystery, but instead a Christie-like new fact is tacked-on at the conclusion to explain it all. The primary characters are filled out nicely, most of the dialogue sounds natural (but obviously(?) a bit dated); but the novel lacks development of the secondary characters which could have added to the world-building and helped draw the reader into the story. Also lacking: an element of danger, especially for our lead characters, until the penultimate moment. However, I'm not one to write-off an author after only one story, so I'll be keeping my eye out for another Charlie Chan mystery.
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