Books On Board
series Reading Order

Charlie Chan Books in Order

8 Books
2 Reading orders
1925 – 1985 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start with Charlie Chan

The best place to start your journey is with the very first novel, The House Without a Key (1925). While Charlie Chan plays a relatively minor role in this debut, it establishes the setting and tone of the series. Reading the books in order allows you to watch Chan's role expand as he transforms from a local detective into an internationally famous investigator, all while his family grows in the background. Because every mystery is self-contained, you can technically read them in any order, but the publication order offers the most rewarding character progression.

Charlie Chan Books in Publication and Chronological Order

For the original six novels written by Earl Derr Biggers, the publication order and chronological order are identical. Here is the recommended sequence:

  1. The House Without a Key (1925) – Introduces Charlie Chan solving a murder in Honolulu.
  2. The Chinese Parrot (1926) – Chan travels to California to deliver a valuable necklace and ends up undercover.
  3. Behind That Curtain (1928) – A global investigation that takes Chan to San Francisco to solve a cold case.
  4. The Black Camel (1929) – Back in Hawaii, Chan investigates the death of a Hollywood star on Waikiki Beach.
  5. Charlie Chan Carries On (1930) – Chan takes over a case involving a round-the-world cruise after a fellow inspector is murdered.
  6. Keeper of the Keys (1932) – Set in a Lake Tahoe manor, Chan tackles a classic closed-circle mystery.

Spin-offs, Novelizations, and Later Pastiches

Following Earl Derr Biggers' death, the character lived on in movies, radio, and magazines, leading to several additions by other authors:

  • Charlie Chan in the Temple of the Golden Horde (1974) – Written by Dennis Lynds under the pseudonym Robert Hart Davis (and also credited to Michael Collins), this novella originally appeared in Charlie Chan Mystery Magazine and was later published in book form.
  • Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) – A novelization of the comedy-mystery film written by Michael Avallone.
  • John L. Swann Pastiches – Modern pastiches like Death, I Said and The Tangled String that attempt to capture the vintage style of the original novels.

Charlie Chan Collections

  • Celebrated Cases of Charlie Chan (1985) – An omnibus edition collecting several of the original Earl Derr Biggers novels, ideal for collectors.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting point for the Charlie Chan series?

We recommend starting with the first novel, The House Without a Key (1925), to see the character's introduction and watch his role grow naturally across the series.

QAre the Charlie Chan books best read in chronological or publication order?

The chronological order matches the publication order exactly. Since each mystery is self-contained, they can be read in any sequence, but publication order is best for character development.

QHow many Charlie Chan novels did Earl Derr Biggers write?

Earl Derr Biggers wrote exactly six novels featuring Charlie Chan before his death in 1933.

QWho wrote Charlie Chan in the Temple of the Golden Horde?

This 1974 story was written by Dennis Lynds using the pseudonym Robert Hart Davis (and also published under his pen name Michael Collins).

QWas Charlie Chan based on a real detective?

Yes, Earl Derr Biggers based the character on Chang Apana, an influential real-life Chinese-Hawaiian detective who served in the Honolulu Police Department.

QAre there other books featuring Charlie Chan besides the original novels?

Yes. Later works include Charlie Chan in the Temple of the Golden Horde by Dennis Lynds, a film novelization by Michael Avallone, and modern pastiches by John L. Swann.