The Black Camel (Charlie Chan) [Mass Market Paperback]

Earl Derr Biggers (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Paperback Library (1956)
• ASIN: B000PCC15A
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Charlie Chan mystery set in Honolulu., July 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Black Camel (Library Binding)

Overall good Charlie Chan mystery, I enjoyed it a lot! (although the plot is a little messy and long). A movie starring Sidney Toler and #2 Son called "Charlie Chan in Rio" took the main plot from this book and made it more concise and entertaining. For a Chinese person like myself, it is amusing to see some of the comments from Chan regarding his offsprings' lack of respect for him and their use of slang English. It actually sounds quite genuine, like any older Chinese immigrant fathers would say.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHARLIE CHAN ROCKS!!!, November 23, 2001

By 

Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Black Camel (Charlie Chan Mysteries) (Paperback)

Silver screen goddess, Sheila Fane, has a secret that weighs heavily on her heart. It is a secret that makes her reluctant to marry again, though she has just received such a proposal. While in Honolulu for some location shots for her current film, she consults with Tarneverro, fortuneteller to the stars, as to what she should do. He wrests her deepest, darkest secret from her and advises her not to marry. Shortly thereafter, Hollywood's brightest flame is snuffed out, a cruel knife thrust ending Ms. Fane's life.

Enter revered Honolulu police inspector, Charlie Chan, who is called upon to solve this baffling murder case. In his own inscrutable and unhurried way, Inspector Chan slowly, but surely, makes mincemeat of those who would dare to lie to him. To solve this case, however, he must delve into Ms. Fane's past and discover the secret that gave her so much unrest. He finds that is is tied to an unsolved murder that had occurred in Hollywood several years prior. Inspector Chan ultimately puts both matters to rest.

Charlie Chan is one of the best fictional detectives ever created. Highly intelligent and seemingly droll, he slowly but surely solves his cases. Father to eleven children, all of whom drive him a little crazy with their American slang, he is an eminently respected detective, who has solved many high profile cases. It is amazing that, though written during the nineteen twenties and thirties, these mysteries are as fresh today, as when they were first written. While they may lack some of the political correctness of today, they are still gems. Well written and highly entertaining, the entire Charlie Chan series deserves to be reissued by some wily publisher.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fate Of Miss Fane . . ., June 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Black Camel (Library Binding)

Shelah Fane, the once famous movie actress, now fading in the lime-light, had no enemies. Or so it seemed before she turned up murdered. And now the famous Charlie Chan comes face to face with the most puzzling case of his career. Is it possible that everyone had a alibi? Why confess to a murder you did not commit? Why is the man who so wants to help doing all he can to blockade the investigation? Why does the name Denny Mayo come up so often? Can the murderer ever be found?