The Chinese Parrot, Earl Derr Biggers
The Chinese Parrot, Earl Derr Biggers
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The Chinese Parrot

Author: Earl Derr Biggers

Narrator: John Rayburn

Unabridged: 9 hr 38 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/21/2022

Synopsis

Back around 1920, Earl Derr Biggers went to Hawaii on vacation and got an idea for a new kind of fictional hero. About four years later, he put the notion to work as he developed the character of Charlie Chan, a Chinese detective who was eventually featured in five different films over a thirty-year period. He first emerged in the Saturday Evening Post Magazine as the minor character’s role grew to being the leading player in the ensuing installments.The story you’re about to hear is the second Charlie Chan novel, and it features a parrot named Tony who is witness to a crime. The unusual bird spoke Chinese and had a less-than-perfect use of English grammar but was killed by the criminals as a precaution.Chan himself was a friend of a family selling jewels and agreed to deliver them on his first trip to mainland California. While there he masquerades as a pidgin-speaking cook during his undercover investigation. His profound and original intelligence offers genial humor and witty dialogue. Although the series originated nearly a century ago, it still has a fresh and modern feel. One review described it as, “Dated—yes! Outdated—never!” Listen, as an investigative light begins to dawn.

About Earl Derr Biggers

Earl Derr Biggers (1884–1933) was born in Warren, Ohio. He graduated from Harvard University in 1907, and lived for many years in California. He wrote six novels featuring detective Charlie Chan, who became a staple of the movies. He died in Pasadena, California.

About John Rayburn

John Rayburn is a veteran of 62 years in broadcasting.  He served as a news/sports anchor and show host, and his TV newscast achieved the largest Share of Audience figures of any major-market TV newscast in the nation. John is a member of a Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bobby on April 19, 2017

"Trifles sometimes blossom big. Detective business consist of one unsignificant detail placed beside other of same. Then with sudden dazzle, light begins to dawn." -- Charlie Chan to Bob Eden Charlie's first trip to the Mainland is a sparkling adventure full of mystery and old-fashioned romance. It w......more

Goodreads review by Fran on April 18, 2017

I'll give this a 4 1/2-star rating. Very clever mystery, well written and entertaining ... but 1/2 star off because the solution is somewhat far-fetched. Nevertheless, a wonderful read from the past. I highly recommend.......more

Goodreads review by Jayaprakash on February 25, 2012

Charlie Chan continues to be an engaging character and a sharp sleuth in this, the second novel in the series, even though he's transplanted from his home turf to the Californian desert. If anything, watching him improvise in a situation where he has no jurisdiction and must work incognito allows fo......more

Goodreads review by Dfordoom on October 05, 2011

The Chinese Parrot, published in 1926, was the second of Earl Derr Biggers’ Charlie Chan mysteries and was even more successful than its predecessor. I was in some ways a little disappointed that this one, unlike The House Without a Key, wasn’t set in Hawaii. 1920s Honolulu was such a cool setting. T......more

Goodreads review by Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog on May 21, 2017

Classic drawing room mystery. Charlie Chan has depth The third Earl Biggers mystery and his second Charlie Chan Novel Bottom Line: An honest who-done it, with more than enough clues for you to beat the detective to the solution. Light, fun and written before the super sleuth conventions were reduced t......more

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