The Charlie Chan Family Home 2020 Newsletter
Season Greetings! It’s been a tough year for everyone (I know of three Charlie Chan events at Universities or Libraries cancelled.) Still, our favorite detective managed to make his presence known and accumulate some interesting accolades this year! Here’s is what you’ll find inside, The Charlie Chan Family Home 2020 Newsletter: As always our newsletter…
The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus – A Charlie Chan mystery!
Haven’t we all brooded over a holiday season or two, deep with regret Author Earl Derr Biggers never got the chance to pen a Charlie Chan Christmas mystery? OK, perhaps that never topped your list of major heartbreaks, but it’s still a shame. I mean who doesn’t love a good holiday “who done it?” Good…
It’s November and Charlie Chan wants YOU at the polls!
Well, it’s here! November 3d, 2020 is just days away; time for what promises to be quite the onerous general election. But don’t believe for a second that a president, congressional delegates, governors and local ballot issues are the only choices requiring your attention at the polls this month! Each month, since March 2003, Webmaster…
Everyone remembers their first time! Mine–October 2012.
This year the 51st Anniversary Bouchercon is being held Virtually, October 16 – 17, 2020 from Sacramento California. So I’m breaking my once-monthly blog rule to share my first time with you… The fall of 2012, I attended my first Bouchercon (famed world mystery convention.) I was ecstatic it was being held in my hometown…
Book review by Author Barbara Gregorich: Charlie Chan Carries On (1930)
Last month I suggested four summertime reads, but ended on this note, “should a reader prefer all his or her murders served-up on one delicious plate, just read the fifth Charlie Chan novel, Charlie Chan Carries On (1930.)” Here is a wonderful review by someone who has read that novel at least four times, and…
North, South, East, or West, summertime sleuthing can be best!
“Are you an ‘Eastsider’ or ‘Westsider’?” I often heard that question growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. As a young boy living in the “southern burbs” I never gave it much thought. It wasn’t until much later I realized it meant do you hail from the east- or west-side of the Cuyahoga River. The river divides…
Celebrate! A “musical montage” for Charlie Chan creator Earl Derr Biggers’ 136th Birthday, August 26th.
Get ready for some feet tappin’ and finger snappin’! We’re celebrating Charlie Chan creator Author Earl Derr Biggers’ 136th birthday this month (August 26, 1884) with some sweet sounds germane to one of America’s first “icons” of mystery fiction. Most mystery buffs easily recognize the theme song for their favorite sleuth: Peter Gunn, Mike Hammer,…
Charlie Chan's trip to China – March 22, 1936!
Buried deep within the annals of mystery fiction, it is written Detective Charlie Chan was once as recognized a fictional character as Superman, Tarzan, or Mickey Mouse. Within literature he emerged as one of America’s first, new breed of detectives–on par with S. S. Van Dine’s Detective Philo Vance, Dashiell Hammett’s The Continental Op, Sam…
PUNAHAO, home to the night-blooming Cereus Flower!
Having grown up in the Midwest (Ohio) I vividly recall the harsh winters of my youth, standing outside in the ice and snow shivering as I waited for the school bus to arrive. Following that, 19 more years of snow, boots, jackets and gloves in Upstate New York and Central Germany. So it was exhilarating…
No, Chien this time…not Chan!
Like most of us Detective Charlie Chan, Mrs. Chan and their 11 children have sheltered-in-place, weathering the pandemic at thier home on Punchbowl Hill. However, he did manage to send this message via wireless telegraph: World situation worsens [STOP] Humbly suggest you offer faithful followers alternative to only six detective novels of self [STOP] Deepest…
Will the REAL Charlie Chan please step forward.
What’s that you ask, “a REAL Detective Chan?” Yes, there was actually a living, breathing person, who inspired Author Earl Derr Biggers and served as the “spark” for his fictional Detective Charlie Chan. Now I realize “most of you” reading this already knew that! However, take a glimpse at two special sites and see if…
Chan & Holmes, two sides of a coin – a comparison and contrast!
“Being from different eras and cultures, any ‘rivalry’ between the two detectives would probably be something akin to soccer (football) and baseball…both are popular across the globe, but are unique in their following!” — Rush Glick, Webmaster The Charlie Chan Family Home The above statement by Mr. Glick is a good analogy and so true.…
Meet Lily Wu…Who? The female Charlie Chan.
With February the month for flowers, candy, and valentines, it’s appropriate we take a look at author Juanita Sheridan’s fictional sleuth Ms. Lily Wu, and her cohort, novelist Janice Cameron. World famous mystery-fiction critic, editor, and author Anthony Boucher (eponym for the world’s leading mystery convention, Bouchercon) adored Sheridan’s fictional Lily Wu; dubbing her The…
It’s here! The 2019 Charlie Chan Family Home Newsletter.
“EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!” We’re happy to announce the second annual newsletter for the Charlie Chan Family Home website has arrived (Newsletter link.) Please deign to peruse this humble offering for the New Year. Inside we highlight significant events and happenings throughout 2019 and include other interesting topics surrounding one of America’s first…
The Postman on Holiday 