Here’s some exciting news for mystery buffs, who’ve longed for someone to dare follow up with a true Charlie Chan novel. A new mystery to carry on with Author Biggers’ storyline. We have it now in:
Death, I Said: A Charlie Chan Mystery by John L. Swann”
Nicholas K. Burns Publishing, NY, 2023
Both I, and fellow Webmaster Rush Glick, The Charlie Chan Family Home, have been giving a “look-see” through a number of new Charlie Chan books popping up all over: some softcopy, some Kindle, even a hard copy. Rush put it rather well I thought in saying, “Oh, Mr. Biggers, was that a raindrop or your tear falling from Heaven?” None have stayed true to Biggers’ novels, but are either parodies on the films, or just in another universe altogether. Furthermore, it’s clear many are the product of AI, or AI assist. There’s more discussion and chatter on his message board HERE.
But now, finally, John L. Swann has picked up the pen to write a solid novella that remains strictly aligned with Biggers’ storyline. No son’s number one, two, or three, born in the films. And no silly wise-cracking aphorisms heard in the films or the other new books I’ve read. The aphorisms are few, and while I’m not sure they are actually aphorisms, they are sincere or meaningful “sayings” as Biggers had intended them. Several of the characters from Biggers’ first three novels (now in the public domain) make an appearance or short reference. Here is the back cover:
Hats off to John for this great Chan mystery. Is his writing on par with Biggers? Well that is asking quite much, no? But I gladly admit at times it gave me a warm-fuzzy feeling I was reading one of Biggers’ original stories. A short novella I read it in three days. And looking at the inside back cover John has plans for another release to coincide with the centennial of the detective’s debut in the 1925 mystery, The House Without a Key. For the Charlie Chan purist I highly recommend this addition to your bookshelf.
“Occasional amazing occurrence keeps life spicy”
Charlie Chan, Behind That Curtain (1928), Chap 7
The Postman on Holiday 
This is interesting, and I like knowing that there’s a work out there that has the right feel to it. I will definitely look into it. Thanks for keeping us informed on Charlie Chan books, movies, foods, etc! BTW, maybe in a future blog you could inform us about all the attempts so far to write Chan novels. I used to read some of them in the 1970s, I think.
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Barbara, thanks. This one is on the mark and I’m looking forward to his next book. You know that Rush Glick has a list of Chan attempts, and related books, on his website in The Library: https://charliechan.org/library/. I believe both you and I have an entry in there ;).
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Thanks. I’ll have to check this out.
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Thank you, again, Lou! This is truly a worthy book, and my hope is that there will be more coming out in the future!
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Dear Rush, thank you for verifying my thoughts on what I believe to be the first true pastiche on Biggers’ Chan novels. Your word seals the deal!
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