The House Without a Key – A Charlie Chan Mystery by Earl Derr Biggers – Giveaway

14. April 2009 · 195 comments · Categories: Book Review and Giveaway, Mysteries · Tags: , , ,

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One of my favorite genres is mystery.  I like a good pulpy, noir mystery classic; a page turner if you will.  I used to read them all the time.  I still own stacks of old Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen magazines that I can’t seem to part with, but since starting carp(e) I haven’t been able to sink my teeth into a nice bit of pulp in quite sometime.  I suppose that’s because carp(e) focuses on indie presses, and I haven’t stumbled on any old mysteries coming out of the indies.  But thank goodness for Academy Chicago Publishers!  They’re bringing back the Charlie Chan series, complete with incredible pulp art covers, and I’m having the time of my literal life.

First int he series is The House Without a Key.  The famous Chinese sleuth of the 1920′s Hawaiian Islands is introduced to the world for the first time.  Published originally in 1925, The House was rather revolutionary in that the hero was Chinese – an intelligent, witty, particular detective.  The characters in The House Without a Key are Bostonian upper crust, oftentimes surprised to find the man in search of the murderer is not as “white” as they.  It’s fun seeing the characters change their tune as Chan so cleverly works out the mystery.  

In The House Without a Key, young John Quincy from Boston travels to Hawaii to retrieve his wayward aunt.  But upon arrival he discovers a cousin has been murdered.  This high class Bostonian family can’t afford the scandal, however – and Cousin Dan has a sordid past that can do nothing but create scandal.  Young John Quincy finds himself in the heat of the mystery and it’s having quite an effect on his old money, old family preconceived notions of the world.  What’s more, no one seems to be able to put the clues together – no one but the famous Charlie Chan.

Want to win your own copy?  Snag the first of the Charlie Chan series ($14.95 retail) and get going on the upcoming collection!  

Multiple Options for Entry:

1.) Just tell me why you love mysteries!  Are your reasons chilling?  Blood curdling? Or perhaps they’re a complete mystery to you. (You may enter once a day.) Remember, leave an interesting comment.  If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.

2.) Email subscribers get an extra entry for as long as their subscription is active.

     Already a subscriber?  Leave me a separate comment on this post to let me know you’re interested in this giveaway.

     Want to subscribe?  Just enter your email address in the “Subscribe” box on the left. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you do not receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.  Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post. (If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry – I may have to approve it first.  My blog might think it’s spam but gosh darn, I certainly don’t!)

4.) I’m feeling Twittery.  If you Twitter a link to this giveaway, come back and comment here to let me know your Twitter name for another entry! (I’m dkmommy if you want to follow me.)

Feel free to do all four to gain several entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, to enter.

Check out all current giveaways for both my blogs here.

195 Comments

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  1. desiree kelley
    April 14, 2009 at 2:06 pm

    I love good mysteries

  2. Donna R
    April 14, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    I love to read and would love to win this book. Thanks for the contest.

  3. Marilyn Wons
    April 14, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    Oh I love Charlie Chan. I started reading those mysteries when I was a child. I still love them forty years later!

  4. SUMMER
    April 14, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    I love great mysteries. I love trying to find out who did it and I think It all stems back to my childhood days of playing the boardgame “Clue”, or maybe watching “Murder she Wrote”.. or maybe simply reading Nancy Drew did it. Whatever the reason. I LOVE MYSTERIES!!

  5. Cindi
    April 14, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Mysteries have always fascinated me1 I like trying to figure out whodunnit!!!!!
    Charlie Chan and his son #1, son #2, etc. always made me laugh. Please enter
    me in your fabulous giveaway drawing. Many thanks, Cindi

  6. Cindi
    April 14, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    I am an email subscriber to your site!
    Thanks, Cindi

  8. sito
    April 14, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    I love mysteries because a good one will keep me interested, trying to figure out whodunit. And, if you can see whodunit from the opening paragraph, or you discover the culprit is determined based on clues never given in the book, you can still enjoy the read.

  9. sito
    April 14, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    E-mail subscriber.

  11. Chris N
    April 14, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    Good mysteries make your mind work and entertain you at the same time. They are definitely my favorite genre.

  12. ruth
    April 14, 2009 at 5:09 pm

    Mysteries keep me gripped to the pages and I cannot let go.

  13. ruth
    April 14, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    I am a subscriber

  14. anne
    April 14, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    I am a subscriber.

  15. anne
    April 14, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    I always am mesmerized my mysteries. The writing, plot and suspense keeps building and I keep on reading.

  16. Maggie M
    April 14, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    I enjoy mysteries more than any other type of book or movie. I love the challenge of figuring out “who done it” and reading the seedy background of the characters. I still watch the Sherlock Holms mysteries on TV (that I’ve seen a hundred times already!) Ah, there’s nothing more than a cup of coffee and a great mystery!

    maggie@mannwieler.com

  17. Maggie M
    April 14, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    I’m a subscriber by email :)

    maggie@mannwieler.com

  18. Maggie M
    April 14, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    Is the contest end date really April lst???? I just received the email?

    maggie@mannwieler.com

  19. MJ
    April 14, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    My Mom got me hooked on mysteries as a teen. I still love a good who dun it!

    mj.coward[at]gmail.com

  20. MJ
    April 14, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    I subscribe

    mj.coward[at]gmail.com

  21. Theresa N
    April 14, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    I like to try and figure out ” who done it”.

  22. Theresa N
    April 14, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    I’m a subscriber.

  23. Cairine
    April 14, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    I subscribe.

  24. Carol M
    April 14, 2009 at 5:41 pm

    I like to figure out the ending while I’m reading. As each new clue shows up, it helps me decide who did it!
    mittens0831 AT aol.com

  25. Carol M
    April 14, 2009 at 5:41 pm

    I’m an email subscriber.
    mittens0831 AT aol.com

  26. Cairine
    April 14, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    I prefer mysteries because they exercise your powers of observation and logic. My favourite ones are the English type that always have a murder, convoluted clues and no gore!

  27. Doreen
    April 14, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    I love mysteries because they keep me on my toes and keep me guessing.

  28. Doreen
    April 14, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    I am a subscriber.

  29. Amber B
    April 14, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    I love mysteries because of the thrill and suspense and then in the end finding out who killed or did the crime. ambpool(at)hotmail.com

  30. Ellen C.
    April 14, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    Mysteries add a little spice to my day. Thanks for the chance.

  31. dorothy l
    April 14, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    I love mysteries because most of the time they surprise you

  32. Becca
    April 14, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    I love mysteries, especially pulpy, noir ones because they are kind of dark and moody and I have a lot of fun reading them.

    Beccas last blog post..More Joy

  33. Becca
    April 14, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    I am a subscriber.

    Beccas last blog post..More Joy

  34. mindy
    April 14, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    i like the intrigue that they hold thanks for the giveaway

  36. Catherine copeland
    April 14, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    what a great book!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to start reading it

    Catherine copelands last blog post..More Tax Day Freebies And Deals… Isn’t It Time You Get A Stimulus Package?

  37. Pingback: Charlie Chan Mystery Book – The House Without a Key : Mom Giveaways

  38. Karen Gonyea
    April 14, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    Count me in :)

  39. christopher h
    April 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    i like the whodunit factor – trying to figure out the puzzle

  40. Thomas I.
    April 14, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    I love solving mysteries.

  41. Renee C
    April 14, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Well, I don’t love mysteries. But my mom does, and I’d like to win this for her since Mother’s Day and her birthday are both next month!

  42. Katrina
    April 14, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    I love mysteries because I like not knowing what is going to happen next. I like to stay up all night to find out who the killer is :)

  43. Judy Killen
    April 14, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    I love mysteries too. Thanks for a chance!

  44. valerie m
    April 15, 2009 at 12:45 am

    love mysteries – love that they entertain and make you think!

  45. valerie m
    April 15, 2009 at 12:45 am

    subscribe
    valerie2350(at)hotmail

  47. Fran Welch
    April 15, 2009 at 6:55 am

    I love mysteries, especially those that surprise me without being unfair, they stimulate my mind.

  48. Connie K.
    April 15, 2009 at 7:02 am

    I am very interested in this giveaway. I subscribe.

  49. Bob D.
    April 15, 2009 at 7:39 am

    I’ve been a Charlie Chan fan for almost three quarters of a century. Not about to stop now.

  50. Ann Fantom
    April 15, 2009 at 8:20 am

    I like to read mysteries and figure out who did it! Please enter me.

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