We don’t actually see Charlie Chan until we are already well into the book. Instead, the Winterslip family is the focus. Minerva Winterslip has been traveling for too long (according to her New England family) so they’ve sent her “puritanical” nephew, James, to Hawaii to come and gather her. This, of course, was back when traveling to Hawaii meant going by boat.
Minerva has been staying with her cousin Dan and, while she gets along with him well enough, the reader gets hints that he might not be an altogether “good guy.” For instance, he hasn’t spoken to his brother for over 30 years. He’s also seeing a woman he’s not really going to marry (not so bad these days). And another cousin hints to James that Dan has a dark past and that his money might not all be from legitimate means. Then, Dan is murdered and there is not an immediate reason why which means that the police, and Charlie Chan, are called in to investigate.
It did take me a REALLY long time to get into the book. Not sure why as it was an enjoyable read and the mystery, while a little unbelievable in places, was fairly clued.
Four stars
This book came out in 1925
Followed by The Chinese Parrot
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own
