Charlie Chan

This book is a murder mystery set in San Francisco. Charlie Chan the Chinese detective, on his way home to Honolulu, is persuaded to help with the investigation of the murder of a retired Scotland Yard commissioner. Sir Frederic has been re-investigating some old unsolved cases that have haunted him: a murder in London and the disappearance of a young woman in India. Charlie Chan suspects that one of these cases holds the clue to his murder.

This is a mystery story set in the South California desert. Charlie Chan, the Chinese detective from Honolulu, is entrusted with the safe delivery of a string of pearls to a millionaire's isolated desert ranch. Suspecting all is not well at the ranch, he disguises himself as a servant to investigate the mystery. Other characters include the jeweler's son who accompanies Charlie, a pretty location-finder connected with the movies, the millionaire's secretary, a jaded newspaperman and a mild-mannered naturalist.