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The Classic Crime Collection is a collection of 18 classic detective novels, read by esteemed cast of award-winning narrators. Included here are stories by some of the most iconic crime writers in history, including Dorothy L. Sayers; Arthur Conan Doyle; Agatha Christie; Dashiell Hammett; Wilkie Collins; Josephine Tey; and more.

The sublime beauty of Hawaii nearly a century ago is captured in this first book featuring the fictional Honolulu police detective, Charlie Chan. Author Biggers was staying at a hotel on Waikiki Beach in the 1920s when he was inspired to write the book. The Chan role at first was relatively minor, and he didn’t say anything until several chapters had gone by. However, the concept caught on when the literary public wanted more of him. That prompted five subsequent books as the character became more prominent.

Inspector Duff works with the Scotland Yard. He is called in to investigate a mysterious murder that occurred at a famous local London hotel. He finds himself wishing for the assistance of his old friend, Charlie Chan, who now resides in Hawaii. The plot thickens when one of the suspects is found dead at a further stop on the trip.

The story you’re about to hear is the second Charlie Chan novel, and it features a parrot named Tony who is witness to a crime. The unusual bird spoke Chinese and had a less-than-perfect use of English grammar but was killed by the criminals as a precaution. Chan himself was a friend of a family selling jewels and agreed to deliver them on his first trip to mainland California. While there he masquerades as a pidgin-speaking cook during his undercover investigation. His profound and original intelligence offers genial humor and witty dialogue.

Lord Harrowby came to Lloyds of London with a most unusual request. He wanted to ensure that nothing would prevent his imminent wedding and expected a big policy payout if things didn’t work out. It was insurance man Dick Minot’s responsibility to make sure everything worked smoothly. Trouble is, Dick Minot fell in love with the bride! What to do?

Jason Fairfax, a very junior reporter for the Honolulu Gazette, is sent by his editor on an assignment that requires him to travel on the luxury liner, the Oahu Paradise, in the company of a disreputable detective who promises him the scoop of his reporting lifetime—maybe. While on board, he meets a cross-section of people from movie stars to ensigns, but none more intriguing than the world-famous Honolulu inspector, Charlie Chan, and his very large family, who are vacationing on board. But all is not what it seems. Was a murder committed on board two years ago, or was it an accident? Is ...

Dive into a captivating murder mystery set in the picturesque islands of Hawaii. Follow the journey of John Quincy Winterslip, a disciplined Bostonian bond trader, who gets embroiled in a murder case while trying to convince his vacationing aunt, Minerva, to return home. As he navigates various strata of Hawaiian society, he assists the ingenious Detective Charlie Chan in unravelling the mystery. Along the way, he falls for a charming local woman, calls off his engagement to his straight-laced fiancee, Agatha, and makes a life-altering decision to relocate to San Francisco. This riveting tale ...

This is a classic mystery novel by the creator of the fictional Chinese detective Charlie Chan. The tale you’re about to hear is in London just before WWI. American visitor Geoffrey West is attracted to a beautiful young lady and he decides to try and get her attention by putting a personal ad in the so-called "Agony Column" of a London newspaper. She sees it and responds by demanding he send her several letters so she can make up her mind as to whether she has any interest in him. Before anything else happens, Geoffrey winds up being thought possibly guilty of a vicious murder.

Known for his comic sense, Earl Derr Biggers was one of the foremost writers of mystery and detective stories in this country. To his friends he was known for his comic sense. Seven Keys to Baldpate was his first novel and became extremely popular. In it, a famous author visits a closed summer resort at Baldpate Mountain in the middle of winter. He is looking for peace and quiet so that he can write his next book.

Yunte Huang ingeniously traces Charlie Chan from his real beginnings as a bullwhip-wielding detective in territorial Hawaii to his reinvention as a literary sleuth and Hollywood film icon. Huang finally resurrects the "honorable detective" from the graveyard of detested postmodern symbols and reclaims him as the embodiment of America’s rich cultural diversity. The result is one of the most critically acclaimed books of the year and a "deeply personal...voyage into racial stereotyping and the humanizing force of storytelling" (Donna Seaman, Los Angeles Times).

Magee was given a key to the Baldpate Inn so he might write in solitude, but he soon discovers that he is not the only person with a key. In fact, he is only one of seven! And the other guests, including a young woman who catches Magee’s eye, are all there on a mission to find a mysterious package with a large sum of money.

A Christmas celebration. A snowbound hotel. And a detective longing for the sun. Find the trailer here: https://youtu.be/XRQB0jWMYqs Lake Tahoe, December 1938. For the renowned detective Charlie Chan, there is only one problem to solve this year: How does one survive an American winter without freezing? Determined to give his large family a gift they will never forget, Chan leaves the tropical warmth of Honolulu behind. Their destination is the exclusive Silver Creek Lodge, a luxurious retreat nestled high in the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada — the very image of a perfect white ...

"Suddenly, from across the hall, came a cry - sharp, uncanny, terrible. I ran out in the direction from which it had come and stood on the threshold of the Drew dining room. A table was set with gleaming silver and white linen, and in its center stood a cake, on which fifty absurd pink candles flickered bravely. There appeared to be no one in the room. On the other side of the table, a French window stood open to the fog, and I went around to investigate. I had taken perhaps a dozen steps when I stopped, appalled...."

A most unusual request for insurance was made to Lloyds of London. It was outre enough to bring on what can best be described as something of “improbable dimensions.” The request was made by a young Brirtish Lord. He was engaged to an American heiress and was worried she might back out. An added part of the story is a guarantee there would be a sizeable payout if the ceremony stalls. The story of same can easily be called a delightful romantic comedy and it wouldn’t be surprising if you laugh out loud, or at least chuckle frequently.

Seven Keys to Baldpate was such an intriguing tale it brought on an effort to build an actual counterpart of Baldpate. The site selected was about five miles south of Estes Park, Colorado, opposite Lily Lake on Highway 7. It turned out to be a fascinating getaway location; vacationers were not only intrigued by the concept, but many actually made extensive contributions of various keys to match the mood. This erased the story’s description of the “Seven Keys”, and the inn’s collection of keys reached an astounding total of 20-30,000 of them.

Dive into a thrilling English romantic adventure as the young American Geoffrey West navigates the vibrant streets of London, spurred on by the mysterious personal ads of the agony columns. In a gripping tale of murder and intrigue, Geoffrey embarks on a perilous journey from the elegant dining rooms of the Carlton Hotel to the shadowy opium dens of Limehouse, all in pursuit of the truth and the heart of his beloved. But as the danger escalates, he discovers that the true culprit may be closer than he ever imagined. Written by Earl Derr Biggers, famed for his Charlie Chan novels, The Agony ...

A young man walks into Lloyds of London, seeking to insure something no one has ever thought to protect before love. What unfolds is a delightful and comedic tale crafted by the creator of the beloved Chinese detective, Charlie Chan. Join us for a whimsical journey filled with laughter and unexpected twists! - Summary by Linda Andrus

In the bustling streets of New York City, young Lloyds of London employee Richard Minot is tasked with a seemingly straightforward mission ensure that the wealthy Cynthia Meyrick weds his firms client, Lord Harrowby. However, everything changes during a chance encounter on a slow-moving train, where Richard meets the captivating Miss Meyrick. Torn between duty and desire, he begins to question everything he thought he knew about love and obligation. - Summary by Matt Pierard

Join William Magee, a dime-store novelist, who retreats to Baldpate Inn seeking solitude to write a serious novel. Expecting to be alone in the freezing winter, Magee stumbles upon an unexpected adventure. Six other key-holders to the Inn thrust Magee into a whirlwind of bribery, shootings, and intriguing mystery. Discover what happens in this gripping podcast.

As World War I erupts, a spirited young American woman on a business trip in Europe begins to sense that her stay may have stretched too long. Caught in the turmoil of a continent at war, she and other anxious travelers scramble to find a way home. Amidst the chaos, a mysterious British officer enters the scene, complicating her journey with unexpected romance and intrigue. This captivating spy thriller kicks off on a train from Calais to Paris and culminates in Gibraltar. Based on a 1915 play of the same name, this story was first adapted into a silent film in 1918 and then into a “talkie...