Earl Derr Biggers Reading Order
5 series · 17 books · Born 1884
Earl Derr Biggers was an early twentieth-century American writer whose mystery novels gained international recognition, particularly through numerous film adaptations. He is best known for creating Charlie Chan, a shrewd Chinese American detective whose cases captivated readers across multiple continents and inspired Hollywood productions. Biggers' prolific career spanned novels, short stories, and dramatic works that helped establish the mystery genre as a cornerstone of American popular fiction.
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Anthologies Series
Complete2 books (2013–2019)
Earl Derr Biggers compiled two collections of short fiction spanning humorous and mystery material. The first anthology was published in 2013, with the second following in 2019. This complete two-book series should be read in publication order, beginning with A Short Story Anthology before moving to 30 Eternal Masterpieces of Humorous Stories.
Start with A Short Story Anthology and read in order.
Start this series with A Short Story Anthology
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on AudibleCharlie Chan Series
Complete7 books (1925–1974)
Earl Derr Biggers created a complete seven-book mystery series featuring detective Charlie Chan, beginning with The House Without a Key in 1925 and concluding with Charlie Chan in the Temple of the Golden Horde in 1974. These novels should be read in publication order to follow the detective's cases as they unfold chronologically. The series presents a total of seven standalone mysteries connected by the same protagonist, each offering a distinct investigation while maintaining continuity across the sequence.
Start with The House Without a Key, the first of 7 books in the Charlie Chan series.
Start this series with The House Without a Key
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Charlie Chan Collections Series
Complete1 book (1985–1985)
Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (1933–1933)
Standalone Novels Series
Complete6 books (1913–1926)
Earl Derr Biggers wrote six mystery and thriller novels between 1913 and 1926, all of which stand alone and require no prior knowledge of other books to enjoy. These works span Seven Keys to Baldpate, Love Insurance, Inside the Lines, The Agony Column, The Ebony Stick, and Fifty Candles. Reading them in publication order provides the best sense of how Biggers' storytelling evolved over this thirteen-year period. The series is complete, with each novel offering an independent narrative.
Start with Seven Keys to Baldpate, the first of 6 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with Seven Keys to Baldpate
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Earl Derr Biggers written?
- Earl Derr Biggers has written 17 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1913 to 2019.
- What is the first book in each Earl Derr Biggers series?
- Here are the first books in Earl Derr Biggers's series: Anthologies: A Short Story Anthology; Charlie Chan: The House Without a Key.
- What order should I read Earl Derr Biggers's books?
- We recommend reading Earl Derr Biggers's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Earl Derr Biggers's series complete?
- Earl Derr Biggers has 5 completed series.