Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
All characters reduced
Seven Keys to Baldpate - Enriched edition Murder Mystery Novel - cover

Seven Keys to Baldpate - Enriched edition Murder Mystery Novel

Earl Derr Biggers

Publisher: DigiCat

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

In "Seven Keys to Baldpate," Earl Derr Biggers masterfully intertwines elements of mystery and comedy within a whodunit framework that captivates the reader from page one. Set in a secluded mountain lodge during a snowstorm, the story spins around playwright Bill Moffat, who finds himself embroiled in a series of bizarre occurrences as seven individuals, each with their own dubious intentions, converge upon him. Biggers employs a witty and engaging narrative style, creating memorable characters and sharp dialogue that reflect the societal norms and cultural tensions of the early 20th century, all while deftly preserving the intricacies of a classic locked-room mystery. Earl Derr Biggers, best known for creating the beloved character of Charlie Chan, draws upon his experiences with the emerging film industry and his love of storytelling, which shaped his unique approach to narrative. His keen observation of human nature, coupled with his fascination with the theatrical, infused his prose with a lively spirit, rendering his works both entertaining and insightful. This background undoubtedly influenced him in crafting the suspenseful yet humorous atmosphere that envelops "Seven Keys to Baldpate." Readers seeking an engaging blend of intrigue and levity will find Biggers' narrative irresistible. This novel not only offers an intricate puzzle to unravel, but also showcases the author's wit and keen insight into the eccentricities of human behavior, making it a timeless read that entices fans of both mystery and classic literature.

In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience:
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Available since: 05/17/2022.
Print length: 194 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • Possession of November Jones The: 3 (Reverend Paltoquet Mystery Series) - cover

    Possession of November Jones...

    Pat Herbert

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Towards the end of the Nineteenth Century, two young mothers meet violent ends in a large South London house. Reverend Bernard Paltoquet and Dr Robbie MacTavish, together with their friend, clairvoyant Dorothy Plunkett, are drawn into these tragic events, when young November Jones walks into Robbie’s surgery in the late autumn of 1962. What is the mystery surrounding her, and why is a restless spirit trying to communicate through her? The disused cellar in the house she rents seems to hold the answer. Meanwhile, two senior citizens are wandering in and out of Bernard’s vicarage trying to find answers of their own.
    Show book
  • Shaking the Tree - cover

    Shaking the Tree

    Mike Donohue

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    The gripping, fast-paced debut in the Max Strong thriller series. 
    What would you do if you found a locked suitcase in the woods? 
    Would you keep it? Would you try to open it? 
    What would you do when someone came looking for it? 
    Max is starting over. Fresh out of prison, he just wants to keep his head down, go to work, and maybe grab a cold beer at the end of his shift. He doesn’t even care that the program stuck him in Essex – a nice, but nowhere small town. With his head already full of bloody memories, he’d like it just fine if his past and future stayed nice and quiet. 
    Too bad the present just got really messy. 
    A body in a tree. A missing briefcase. A Russian hit man. A DEA agent bent on revenge. Not to mention a sheriff with dangerous ambition and some pissed off bikers. Things are suddenly very interesting in sleepy Essex county. Bodies are turning up. Secrets are coming out. Questions are being asked. 
    It’s not good being the new guy in a small town.
    Show book
  • A Purr Before Dying - cover

    A Purr Before Dying

    T. C. LoTempio

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    No one's who they seem in the thrilling new Nick and Nora Mystery, and someone's playing the part of a clever killer . . . 
     
     
     
    When a nighttime soap opera comes to town to film an episode, no one's more excited than Nora Charles, who's landed the contract for catering the shoot. But if she thought the show's plotlines were full of drama and intrigue, that's nothing compared to what she witnesses among the cast and crew. With half of them sneaking off for secret liaisons one minute and at each other's throats the next, it's all a titillating behind-the-scenes look for Nora—until she stumbles across the body of the show's slain director. 
     
     
     
    It's not long before the local authorities finger the brother of Nora's good friend for the evil deed, and it's up to Nora and her sidekick Nick to get him off the hook. As she begins to sort out the cast's romantic entanglements and professional rivalries looking for a motive, she also discovers that the victim was involved in the mysterious death of the show's previous director. And then another member of the crew is found murdered, and Nora knows she'll have to act fast to figure out who's playing the part of the killer, before she's cast in the role of the next victim . . .
    Show book
  • The Mystery of the Murder that Wasn't - cover

    The Mystery of the Murder that...

    CM Rawlins

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    Darriby Hall is famous for entertaining second-tier aristocrats, tales from distant lands and a dead body . . . every now and then. 
     
     
     
    When Lady Darriby-Jones sees off her husband's nephew at the train station, she considers her good deed for the day complete. Rewarding herself with a day of shopping in the city, she revels in the anticipated tranquility of her return to the Darriby estate. 
     
     
     
    However, her satisfaction shatters upon receiving a distressing message upon her return—Freddie never reached his destination. With a sinking feeling, Lady Darriby-Jones embarks on a journey up north, determined to unravel this mystery. 
     
     
     
    As she delves into the disappearance, the plot thickens with the discovery of a lifeless body, a prominent member of the school community. Lady Darriby-Jones finds herself navigating through a web of secrets, probing into forbidden territories where resistance meets her at every turn. 
     
     
     
    Caught in a whirlwind of conflicting clues and hidden motives, Lady Darriby-Jones faces the daunting challenge of solving yet another murder mystery. Will she persist against all odds and unveil the unlikeliest of suspects, or will she become the next victim in a sinister game?
    Show book
  • Farmerville Episode 9 - Deconstruction - cover

    Farmerville Episode 9 -...

    Marty Martin

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    The Farmerville mystery series draws closer to its conclusion with unimaginable twists and devasting secrets that escalate, casting doubt on reality. The lingering memory of the cave kids and another serial killer ignites new questions. The deconstruction of Ron will reveal a shocking unraveling of truth verses fiction catapulting the Farmer family towards more tragedy
    Show book
  • OverLondon - cover

    OverLondon

    George Penney, Tony Johnson

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0
    “A delightful romp, chock-full of wonderfully bonkers ideas.” C.K. McDonnell, best-selling author of the Stranger Times and the Dublin Trilogy. 
    “If Spike Milligan and Terry Pratchett had ever got round to a collaboration it might read like OverLondon.” Heide Goody, best-selling author of the Sam Applewhite and Oddjobs series.  
    “The most fun you can have in the safety of a book. A rollicking good read!” Kaaron Warren, multi-award winning science fiction and horror author. 
    Priests from OverLondon's Church of Vengeful Acquisition are exploding. Is the cause divine retribution, ballistic undergarments or something more sinister? If only the city had a professional private investigator… 
    Luckily, notorious pirate—turned privateer—Captain Alex Reign, has just narrowly escaped the hang man’s noose to establish the Reign Agency in Drury Lane. She needs cash fast and will take any job, even if failure means facing an inconveniently messy end. But what's a little danger to a professional swashbuckler?  
    Armed with nothing but her roguish wit, her reliably unreliable crew and a rogue artificer experiencing a mortal crisis, Alex is convinced they'll have this crime solved and the reward pocketed by teatime. 
    To solve their first case, all they must do is survive while navigating rampaging nuns, clockwork horrors, confectionary gangsters, piratical florists, malevolent urchins, military-grade statuary, weaponized blasphemy and sexual whales. 
    How hard can it possibly be? 
    A Piratical Comic-Fantasy Whodunnit with a Tudor Twist! Read by Brendan McDonald, narrator of C.K. McDonnell's bestselling Stranger Times, winner of BFS Best Audio 2023
    Show book