The Chinese Puzzle

The Chinese Puzzle, first published in 1957 as a Crime Club Detective Story, features Inspector Henry Arnold and Desmond Merrion, no. 54 in the series of British mysteries by Miles Burton (a pen-name for prolific author Cecil Street [1884-1964]). The novel is set in a poor neighborhood of a British seaport, and a constable is summoned a lodging house, the scene of an assault. A Chinese boarder has been assaulted by another Chinese man using a carpenter’s hammer, although the police have a difficult time in correctly identifying the assailant and the victim. Desmond Merrion, who has spent time in both Hong Kong and Shanghai, takes part in the investigation at the request of Inspector Arnold. Together, they untangle a complicated mystery involving a wealthy Chinese laundry worker, opium smoking, local politics, and murder.