A Honolulu murder investigation uncovers a concealed connection between a film star's death and an earlier unsolved crime.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Mysticism and Romantic Doubt
A film production in Honolulu introduces a sudden marriage decision and a mysterious adviser summoned from Hollywood. Julie questions the adviser's influence while her feelings for Jimmy emerge.
Key Events
Honolulu Film Production — A film production is taking place on location in Honolulu. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Jimmy BradshawLocation: Honolulu, Hawaii
Marriage Decision — The film star considers marrying wealthy Alan Jaynes after knowing him for only one week. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Alan JaynesLocation: Honolulu
Mystic Adviser Summoned — Tarneverro is summoned from Hollywood to advise the film star about marriage. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Hollywood
Julie Questions Influence — Julie worries that Tarneverro has excessive influence over the film star. Characters: Julie O'Neil, TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Jimmy's Romantic Feelings — Julie and Jimmy are revealed to have romantic feelings for each other. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Jimmy BradshawLocation: Honolulu
Inspector's Disguise — A police inspector adopts the appearance of a humble merchant. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
The Disguise and the Murder
Tarneverro recognizes that a police inspector is disguised as a humble merchant. The discovery of the film star's body abruptly transforms social uncertainty into a murder investigation.
Key Events
Inspector's Disguise — A police inspector adopts the appearance of a humble merchant. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Disguise Exposed — Tarneverro sees through the police inspector's impersonation. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Old Murder Mentioned — The disguised inspector mentions an unsolved murder from three years earlier. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Body Discovered — Jimmy discovers the murdered film star's body. Characters: Jimmy BradshawLocation: Honolulu
Ring Removed — Julie tells Jimmy to remove the victim's ring before contacting the police. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Jimmy BradshawLocation: Murder scene
Police Investigation Begins — The police begin investigating after Jimmy reports the body. Characters: Jimmy BradshawLocation: Murder scene
Secrets Beneath the Case
Tarneverro joins the inquiry and reveals a hidden connection between the current victim and an earlier unsolved murder. Concealed responsibility and career protection complicate the suspect field.
Key Events
Tarneverro Joins Inquiry — Tarneverro is invited to assist with the murder investigation. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Secret Love Revealed — Tarneverro reveals that the victim had been in love with the earlier murder victim. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Hidden Responsibility — Tarneverro says the victim claimed responsibility for the earlier death. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Career Protection Motive — The secret was allegedly concealed to protect the victim's film career. Characters: TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Suspect Field Expands — The investigation develops multiple possible suspects and competing explanations. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Jimmy Bradshaw, Alan Jaynes, TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
The Past Claims the Present
A series of startling revelations narrows the investigation toward the killer. The final explanation connects the present murder with the death from three years earlier.
Key Events
Startling Revelations — Further revelations connect the current murder with concealed events from the past. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Jimmy Bradshaw, Alan Jaynes, TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Killer Identified — The investigator identifies the person responsible for the murder. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Jimmy Bradshaw, Alan Jaynes, TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Past Crime Connected — The killer's identity is linked to the unsolved murder from three years earlier. Characters: Tarneverro, Jimmy BradshawLocation: Honolulu
Murder Case Resolved — The investigation reaches its conclusion after the present murder and past death are explained. Characters: Julie O'Neil, Jimmy Bradshaw, Alan Jaynes, TarneverroLocation: Honolulu
Story Breakdown
Honolulu Film World — The story begins amid a location production, a sudden marriage decision, and competing personal feelings.
Sudden Marriage Proposal — The film star considers marrying wealthy Alan Jaynes after knowing him for only one week.
Julie and Jimmy — Julie and Jimmy's mutual romantic feelings form a personal subplot.
Mystic Adviser Arrives — Tarneverro is brought from Hollywood to provide guidance about the marriage decision.
Tarneverro Summoned — The mystic adviser travels from Hollywood to Honolulu.
Influence Questioned — Julie worries that Tarneverro has too much authority over the film star.
Hidden Police Identity — A disguised police inspector and Tarneverro establish an atmosphere of concealment and suspicion.
Merchant Impersonation — The police inspector pretends to be a humble merchant.
Mystic Sees Through — Tarneverro recognizes the inspector's disguise.
Murder Discovered — The film's social tensions become a criminal case when Jimmy finds the body.
Jimmy Finds Body — Jimmy discovers that the film star has been murdered.
Ring Removed — Julie instructs Jimmy to remove the victim's ring before calling the police.
Secrets From The Past — The investigation links the current death to an earlier unsolved murder and concealed responsibility.
Old Murder Mentioned — A police inspector refers to the unsolved death from three years earlier.
Secret Responsibility — Tarneverro reveals that the victim claimed responsibility for the earlier death.
Suspects And Revelations — Multiple suspects and startling revelations gradually expose the hidden connection between the two crimes.
Many Suspects — The investigation develops a broad field of possible culprits.
Career Protection — The earlier secret was allegedly kept hidden to protect a film career.
Killer Identified — The investigation reaches its climax when the killer is identified and the older crime is explained.
Present Murder Solved — The investigator identifies the person responsible for the current murder.
Past Crime Connected — The killer's identity is connected to the unsolved death from three years earlier.
Movie star Shelah Fane is seeing wealthy Alan Jaynes while filming in Honolulu, Hawaii, but won't marry him without consulting famed psychic Tarneverro first. Enter inspector Charlie Chan of the Honolulu Police, investigating the unsolved murder, three years earlier, of a Hollywood actor.
