← The Canary Murder Case

The Canary Murder Case · Chapters

Chapters explained

Chapter companions for The Canary Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine.

Read with companionsBook page

Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.

  1. Chapter 1

    Epigraph

    The epigraph quotes Phaedrus, suggesting that appearances are deceptive and only intelligence can perceive hidden truths, setting a thematic foundation for the novel.

  2. Chapter 2

    Introductory

    The narrator, a personal attorney and constant companion of Philo Vance, sets the stage for the 'Canary' murder case. He describes his unique position as a witness to Vance's analytical crime-solving methods, which helped solve cases that baffled the police and District Attorney's office. The chapter introduces the brutal murder of Margaret Odell and establishes Vance as the central figure in its solution.

  3. Chapter 3

    Characters of the Book

    This chapter lists the principal characters of the novel, including Philo Vance, District Attorney John F.-X. Markham, the victim Margaret Odell, and various suspects, investigators, and other figures involved in the case.

  4. Chapter 4

    The Canary Murder Case

    The chapter introduces the murder of Margaret Odell, a former showgirl known as 'The Canary,' and the initial investigation led by District Attorney Markham, who enlists Philo Vance to assist. The crime scene is examined, and early suspects emerge, including Tony Skeel and Spotswoode.

  5. Chapter 5

    I: The "Canary"

    The chapter introduces the murder of Margaret Odell, a famous Broadway nightlife figure known as the 'Canary,' whose strangled body was found in her apartment. The case baffles the police and District Attorney Markham, who enlists the help of his friend Philo Vance, a wealthy and intellectually gifted amateur detective. The chapter sets the stage for the investigation, highlighting the social context of New York's nightclubs and the challenges of solving the crime.

Free preview

31 more chapter companions sit beside the text in BetterReads — open a free preview to unlock the rest.

31 more companions → free preview
  1. Chapter 6II: Footprints in the Snow
  2. Chapter 7III: The Murder
  3. Chapter 8IV: The Print of a Hand
  4. Chapter 9The Bolted Door
  5. Chapter 10VI: A Call for Help
  6. Chapter 11VII: A Nameless Visitor
  7. Chapter 12VIII: The Invisible Murderer
  8. Chapter 13IX: The Pack in Full Cry
  9. Chapter 14X: A Forced Interview
  10. Chapter 15XI: Seeking Information
  11. Chapter 16XII: Circumstantial Evidence
  12. Chapter 17An Erstwhile Gallant
  13. Chapter 18XIV: Vance Outlines a Theory
  14. Chapter 19Four Possibilities
  15. Chapter 20Significant Disclosures
  16. Chapter 21Checking an Alibi
  17. Chapter 22XVIII: The Trap
  18. Chapter 23The Doctor Explains
  19. Chapter 24XX: A Midnight Witness
  20. Chapter 25XXI: A Contradiction in Dates
  21. Chapter 26XXII: A Telephone Call
  22. Chapter 27XXIII: The Ten O'Clock Appointment
  23. Chapter 28An Arrest
  24. Chapter 29XXV: Vance Demonstrates
  25. Chapter 30XXVI: Reconstructing the Crime
  26. Chapter 31A Game of Poker
  27. Chapter 32XXVIII: The Guilty Man
  28. Chapter 33XXIX: Beethoven's "Andante"
  29. Chapter 34XXX: The End
  30. Chapter 35Endnotes
  31. Chapter 36List of Illustrations