# P. J. Madden — The Chinese Parrot character guide > P. J. Madden in The Chinese Parrot by Earl Derr Biggers. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Madden, Mr. Madden, the great Madden, poor P. J. **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-phillimore-pearls ## Who they are A wealthy, imperious magnate whose isolated desert ranch, loaded gun collection, and nervous moods make him a host worth watching. ## Relationships ### [Bob Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/bob_eden) _professional_ Bob Eden is a salesman sent to deliver a valuable pearl necklace to the wealthy and secretive P. J. Madden, creating a tense employer-client dynamic. ### [Charlie Chan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/charlie_chan) _professional_ Charlie Chan is hired by P. J. Madden to investigate a theft, but their relationship is strained by Madden's secrecy and Chan's persistent probing. ### [Will Holley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/will_holley) _social_ P. J. Madden and Will Holley are acquaintances in the small desert community, with Holley often observing Madden's activities with journalistic curiosity. ### [Martin Thorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/martin_thorn) _professional_ Martin Thorn is P. J. Madden's loyal but suspicious secretary, handling his affairs with a mix of deference and hidden motives. ### [Ah Kim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/ah_kim) _professional_ Ah Kim serves as a servant in P. J. Madden's household, but his true role and allegiance are shrouded in mystery. ### [Bob Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/bob_eden) _professional_ Bob Eden is a salesman sent to deliver a valuable pearl necklace to the wealthy and secretive P. J. Madden, creating a tense employer-client dynamic. ### [Bob Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/bob_eden) _professional_ Bob Eden is a salesman sent to deliver a valuable pearl necklace to the wealthy and secretive P. J. Madden, creating a tense employer-client dynamic. ### [Charlie Chan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/charlie_chan) _professional_ Charlie Chan is hired by P. J. Madden to investigate a theft, but their relationship is strained by Madden's secrecy and Chan's persistent probing. ### [Will Holley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/will_holley) _social_ P. J. Madden and Will Holley are acquaintances in the small desert community, with Holley often observing Madden's activities with journalistic curiosity. ### [Ah Kim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/ah_kim) _professional_ Ah Kim serves as a servant in P. J. Madden's household, but his true role and allegiance are shrouded in mystery. ### [Charlie Chan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/charlie_chan) _professional_ Charlie Chan is hired by P. J. Madden to investigate a theft, but their relationship is strained by Madden's secrecy and Chan's persistent probing. ### [Martin Thorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/martin_thorn) _professional_ Martin Thorn is P. J. Madden's loyal but suspicious secretary, handling his affairs with a mix of deference and hidden motives. ## In the story ### [I: The Phillimore Pearls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/i-the-phillimore-pearls) The wealthy buyer who negotiates a bargain price for the pearls and insists on delivery in New York. ### [II: The Detective from Hawaii](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/ii-the-detective-from-hawaii) Changed his instructions to have the necklace delivered to his desert ranch; a suspicious phone call purportedly from him is traced to a San Francisco pay-station. ### [Madden's Ranch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/v-madden-s-ranch) Revealed to be alive and well, he is eager to receive the pearls but agrees to let Eden stay until they arrive. ### [VI: Tony's Happy New Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/vi-tony-s-happy-new-year) Shows nervous impatience about the pearl necklace deal, storms when Eden's father is unreachable, and exhibits an intense focus on the transaction. ### [VII: The Postman Sets Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/vii-the-postman-sets-out) Hosts a luncheon party; is silent and thoughtful after Tony's death; arranges for Ah Kim to drive Eden back to the ranch. ### [A Friendly Little Game](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/viii-a-friendly-little-game) Angry at Eden's defiance, plays poker with intensity, and reluctantly allows Maydorf to join the game. ### [Bliss of the Homicide Squad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/x-bliss-of-the-homicide-squad) Shows no grief over Louie's death, only anger; dismisses the murder as unimportant because the victim is Chinese. ### [XI: Thorn Goes on a Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xi-thorn-goes-on-a-mission) Receives a troubling telegram from Evelyn, sends Thorn to pick her up, and listens to Doctor Whitcomb's report about McCallum. ### [XII: The Tramcar in the Desert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xii-the-tramcar-in-the-desert) Approves Eden's trip to Barstow, has changed his mind about the pearls. ### [XIII: What Mr. Cherry Saw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xiii-what-mr-cherry-saw) Appears in the patio after Eden's return; Eden deceives him about the Barstow mission, and Madden is implicated as the murderer. ### [XIV: The Third Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xiv-the-third-man) Revealed as the killer who shot a man out of fear; departs for Pasadena with Thorn and Gamble. ### [XV: Will Holley's Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xv-will-holley-s-theory) Mentioned as having been rude to De Lisle, and is the subject of Holley's blackmail theory. ### [XVI: The Movies Are in Town](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xvi-the-movies-are-in-town) Briefly appears when the movie crew visits the ranch; Eddie Boston speaks to him privately. ### [In Madden's Footsteps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xvii-in-madden-s-footsteps) Subject of investigation; sold bonds for cash, visited his safe-deposit box, and is suspected of blackmail and murder. ### [XVIII: The Barstow Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xviii-the-barstow-train) Referenced as having visited his house but not entered; suspected of paying Eddie Boston to leave. ### [XIX: The Voice on the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xix-the-voice-on-the-air) Agrees to wait for the cash delivery; confronts Eden about stalling; reacts with agitation to the radio broadcast mentioning Jerry Delaney. ### [End of the Postman's Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xxi-end-of-the-postman-s-journey) Exposed as Jerry Delaney; attempts to retrieve the pearls but is disarmed and held at gunpoint by Chan. ### [The Road to Eldorado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/chapters/xxii-the-road-to-eldorado) Reveals the full story of his kidnapping and imprisonment at Petticoat Mine, and expresses gratitude to Chan. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters/p_j_madden - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chinese_parrot_se/characters