The Chinese Puzzle is a mystery story that revolves around a Chinese tea chest containing a hidden letter, a photographic negative of a famous painting, and a mysterious message. The story’s improbable plot contains numerous unbelievable incidents and some strange inconsistencies. For example, the three young detectives plan a trip to a Chinese Garden to search for clues, but then, at the last minute, they decide to attend a Japanese Tea Ceremony at the nearby Japanese pavilion instead. After the ceremony, two Japanese characters (who are never properly introduced to the reader), provide lots of information about a Chinese legend and a famous Chinese painting. Leaving the pavilion, one of the girls states that they have been followed by a suspicious man, but the text doesn’t support the reason for her suspicion. The Chinese Puzzle seems more like a first draft than a translation of a finished novel, and it cannot be recommended.