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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
4.0
Good mystery. I was surprised by the ending. However, Mason's antics sometimes make me a bit nervous. I'm clearly more lawful than he is.
shreyas1599's review against another edition
4.0
My first Perry Mason read. I came across the TV series(or move? Can’t remember which one) and decided it might be worth a try.
The impressions from this book were very similar to the ones I from Dashiel Hammett’s Maltese Falcon. If you liked that, you should definitely read this (or for that matter any other Perry Mason book which I presume might have a similar setting and manner of storytelling as this).
But back to the book, the story is about a lawyer, but it felt he was more a detective than a lawyer? The lawyer is tasked to conduct a sensitive undertaking with utmost discretion but is caught in the middle of a death. He races to prove his client’s innocence. The number of times it seemed like the law didn’t apply to him seemed too many to count. Still cannot fathom how he holds his license at the end of the book.
But if you’re willing to look past all the veracity of the legal minutiae, and in it just for the twists and turns of the story, this book is an excellent read. I will persist with a couple of more stories of Perry Mason and see if can find another Agatha Christie (my favourite writer of all time) in Erle Stanley Gardner.
The impressions from this book were very similar to the ones I from Dashiel Hammett’s Maltese Falcon. If you liked that, you should definitely read this (or for that matter any other Perry Mason book which I presume might have a similar setting and manner of storytelling as this).
But back to the book, the story is about a lawyer, but it felt he was more a detective than a lawyer? The lawyer is tasked to conduct a sensitive undertaking with utmost discretion but is caught in the middle of a death. He races to prove his client’s innocence. The number of times it seemed like the law didn’t apply to him seemed too many to count. Still cannot fathom how he holds his license at the end of the book.
But if you’re willing to look past all the veracity of the legal minutiae, and in it just for the twists and turns of the story, this book is an excellent read. I will persist with a couple of more stories of Perry Mason and see if can find another Agatha Christie (my favourite writer of all time) in Erle Stanley Gardner.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
3.0
Perry Mason stepped out from behind the screen where he had been sitting. "The big palooka, trying to kiss my secretary! Where the hell does he get that nerve?"
Della Street laughed at him. "If you're going to spy on my unguarded moments you'll hear a lot worse than that. He was positively platonic."
Della Street laughed at him. "If you're going to spy on my unguarded moments you'll hear a lot worse than that. He was positively platonic."
johnnyb1954's review against another edition
3.0
Gardner put out the first 10 books in 4 years. I wonder how much better they could have been of he had spent more time. But I get it, that was the nature of pulp fiction at the time.
This one suffers from long explanations of things that took place rather than following the action in some way.
This is the first book in which Paul Drake does not come into the office and sit sideways in the big guest chair. But he does make a pass at Della in her apartment, in the early hours of the morning - while Perry is sleeping over, unbeknownst to Paul.
This one suffers from long explanations of things that took place rather than following the action in some way.
This is the first book in which Paul Drake does not come into the office and sit sideways in the big guest chair. But he does make a pass at Della in her apartment, in the early hours of the morning - while Perry is sleeping over, unbeknownst to Paul.
madisonreadsbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
paperbackstash's review against another edition
4.0
This one didn't hook me in the beginning as much as most of the series, but it was definitely a different type and the ending was filled with twists I didn't see coming. Mason skirts the rule of the letter of the law a lot and this one he definitely does. Overall another I ended up really enjoying.
storiesforhisglory's review
5.0
Pure Gold
Perry Mason stories are fun, creative, inventive, and sheer gold. This was no exception. Thoroughly enjoyed myself as I read. Della is awesome, too.
Perry Mason stories are fun, creative, inventive, and sheer gold. This was no exception. Thoroughly enjoyed myself as I read. Della is awesome, too.
mcmattiello's review
4.0
This wasn't the first Perry Mason I've read but it's the first I've read in donkey's years so I didn't know if I'd like it. Well I did. It was fast moving and the mystery was interesting and intricate. Incidentally, as I was reading, I pictured Mason as he was portrayed by the actor Warren William and not Raymond Burr. I don't have anything against Burr, I just like Warren William better.
https://warrenwilliam.com
I think he made a top notch Perry Mason.
https://warrenwilliam.com
I think he made a top notch Perry Mason.