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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
The Case of the Studdering Bishop is my first Perry Mason novel. I am old enough that I remember watching Perry Mason on TV, old 4x3 black and white TV. I think the characters had evolved considerably in the 21 years since it aired. I liked the more legal and polite of the TV versions. Given that, the storyline is equally circuitous.
The case involves a counterfeit grandaughter. The legitimate granddaughter. Mothers of each both willing to die to protect their daughters. Private detectives, both good and bad. More characters that one can shake a stick at.
As mentioned in my progress statement, toward the end I found a debate about the role and intelligence of women. I am not sure what side Erle Stanley Gardner is on, but since the argument was in the story, I subject he feels women are more talented than they are normally given credit.
It was well worth the read, but I am not sure I would tackle another.
The case involves a counterfeit grandaughter. The legitimate granddaughter. Mothers of each both willing to die to protect their daughters. Private detectives, both good and bad. More characters that one can shake a stick at.
As mentioned in my progress statement, toward the end I found a debate about the role and intelligence of women. I am not sure what side Erle Stanley Gardner is on, but since the argument was in the story, I subject he feels women are more talented than they are normally given credit.
It was well worth the read, but I am not sure I would tackle another.
Achingly convoluted even for a Mason book, it does have one surprisingly intense action scene where Mason has to rescue Della from a murderer. It's a stark reminder how rare actual violence is in the series.
I felt like it was high time to revisit Perry & Co., and I had long had this one selected as my next selection in the series, due to the fact that I thought I'd accidentally spoiled it for myself. Good news, I didn't. So the mystery aspect of the novel was still surprising and fun. There are some good Gardner clues, but as always it is the fast talk and the plotting itself which I hold onto. Gardner does this with his usual skill, although as a pre-Lame-Canary title it is still a bit pulpier than the Perry we eventually get to know. I felt that some of the plotting was a bit over-complicated at times - usually I have no problem remembering the many characters in each Mason mystery, but I did have a bit of trouble here, besides the two characters who share a first name for an important reason. So even if this didn't stand up to par with such classics as Sleepwalker's Niece, Careless Kitten, or Borrowed Brunette, I still had a lot of fun and was reminded that there's always a lot more to Perry Mason than the formula.
He was in this one up to his eyeballs right from the start.
I've read this before, but for the life of me couldn't remember the plot. It is inventive and interesting, and I love the little differences between 1930s and modern descriptions.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Violence
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Made for TV. Really. Even though TV didn't exist when it was written, the plot is perfect for a TV episode. The writing is a bit convoluted, so I'm not likely to read another, but at least now I've read one.
In this episode, Perry uses the n-word. Oh, and solves a murder and saves an innocent woman, all while foiling the DA, of course.