Perry Books

A young woman under the influence of the "truth" serum sodium pentathol confesses to her doctor that she poisoned the older man in whose house she had been living. After the man's death, she says, she threw the bottle containing the poison into a lake. The doctor, armed with this information and a recording of the session, consults Perry Mason, bringing the famous lawyer into the case.

The police have no knowledge that anyone has been murdered. The possible victim's cause of death was put down to natural causes years before when he died. Now, though, the police get wind of the confession, and Mason finds himself racing against time to determine whether a crime has been committed at all. He goes to the lake and succeeds in finding a bottle that, thankfully, does not contain poison. Apparently, the case is at an end. The "confession," he thinks, was just a product of the woman's imagination and guilty conscience. However, just when Mason thinks he can rest easy, the police recover a second bottle.

Now, not only is Mason's client back in hot water, but Mason himself is also facing legal trouble. The police, it seems, suspect Mason of having planted the first bottle.

There is not much new in this Perry Mason tale. It is the same competent, completely readable, and thoroughly enjoyable mystery Garner produced time after time. Hamilton Burger, the district attorney who always seems out to get Mason, is at it once again, and Mason must fall back on his wits and hope to pull the proverbial rabbit out of a hat to save his and his client's skins.

The Case of the Demure Defendant, by Erle Stanley Gardner

The importance of legal medicine is how it can prevent guilty persons from getting away with murder and innocent persons from being wrongfully convicted. This book is dedicated to Dr. Daniel J. Condon the Medical Examiner of Maricopa County Arizona who consulted on a Court of Last Resort case.

Nadine Farr had emotional problems, and visited a psychiatrist. She is given sodium pentothal and her answers are recorded on tape. During the questioning she admits to poisoning her Uncle. Dr. Denair consults Perry Mason to find out if this is confidential, or must be reported to the police. Perry points out a confession to a crime is not confidential, but the statements of a drugged person are not reliable in a court of law since they may be imagined. Dr. Denair brings Nadine Farr to consult with Perry Mason. But the nurse present at the treatment tells this to her policeman boyfriend, and the tape recording is obtained with a search warrant by the police.

The story is that Nadine threw away the poison. Perry recovers the bottle and has it analyzed - a sugar substitute! But the police do their homework and find a second bottle with the poison. We learn that Nadine's boyfriend says he found that bottle and flushed it away. We also learn that Jackson Newburn also threw away the poison! The case goes to court, Hamilton Burger accusing Perry of substituting false evidence. This looks like a slam-dunk for Burger until Perry personally inspects the evidence and notices a detail that will clear Nadine Farr of murder, Perry of fabricating evidence, and get a confession from a witness pointing to the real murderer. The scandals that generated this crime are mentioned at the ending.

Nadine Farr was a troubled young woman. Under the treatment of Dr. Denair, she revealed under drugs that she had killed her uncle with cyanide, then tossed the bottle into a lake, weighed down with shotgun shot. Unfortunately for her and her doctor, there was a tape recording of the drug-induced interview... and the nurse's boy-friend was a police detective.

Dr. Denair laid out his problem to Perry Mason, who put together a plan to carefully investigate the matter. In the end, he recovered the bottle from the lake... and it only contained a harmless sugar substitute.

However, the nurse blabbed to her boy-friend, and the police became interested. Then the D.A. found a SECOND bottle in the lake, filled with cyanide. Mason found himself stuck with a client who had confessed under drugs to a crime... and found himself accused of tossing one of the bottles into the lake.

It all comes down to a legal showdown as to whether the drug-induced confession, combined with the recovered bottle, can be admitted as evidence. Surprisingly, Mason reverses position and agrees to allow it all in evidence, despite the strong legal arguments which could prohibit it. It's the trap he puts Hamilton Burger in, and clears both himself and his client in the clear.

The 'Foreword' is dedicated to Dr. Samuel R. Gerber, the coroner of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He is a pioneer in the field of public disaster, where there is a need to quickly identify many bodies to solve legal problems, such as insurance, wills, marital relationships, etc. Dr. Gerber studied traffic deaths, accident prevention, and the effects of alcohol. His percentages on alcohol in the blood have become the accepted standard.

Perry Mason receives a visit from Mrs. Stefanie Malden, the newly widowed spouse of Dr. Summerfield Malden (a plane crash). This very young widow says Dr. Malden was being investigated by the IRS as to income tax. Gladys Foss, his head nurse and office manager, has disappeared - it may not be a coincidence. Stefanie found strange keys, hired a private detective, and learned where her husband spent time. Stefanie is concerned that her husband could have outwitted her! The IRS investigation was over cash income that was lower than expected. Stefanie wants Perry to take care of settling the estate for her. But complications arise from Perry's investigation. Did Perry walk into a cunningly baited trap?

Gladys Foss explains the strains for a medical man. The patients vary as to symptoms and condition, but a doctor must be able to handle any complication. Bookkeeping is an unneeded complication that is usually handled by a nurse. There is a cash shortage due to a lack of records. Could Gladys have taken some of the funds to play the horses? Could Dr. Malden's mechanic been involved in the plane crash? Was Dr. Malden's young wife seeing this mechanic? Then Perry learns that Mrs. Malden and the mechanic Ramon Castella were arrested by the Narcotics squad. When Perry arrives at the Hall of Justice a photographer takes him aside to take a posed photograph. There is quite a dramatic scene (Chapter 6)!

One important fact is that a car windshield was spattered with bugs, so the driver didn't stop for gas where the attendant would have washed them off (Chapter 7). A gasoline credit card can be used to track a person's purchases. Perry gets information on Gladys Foss' losses from the horse's mouth. Perry visits Stefanie in prison to get the truth (Chapter 9). Is there a commodity that Stefanie doesn't recognize? Perry explains his strategy for the preliminary examination (Chapter 10). Testimony from a criminalist tells how they could trace narcotics sold to a doctor, and the contents of a whisky flask. The preliminary hearing covers the main points, and is the longest chapter. [Did you begin to suspect the solution?] Since the prosecution can't meet Perry's objection, the case is dismissed and Stefanie is released from custody. Perry tells her how to leave, what to do, and where to go. Perry summarizes the case for Della [and the reader]. New evidence is found and Stefanie is re-arrested. Perry continues his investigation (Chapter 15).

District Attorney Burger returns to Los Angeles, but loses the publicity to Perry (Chapter 16). Darwin Kirby drank from that flask and soon fell asleep (Chapter 17). The dentist who last worked on Dr. Malden could not positively identify the body. Dr. Malden had been using fluorides to prevent dental caries (Chapter 18). Perry's subpoena of a witness backfires and leads to a contempt citation; but Perry explains how "nothing" would be proved by this witness! Perry surmises the truthful identity of this witness. In Chapter 19 Perry explains this case.
There may have been some humor in Gardner's dedication of this book to Dr. Gerber. Coroner Gerber accused Dr. Sam Sheppard of murdering his wife and ruined Dr. Sam's life.

Steffanie Malden, the client, is a greedy Widow. She is much eager to snatch her late husband's hidden money rather than to mourn for him, and she want to use Mason as a tool. And did she kill her husband cold-bloodedly? Mason fights for the unpleasant client at the risk of being disbarred and/or imprisoned. Lawyer is a hard business.

The most charming point of Perry Mason mysteries is how to reveal the real murderer and/or the real facts convincingly. Also in this book, the thrilling and dramatic revelation of what really happened is splendid! And the the murderer's identity is completely unpredictable and surprising.

I also enjoy quite a few spectacular scenes; D.A. Burger launches his fist at Mason, Mason is sentenced for contempt of court and so on.

The Case of the Gilded Lily, by Erle Stanley Gardner

The 'Foreword' dedicates this book to Walter J. R. Camp, M.D., Ph.D., one of this country's leading toxicologists. He is a Professor of Toxicology and Pharmacology at the University of Illinois, and the Coroner's Toxicologist for Cook County (Chicago). Dr. Camp is cool and objective when working on many spectacular cases.

Stewart G. Bedford is a wealthy business man who recently married a much younger woman. Binney Denham visited him one morning and asked about a "loan"; Binney has police records of Stewart's new wife Ann! Bedford loves his trophy wife and enjoys the envy and admiration of his friends. Then a phone call that night insists on getting the money next morning. Bedford gets traveler's cheques, then visits Binney and drives away with Geraldine Corning to a motel as part of the pay-off. A drink causes Bedford to fall asleep, as if it was drugged. When Bedford wakes up he finds Corning gone, and Binney shot dead in the next room. Bedford's secretary drives there and picks him up, she has retained Perry Mason.

Perry gets the story from Bedford and his secretary Elsa Griffin, and advises them what to do. Paul Drake begins his investigation. Elsa will return to her motel unit to lift any of the fingerprints left there by an unknown visitor (Chapter 6). The motel manager accurately described the man and the girl he was with: "that indefinable something that marks the babe, the chick, the moll" [body language?]. Perry finds out who the unknown visitor was (Chapter 8). But that person denied being there, and admits to other actions (Chapter 9). Mason is called, but the police reach Bedford first. Against Mason's advice Bedford makes a statement; the police take him in (Chapter 13). Mason talks to Bedford in jail, and listens to Bedford's theory of the crime (Chapter 15).

The shadow on Grace Corning reports she is leaving for Mexico under a disguise. Drake's operatives get fingerprints from Grace Compton's apartment (Chapter 17). The trial starts in Chapter 18. The motel manager testifies, and we learn new facts about the events (he saw Binney visit, and a "prowler" that he described to the police). A police officer tells of searching the garage to find a hidden gun. Elsa Griffin visits Perry to tell him of her suspicions; as she leaves she meets Sgt. Holcomb and offers her information (Chapter 19). When the trial resumes Elsa Griffin testifies about the fingerprints she lifted; but they do not match the People's Exhibits! Something wrong here. The police fingerprint expert is called to settle this dispute. Then the motel manager takes the witness stand to identify Mrs. Bedford! But Perry asks a few questions that expose new facts (Chapter 20). Perry explains the events to his freed client (Chapter 21).

In other novels Gardner warned about an eyewitness whose testimony can't be corroborated. The fact of substituted fingerprints is subtly mentioned here. Gardner covered the Sir Harry Oakes murder trial for the Hearst Press.

This story is an excellent story inline with all the others I've read by Erle Stanly Gardner.

This story like all the others in the Perry Mason series has a series of different twists.

What makes this story so good like all the other ones is that your getting nearly about 3/4s of the way through and you can see that unless something goes drastically wrong for the prosecution then the defendant is going to get the electric chair. But in true Erle Stanley Gardner fashion Perry Mason the defense lawyer pulls the defendant out of the spot that he's in and in doing so he gets his professionalism questioned including accusations of tampering with evidence.

In conclusion This is an excellent book by Erle Stanley Gardner and like others in this series it has the twists and other odd things that happen.

The Case of the Hesitant Hostess

The `Foreword' is dedicated to Dr. Milton Helpern, one of the top experts in forensic medicine. Dr. Helpern is one of the chief Medical Examiners of New York City, and a Professor at New York University Post Graduate Medical School. His diagnosis of a spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage saved a man from a murder charge. In another case he found the tip of a knife in the skull and brain or a dead man; what had seemed a natural death was murder.

In Chapter 1 Perry Mason is representing an indigent Albert Brogan, accused of armed robbery. A witness is very sure of her identification, less sure of some other events. The defendant retired after a car accident and a nervous breakdown. Perry thinks Martha Lavina isn't telling all (Chapter 2). Perry goes to search for the missing witness, an unusual investigation. He learned there is more than advertised (Chapter 3). Paul Drake cautions Perry about the Villa Lavina's connections (Chapter 5). Perry's missing witness is located, but Inez Kaylor took a handful of sleeping pills (Chapter 6)! But there is a mystery about the ambulance (Chapter 7). Perry finds out that his client Albert Brogan will be charged with the murder of a young woman (Chapter 8).

When Della Street goes to Inez Kaylor's apartment she finds a new complication in the closet. A doctor is called, then an ambulance (Chapter 10). Della and Perry find out that Inez Kaylor has a sister (Chapter 11). Could a routine business letter hold a clue (Chapter 12)? A very long Chapter 14 has Perry Mason's cross-examination of Martha Lavina and Rodney Archer. Their answers, explanations, and contradictions question their veracity. Della Street walked into trouble when she answered the ad for a model agency. Her mute telephone call warns Perry, and he brings Lt. Tragg along. They discover the hidden secret behind the crime (Chapter 15). The real Inez Kaylor showed up to fill in the rest of the story. She was lured away because she could have told what she suspected about Lavina's racket. They were able to switch people by using an ambulance! One of the gang turned State's evidence and the conspiracy was exposed. Albert Brogan will profit from suing Rodney Archer and Martha Lavina for false accusations, a happy ending (Chapter 16).

The activities of Perry Mason in this 1953 novel are similar to the earlier stories, or the "Ken Corning" short stories, from the 1930s. You can read between the lines to know the real business that is beneath the euphemistic descriptions. The switch of bodies recalls the film "The Lady Vanishes".

This story was unusual as Perry Mason mysteries in several reasons; (1) Mason was assigned by the court as a defending lawyer for a penniless defendant, (2) the case was not a murder but a hold-up and (3) the trial was on from the beginning of the story. The situation went worse and worse to the defendant, but Mason never gave up and at last succeeded in turning the tables more dramatically than ever. The story showed Mason's sincerity as a lawyer; even if he couldn't earn no money, he did everything he could for the defendant. I wish I could retain Mason when I needed a criminal lawyer. And I liked the front cover; it was meaningful.

Very well-plotted mystery. Especially, the process to the murder is very complicated and fascinating. The disclosure of who is murdered is so surprising, so explosive! That makes this story outstanding.

It is well-known that Mason's clients are always innocent. That seems to limit the mystery, but Mason mysteries are not so easy. It is not sure whether the clients tell the truth. They often tell various lies on various reasons, but sometimes they tell the genuine truth. This is perplexing, and that makes it difficult for Mason and readers to guess what really happened.

Very well-plotted mystery. Especially, the process to the murder is very complicated and fascinating. The disclosure of who is murdered is so surprising, so explosive! That makes this story outstanding.

It is well-known that Mason's clients are always innocent. That seems to limit the mystery, but Mason mysteries are not so easy. It is not sure whether the clients tell the truth. They often tell various lies on various reasons, but sometimes they tell the genuine truth. This is perplexing, and that makes it difficult for Mason and readers to guess what really happened.

The Case of the Lonely Heiress

Perry Mason gets a visit from Robert Caddo, the publisher of "Lonely Lovers Publications". Caddo has run an ad from an heiress. The authorities suspect some sort of fraud and are investigating. But since the advertisers are anonymous, Caddo wants Perry Mason to verify this item. Caddo explains the market for this publication, and how it works (Chapter 1). Perry explains how his letters will try for a response from than anonymous heiress. Perry wonders if that ad is part of a scheme (Chapter 2). One letter draws a reply, and Perry will have detectives who can spot and follow "MM" (Chapter 3). In Chapter 4 Perry and Della visit Union Depot to watch the meeting. The next morning Perry reports the facts to Caddo. Later that day Perry gets a report from the young detective who met "MM"; was there a trick? An errand brings Perry and Della back to Union Depot, and they see familiar faces (Chapter 6). Later Marilyn Marlow visits Perry to ask for help with the problem about a will. She explains the purpose of her ad (Chapter 7).

In Chapter 8 Perry gets a visit from Mrs. Dolores Caddo, who is upset by her husband's involvement with "MM"; she's not so dumb even if she is a big blonde. Perry tries to calm her and fails, so he calls Marilyn Marlow to warn her. After this Bob Caddo shows up. [This is one funny scene!] Marilyn Marlow calls with terrible news: Rose Keeling has been murdered! Rose's prior testimony will stand. Perry and Della arrive, question Marilyn, and Perry decides to take a chance with his client (Chapter 9). Lt. Tragg arrives, and holds Perry and Della for a while [another funny scene]. When they are released they try to visit the other witness, Ethel Furlong. But Perry is fooled by appearances (Chapter 11). In Chapter 12 Perry meets the Endicott family: Ralph, Palmer, and Lorraine. [The new ballpoint pen is mentioned here.] The Endicotts will benefit if George Endicott's will is broken. Ralph had seen Rose Keeling a few hours before her murder. Next Marilyn Marlow is intensively questioned and she blurts out some facts to Sergeant Holcomb. Next Lt. Tragg takes her to his office. It is an example of a police interrogation using `bad cop, good cop' (Chapter 13). Perry sums up the known facts in Chapter 14.

When Perry visits Mr. & Mrs. Caddo he learns that Dolores Caddo met Rose Keeling after 11 am. But Mr. & Mrs. Caddo deny everything to Lt. Tragg. Did they outsmart Perry (Chapter 15)? No one seems to have a motive for Rose Keeling's murder except Perry's client (Chapter 16). Perry and Della return to take another look at Rose Keeling's apartment. Della tells the difference between packing and unpacking. But they get a big surprise when they leave (Chapter 17). The Preliminary Hearing starts in Chapter 18. A bloody knife was found hidden in Marilyn's car, wiped clean of any fingerprints. On their return Perry and Della see Robert Caddo with the Endicott brothers (Chapter 19). The cross-examination of Lt. Tragg involves the difference between packing and unpacking clothes (Chapter 20). Perry sends Paul Drake to get more information. An important and new fact arises from the use of the then new and rare ballpoint pen (Chapter 21). The case against Marilyn Marlow is dismissed, and Perry explains the solution (Chapter 22). "Once you get the correct solution all of the evidence fits into place." [You need to multiply the dollar amounts by 20 to adjust for today's values.]

Perry Mason mysteries are always dependably interesting and fast moving, and "The Case of the Lonely Heiress" is no exception. As per usual, Perry is defending a client who has been framed, and Perry engages in a few unorthodox practices to protect his client. The client anticipates inheriting wealth from her mother who had nursed a sick man. The man wrote a will to her, leaving the bulk of his fortune. Needless to say, his family did not appreciate the bequest, and one of the witnesses to the will is considering changing her testimony to the effect she did not witness the signing. Murder enters within the confines of this thick plot.

It is not easy to figure out "who done it," but Perry, assisted by Della Street and with minimal help from Paul Drake, manages to frustrate Lieu. Tragg once again. You can't go wrong with any Perry Mason mystery, but this one had an extra touch of human interest.

Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970) wrote more than one hundred novels over the course of his long career. A trial lawyer himself, Gardner's best known creation was Perry Mason, a flamboyant criminal defense attorney who earns his large fees by virtue of a remarkable talent for using the law to uncover the truth on the witness stand.

Gardner was at the peak of his talents during the 1950s, and THE CASE OF THE LUCKY LOSER, published in 1956, is among the best of his works. Mason is retained to attend a trial by a mysterious client--not as counsel for the defense, but to give an opinion about a particular witness. The case concerns Ted Balfour, a wealthy young man who has been accused of drunk driving that has resulted in a death. It all seems very open and shut, but Mason spots a few unlikely details, and when the case suddenly takes a very unexpected turn he finds himself acting as counsel for the defense indeed, and the charge is murder one.

With plot details that range from a huge inheritance to a lovelorn secretary to an unexpected twist on the nature of double jeopardy, THE CASE OF THE LUCKY LOSER is quite complicated, but it never becomes disorganized, and when the truth is revealed it proves one of Gardner's most satisfying solutions. Although laws--and certainly police procedure and forensics--have changed a great deal since this novel was first published, it is a tremendous amount of fun from start to finish. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

The case is solidly plotted and masterfully suspenseful.The most dazzling case in Perry Mason's career where he has to solve the case of the corpse dying twice. Gardner smoothly mixes the ingredients like rivalry,betrayal,love,family honour and prepares a dish that was hard to resist for me. so, i strongly recommend this book!

Typical Perry Mason mystery with the speedy and thrilling development and the superb revelation of the real murderer at the trial. And Mason's character as "a cross between a saint and a devil" is well described in this book. He does everything he can to save the poor redhead girl who can't pay the fee at all. On the other hand, he uses a devilish tactics and stirs up the trial into a complete mess. D.A. Burger get furious as always. Even the judge loses his temper and they accuse each other. That's unusual and very amusing.

This book is exciting. It was just as exciting as tha tv show. Evelyn Bagby is accused of killing Harry Marow. She asks Perry Mason to defend her. I would recommend this book.

The Case of the Rolling Bones, by Erle Stanley Gardner

One morning Perry Mason is visited by three people. Phyllis Leeds is the niece and secretary of Alden Leeds. Emily Milicant is the girlfriend of Alden Leeds. Ned Barkler is a friend and fellow Klondike prospector. Phyllis Leeds thinks Uncle Alden wrote out a big check, and this could be used to have Alden declared incompetent by the other relatives who want to get their hands on his fortune. They want Perry Mason to investigate this financial transaction. Paul Drake found the name of the girl who cashed that check, but she left town in a hurry. Drake traced Maria Whittaker to L. C. Conway, who also moved away. But Phyllis Leeds calls with a crisis: one relative has taken Uncle Alden for a ride and put him in a sanitarium! Perry will serve a writ of habeas corpus on Jason Carrel, the nephew. Perry and Drake talk to Marcia Whittaker, who was used to cash that big check.

Chapter 4 has the habeas corpus hearing. The other side of the family has their lawyer. Alden Leeds was hospitalized against his will. Judge Treadwell goes to make a personal examination, but they find Alden Leeds has fled! When Perry is stopped for speeding, he tells the cops he's going to a fire - in his office! It's true (Chapter 5). They learn that Emily Milicant had been a Klondike dance hall girl 30 years earlier. Alden Leeds isn't at home, but knows how to take care of himself. In Chapter 7 Drake's operatives are watching L. C. Conway's apartment, and they note who showed up, and the time they left. Perry gets a call from Marcia Whittaker, and the identity of L. C. Conway is revealed. Her boyfriend, John Milicant, will never be angry again.

Chapter 8 presents the facts and clues behind the murder. [I noticed the innocuous statement that seemed to point to the guilty person here.] Other facts are given about the backgrounds of the people involved. A handwriting expert gives his opinion about two samples. Perry's conversation with Guy T. Serle brings out facts about L. C. Conway and the events of that night (Chapter 9). Chapter 10 has the Klondike history of Alden Leeds, and Bill Hogarty. Perry moves fast to guard his client and obtain more information.

Chapter 11 has the preliminary hearing, where all the witnesses testify and are examined. This is where Perry Mason demonstrates his knowledge, and where his client is usually freed after the testimony and evidence point to the guilty person. There is a recess, and Perry Mason gathers more information about the murder, and the events that occurred decades earlier in the Klondike. But the police quickly find the missing witnesses, as they are wire-tapping Paul Drake's telephone as well as Perry Mason's!

When court resumes the next morning, Perry cross-examines a prosecution witness to reveal the truth. Perry says any iron-clad alibi in a murder case should be inspected closely since they should never be taken at their face value (Chapter 14). The loose ends of this story are connected in Chapter 15. Some of the things mentioned in this story stick out because of changes in style and culture from over seventy years ago. [Does the existence of great fortunes point to great crimes?]

You may be able to guess the truth (what really happened and who the real murderer is) without much difficulty. However, guessing is one thing, proving it is another,especially when the one-track-minded authorities (police and prosecution) firmly believe that they are absolutely right. Mason uses a risky, but very splendid court tactics to prove the truth. It is one of THE MOST SPLENDID tactics in all Mason stories. Highly recommended.

The Case of the Shapely Shadow
Erle Stanley Gardner has tried to emphasize the importance of legal medicine by dedicating his Forewords to outstanding specialists in forensic pathology. Marshall Houts has worked for years in the Court of Last Resort, to educate attorneys in the importance of medical facts, and physicians about courtroom procedure (the tricks and traps of shrewd attorneys). Houts has been an FBI agent, WW II government investigator, college professor of criminal law, and author of several books.

Janice Wainwright visits Perry Mason's office without an appointment for confidential advice. Her employer has given her a suitcase to deliver to a locker. Janice believes this is blackmail money. Perry takes her as a client, and gives her legal advice. Della Street will accompany her when she makes a delivery (Chapter 1). Perry calls Paul Drake to have an operative follow the man who picks up the letter with the key to the locker (Chapter 2). The next morning Janice calls with the news that her employer Morley Theilman has gone missing, and a detective has been there to look for him. They find that the suitcase has gone missing from the locker (Chapter 3). Perry explains how this trick works (duplicated keys). The police are investigating Theilman's disappearance, and question Paul Drake and Perry Mason, who know little (Chapter 4). So Perry Mason now begins to investigate this event with the help of Paul Drake. Perry talks to the current Mrs. Theilman, and gains information (Chapter 5). Now Janice Wainwright can't be found, and they discover the real name of the second Mrs. Theilman (Chapter 6). Perry discusses and summarizes the problem with Della (Chapter 7).

Perry and Della fly to Las Vegas to surprise Janice; Paul Drake tracked her down. Now a shocking surprise occurs at the train station (Chapter 8). Janice apologizes to Perry and explains what she did. Then Lt. Tragg shows up to question Janice about the murder of Mr. Theilman (Chapter 9). When Perry tries to find Mrs. Theilman he finds that she was led away by a police officer. Perry then finds Mrs. Theilman and tries to question her, but the police show up and order him to leave the state (Chapter 10). Chapter 12 instructs the reader on the techniques used to match tires to tire treads. It shows the cross-examination of a medical examiner. Chapter 14 has another important cross-examination that negates some of the circumstantial evidence against Perry's client. This dramatic story continues to its conclusion by Chapter 17.

A "shadow" is the term for a person who follows another. Like his other books, there is a description and implied criticism of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Parts of this story read like they came from a gossip column. This is about as close as Perry Mason came to losing a case. One problem with a lone eyewitness is that they may be mistaken or lying and there is no corroboration for their statement.

When Janice Wainwright shows up in Perry Mason's office with a suitcase full of money and a story of her employer being blackmailed, Perry, Della, and Janice start recording the numbers of as many bills as possible. However, when her employer ends up murdered, the evidence points to Janice as a blackmailer and a killer. Even more surprising, Perry Mason puts on no defense evidence, effectively betting Janice's life on one small detail, a detail which sets off a firestorm of legal fireworks and has Hamilton Burger spitting nails.

This is a novel that defines Perry Mason; one where he goes up against a mountain of evidence, but finds a different analysis of it, combined with legal tactics which run circles around the district attorney. Highly recommended.