Perry Books

This is the definitive book on how the so-called "casual" football hooligan culture evolved in Manchester and Liverpool in the late-70s and early 80s. Perry Boys they were called, and they epitomized verve and snappiness, with wedge haircuts and cashmere ski sweaters. No punches pulled, pure slang, street memories, top continental fashions (plus the Fred Perry polo shirt, hence the "Perry Boys" moniker) and styles, plus the descriptions of the Manchester lads going out and smashing the town up, all delivered in top-class prose. The way the Perry Boys brought Adidas sneakers ("trainers") back from their trips abroad, and wore them as they steamed into their enemies, tells a thousand stories.
A very vivid account of the vigorous way in which these Perry Boy hooligans, wearing the stolen, expensive sportswear, stormed clubland, and brought the acid house and rave phase into being. The drugs, the clubs, the thieving and the craziness, all wrapped up in one volume. This is a poetic and in-depth account of the emergence of an entire way of life, told by someone who knew the score and names the pivotal contributors that made Perry Boys the most feared mob in English soccer. Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

Selma Anson, a well-to-do widow rushes to see Perry Mason because she is being followed. Perry gets Paul Drake to investigate. Paul explains a "rough shadow" and a "roper". The first follows a subject in such a way as to be noticed (a "smooth shadow" keeps far away from the subject). A "roper" tries to befriend the subject in a casual way to gain their confidence. The "roper" will admit to illegal or unethical acts in order to draw out a similar confidence from the subject. [You may encounter this in your workplace.] Selma is friendly with a wealthy man; some of his nephews and nieces regard Selma as a fortune hunter! The shadow is the boyfrined of the niece who dislikes Selma. The complication is that Selma's husband Bill died a year ago of food poisoning, and some gossip that his wife took advantage of this to poison him!

Selma's deceased husband is exhumed; test show arsenic. Selma also had been buying arsenic until her husband died. A bottle of this arsenic was found hidden by the barbecue grill where Selma's husband got sick. "The prosecution's evidence always seems convincing," Mason said. Who else could have a motive to murder except the spouse?

Perry's client listens to bad advice, and acts foolishly by flying to El Paso. Perry arrives, and is able to salvage her mistake, and turn it around (Chapters 9 & 10). Chapter 13 tells how Perry uses a polygraph expert to prove Selma's innocence. One example of this was in the Sam Sheppard case; family members proved they had never heard Dr. Sam Sheppard say anything indicative of guilt. [Erle Stanley Gardner kept up with current events.] But courts won't allow a polygraph test to determin guilt. "It's very, very possible to frame a person for murder," Mason said.

On the last day of the trial we learn that Selma Anson has just married Delane Arlington, who found the bottle of poison. A spouse cannot testify against another spouse. But Perry says Delane will testify voluntarily! Lt. Tragg testifies that the police found no bottle of poison (clearly marked) when they previously searched the whole area of the barbecue grill. The manufacturer of this poison (used in taxidermy) testified it was freshly manufactured within three months. The owner of the taxidermy supply store identifies the customer who bought this poison. Once all the facts are learned, Perry's client is found not guilty by the Judge. The customers who bought this poison are arrested for evidence tampering; and you know what's next.

The Case of the Amorous Aunt, by Erle Stanley Gardner

This book is dedicated to Dr. Manuel Merino Alcántara, Professor of Legal Medicine and Sub-Director of the Mexican Forensic Institute. An autopsy can uncover the facts of a murder so no subsequent fabrication can cover it up. A medical examiner will find clues that a less thoroughly trained individual could miss. The official autopsies in Mexico City are about equal in number to New York city.

A young couple come to Perry Mason on a matter of life and death. Linda's wealthy widowed aunt has fallen in love with a stranger, withdrawn a small fortune, and traveled to Los Angeles. Linda is sure her aunt's fiancee is planning to murder her for her money. Perry Mason suggests they hire a private investigator to investigate the aunt's fiancee. They find that this fiancee, aside from his name, does not seem to exist. His bank account emptied and closed, his car sold, his apartment closed out, and no known friends and associates. All fingerprints were wiped clean! Perry Mason learns that the aunt and her fiancee will be going to Arizona to get married. Perry, Della, and Paul fly to Yuma to further investigate. Most of the story takes place here, not in Los Angeles.

They miss the sought couple at the state line inspection station, but locate them later. Linda's boyfriend shows up; he had tried to follow the pair. The aunt's fiancee is later found poisoned, and the aunt is arrested for the murder! Many surprising events continue to happen until the very end. [Note how some seeming minor character in the background turns out to be the real killer.] The very active Perry Mason earns his fee by defending the aunt. The villains are exposed at the end so justice triumphs. This fast moving story has as many surprises as an amusement park ride in a "haunted house". This book is limited by the censorship of its day, but you can read between the lines.

A woman has urgent business with Perry Mason. Rita Swaine brought along a caged canary with a sore foot. She tells Perry about the problem her twin sister has with her new husband Walter Prescott, and the money he has taken from her sister Rosalind. Rosalind has been seeing her old boyfriend Jimmy Driscoll, and Rosalind's husband has threatened her. Rita explains the problem that happened that morning. The case intrigues Perry, so he agrees to take the case. Rita tells of an accident that happened around noon. Perry calls Paul Drake to investigate Walter Prescott, his business associate, the snoopy neighbors, and the man injured in that accident. Perry learns of trouble at the Prescott home (Chapter Three). Perry and Paul question the neighbors about the accident, and learn the homicide squad was at the Prescott house. The dialogue is an interesting as some trial scenes (Chapter Four).

The man injured in the accident has left the hospital, and can't be located. Perry and Paul visit Harry Trader, who drove the truck that was in that accident. Trader will tell them little, except it was the other driver's fault (Chapter Five). Perry and Della Street fly to Reno to locate Rita Swaine. They also find Rosalind Prescott and Jimmy Driscoll. Perry gets the complete story from Rosalind. Della calls to warn about the police, so Perry can call the telephone operator to report their presence. Perry gives good advice to his clients (Chapter Seven). Paul Drake tracks down "Carl Packard", who was injured in that accident; he can't be found. Perry learns he was an insurance detective who investigated fire-bugs connected with an arson ring (Chapter Eight)!

The Coroner holds an inquest and establishes that Walter Prescott was murdered with a pistol, the bullets came from Jimmy Driscoll's gun that was left with Rosalind Prescott (Chapter Ten). This makes Rita Swaine the last person in the house when Walter Prescott was alive. Now Rita tells Perry more about what happened that day. She found Walter Prescott dead when she arrived after Rosalind and Jimmy had left the house! Perry will have a difficult job defending Rita; she withheld evidence from the police. Perry gives her good advice as to her conduct in jail. Paul Drake calls Perry to tell him "Carl Packard" has been found, but will never testify in court.

In Chapter Fourteen Perry tries to imagine what could have happened. Paul Drake drops in to tell that Rita has confessed to what she found when she arrived at the Prescott house. When Perry learns that Walter Prescott's secretary is moving to Reno he comes up with an idea involving the shipping of luggage from Rita Swaine's apartment! This brings out Sergeant Holcomb to investigate. The Coroner holds another inquest into Jason Braun's death. One witness says he wants to leave because he was injured. Perry makes a suggestion, so Dr. Wallace examines a witness on the stand. A commotion breaks out, and a shocking surprise results. Perry's client will be released (Chapter Fifteen). Perry explains it all to Della Street while driving to the harbor for a well-deserved vacation. [The solution reminds me of Graham Greene's "The Third Man".]

David Martindale is a former newspaper editor who writes for various entertainment publications. The "Perry Mason" show was popular because people were interested in the system of justice. The stories were good (p.13). "Perry Mason" was a Sherlock Holmes in a courtroom. There had been a radio show for 12 years. Erle Stanley Gardner was totally involved with the series. The weekly TV shows quickly used up most of the original novels. The "Perry Mason" character is based on Erle Stanley Gardner's own experience as a lawyer (p.15). Gardner was very concerned about human rights and injustice (p.16). Chapter 2 tells how Gardner developed "Perry Mason" from two earlier novels. Gardner admired the Sherlock Holmes stories ("The Case of the ..."). Gardner was a very prolific writer in his "fiction factory"; he dictated and his secretaries typed. Gardner considered himself a good plotter, not a very good writer, but the reading public loved his books. Hollywood tampered with his stories, Gardner kept firm control in the future (p.18).

The television series was as fast-paced as the novels (p.25). The cast of performers was well-matched. The stories were entertaining, not realistic. Mason even lost a few cases (p.32). Most of the episodes for the first season were based on Gardner's stories (p.33). The episodes had a costly quality, they weren't "cheap". Eventually sagging ratings ended the series after nine seasons. Did the 1973-74 season fail because of the actors (p.37)? Raymond Burr later returned as "Perry Mason" with a lighter workload (p.40). [This 1991 book does not cover the end.]

Chapter 7 discusses the actors who portrayed "Perry Mason" on TV, film, and radio. Chapter 8 discusses the other actors in the TV series. Chapter 9 lists the Perry Mason novels and any television or movie version. Chapter 10 names the six novels made into movies in the 1930s. Chapters 11 through 19 document the episodes of the nine seasons and their 271 stories. Chapter 20 has the fifteen episodes of the `new' adventures (1973-74). Chapter 21 lists the 19 episodes of the last series on television (1985-1991). There is no index.

Perry Mason receives a call from a young woman. Her stepmother was found stabbed to death inside her house. The police find a pair of garden shears in the step mom's back. One glove is found outside, its mate is missing. Anne Kimbro's fiancee found the body, and becomes the chief suspect. Anne's step mom objected strongly to her romance with John Leland, due to their parent's relationship. The police are looking for physical evidence, like DNA on John's shirt and handkerchief, to arrest John. We learn that John's father had killed Anne's mother decades earlier. Both families owned stock in a very successful drug company. John's father disappeared after this killing and has never been found! John received a telephone call to his realtor's office, went to this house, met Anne, and they fell in love. But nobody knows who made this call!

After the missing bloodstained glove is found hidden away, the police arrest John Leland for the murder. Somebody then sets Anne's house on fire and it burns to the ground, destroying any overlooked evidence. Chapter 17 of this 1991 book explains the new science of DNA testing, which can uniquely identify a person from a bloodstain. Some of the blood found on the victim's body came from John Leland. Then there is videotaped testimony of Benjamin Jantzen, too ill to personally appear in court. The preliminary hearing is interrupted by the news of what was found at the burned down house. Then Anne's stepfather is found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage by John Leland! Chapter 20 has the solution to Anne's mother's murder; it was not John's father. [I found the hints to the real killer.] In Chapter 21 Mason asks the DNA expert if the glove without bloodstains had been tested for DNA; it wasn't [limb hair?]. Mason wins an acquittal by a hair in Chapter 22. The videotaped confession of the real killer leads to John Leland's acquittal. Mason wonders about the many spectators who congratulate John in Chapter 23. What were their personal motives?

Erle Stanley Gardner dedicates this mystery to Dr. Russell Fisher the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland. They created a new central headquarters for the state's medical examiner, with floors for teaching and research on forensic medicines. A modern medical examiner system protects the living. Most murders are committed among friends and family members. Many poisonings may go undetected without a medical examiner; they are far more numerous that the average person suspects (p.6)!

While Perry Mason and Della Street were away from the office a woman came in who feared for her life. But after giving her name, Adelle Hastings, she stepped out to the corridor and did not return. Then Perry received a phone call from Mr. Huntley L. Banner who is representing Garvin S. Hastings in the divorce. So Perry gets Paul Drake to investigate the individuals. Perry and Della follow the clues by flying to Las Vegas to investigate Adelle Hastings. Now the complications begin (Chapter Three). Adelle Hastings tells her story. Perry points out the inconsistencies, and says the police are too thorough and clever to be fooled by it. If Adelle was telling the truth she has an imposter pulling tricks on her. On the return charter flight Perry learns that a young woman had questioned the pilot about them (Chapter Four)! Adelle has realized that something is very wrong, and comes to see Perry at his office (Chapter Five). And yes, they learn that Garvin S. Hastings has been murdered. Then Huntley L. Banner calls with information he just got from Garvin Hastings! There is an educational part about people in a line-up who appear similar. Did Garvin fail to make a will to provide for Adelle, his third wife? Could his second wife have cooked up this scheme?

So the story continues with Perry Mason talking with the various people involved in this case. The dialogue slowly draws out the facts about the situation. Perry Mason learns more about the background facts. There is a mystery about the gun found in the handbag. It disappears from Perry's desk then is brought back. But is it the same gun? District Attorney Hamilton Burger shows up and personally investigates Hastings Enterprises. Then there are a number of surprises that leaves Burger dumbfounded (p.163). The police find the gun is the murder weapon, and a fingerprint is on it. Adelle Hastings is arrested for the murder of Garvin Hastings.

The Preliminary Hearing has many interesting pages of testimony on the gun and its possession (Chapter Twelve). Perry has to do a lot of investigative work for his client, and this create more work (p.213). Perry asks one witness to hand the dark glasses to his receptionist. A further investigation by the police unravels the plot. Garvin Hastings has made a holographic will, dated and signed. This had been destroyed by the woman who impersonated Adelle Hastings. But by law, this destruction doesn't affect the validity of that will. Adelle Hastings is not guilty of the murder, and will inherit a fortune, thanks to Perry Mason.

Mason's client told the truth... but the police didn't believe her. They decided she was guilty of both blackmail and murder. But Mason came up with an idea...

The idea was NO defense. He then proceeded to argue his case in a manner which took Hamilton Burger so frustrated he committed misconduct. But Mason wasn't about to let the district attorney a chance to get off the hook when his client was about to be aquitted of the charge against her...

Perry Mason Seven Complete Novels

These seven novels were originally published between 1955 and 1959 when Gardner was at his prime. They take place in 1950s Los Angeles California, an area where Erle Stanley Gardner lived and worked. Gardner never put dates in his novels to keep them from being dated. But after the devaluation of the dollar from 1971 on many of the dollar figures are long out of date. There were other changes in law and culture as well. Gardner was a trial attorney himself, and his experiences were not unlike that of Perry Mason. His novels economize on characterization, using dialogue to keep the story moving. Few of the people tell the whole truth to Mason. His job is to compare testimony to the facts gathered by his private investigator. Mason's clients are usually "middle class" or better; few clients have messy lives or cases. The stories involve some technical or scientific facts, and show some point of law.

Erle Stanley Gardner was the founder of the "Court of Last Resort" which sought to free many unjustly convicted persons. Gardner, among others, sought to use scientific means to find the guilty, rather than using hunches or guesses alone. Mason's clients are always not guilty, because few would buy a book where a defense lawyer let the guilty go free. An important lesson for the reader is to think about the facts, and not jump to a conclusion based on newspaper reports. These seven novels are often educational, like some novels of Dashiell Hammett, in teaching about the tricks of undercover detectives. You'll learn about a "roper", rough or smooth shadows, etc. and be able to identify the undercover operatives that you may encounter in your life.


* The Case of the Glamorous Ghost. A young woman was found in a park at night, nearly nude. She seems to be an amnesia victim. When her missing boyfriend is found dead she is accused of the murder.
* The Case of the Terrified Typist. A skilled typist shows up for work, then disappears. This typist matches a suspect in a burglary. Perry Mason's client is convicted of murder, but this is overturned on a technicality.
* The Case of the Lucky Loser. A young man is on trial for a hit-and-run. The investigation brings out hidden facts. Why did his step-mother and a company official testify against him?
* The Case of the Screaming Woman. A wife calls to have her husband's story checked. He had picked up a hitchhiker and taken her to a motel. After a nearby doctor was killed, the man is charged with murder.
* The Case of the Long-Legged Models. A young lady inherited shares in a Las Vegas casino. A man is pressuring her to sell out. When the man is murdered, the young lady is charged with murder.
* The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll. A woman runs away and assumes a new identity. But an investigator ties the new identity to a past crime. When the investigator is killed, she is accused of the murder.
* The Case of the Waylaid Wolf. A woman can't start her car, and is given a ride by her employer's son. She resists his advances, then runs off. When this man is found dead she is charged with murder.

The Case of the Bigamous Spouse, by Erle Stanley Gardner

The 'Foreword' is dedicated to Mitsuo Yokoyama M.D., Ph.D., and the other Japanese hematologists who are a the forefront of research. They can "classify approximately forty blood group systems, seventy blood group factors, and more than 100,000,000,000 theoretically genotypes".

Gwynn Elston visits Perry Mason because she thinks her best friend's husband tried to poison her! Gwynn has been staying with Nell and Felting Grimes while she works selling books to families. One customer had a picture of her husband, who looked like Felting Grimes. That night Felting started asking her questions about her work. Later Gwynn tasted something bitter in the drink Felting gave her. Tonight Gwynn must return for her business meeting. Perry tells her what to do for her safety (Chapter 2). Later Gwynn calls to report that nothing happened (Chapter 3). The next day Gwynn tells of the strange event that happened, and how she was given a pistol (Chapter 4)! When she went to revisit that location, she found Felting Grimes dead, and that delayed her return to Perry. Perry Mason telephones Lt. Tragg to report the dead body. Lt. Tragg's quick actions finds the likely suspect (Chapter 6). Perry warns Gwynn to say nothing while in custody until Perry can find out about the situation.

Perry and Della go to visit Nell Grimes, Felting is away on business. Nell knows little about her husband's business. But news on the radio tells the police found a body and identified it. Perry's interview is quickly ended. Perry visits the murder scene to watch the police find a pistol. Gwynn's story about giving a strange man a lift is verified. If the father of Felting Grimes died the day before would that be just a coincidence?

Perry and Della visit the mountain town to inquire about Gorman Gillet, recently deceased (Chapter 10). Perry took fingerprints, and got a hit from the FBI. Now a new person could be a suspect (Chapter 11). Perry is able to get his fingerprints, but they do not match a known person. There are other complications and difficulties for Perry. Gwynn is in trouble as she started talking to the police without her lawyer. The missing witness shows up, confirms Gwynn's story, but can implicate her.

The Preliminary Hearing looks bad for Gwynn until Perry examines a hostile witness; the testimony reveals surprising facts that cast doubt about the prosecution's case. A prosecution witness is recalled and the mystery is solved in Chapter 15. [There is no comment on the unconventional household of the Grimes. Some items of everyday life then are noticeably out of date. Note the plug for the magazine that paid well
for Gardner's stories.]