Perry Books

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.]

The Case of the Calendar Girl, by Erle Stanley Gardner

This book is dedicated to Hubert Winston Smith, A.B., M.B.A., LL.B., M.D. who is a professor of law at the Law School of the University of Texas, Professor of Legal Medicine at the Medical School, and is Director of the Law-Science Institute. As special counsel to a convicted murderer awaiting execution he found new evidence and argued this case to get a reversal of conviction by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

A contractor is getting grief from building inspectors on a very important job. He is advised to consult with a "public relations expert" (who quotes a price to fix the problems). As Ansley leaves the estate, he has a narrow escape from an accident; the other car overturns. Ansley sees a young woman, who calls for help and a ride home to her apartment. But something worries him. He calls on Perry Mason for advice. When Perry checks up, he finds this woman used a false identity; and her car was stolen. The next day the "public relations expert" is found murdered; the gun that did is found in Ansley's car. Perry Mason and Paul Drake must quickly investigate to uncover the facts. They track down the woman from the fake address (using a real person's identity can provide a clue to the imposter). An undeveloped negative of the model is found in the murdered man's camera (is it proof she was the last person to see him alive?).

Using the facts uncovered by the investigation Perry Mason gets the charges against Ansley dropped at the preliminary hearing. The model is arrested for the murder; she worked at the store where the murder weapon was stolen. But she hires Perry Mason as her advocate, and Perry Mason gets the charges dropped again! By now the facts develop to point to the real killer. The remarks of Lieutenant Tragg on driving to avoid accidents are still valuable.
If you can only read one Perry Mason mystery, this provides a good example of Erle Stanley Gardner's stories.

The Case of the Hesitant Hostess, by Erle Stanley Gardner

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 1955 novel is dedicated to the Hawaiian medical examiner who described "Bangugut", an unexplained syndrome of sudden death that is called "Nightmare Death". No cause of death can be discovered after examining the vital organs. Popular belief blamed it on witchcraft. Or was it a "perfect crime"?

Perry Mason gets a call from a new client, but she can't come in because she has nothing to wear. All her possessions have been stolen while she was sunbathing. Della Street brings her an outfit, and Arlene Duvall tells her story. Her father was sent to prison after being convicted of stealing a money shipment. He was convicted on circumstantial evidence; the money was never found. Arlene hires Mason to find her missing trailer and car. Paul Drake quickly finds the missing trailer, and explains how this is done in Chapter 3. They mention the terrible traffic in Los Angeles (after the destruction of the trolley system). Perry Mason explains to the trailer dealer what constitutes a legal agreement. Arlene hires Mason to investigate the crime and free her Dad. Mason says he will serve justice first; if he Dad is guilty he will get his fee from the reward money.

Mason meets with Jordan Ballard, who worked with Colton Duvall at the time of the theft. Ballard asks for a lift home, and tells Mason the background facts. Mason leaves, and checks in with Paul Drake to learn the police were called after Ballard was found murdered! Arlene Duvall was followed, and seen entering Ballard's house just after Mason left. Mason then goes to see Dr. Holman Candler, the good friend of Arlene. The urgency of this situation forces Mason to work through the night. Next morning Mason appears before a grand jury to answer questions about his activity at Ballard's house. The District Attorney wants to charge Mason with perjury, or murder! (There is a lesson her against making assumptions about an action that can have many meanings.) Arlene Duvall is arrested for murdering Ballard, and Perry Mason will have to defend her.

As part of this story you will learn about some detective techniques and parts of the laws. A number of funny things happen on the way to the trial. Since Mason's clients are always found 'not guilty' there's no surprise there, but in the journey to this conclusion. The suspense lasts until the final pages when Perry Mason draws the facts together to solve the murder, and the earlier theft of the money shipment. Mason warns against the frequently made mistake of first deciding who was guilty and then fitting the facts to prove that guilt (Chapter 14). I won't give away the ending, but it implicitly warns against assuming that something could not have happened.

The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll, by Erle Stanley Gardner

This book is dedicated to Theodore J. Curphey, M.D., Coroner of Los Angeles County, who is trying to get legal medicine used properly. If autopsies do not use current scientific methods then crimes can escape detection, or innocent persons can be convicted of crimes they did not commit. Dr. Curphey formed the Institute of Legal Medicine to combin the medical schools, the law schools, and the police and sheriff's departments in a practical partnership.

This story is about Mildred Crest, whose world collapses when her boyfriend breaks their engagement, and confesses to embezzlement from the company they work for. Mildred goes for a ride, and picks up a hitchhiker. The car crashes and burns, but Mildred decides to assume the hitchhiker's identity - Fern Driscoll. She finds a new job and apartment, and lives a more reclusive life. But an insurance investigator shows up, and asks "Fern Driscoll" to write a statement about the accident. Mildred went from the frying pan into the fire! So now she consults with Perry Mason about a "personal matter". "Fern" tells about the crash from her point of view (Chapter Three); but Mason knows she didn't tell the whole truth. A stranger shows up, tells "Fern" a story, and Mildred confesses she isn't Fern! And this is just the beginning of this story. Then the insurance investigator is stabbed, and the police investigate this murder.

Circumstantial evidence is the best evidence, unless it is misinterpreted. Eyewitness evidence can be deadly and dangerous because there is often no corroboration for this testimony (Chapter Twelve). Whenever a person was unjustly convicted, it is usually on eyewitness evidence. Most people cannot recognize a stranger seen for a few seconds (Chapter Thirteen). Would a prosecution witness who testified falsely be liable for perjury (Chapter Fifteen)? [NO!] Chapter Seventeen has the last day of the preliminary hearing. Mason's cross-examination brings out the hidden facts that will clear his client. It wasn't just the ice picks that were duplicated! There is another shocking surprise, and a happy ending. Mildred Crest has all charges dismissed, current and potential. [Does part of this story remind you of "The Talented Mr. Ripley"?]

In book 16 of this Space Opera, we're in the middle of a short quartet of adventures on Venus.

Thora, beautiful Arkonide military commander, is still in the hands of the rebels against Perry Rhodan's New Power government. Perry takes a spaceship and attempt to rescue her, only to realize that the ship he has flown has no radio code for the secret Venusian base. Accordingly, the super computer turns on all Venusian defenses, effectively sealing the planet against any further landings. Perry and his small crew must fight on land - a land swarming with Venusian monsters and storms.

Thora's group is eventually captured by a second rebel group - a group that does not like the first rebel group, nor do they like the rule of the New Power. Perry allows Thora to remain in their camp - not only to teach her a lesson, but to allow her to cause confusion and strife among the rebels. The story concludes in #17 - "The Venus Trap".

I've never been this impressed by a series. I'm reminded of old cliffhangers like "Buck Rodgers" or "Flash Gordon" when reading these marvelous books. This series is still being published in Germany and is now well over 1,800 volumes. It's too bad American publishers stopped these after only about 120 books. I had to learn to speak, read, and write German in order to continue reading Perry Rhodan.

This book also contains another editorial, and another science fiction movie section. There is no fan letters page in this volume. But there are two stories - one continuing adventure, and one short story - beginning a series of science fiction shorts at the end of each volume of Rhodan stories. Although these stories have nothing to do with Perry Rhodan, they are worth looking at. Well worth reading the entire series.

This book consists of 2 stories from the German science fiction series. In the first, Rhodan and his 3rd Power group must stave off the world's attempts to stop his plan to bring peace to the earth before it even starts. He's forced to call on the Arkonide pilot Thora to help which leaves the Arkonide moon ship unguarded.

In the 2nd story, the story of the Mutant Corps is started as Perry leaves his base to obtain supplies. Written about 2 years before the original X-men run, the story postulates the existence of mutant humans fostered by the first A Bomb tests.

Quisiera que estos libros se encuentren disponibles si es que hay en Español para todo Sud America.

Saving time when read it and reduce space during busy time, special for me as salesman (account manager)in specialty chemicals manufacturing. This is will be useful for me.

I used this book as a supplement to my A&P lab. I found the pictures to follow along with every lab chapter that included microscope work (which was almost all of them), including skeletal, cardiac, & smooth muscle tissue, and the many types of epithelial and connective tissue. It also gives some great photos of the cranium, vertebrae, and all other bones of the skeleton, skeletal muscles of the human body, a cat dissection, and many more photos. The quality of the photos are first rate and very helpful. There is little time in lab to memorize all of the types of tissue and bone seen through a microscope and this caused us all some stress to know we had to memorize these microscope views for the following week's quiz. There are few locations where you can find microscope photos outside of class, and this is one of them. I found that I often had an advantage over other classmates by studying from this book outside of class for the next quiz. And, I did get an "A"!