Beauty contests can be murder, and that's certainly true in The Case of the Lucky Legs, the third book in the long running Perry Mason series (originaBeauty contests can be murder, and that's certainly true in The Case of the Lucky Legs, the third book in the long running Perry Mason series (originally published in 1934).
Perry Mason, the lawyer who dabbles in detective work not only has to contend with a missing beauty queen who may or may not be involved in murder, but his longtime friend and private detective, Paul Drake may not be as loyal as he was led to believe...it makes for a melting pot of sophisticated shadow play, half truths, and ill judgement.
The Case of the Lucky Legs is a lot of fun. That's to say, the popcorn pulp is in full effect, but there's an added layer of complexity that only Erle Stanley Gardner can pull off without making the book feel like a pure legal thriller.
One thing I've noticed about these earlier Mason books is that the courtroom antics aren't confined to the courtroom. Rather, the legal jargon and loopholes are cleverly incorporated into proceedings from the get-go and loosely applied throughout the book - of course that final element is critical to catching the criminal in the end - which Mason generally does.
The Case of the Lucky Legs is a must read for pulp enthusiasts and readers who like their legal thrills just that bit lighter. ...more
Blackmail, lies, deceit, and death; The first book to feature the perennial lawyer/detective Perry Mason has it all.
Written in 1933, the story holds Blackmail, lies, deceit, and death; The first book to feature the perennial lawyer/detective Perry Mason has it all.
Written in 1933, the story holds up remarkably well with devious dames and troublesome tabloids out to extort and exploit Mason's wealthy client. On face value, Mason sees this case as a quick fix; confront the blackmailer, keep the wealthy out of the tabloids, and get his well earned cash once the case is closed - only, the world doesn't turn quite that easy, and before long Mason is neck deep in conspiracy and murder!
It's hard to believe this is the first book in the long running series. The characters in Della Street (Mason's sassy and classy secretary), Mason himself, and Paul Drake (the detective who assists Mason with his cases) are well developed and read like they've been investigating and solving mysteries for years; their chemistry is apparent throughout.
The case itself is quite clever and I loved the constant twists and turns. Not once did I feel like I knew what was going to happen or who was going to bite the bullet.
Whilst billed as a legal/crime thriller, these books are pure pulp with a touch more intellect; a damn near perfect combination for fun in fiction. ...more
This was my first foray into the world of Perry Mason and I was pleasantly surprised.
The fifth installment in the long running Perry Mason series; a This was my first foray into the world of Perry Mason and I was pleasantly surprised.
The fifth installment in the long running Perry Mason series; a lawyer/private detective mashup of sorts, sees Perry Mason, off his own back take on a case where the defendant, at point of contact, has no idea she needed a lawyer to defend her against a murder charge. Rather, Rhoda Lorton, was asking the lawyer for help in a domestic case; her 'friends' husband had been missing, presumed dead for 7 years and now this 'friend' wants to know if she can marry again without having evidence of the husband's actual death.
What follows is pure pulp, and perfectly paced plotting as Perry Mason unravels a deadly thread of murder, cover-ups and schemes all centered around his apprehensive and somewhat unofficial client, Rhoda.
One of the thing I really liked about this book is the nature of Perry's unconventional investigative techniques. He employs a private eye but dabbles in the investigative angle himself - from casing out a murder scene, to tailing Rhoda's circle of friends - he's just as much a private eye as he is a lawyer - a hallmark of the series.
'My methods,' he said, 'are unconventional. So far they've never been criminal. Perhaps they're tricky, but they're the legitimate tricks that a lawyer is entitled to use. In cross-examining a witness I have got a right to use any sort of test I can think up, any sort of a build-up that's within the law.'
Then there's the court room antics which, to be honest, I found more entertaining than many of the modern day court room thrillers on the best seller list. There is some legal jargon but not too much that the reader can't easily follow what's going on.
The supporting cast is great; the aforementioned private eye on payroll, Paul Drake, and his trusty and street smart secretary, Della Street compliment Perry.
My rating: 4/5 stars, hits all the right notes for a pulp with some legal smarts thrown in. Perry Mason is an interesting character who I look forward to reading more of (I've got quite a few of these pulps in my tbr pile). The Case of the Curious Bride also has the added benefit of reading perfectly well as a standalone....more
The murder of a wealthy client who had previously hired the services of lawyer extraordinaire Perry Mason to look into the wide spread theft of his fiThe murder of a wealthy client who had previously hired the services of lawyer extraordinaire Perry Mason to look into the wide spread theft of his finances by an employee leaves the unconventional lawyer in a bind; not only was Mason representing the now deceased client, but that of the alleged thief too.
Further complicating matters is another one of Perry's clients, a man with a false eye who hired the services of the renowned criminal lawyer to protect his interests SHOULD he find himself on the list of suspects for a crime he didn't commit.
Already the fingers point towards the client with presumption of guilt but, as this is a Perry Mason book, nothing is as simple as what it seems.
I didn't think The Case of the Counterfeit Eye had the same polish as the other Perry Mason book I've read but it did have all the courtroom antics and complicated plotting of which the author, Erle Stanley Gardner was renowned. Additionally, the court room thriller aspect was cleverly executed and not laden with legal jargon, as is a staple of these books.
My rating: 3/5 stars. To me, it felt like each character introduced had a sinister motive which immediately turned them into a suspect for Perry Mason to consider; this made the book feel more complicated than it needed to be.
Paul Drake looked at Della Street, signed and said, "...thank heavens I wasn't the one that was in there trying that case, with a two-timing client an
Paul Drake looked at Della Street, signed and said, "...thank heavens I wasn't the one that was in there trying that case, with a two-timing client and a district attorney who was laying for my scalp, and me with my fingerprints on the canoe."
"That goes double for me," Della Street said. "It Should teach Mr. Mason not to go around picking up nymphs who make passes at his canoe."
Disguised somewhat as a courtroom thriller, there's no mistaking this for anything but pulp in it's purest form. Simplistic storytelling clothed in a complexity little more than window dressing. Perry Mason's antics; laugh out loud, childish, and ever effective. Who else but Mason could turn a murder case on its head with a missing dog, signatures misplaced on an envelope, and letter in a bottle. Fun.
Paul Drake raised his glass, caught Della Street's eye. "And here's a toast, Della, to the greatest court-room strategist of them all."
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