Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 2/27/2025 + 2772 more book reviews

Well, this is only book #9 of the "Perry Mason" series and Perry has cut back on his smoking considerably. I think there were only three or four times he reached for a cigarette. But author Gardner displays his lack of remembering what he wrote in previous books. For example, in this novel he has Paul Drake driving furiously through a rain storm with Perry crouched in his seat begging him to slow down. Yet Perry did the same kind of driving in another book, with Della Street begging him to also slow down. But Perry chides her for even asking.

There are also some plot holes (or leaps of faith) in this book. Perry and Drake theorize some mysterious detective agency is working for the other side. Yet, later on they call it the Evers' Detective Agency without telling the reader how they knew this. Also, that Evers is dead. Worse, at the end of the book Perry comes up with a long explanation of what really happened, but author Gardner never let us know how Perry knew.

During the story, both the millionaire's son and the District Attorney offer the "olive branch" to Perry, offering to help him or cooperate, but Gardner has Perry refuse both so that Perry can later grandstand in court.

Finally, author Gardner may be providing a clue as to why Perry and Della Street, who are so close, never entered into a romantic relationship. Gardner uses a lot of filler in the book. One of such times he has Perry coming awake in his bedroom when he left the window open. It was raining and the wind has "... whipped the lace curtains in flapping protest against the wet screens." Perry Mason has lace curtains in his bedroom?

As for the story itself, it was convoluted but okay. The only thing I came away from it with was never commit a murder at night while wearing a light colored raincoat.

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