maplessence's review against another edition
2.0
2.5★
Perry Mason as a thug.
I really didn't like this one much, even making allowances for it only being number 3 in this series. ESG was still developing Perry's character & these books began their life as pulp fiction. ESG may not have ever thought we would still be reading his works over eighty years later!
The 1930's reading public would know all about sham competitions for the gullible and ambitious who thought there was an easy way to movie stardom.
Even knowing that, I felt that Perry came on waaay too strong and waaay too macho man from the get go. I didn't like any of the cast other than secondary character Mamie - and that includes Paul Drake and Perry himself! (Della Street I was neutral on.) All the characters motivations seemed weird and far fetched.
I have about half a dozen Perry Masons still to read from various stages of ESG's writing career. I know there is an improvement - I just hope it is soon!
I found ESG's biography on Wikipedia fascinating if anyone is interested about reading more about this complex man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Stanley_Gardner
Perry Mason as a thug.
I really didn't like this one much, even making allowances for it only being number 3 in this series. ESG was still developing Perry's character & these books began their life as pulp fiction. ESG may not have ever thought we would still be reading his works over eighty years later!
The 1930's reading public would know all about sham competitions for the gullible and ambitious who thought there was an easy way to movie stardom.
Even knowing that, I felt that Perry came on waaay too strong and waaay too macho man from the get go. I didn't like any of the cast other than secondary character Mamie - and that includes Paul Drake and Perry himself! (Della Street I was neutral on.) All the characters motivations seemed weird and far fetched.
I have about half a dozen Perry Masons still to read from various stages of ESG's writing career. I know there is an improvement - I just hope it is soon!
I found ESG's biography on Wikipedia fascinating if anyone is interested about reading more about this complex man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Stanley_Gardner
jonmhansen's review against another edition
3.0
"Listen," said Perry Mason, "you wouldn't try to kid me?"
"Try to kid my lawyer? Don't be silly."
"I'm not your lawyer," he said.
"Try to kid my lawyer? Don't be silly."
"I'm not your lawyer," he said.
johnnyb1954's review
4.0
3.5. Another early book where Mason is more detective than lawyer - there are no courtroom scenes. And Della is not yet the confident right hand of Perry.
Pretty easy to spot the murderer but Mason’s actions keep things interesting.
Pretty easy to spot the murderer but Mason’s actions keep things interesting.
madisonreadsbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
polarcubby's review against another edition
meh. this one wasn't good. seems like Gardner is still experimenting. the resolution was delivered as a long "confession" with Mason reciting the story and some additional elements to reveal the murderer.
storiesforhisglory's review against another edition
5.0
Such fun
I loved the Perry Mason books when I first read them as a teenager, and I'm really delighted to find that I like them quite as much now that I'm quite a few years older. Perry and Della and Paul are awesome characters.
I loved the Perry Mason books when I first read them as a teenager, and I'm really delighted to find that I like them quite as much now that I'm quite a few years older. Perry and Della and Paul are awesome characters.
kaylynn's review against another edition
3.0
Oh my goodness, civil liberties were different in the 1930s.
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