If, like me, you’re a fan of Perry Mason, the brilliant defense attorney/sleuth created by Erle Stanley Gardner, you are in luck! Gardner was one of the most prolific mystery authors of all time, and I intend to celebrate that for as long as my mind and spirit can keep this ol’ blog a’runnin’! He wrote about more than just Perry Mason, to which a pair of shelves at my place brimming with titles can attest. But I grew up watching Raymond Burr fix his steely eyes on a suspect and shout, “Isn’t it true . . . ?!?” so many times that Perry Mason is in my blood and I can’t stop coming back for more.  

Oh, and the great news is that Perry Mania seems to be catching: my pal Jim at The Invisible Event has always been a fan, naming Gardner one of his four Kings of Crime ten years ago, but now The Puzzle Doctor at In Search of the Classic Mystery is getting into the act. I think even Kate at Cross-Examining Crime has one up her sleeve among all those new/old green Penguins of hers! As it looks like we’re going to be inundated with Gardner reviews throughout the year, maybe we can make a party of it!

Of course, you have to accept that Perry Mason mysteries are somewhat formulaic and that not every title is a banger. Gardner starts out strong, perfects the formula, and then begins to run out of steam by the late 50’s. This may explain why I have taken more of a piecemeal approach in my reading and reviewing of the books, rather than a chronological one. Last year, the idea occurred to me to pull a theme out of Gardner’s many The Case of . . . titles and create a reading list for the year. That way, I would read titles from both the early and later periods and know that when I went back to reading Perry Mason, I would still have stronger titles to look forward to.

The theme I chose last year was “Weddings!” Very random, I assure you, but it ended up providing eight titles, one a month, to satisfy my craving, and most of them were terrific! This year, I’ve come up with another theme, one which guarantees me A Mason a Month for the entire year! We’re looking at a Mason Menagerie of animals, for which Gardner supplied a baker’s dozen of examples. Now, thirteen is admittedly a fine number when you’re talking about mysteries, but it doesn’t fit so well into a year’s schedule. However, it just so happens that I have already read The Case of the Howling Dog (terrific!), and as a result we’re all set for 2025.

Here’s the schedule:

January:  The Case of the Velvet Claws (1933): Okay, maybe we’re starting off as metaphorically as it gets! But animals have claws, too, and this gives me the excuse I need to start at the very beginning. The client is beautiful and treacherous, and we’re years away from meeting D.A. Burger or Lieutenant Tragg. But the heroic triumvirate of Perry Mason, Della Street, and Paul Drake are here in full force! Jeffrey Marks has named this as one of the ten best Perry Mason mysteries. The good news is that several more from Jeffrey’s list are here!

February:  The Case of the Caretaker’s Cat (1935): There really is a cat in this one, and I assume it figures prominently in the case – as a cat should! I fear things don’t go as well for the caretaker . . . 

March:  The Case of the Lame Canary (1937): Why have the canary’s claws been cut too short? The fiend who did that deserves to be murdered! Another of Jeff Marks’ picks for Top Ten Mason Mysteries, who informs us that this was supposed to be the final Perry Mason mystery!!

April: The Case of the Perjured Parrot (1939): Evidently a highpoint of this novel is the way Mason uses the parrot as evidence at the trial! I’m also excited because I have a gorgeous vintage hardback (with cover!) of this one to dive into!!

May: The Case of the Drowning Duck (1942): Unfortunately, ducks were drowned for the making of this book, another in Jeff Marks’ Top Ten. Hopefully, the fact that Perry and Della are vacationing in Palm Springs will relax us all enough to enjoy this barbaric title!

June: The Case of the Careless Kitten (1942): Another cat (although whether of the furry or female variety I don’t know yet), more trouble for Della Street, and yet another entry from Jeff Marks’ Top Ten, where he points out that this title underscores both Perry Mason and his creator as champions of individual rights. 

July: The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito (1943): The last of the animal titles to appear on Jeff Marks’ Top Ten list, where he hints at exciting times when Perry and Della get into actual danger! Marks also points out that this book highlights Gardner’s philosophy about the healthy aspects of outdoor living – and then kills his victim in the outdoors. I would also like to point out that the outdoors is where we find mosquitos – and must therefore be avoided at all costs!!

August: The Case of the Fan-Dancer’s Horse (1947): I thought the horse might be metaphorical here, but it’s apparently real and, according to Wikipedia, has “a very unusual addition to its saddle”. Bonus animal matter: two blood-soaked ostrich feathers!!

September: The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink (1952): I know, I know, we don’t usually think of minks being alive! But as the grandson of a furrier who used to work in the salon during the summers, I assure you that minks once were alive! Plus, this novel was the basis of the pilot episode of Perry Mason and deserves some attention for that!

October: The Case of the Grinning Gorilla (1952): Evidently, the gorilla is hypnotized! This I gotta see! (Plus, I have a great personal monkey tale to share with you when we get to this one!)

November: The Case of the Mythical Monkeys (1959): Hmm, two simian mysteries in a row?!? These monkeys are definitely metaphorical, emblazoned on a scarf and of the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” variety!

December: The Case of the Waylaid Wolf (1960): I feel fortunate that the last of our animal titles comes at the cusp of the 60’s which seem to be a weak decade where Perry Mason mysteries are concerned. The canon is full of “wolves,” those dudes on the make who generally lead a poor damsel right into a murder charge. (I think I just laid out the whole plotline for this one!)

Erle Stanley Gardner was born on July 17, 1889, and so, while it may feel a bit random, I will be posting my monthly Mason reviews on the 17^th of each month. I hope you’ll join along. See you in a couple of weeks!