The course of true love never did run smooth . . . particularly when the situation burst from the fevered brain of Erle Stanley Gardner. So far, we’ve been on four matrimonial adventures where every bride, groom, husband and wife has had a helluva time. You might start asking yourself if you would be better … Continue reading “OH YOU CAN’T GET A MAN WITH A GUN . . . “: The Case of the Spurious Spinster
Erle Stanley Gardner
MEA CULPA: The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
Okay, the “mea culpa” is mine. In February, I promised you a series of seven reviews, one a month, of all the Perry Mason titles related to marriage. And here I am, head bared, shamefaced, to tell you that you will not be getting seven reviews. You’re getting eight. Here’s the deal: on the 14th … Continue reading MEA CULPA: The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
I DO, I DO – OH NO, YOU DON’T! The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom
If you only associate Perry Mason with the TV series that ran successfully for nine seasons, you could be forgiven for assuming that author Erle Stanley Gardner wrote traditional whodunits with a legal setting – a murder is committed, the wrong person is arrested, and then Mason gathers all the suspects together in court and … Continue reading I DO, I DO – OH NO, YOU DON’T! The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom
MOVE OVERBOARD, DARLING: The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife
“’Remember now, Mrs. Shelby, if I’m going to represent you, I want you to have just one formula. For the press, there will be only two words, “no comment”. For the officers you will simply say, “I am not guilty. I have done nothing and the charge is unfounded, but I do not care to … Continue reading MOVE OVERBOARD, DARLING: The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife
ABA-DABA-HONEY-MURDER: The Case of the Haunted Husband
“‘The trouble, Mason, is that you find too many bodies.’“Mason said, ‘No. The trouble is that I can’t stay in my office and wait for people to come in and see me the way clients are supposed to. I have to get out on the firing line. When you do that, you circulate around quite … Continue reading ABA-DABA-HONEY-MURDER: The Case of the Haunted Husband
THIS TIME CARR DRIVES THE BUS: The D.A. Draws a Circle
It’s Leap Day, everyone! Every four years, we gather together 1440 minutes and set them before the people. It’s a gift of time! It’s an acknowledgement of our limitations at monitoring the whirl of planets and the time flow of the cosmos. To me, it’s more unnerving than Halloween and more deserving of celebration. When … Continue reading THIS TIME CARR DRIVES THE BUS: The D.A. Draws a Circle
WEDDING BELLE BLUES: The Case of the Curious Bride
“I’ll never forget the way he kissed me just before he beat it with all of my money.” On a fateful day in 1930, a young woman walked into the San Francisco offices of private detectives Sam Spade and Miles Archer. Miss Wonderley asked them to find her missing sister, who had gotten herself involved … Continue reading WEDDING BELLE BLUES: The Case of the Curious Bride
LOVE AND MARRIAGE (AND MASON AND MURDER)
February 5th marks the anniversary of my parent’s wedding! Mom and Dad shared a love for the ages, and today would have been their 69th anniversary. Every morning for more years than I could count, I would call my folks and serenade them with the immortal anniversary theme from The Flintstones. (You can listen to it here.) My … Continue reading LOVE AND MARRIAGE (AND MASON AND MURDER)
THE 2023 ROY AWARDS: Time to Vote!!
After several exciting weeks of my fellow bloggers and I posting our nominations for this year's Reprint of the Year, it is finally time to vote! All you have to do is follow this link to Kate Jackson's place, look over the list, and vote for up to three titles. Of course, you shouldn't have … Continue reading THE 2023 ROY AWARDS: Time to Vote!!
2023 REPRINT OF THE YEAR, PART 1: The Case of the Rolling Bones
“‘Gosh, Della, can’t you scare me up a good mystery?’ Della Street said, ‘I’ve handled all the routine mail. This is the important stuff which needs your personal attention.’ Mason pushed the mail to one side. ‘Shucks, Della, I hate letters. Letters are inanimate. I like people. People are animate. I like to puzzle with human … Continue reading 2023 REPRINT OF THE YEAR, PART 1: The Case of the Rolling Bones
Ah Sweet Mystery! 