Holy moral ambiguity, Batman! Turns out the actual murderer never gets charged, and we are all fine with that. Also, Perry’s client did what most of them do, and never really laid the facts out to him. True, he’s not going to represent them if he’s convinced they are guilty, but the coy runaround never works in their favor, and I can’t blame Perry for getting a little ticked off. They are usually trying to protect and plot come out gradually, as Perry tries to figure out just what the hell is going on. Oh, and in my long-running attempt to pin down the actual settings, I’m gonna call Las Olitas for Ojai. Just a hunch.
The plot is based on a deeply unlovely wealthy middle-aged couple, her daughter by a previous marriage, a possible boyfriend (Fleetwood) of one of the two, and various business partners, all trying to double-deal each other. Amnesia, real or not, plays a role, and murder eventually occurs on a winding mountain road on a stormy night, and footprints end up being a key piece of evidence. First time I’ve seen a map of the scene in one of Gardner’s books.
But I’ve got to give a shoutout to Gertie, Mason’s receptionist. So the office set-up here is Mason, Della Street (his secretary/assistant/girlfriend), and his receptionist, Gertie. Gertie is young, on the plump side, and in awe of the other two. Usually she is just directing traffic, but this time Mason gives her a role to play, Fleetwood’s wife. He pretends not know her, of course, but he’s got amnesia, so what can he say? She gives it her all.
“William!” Gertie screamed, and ran toward him.
Fleetwood drew back a step.
“Oh William, you poor dear boy,” Gertie sobbed, and flung her arms around him, holding him close to her.
Fleetwood doesn’t stand a chance.
Also we still have the cast of characters at the start of the book! They are such a hoot. Here is Jane Smith – “the description matched but the name didn’t” and Bernice Archer, Fleetwood’s actual girlfriend. “Her figure is remarkable, and so is her I. Q.” Very much a complement, by the way.