1940s California – Cannonball Read 17

If You are Hiring Perry Mason? Just Spill It, Sister.

The Case of the Lazy Lover by Erle Stanley Gardner

June 17, 2025 by elderberrywine Leave a Comment

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 […]

Never Trust Oil Guys. Just Sayin’

The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife by Erle Stanley Gardner

June 7, 2024 by elderberrywine Leave a Comment

I love it when Gardner kicks off his latest case by getting deep down into the legal weeds of whether deferred drilling payments can be cured at the very last minute before the property is sold by the widow title holder or not. I know what he is referring to is very much a California property issue, and a fidgety bit of law, but dang, Erle, this is only eight pages into the book, and none of the characters have been properly introduced to us […]

Nothing Says Different Times Like Tobacco Power Plays

The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde by Erle Stanley Gardner

July 12, 2023 by elderberrywine Leave a Comment

cbr15bingo Nostalgia You did what, Sergeant Holcomb? You put Perry Mason and Della Street in separate holding cells, and then you had the both of them strip searched? Oh, son, you just made a huge mistake. That is so not on. You are so going down. OK, let’s back up a bit. Diane Regis, she with the shiner, has made her way to Mason’s office dressed in a fur coat and not much underneath. Seems as though her employer’s step-son (she’s a radio actress, employed […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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