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Perry Mason #77
El Caso De La Camarera Preocupada
224 PGS
Paperback
First published March 1, 1966
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386 people want to read
About the author
Erle Stanley Gardner
1,393 books827 followersErle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories who also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J. Kenny, Les Tillray, and Robert Parr.
Innovative and restless in his nature, he was bored by the routine of legal practice, the only part of which he enjoyed was trial work and the development of trial strategy. In his spare time, he began to write for pulp magazines, which also fostered the early careers of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. He created many different series characters for the pulps, including the ingenious Lester Leith, a "gentleman thief" in the tradition of Raffles, and Ken Corning, a crusading lawyer who was the archetype of his most successful creation, the fictional lawyer and crime-solver Perry Mason, about whom he wrote more than eighty novels. With the success of Perry Mason, he gradually reduced his contributions to the pulp magazines, eventually withdrawing from the medium entirely, except for non-fiction articles on travel, Western history, and forensic science.
See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Sta...
Innovative and restless in his nature, he was bored by the routine of legal practice, the only part of which he enjoyed was trial work and the development of trial strategy. In his spare time, he began to write for pulp magazines, which also fostered the early careers of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. He created many different series characters for the pulps, including the ingenious Lester Leith, a "gentleman thief" in the tradition of Raffles, and Ken Corning, a crusading lawyer who was the archetype of his most successful creation, the fictional lawyer and crime-solver Perry Mason, about whom he wrote more than eighty novels. With the success of Perry Mason, he gradually reduced his contributions to the pulp magazines, eventually withdrawing from the medium entirely, except for non-fiction articles on travel, Western history, and forensic science.
See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Sta...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 21, 2018
This is for now my favorite Perry Mason. A young waitress comes to the attorney because she is worried something strange is happening in her aunt's house.
Orphaned and penniless, Katherine Ellis comes to live with her Aunt Sophia. Sophia had been married to a wealthy man and, being also wealthy, handed all of her assets over to her husband. After he died suddenly, Sophia discovered that she was not actually married because he husband had failed to divorce the first wife, an honest mistake because the first wife had claimed to file for divorce but had not actually followed through.
This left the widow with all of the husband's assets as well as Sophia's. Therefore both Sophia and Katherine are scraping by, which is why Katherine took as job as a waitress.
Katherine finds her aunt acting in a strange manner. She searches the papers for grocery bargains and buys the cheapest food available, serving only enough to keep them from starving, but, as Katherine accidentally discovered, her aunt is keeping thousands of dollars in hat boxes in her closet. Why?
To further add to the mystery, it is discovered that her aunt takes a taxi to a manufacturing company where she stands outside posing as a blind woman selling pencils. Again, why?
When the aunt is bludgeoned in her house and left for dead, no one knows the motive, but Katherine is the number one suspect. It is Mason's job to get to the bottom of the aunt's mysterious behavior and exonerate his client.
This story had a lot of hooks because there were so many strange things happening that seemed to have no logical explanation. It does all come together at the end with one of the most unexpected plot twists I've read in a while.
Orphaned and penniless, Katherine Ellis comes to live with her Aunt Sophia. Sophia had been married to a wealthy man and, being also wealthy, handed all of her assets over to her husband. After he died suddenly, Sophia discovered that she was not actually married because he husband had failed to divorce the first wife, an honest mistake because the first wife had claimed to file for divorce but had not actually followed through.
This left the widow with all of the husband's assets as well as Sophia's. Therefore both Sophia and Katherine are scraping by, which is why Katherine took as job as a waitress.
Katherine finds her aunt acting in a strange manner. She searches the papers for grocery bargains and buys the cheapest food available, serving only enough to keep them from starving, but, as Katherine accidentally discovered, her aunt is keeping thousands of dollars in hat boxes in her closet. Why?
To further add to the mystery, it is discovered that her aunt takes a taxi to a manufacturing company where she stands outside posing as a blind woman selling pencils. Again, why?
When the aunt is bludgeoned in her house and left for dead, no one knows the motive, but Katherine is the number one suspect. It is Mason's job to get to the bottom of the aunt's mysterious behavior and exonerate his client.
This story had a lot of hooks because there were so many strange things happening that seemed to have no logical explanation. It does all come together at the end with one of the most unexpected plot twists I've read in a while.
August 29, 2025
todo iba bien: trama interesante y compleja.
una pena que en el juicio final resolviera todo de manera tan abrupta, creo que la historia era tan ambiciosa que hubiera necesitado escribir un tanto más para desenredar la bola de hilo de la manera en la que se merecía.
una pena que en el juicio final resolviera todo de manera tan abrupta, creo que la historia era tan ambiciosa que hubiera necesitado escribir un tanto más para desenredar la bola de hilo de la manera en la que se merecía.
June 12, 2020
Part of the quarantine experience is rearranging my bookshelves. I have all of the Perry Masons, and picked this one up for a quick reread (I do Masons in one sitting, which is by no means a knock.) The Case of the Worried Waitress was obviously written during the run of the Burr series, but like all of Gardner's books seems to take place in the 1948-1953 period. This one was published in 1966, but there is no mention of social unrest, changing roles of women, hippies, nothing to put the story in a background that resembles the era. Which is fine; all of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe mysteries are set against the perpetual "feel" of roughly the same period, although Stout did make better efforts to keep up with the times. I am always interested in the fact that Evelyn Waugh wrote Erle Stanley Gardner fan mail. Waugh can't have enjoyed Gardner's flat prose, which is so lacking style that the lack is the style. What Waugh admired, and which is on display here, is Gardner's craftsmanship. Each mystery progresses in the same direction. There are usually twists, but Gardner plays fair in the same way that Christie and Stout did. The clue are in the text, and the attentive reader is given a fair chance to figure out Gardner's impeccably constructed plot.
This book's plot is less difficult than some. However, it is still an enjoyable read. Hope to reread all of them by the end of the year.
This book's plot is less difficult than some. However, it is still an enjoyable read. Hope to reread all of them by the end of the year.
September 9, 2008
Not much to say about this one. It's a Perry Mason mystery, in which Mason encounters a waitress who's in need of help. She's a young woman who was recently orphaned and has moved in with her aunt. She has cause to suspect that her aunt is involved with some shady dealings and is looking for some legal advice. Since she's seeking it from Perry Mason, more crime happens and she finds herself in legal trouble. The book is fun, readable waiting room material. I enjoy Perry Mason books as they take place in the mid-twentieth century, a time just before I was born. It's like taking a trip to another era, but one that is vaguely familiar.
July 27, 2010
Gardner was a serious pro, and his legal expertise is always that extra technical layer that turns a regular whodunnit into a truly satisfying mystery. I'm giving this one a whole extra star because it has not one but TWO pencil-sellers in it. That's right. Apparently in 1966 it was still possible to buy pencils from a blind woman sitting on the sidewalk in front of your place of business.
I miss America.
I miss America.
June 1, 2021
A young woman approaches Perry Mason because she believes her aunt is acting strangely. When she is later accused of theft, a veritable can of worms is opened and Perry Mason faces his most unusual case yet when a blind woman appears to be behind the whole mystery.
Gardner's devious plot relies on readers being bamboozled as regards to the events as they unfold. The denouement should come as no surprise provided readers pay attention to the clues.
Gardner's devious plot relies on readers being bamboozled as regards to the events as they unfold. The denouement should come as no surprise provided readers pay attention to the clues.
October 12, 2017
A lower-paced mystery but still has a great plot. This is also one of the books that shows Hamilton Burger isn't a bad person when it comes to justice, it's that he's just really annoyed that Perry always wins in court against him.
Recommended 12+ for language, violence, and murder.
Recommended 12+ for language, violence, and murder.
October 12, 2018
I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books off and on for many years. Those who are used to really fine mystery writers (in the literary sense) may find the writing style here a bit dry and stilted. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the fast pace, the characters of Perry, Della, Paul, Lt. Tragg, and Hamilton Berger. That, and the ingenious plots, are why I read Perry Mason.
On the whole, the ones written by about 1953 are the best. This is one of the last ones, written in 1966. The plot is ingenious. But like many late books, written after the TV series became a huge hit, there isn't much in the way of embellishment or descriptive detail.
This is an unusual story. It begins with Perry and Della at lunch at a nice restaurant. A young waitress is eager to talk to Perry, but dares not be too forward. Perry leaves her his card and a huge tip so she can come to see him in his office. She tells a long story about coming to live with her Aunt Sophia in Los Angeles after her parents died. The trouble is that Aunt Sophia is acting strangely. She went through a dubious Mexican marriage with a man named Gerald Atwood, who then died. His previous wife, Bernice, claims all the estate. For some reason Aunt Sophia is keeping a great deal of money in a hat box, yet she spends a lot of time taking taxis around to different supermarkets looking for small bargains on butter and so forth. Odder yet, she is selling pencils in front of a business called Gillco Industries. To top it off, her house seems to be haunted!
Perry doesn't like the sound of it at all and advises her to move out. She tries to, but is accosted by one Stuart Baxley who claims to be a "friend of the family". What family? Before long Aunt Sophia is attacked at night with a big flashlight and hovers unconcious near death. Katherine is arrested.
This oddly complicated story becomes even stranger when Drake discovers that there are two middle aged women selling pencils at Gillco Industries. They both act like they are blind.
In fact, "odd" is the key word for this story -- if not "contrived". It may well be the strangest, least likely of all Perry Mason stories. Things happen that would certainly be impossible today. Then too, there seem to be some plot holes. Hamilton Berger appears in court himself, yet at the end he doesn't mind losing.
There is no murder! Everyone recognizes Perry. I guess the TV series had that effect. ;-)
We learn that Perry is often a big tipper! He is interested in haunted houses!
Recurring theme: waitress at restaurant sees Perry Mason and wants to talk. One spouse supposedly goes to Nevada to get a divorce but doesn't really (also in the Calendar Girl). A neer-do-well son (in fact, two).
Not recommended.
Characters:
Katherine Ellis, waitress eager to talk to Perry Mason.
Aunt Sophia, whose mysterious actions worry Katherine.
Gerald Atwood, thought he divorced his wife and married Sophia in Mexico.
Bernice Atwood, determinded to be the sole heir of husband George.
Hubert Deering, son of Bernice by an earlier marriage.
Stuart Baxley. "friend of the family," unfriendly to Sophia.
Levering Jordan, detective working for Baxley.
Jerome Gillman, one time head of Gillco Industries.
Spencer Gillman, current head of Gillco Industries.
Minerva Gooding, manages some apartments, where
Edith Gillman, blind woman, lives.
Mildred Addie, one time nurse, now more of an actress.
On the whole, the ones written by about 1953 are the best. This is one of the last ones, written in 1966. The plot is ingenious. But like many late books, written after the TV series became a huge hit, there isn't much in the way of embellishment or descriptive detail.
This is an unusual story. It begins with Perry and Della at lunch at a nice restaurant. A young waitress is eager to talk to Perry, but dares not be too forward. Perry leaves her his card and a huge tip so she can come to see him in his office. She tells a long story about coming to live with her Aunt Sophia in Los Angeles after her parents died. The trouble is that Aunt Sophia is acting strangely. She went through a dubious Mexican marriage with a man named Gerald Atwood, who then died. His previous wife, Bernice, claims all the estate. For some reason Aunt Sophia is keeping a great deal of money in a hat box, yet she spends a lot of time taking taxis around to different supermarkets looking for small bargains on butter and so forth. Odder yet, she is selling pencils in front of a business called Gillco Industries. To top it off, her house seems to be haunted!
Perry doesn't like the sound of it at all and advises her to move out. She tries to, but is accosted by one Stuart Baxley who claims to be a "friend of the family". What family? Before long Aunt Sophia is attacked at night with a big flashlight and hovers unconcious near death. Katherine is arrested.
This oddly complicated story becomes even stranger when Drake discovers that there are two middle aged women selling pencils at Gillco Industries. They both act like they are blind.
In fact, "odd" is the key word for this story -- if not "contrived". It may well be the strangest, least likely of all Perry Mason stories. Things happen that would certainly be impossible today. Then too, there seem to be some plot holes. Hamilton Berger appears in court himself, yet at the end he doesn't mind losing.
There is no murder! Everyone recognizes Perry. I guess the TV series had that effect. ;-)
We learn that Perry is often a big tipper! He is interested in haunted houses!
Recurring theme: waitress at restaurant sees Perry Mason and wants to talk. One spouse supposedly goes to Nevada to get a divorce but doesn't really (also in the Calendar Girl). A neer-do-well son (in fact, two).
Not recommended.
Characters:
Katherine Ellis, waitress eager to talk to Perry Mason.
Aunt Sophia, whose mysterious actions worry Katherine.
Gerald Atwood, thought he divorced his wife and married Sophia in Mexico.
Bernice Atwood, determinded to be the sole heir of husband George.
Hubert Deering, son of Bernice by an earlier marriage.
Stuart Baxley. "friend of the family," unfriendly to Sophia.
Levering Jordan, detective working for Baxley.
Jerome Gillman, one time head of Gillco Industries.
Spencer Gillman, current head of Gillco Industries.
Minerva Gooding, manages some apartments, where
Edith Gillman, blind woman, lives.
Mildred Addie, one time nurse, now more of an actress.
January 7, 2024
Perry Mason ve Della Street Madison'un yerinde yemek yerken garson kızın ona bir şey sormak istediğini anlar ve fazladan bahşişle kartını bırakır. Katherine Ellis adındaki bu kız halası Sophie Atwood'dan bahseder. Gerald adında biri ile evlenen Sophie kocası ölünce hiç bir şey alamaz ve her şeyi eski karısı Bernice ile onun oğlu Hubert'e kalır. Büyük bir evde yaşayan Sophie çok cimridir. Katherine bu işe girene kadar çok aç kalmıştır. Evden çıkmasını söyler Mason ama o akşam olaylar olur. Sophie 100 doları çalındığını söylemiştir ve Stuart Baxter adındaki arkadaşı da Katherine'i suçlamıştır. Para çalınan yerde para dolu kutular vardır. Ama olay yerinde bu kutular bulunamaz. Baxter'ı devre dışı bırakıp kızı alıp çıkar Mason. Paul Drake'e de iş verir. Sophie Atwood bir firmanın önünde kalem satmaktadır. Ancak firmanın resepsiyon görevlisi 2 ayrı kadın olduğunu, birinin kör olduğunu söyler. Bir gece Sophie'ye evde saldırırlar ve komaya girer. Bu arada Bernice'e tuzak kurup golf sahasında ölen kocasının çantasına bir mektup yerleştirilmesini sağlar. O gece Katherine de eve girmiş ve ayakkabılarını almıştır. Tragg onu şüpheli olarak tutuklar. Kör kadının yeri de tespit edilir. Bayan Gillman olarak bilinen kadının evine gidilir ama evde bulunamaz. Sonra Baxter Eve gizlice girmeye çalışırken Mason ve Drake tarafından yakalanır. Burada sonra polise rağmen araştırma yapan Mason, yeri değişen bir su kutusunun altında gizli bölme bulur ve burada 300 bin dolar çıkar. Mahkemede Hamilton Burger adına şahitlik yapan Baxter'ı paramparça eder. Kendisi de kör kadını çağırır. Kadının ifadesi şok edicidir. Gerçek Sophie olduğunu, kör olduğu için hizmetçisi ile yer değiştiğini söyler. Peki Sophie Atwood olarak bilinen kadına fenerle saldıran kimdir? Mason bu işi çözebilecek midir? Tragg bu işe nasıl bir katkıda bulunacaktım? Keyifle okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2019
Katherine "Kit" Ellis lived back East with her parents. Her father made good money and was footing the bills for her education, clothes and other expenses. When both parents were killed in a car accident, Katherine decided to accept an invitation from her Aunt Sophia and come to L.A. to live with her aunt in hopes of completing her education. Katherine had been writing to her aunt and was under the impression the woman had money and could help Kit with her education.
When Kit arrived she found a different situation. She was staying with her aunt but she also needed to get a job to cover her expenses and hopefully afford to get her own apartment. Not having ever worked before, Kit landed a waitress job and was learning the ropes. Meanwhile she was also noticing some strange thing about her Aunt Sophia.
Seems Aunt Sophia had married a Gerald Atwood. Atwood had recently died and his ex-wife was claiming all property that Atwood owned. There was a question of the legality of Atwood's divorce and remarriage.
Things really break open when Sophia is assaulted in her home. Kit is the immediate suspect, and things become worse when she is accused of stealing money from the woman. The accuser is a 'friend' of Sophia.
Perry Mason steps in to solve the mysteries involved.
I've enjoyed Perry Mason since I was a kid and I wasn't let down with this book.
When Kit arrived she found a different situation. She was staying with her aunt but she also needed to get a job to cover her expenses and hopefully afford to get her own apartment. Not having ever worked before, Kit landed a waitress job and was learning the ropes. Meanwhile she was also noticing some strange thing about her Aunt Sophia.
Seems Aunt Sophia had married a Gerald Atwood. Atwood had recently died and his ex-wife was claiming all property that Atwood owned. There was a question of the legality of Atwood's divorce and remarriage.
Things really break open when Sophia is assaulted in her home. Kit is the immediate suspect, and things become worse when she is accused of stealing money from the woman. The accuser is a 'friend' of Sophia.
Perry Mason steps in to solve the mysteries involved.
I've enjoyed Perry Mason since I was a kid and I wasn't let down with this book.
June 16, 2020
Sometimes it's nice to return to those thrilling days of yesterday! Once again, I picked up a copy of Perry Mason for a change ~ and it was one of the better ones I have read. Having grown up in the 50's, I found myself reliving those wonderful hours I had spent in front of the TV set watching Raymond Burr as Perry Mason ~ and I am sure like many others, I see the old TV actors as I read.
“The Case of the Worried Waitress” was one of the later ones written in 1966. The story has all the characters we love in a Mason series and it has aa carefully crafted plot and some well-developed secondary characters. Here, a pretty waitress is accused of stealing $100 from her wealthy aunt's hatbox, and a blind pencil-seller earns enough to come to work in a taxicab. Of course, Perry ate at her restaurant. As with the old TV series, these stories keep you guessing – sometimes you get it & sometimes you don’t! I really enjoy the Perry Mason series; they are good and relatively quick, easy reads. For an enjoyable escape into mystery, legal ploys, and delightful courtroom jousting, discover - or rediscover - Earl Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason. You will not be sorry.
“The Case of the Worried Waitress” was one of the later ones written in 1966. The story has all the characters we love in a Mason series and it has aa carefully crafted plot and some well-developed secondary characters. Here, a pretty waitress is accused of stealing $100 from her wealthy aunt's hatbox, and a blind pencil-seller earns enough to come to work in a taxicab. Of course, Perry ate at her restaurant. As with the old TV series, these stories keep you guessing – sometimes you get it & sometimes you don’t! I really enjoy the Perry Mason series; they are good and relatively quick, easy reads. For an enjoyable escape into mystery, legal ploys, and delightful courtroom jousting, discover - or rediscover - Earl Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason. You will not be sorry.
June 25, 2023
The last novel in my 85 book, multi-year effort to read every Perry Mason mystery. What started as a 40lb box of books mailed from my father ends with the last of the collection packed up to return to my mother who’s aunt kicked off my family’s fascination with Perry Mason back in the 40s.
This book ends this journey on a low note starting with a deeply problematic handing of a character who is blind. Building off a sixty year old concept of disability, the character receives a full page description of her inability and helplessness. While some might attribute this to the misdirection inherent in mystery novels (the character is later re-established as monumentally underestimated)
the outdated, ableist handling of the character is apparent throughout as she continuously referred to as “the blind woman” even after her name is firmly established as Edith Gillman.
In a book that lacks a murder (a first in the series) is a reminder that within Gardner’s genius to reinvent and reinvigorate a formula that served him well for 40 years and 85 novels, sometimes what’s never been done was not done for good reason.
This book ends this journey on a low note starting with a deeply problematic handing of a character who is blind. Building off a sixty year old concept of disability, the character receives a full page description of her inability and helplessness. While some might attribute this to the misdirection inherent in mystery novels (the character is later re-established as monumentally underestimated)
the outdated, ableist handling of the character is apparent throughout as she continuously referred to as “the blind woman” even after her name is firmly established as Edith Gillman.
In a book that lacks a murder (a first in the series) is a reminder that within Gardner’s genius to reinvent and reinvigorate a formula that served him well for 40 years and 85 novels, sometimes what’s never been done was not done for good reason.
June 19, 2020
Há algum tempo que não lia um policial da Colecção Vampiro e, por isso, este foi uma boa surpresa.
Uma empregada de mesa pede ajuda a um advogado para resolver um mistério relacionado com a sua tia. Entretanto, acontecem várias coisas e a história rodopia sobre si própria, a rapariga é acusada de roubo, há ainda mais voltas e no final acaba tudo em bem. A resolução do mistério é original, divertida e surpreendente.
No entanto, senti que o livro se perdia muito em vários elementos pouco importantes que desejavam adensar o mistério mas apenas se tornaram inúteis, sendo que várias das voltas dadas (nomeadamente a vigilância dos detectives) parecem não ter servido para a narrativa.
Acho que o mais engraçado deste livro é a forma como mostra as diferenças entre os anos 60 e a actualidade, como em tão pouco tempo tudo mudou no mundo e na maneira de as pessoas viverem em sociedade.
Uma empregada de mesa pede ajuda a um advogado para resolver um mistério relacionado com a sua tia. Entretanto, acontecem várias coisas e a história rodopia sobre si própria, a rapariga é acusada de roubo, há ainda mais voltas e no final acaba tudo em bem. A resolução do mistério é original, divertida e surpreendente.
No entanto, senti que o livro se perdia muito em vários elementos pouco importantes que desejavam adensar o mistério mas apenas se tornaram inúteis, sendo que várias das voltas dadas (nomeadamente a vigilância dos detectives) parecem não ter servido para a narrativa.
Acho que o mais engraçado deste livro é a forma como mostra as diferenças entre os anos 60 e a actualidade, como em tão pouco tempo tudo mudou no mundo e na maneira de as pessoas viverem em sociedade.
February 16, 2020
This one was written in 1966 and it reminds one that some things have gotten better. Lawyer Perry Mason asks the waitress of the title about her job and she responds: "the headwaiter who runs the dining room is all right. I have a horrible feeling that sooner or later he's going to make a pass and that my job depends on things I don't like to think about, but right now everything's okay. " "Those are occupational hazards," Mason said.
And later: Perry is talking to Madison, the restaurant manager says, "She didn't proposition you, did she, Perry?" "No," Mason said, "I propositioned her." Madison laughed. "That's all right, then. That's a customer's prerogative."
Not a great time to be in the customer service industry.
And later: Perry is talking to Madison, the restaurant manager says, "She didn't proposition you, did she, Perry?" "No," Mason said, "I propositioned her." Madison laughed. "That's all right, then. That's a customer's prerogative."
Not a great time to be in the customer service industry.
June 25, 2017
3.5/5
When young Kim Ellis is forced to relocate to LA after the tragic death of her parents, she moves in with her elder aunt. Even though they've never met before, her strange behavior makes her contact the famous lawyer. It's not Gardner's best. I think he didn't spend much time on it, but rather dictate it and never double checked it. There are few repetitions of info, poor trial (starts at 76%), nothing really spectacular or surprising. Nevertheless, it's a pleasant read as any Mason novel.
Probably the only one without any murder and when Hamilton Burger makes friends with the lawyer.
When young Kim Ellis is forced to relocate to LA after the tragic death of her parents, she moves in with her elder aunt. Even though they've never met before, her strange behavior makes her contact the famous lawyer. It's not Gardner's best. I think he didn't spend much time on it, but rather dictate it and never double checked it. There are few repetitions of info, poor trial (starts at 76%), nothing really spectacular or surprising. Nevertheless, it's a pleasant read as any Mason novel.
Probably the only one without any murder and when Hamilton Burger makes friends with the lawyer.
April 26, 2020
Katherine Ellis comes to live with her Aunt in L.A. hoping to complete her education after her parents are killed in a tragic car accident. Katherine finds her aunt behaving in an odd manner. She is compelled to take up a job as a waitress to cover her expenses. She is blamed of stealing $100 from her wealthy aunt's hatbox. Later on she is taken into custody when Aunt Sophia is assaulted in her home. Perry Mason fights her case. The plot is without any murder and lacks the usual flair and drama. It was easy to foretell the offender. The novel is certainly not the best of Perry Mason mysteries. EXCUSABLE.
June 10, 2017
A fun and complicated Mason adventure with the usual maneuvering and shenanigans from Perry as he works to free a young woman accused of assault. The injured victim's in a coma, so charges could be upgraded to murder, and the case has many twists and turns with a mysterious blind woman, corporate espionage and dark dealings. It's not the best Perry Mason, but it's still a nice page turner that's deftly put together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2020
Undoubtedly the best Perry Mason. I have to say one case on a ship was very interesting mainly because I'm a sucker for Della/ Perry romance but this was a classic Gardner. It had everything - detective work from both the police - who are usually shown up by Mason but in this case Tragg did ok - and Mason, a happy reunion at the end and a nice suspense in between. And while I do enjoy Mason's cross examination it helped that this didn't have too much of a courtroom battle either
May 24, 2024
Instead of the common trick Gardner uses of two identical attractive young women, he invents two old blind women. Once again he uses apartments with back stairs people escape down while Perry is looking for them and cars that are ready to meet them in the alley.
Besides all that this book is full of absurd scenes and motivations There is a proxy fight and then a solution to the crime that both come out of nowhere.
Besides all that this book is full of absurd scenes and motivations There is a proxy fight and then a solution to the crime that both come out of nowhere.
June 28, 2019
Erle Stanley Gardner and Agatha Christie got me started reading mysteries. I think I read almost all the Perry Mason stories. So, when I went to the library sale and in the old book section they had a few RSG books I had to have them. They are full of fun characters and clever courtroom twists.
December 5, 2025
I have read only a couple of this authors books which I like a lot. I have enjoyed many years of the television shows (black and white) and movies. All starring Raymond Burr. The books, like the tv shows have a lot of detail which are hard to keep up with at times. But Perry Mason always has a way of clearing things up in the end.
January 4, 2020
An entertaining, though simple, Perry Mason case.
March 26, 2021
Published in 1966, TCOT Worried Waitress reads like a novelization of the TV show, and not a very effective one.
June 16, 2021
Molto interessante come sempre. Con un inaspettato finale, che non mi ero nemmeno lontanamente immaginata.
July 11, 2022
Read in Danish. As I remember most of Gardner's Perry Mason novels are quite good reads. Around 3 minus and 3,5 stars.
September 4, 2022
First time I have read Hamilton Burger being such a sport.
June 18, 2023
Enjoyable Perry Mason story.
December 8, 2024
Amazing book! Since it was the first book I have read it was quite grasping and addictive.
August 17, 2023
Left disappointed by the Perry Mason series on HBO, I decided to turn to the trusted books which I had read perhaps 2 decades back. Although not as good as I remembered them, it did not disappoint.
I usually like how everything wraps in the end. Though here I must admit, I missed a few revelations and never really understood who did the original crime.
Though I consider Saturday evening relatively well spent.
Rerated it to two. Because I still don't understand what triggered everything.
I usually like how everything wraps in the end. Though here I must admit, I missed a few revelations and never really understood who did the original crime.
Though I consider Saturday evening relatively well spent.
Rerated it to two. Because I still don't understand what triggered everything.
December 27, 2018
If you're tired of traditional mysteries, try one of Gardner's Perry Mason stories: part mystery, part courtroom drama. This one was good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews