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Perry Mason #55
The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll
Jilted by her fiancee, a corporate embezzelor who skipped town with company funds, Mildred decides to switch identities with a dead hitchhiker, hoping to create a new life for herself, but her rouse brings even more troubles, so she turns to Perry Mason for help. Reissue.
212 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
37 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Erle Stanley Gardner
1,351 books817 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 77 reviews
January 3, 2024
Too far-fetched. Not one of his best.
November 5, 2020
Mildred Crest’s fiancé, a nice fellow by all accounts turned out to be an embezzler, leading Mildred to take her car and flee in distress…but with no goal in mind. She picks up a hitchhiker, a similar young woman named Fran Driscoll. An automobile accident leaves Fran dead and provides Mildred with an opportunity to steal Fran’s identity and try to start her life anew.
Unfortunately, Mildred didn’t count on all of the trouble that Fran’s past has now brought to her own life.
The fifty-fifth novel in the Perry Mason series was an enjoyable read, even if not wielding quite the cerebral plot as most of the books do. It unfolds in a straight-forward manner with Perry investigating and quickly learning what his new client, Mildred, actually did despite what she tells him. Nevertheless, he decides to defend her even though his defense case is continuously weakened by a series of new evidence making Mildred appear guilty. As is often the case, Perry doesn’t mind interfering with police procedures and this time around he even drags his lovely secretary Della Street into the mix. A final plot twist at the end was a nice surprise, and elevated this one from 3 stars to 4.
Unfortunately, Mildred didn’t count on all of the trouble that Fran’s past has now brought to her own life.
The fifty-fifth novel in the Perry Mason series was an enjoyable read, even if not wielding quite the cerebral plot as most of the books do. It unfolds in a straight-forward manner with Perry investigating and quickly learning what his new client, Mildred, actually did despite what she tells him. Nevertheless, he decides to defend her even though his defense case is continuously weakened by a series of new evidence making Mildred appear guilty. As is often the case, Perry doesn’t mind interfering with police procedures and this time around he even drags his lovely secretary Della Street into the mix. A final plot twist at the end was a nice surprise, and elevated this one from 3 stars to 4.
May 26, 2020
Mildred Crest is dumped by her fiancé, who admits he was using her to hide his embezzlement from his firm. The same night, she picks up a young hitchhiker named Fern Driscoll, who causes a road accident that kills her and almost kills Mildred. Deciding to assume Driscoll's identity, Mildred soon finds herself at the mercy of a blackmailer and calls on Perry Mason for help.
A good mystery requires wheels within wheels and Gardner knows how to deliver these in spades. A novel which will keep readers guessing until the trademark courtroom denouement.
A good mystery requires wheels within wheels and Gardner knows how to deliver these in spades. A novel which will keep readers guessing until the trademark courtroom denouement.
November 3, 2017
A case full of twists and turns. The culprit was obvious, though an additional surprise is there at the very end. One of those cases where Mason's client wasn't totally honest with him, and his guesswork and lucky breaks get him out of the jam. Again, I couldn't help but wonder, if Hamilton Burger is as much to be credited for Mason's wins, as are is luck and lawyering skills.
August 29, 2019
It was case no. 55 by Perry Mason as legendary and genius of a character created by Stanley Gardner.
It's more like a courtroom thriller. I liked the cross questioning technique of Mason. It reminds of a Urdu pulp lawyer character Mirza Amjad Baig created by Hassam Butt.
A refreshing read nevertheless after some doses of "Seriously Heavy Urdu Literature".
It's more like a courtroom thriller. I liked the cross questioning technique of Mason. It reminds of a Urdu pulp lawyer character Mirza Amjad Baig created by Hassam Butt.
A refreshing read nevertheless after some doses of "Seriously Heavy Urdu Literature".
June 2, 2022
Pity Mildred Crest. On page 1 of the book she gets a call from her fiancée that he just blew his company’s petty cash stash on the ponies and he’s been embezzling for years and so, because he’s gotta flee the cops, the wedding is off. It’s not that losing the guy is so bad, but the scandal and having the fake sympathy of all the girls in the movie office…It’s just the kind of shock that will send you on a random drive where you pick up a suicidal hitchhiker who wrecks your car while successfully killing herself. Why, of course she lifts the purse and takes over the girls identity. She’s not too good with matches, so she accidentally sets fire to the car and hitches a ride back to LA. Naturally, a blackmailer turns up. But fortunately, she works in Perry Mason’s building, because she really needs a lawyer!
Even with the bonkers plot (and it gets more bonkers), this is Perry Mason by the numbers. The client is a good sort but lies to her attorney. Hamilton Burger shows up at the end to lose the case in spectacular fashion. Mason lectures us on the hazards of eyewitness testimony, makes annoying objections, and pulls the miraculous solution out of his…briefcase. And, while the final surprise revelation is not obvious, the killer is. Even the surprise could have been easily discovered with a little basic routine investigation by the police.
So, all in all, not Mason’s best day in court. Fortunately, the client only paid him a nickel.
Even with the bonkers plot (and it gets more bonkers), this is Perry Mason by the numbers. The client is a good sort but lies to her attorney. Hamilton Burger shows up at the end to lose the case in spectacular fashion. Mason lectures us on the hazards of eyewitness testimony, makes annoying objections, and pulls the miraculous solution out of his…briefcase. And, while the final surprise revelation is not obvious, the killer is. Even the surprise could have been easily discovered with a little basic routine investigation by the police.
So, all in all, not Mason’s best day in court. Fortunately, the client only paid him a nickel.
May 9, 2025
Brokenhearted after an embezzlement by her fiance, Millicent Crest decides to flee. While on the road,she picks up a girl who causes them to have an accident. The girl is killed, so Millie takes her name but finds she has walked into a scandal.
This one is fast paced, thrilling and full of action.
Happy ending? of course. And tes, Love unites two lovers.
This one is fast paced, thrilling and full of action.
Happy ending? of course. And tes, Love unites two lovers.
June 26, 2025
This was a fun read, a clever mystery, and a great brain teaser. Perry Mason at his best. The plot centers on at least one assumed identity, blackmail, and murder with an ice pick. Mason spars with police sergeant Holcomb and DA Burger as usual, and then blows up the courtroom with dramatic last minute deductions and revelations as only he can. Good stuff for fans of mid twentieth century American murder mysteries. I don’t know if Erle Stanley Gardner invented the courtroom drama genre, but he sure did perfect and popularize it. This book is a fine example of his work.
July 26, 2020
Classic Perry Mason
July 26, 2021
I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books off and on for a long time. Many years ago, I was an intense fan of the series. Now, after a lot of water over the dam, I'm looking at them again.
Those who are used to really fine mystery writers may find Gardner's writing style a bit stiff and mechanical. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the characters of Perry, Della, Paul, Lt. Tragg, and Hamilton Burger. That, and the ingenious plots, are why I read Perry Mason.
On the whole, the ones written by around 1953 are the best. This one was written in 1958, after the TV series started. It's good and very clever. The writing is a bit dry and repetitious. Some of the courtroom cross examinations are a bit tedious. I debated giving this story three or four stars, finally settling on four because of the plot twist surprise at the end.
This is one of the stories that begins with an episode in someone's life, with no relevance at all to Perry Mason or Della Street. A young woman, Mildred Crest, learns that her fiance is a crook and their engagement is over. Upset and depressed, she gets in her car and goes for a long drive. A few hours later she stops at a gas station in the desert country east of LA. A young woman hitchhiker asks if she can ride with Mildred. She gives her name as Fern Driscoll. Both young women seem to be upset, trying to overcome recent traumatic events. They don't talk much, but Fern says she is "just a foot-loose doll." They are soon driving up a mountain road. Fern becomes suicidal and tries to grab the steering wheel out of Mildred's hand! In the struggle the car goes off the road. It lands roughly, tossing Fern out the door, smashing her head, and killing her. Mildred is OK. Mildred suddenly gets an inspiration: she will take Fern's purse and walk off. The car will be discovered and the body identified as Mildred Crest. Mildred, as Fern, will lose herself in a new identity and put all her sadness behind her.
That's just what she does. In Fern's purse she finds a bunch of letters to Fern from a young man named Forrest Baylor. Evidently she and Forrest were in love. They lived in Lansing, MI. Forrest's father is a wealthy industrialist who thought Fern was "beneath" Forrest and told Forrest to end it.
Mildred, now going as Fern, gets a job in the same building where Perry has his office (I don't like coincidences!). But her new life is shattered by the appearance of one Carl Harrod, an insurance investigator who has found "Fern Driscoll" by tracing a suitcase left in the car, then checking phone company records. As he investigates the Fern Driscoll story in Michigan, he senses a big payday and hints at blackmail. To make it worse, the body found in the car was pregnant!
Before long the Baylor family arrives from Michigan, one by one, and some figure out that Mildred is not really Fern. Then someone is stabbed with an icepick, and it's suddenly a murder case.
This is a good, mid-level story. There are Perry Mason stories featuring gun swaps and fingerprint swaps. This one has icepick swaps! Hamilton Burger accuses Della of perjury! There is little romance between Perry and Della.
Recurring theme: car crash in the mountains not too far from LA. Young couple from "different sides of the track."
Unlikely plot elements: so Mildred decides to become Fern Driscoll, assuming the body in the car will be identified as herself. Does she have no family at all? No one who will be crushed by this knowledge? Of course with today's DNA technology, the whole plot falls apart.
Some Sgt. Holcomb, no Lt. Tragg, average Hamilton Burger. There are no interesting little embellishments. No exotic locations, but there is an interesting real location: "Mildred and the hitchhiker rode in silence for miles. Mildred came to the intersection with Highway 395, crossed it, taking the road to Pala." 395 in southern California has been mostly replaced with I-15, but this location is real. Mention is made of Mt. Palomar. Pala is close to Temecula, where Gardner owned a ranch.
The title is one of the most appropriate in the Perry Mason canon. It's a clever intriguing plot somewhat marred by being based on a rare coincidence: one very upset despondent woman driver happens to pick up a hitchhiker who is also an upset despondent woman.
Perry calls the defendant to the stand! This is very unusual. It also happens in the Case of the Troubled Trustee.
I thought the culprit was obvious, perhaps the most obvious of any Perry Mason story. Yet the end has an astonishing twist!
The cast:
Mildred Crest, young woman responding to a severe shock who takes a long drive, where she meets
Fern Driscoll, young woman responding to a severe shock who goes hitchhiking.
Carl Harrod, opportunistic insurance investigator.
Kitty Baylor, daughter of
Harriman Baylor, wealthy industrialist from Michigan whose son
Forrest Baylor, is in love with Fern Driscoll.
Nellie Elliston, so-called wife of Carl Harrod.
Irma Karnes, adamant witness. Perry Mason isn't going to confuse her, no sir!
Those who are used to really fine mystery writers may find Gardner's writing style a bit stiff and mechanical. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the characters of Perry, Della, Paul, Lt. Tragg, and Hamilton Burger. That, and the ingenious plots, are why I read Perry Mason.
On the whole, the ones written by around 1953 are the best. This one was written in 1958, after the TV series started. It's good and very clever. The writing is a bit dry and repetitious. Some of the courtroom cross examinations are a bit tedious. I debated giving this story three or four stars, finally settling on four because of the plot twist surprise at the end.
This is one of the stories that begins with an episode in someone's life, with no relevance at all to Perry Mason or Della Street. A young woman, Mildred Crest, learns that her fiance is a crook and their engagement is over. Upset and depressed, she gets in her car and goes for a long drive. A few hours later she stops at a gas station in the desert country east of LA. A young woman hitchhiker asks if she can ride with Mildred. She gives her name as Fern Driscoll. Both young women seem to be upset, trying to overcome recent traumatic events. They don't talk much, but Fern says she is "just a foot-loose doll." They are soon driving up a mountain road. Fern becomes suicidal and tries to grab the steering wheel out of Mildred's hand! In the struggle the car goes off the road. It lands roughly, tossing Fern out the door, smashing her head, and killing her. Mildred is OK. Mildred suddenly gets an inspiration: she will take Fern's purse and walk off. The car will be discovered and the body identified as Mildred Crest. Mildred, as Fern, will lose herself in a new identity and put all her sadness behind her.
That's just what she does. In Fern's purse she finds a bunch of letters to Fern from a young man named Forrest Baylor. Evidently she and Forrest were in love. They lived in Lansing, MI. Forrest's father is a wealthy industrialist who thought Fern was "beneath" Forrest and told Forrest to end it.
Mildred, now going as Fern, gets a job in the same building where Perry has his office (I don't like coincidences!). But her new life is shattered by the appearance of one Carl Harrod, an insurance investigator who has found "Fern Driscoll" by tracing a suitcase left in the car, then checking phone company records. As he investigates the Fern Driscoll story in Michigan, he senses a big payday and hints at blackmail. To make it worse, the body found in the car was pregnant!
Before long the Baylor family arrives from Michigan, one by one, and some figure out that Mildred is not really Fern. Then someone is stabbed with an icepick, and it's suddenly a murder case.
This is a good, mid-level story. There are Perry Mason stories featuring gun swaps and fingerprint swaps. This one has icepick swaps! Hamilton Burger accuses Della of perjury! There is little romance between Perry and Della.
Recurring theme: car crash in the mountains not too far from LA. Young couple from "different sides of the track."
Unlikely plot elements: so Mildred decides to become Fern Driscoll, assuming the body in the car will be identified as herself. Does she have no family at all? No one who will be crushed by this knowledge? Of course with today's DNA technology, the whole plot falls apart.
Some Sgt. Holcomb, no Lt. Tragg, average Hamilton Burger. There are no interesting little embellishments. No exotic locations, but there is an interesting real location: "Mildred and the hitchhiker rode in silence for miles. Mildred came to the intersection with Highway 395, crossed it, taking the road to Pala." 395 in southern California has been mostly replaced with I-15, but this location is real. Mention is made of Mt. Palomar. Pala is close to Temecula, where Gardner owned a ranch.
The title is one of the most appropriate in the Perry Mason canon. It's a clever intriguing plot somewhat marred by being based on a rare coincidence: one very upset despondent woman driver happens to pick up a hitchhiker who is also an upset despondent woman.
Perry calls the defendant to the stand! This is very unusual. It also happens in the Case of the Troubled Trustee.
I thought the culprit was obvious, perhaps the most obvious of any Perry Mason story. Yet the end has an astonishing twist!
The cast:
Mildred Crest, young woman responding to a severe shock who takes a long drive, where she meets
Fern Driscoll, young woman responding to a severe shock who goes hitchhiking.
Carl Harrod, opportunistic insurance investigator.
Kitty Baylor, daughter of
Harriman Baylor, wealthy industrialist from Michigan whose son
Forrest Baylor, is in love with Fern Driscoll.
Nellie Elliston, so-called wife of Carl Harrod.
Irma Karnes, adamant witness. Perry Mason isn't going to confuse her, no sir!
August 9, 2025
Mason is magnificent and a great read.
December 14, 2021
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February 9, 2017
If you could start all over again and leave your life behind, would you? When young and beautiful Mildred Crest is engaged to be married to the most eligible bachelor, she could hardly imagine how her life would change that drastically. One afternoon at work, she recieves a call from her fiance confessing to many lies he told everyone. As it turns out, he was just an soon-to-be-discovered-embazzeler who was going to make a run for it, therefore he was just ending their relationship. Abandoned, humiliated and facing huge scandal Mildred wants just to disappear. While driving aimlessly around California she gets approached by a young woman who seems to be in similar predicament and depression. She agrees to give her a ride nowhere in particular, but as always, you should be very careful with whom you get in the car. The girl, Fren Driscol, turns out to be a little more crazy than it at first seemed like. She grabs the steering wheel and makes the car fall down the canyon. Fortunately for Mildred, she survives without as much as a bruise, but for her hitchhiker it's a fatal accident. Seeing two purses, Mildred faces the dilemma, which one should she choose? What if it'd be proclaimed she was the one who died in the accident? Being given a new identity and she takes it. She becomes a hitchhiker herself and goes towards LA to start a new life. Slowly, she begins to rebuild her life starting a new job in the same building as Perry Mason's office. Soon, her scheme gets discovered, rich family of Fern's arrives alongside a blackmailer and a murder is committed. Mason defends double identity girl. There are some twists, especially on the end, but little detective work. There is no question who's telling the truth, we know the DAs is mistaken, even if Hamilton Burger accuses Della of perjury. Just a regular, pleasant Mason book, it's interesting, but not outstanding. Romantic Gertie is definitely happy with the ending
September 15, 2017
This book is filled with lots of plot twists that left me confused but wanting more. It's also different in that the first half of the book is from the client's perspective and not Mason's. And that Perry/Della moment at the end is 10/10.
Recommended 13+ for murder, language, and violence.
Recommended 13+ for murder, language, and violence.
September 19, 2014
Reading the entire series. This was a good one, I did not know who it was until a few pages before it was revealed.
March 12, 2015
The story was engaging but not simple at all. Lots of twists and complications. The solution of the mystery came out of the blue. Didn't see this one coming!
November 30, 2023
Mildred Crest adındaki bir kadın yeni nişanlanmıştır. Çok mutluyken nişanlısından bir telefon gelir ve onun dolandırıcı, zimmetine para geçiren biri olduğunu ve nişanı attığını öğrenir. Morali bozulup eve gider. Buradan arabayla başıboş dolaşmaya çıkar. Bir benzin istasyonunda bir otostopçu alır. Kendisini Ferr Driscoll olarak tanıtan kadın çok şanssız olduğunu söyler ve arabanın direksiyonuna müdahale eder. Araba uçurumdan aşağı yuvarlanır. Burada onun çantasını alan Mildred, arabada ne var diye kibrit çakınca ve elinden düşürünce yangın çıkar. Otopside arabadaki cesedin 2 aylık hamile olduğu ortaya çıkar. Oradan kaçıp şehir değiştirir ve Perry Mason ile aynı binada bir şirkette çalışmaya başlar. Ancak Carl Harrod adında bir sigorta görevlisi gelir. Onunla ilgili şüphelerinden bahseder ve ondan yazılı bir itiraf ister. Aslında amacı şantajdır. Ferr, Forrie Heyman adlı biri ile sevgilidir. Heyman ailesinin varisi olan bu adam da kızı çok sever ama babası yanaşmaz o bir sekreter olduğu için. Bir gün Mildred'in evine Kattie Heyman gelir. Ona her şeyi anlatan Mildred, Carl gelince onu Kattie'nin tokatladığını görür. Kattie bir dükkandan 3 tane buz kıracağı alır ve birini kendisine ayırıp diğer ikisini Mildred'e bırakır. O gece Carl buz kıracağı ile yaralandığını söyler. Della ve Mason evine gider ama yarayı göremez. Nellie adındaki karısı olduğunu söyleyen şahıs onu korumaktadır. Gizlice aldıkları bir buz kıracağını eve yerleştiren Mason bir doktor çağırır. Ama doktordan sonra Holcomb da gelir ve Carl'ın öldürüldüğünü söyler. Büyük Heyman tedavi olduğu için sol kolunu oynatamaz. Mahkeme başlayacaktır ve dükkandaki kasiyer kıracaklar Mildred'in aldığını iddia eder. Della çıkıp şahitlik yapar. Ondan etkilenirler ama yine de aleyhte delil çoktur. Forrie, sevdiği kadının hamile olmadığını söyler. Acaba Carl'ın kim öldürmüştü. Heyman neden kolunu oynatamaz. Mildred gece evine gelen kime sağlamıştır kıracağı? Kayıp 10 bin dolar kimdedir? Kim Carl'ın öldürecek imkana sahiptir? Driscoll gerçekten ölmüş müdür? Bundan sonra ne olacaktır? Mason müvekkilini koruyabilecek midir? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2019
I always enjoy reading Perry Mason books. They're fast paced, fun and, as a future lawyer, I enjoy books and movies that have the lawyer as the hero, fighting for the rights of their clients when nobody else will. Fun stuff!
The Case of the Foot Loose Doll is fun and fast paced, with a convoluted plot to boot. Having worked in a legal clinic, I know that some of the clients that walk through the door have pretty incredible cases, but the plot here was really stretching it. Don't worry, I won't spoil it for those interested in reading this. I also ahve to say that it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
There was also a few gold nuggets in here I really enjoyed. The first was that a major part of the plot reolved around the problems surrounding eye wittness identification. This is a complex branch of evidentiary law and I thought it was really cool to see a novel written over 60 years ago dealing with the exact same problems that confront us today.
Another fun little gold nugget was the admission of one the character's dying words, which is one of the exceptions surrounding hearsay.
Finally, in the courtroom the direct and cross examinations by Perry Mason and his Prosecutor rivals are so much fun to read! It's almost like they were taken directly from the classic book, The Art of Cross Examination. Yes, I am aware that I just pegged myself as a legal geek in sharing my delight at these little legal gold nuggets. I can't help it, law is just so cool!
As I mentioned, the Perry Mason books tend to be pretty fast paced, which means there is very little descriptiveness. Not necesarily a bad thing, but I keep imagining that these stories take place in a Noir like setting, and I'd love a little more atmosphere.
Overall fun, and recommended for a quick, enjoyable read.
3.5/5 Stars
The Case of the Foot Loose Doll is fun and fast paced, with a convoluted plot to boot. Having worked in a legal clinic, I know that some of the clients that walk through the door have pretty incredible cases, but the plot here was really stretching it. Don't worry, I won't spoil it for those interested in reading this. I also ahve to say that it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
There was also a few gold nuggets in here I really enjoyed. The first was that a major part of the plot reolved around the problems surrounding eye wittness identification. This is a complex branch of evidentiary law and I thought it was really cool to see a novel written over 60 years ago dealing with the exact same problems that confront us today.
Another fun little gold nugget was the admission of one the character's dying words, which is one of the exceptions surrounding hearsay.
Finally, in the courtroom the direct and cross examinations by Perry Mason and his Prosecutor rivals are so much fun to read! It's almost like they were taken directly from the classic book, The Art of Cross Examination. Yes, I am aware that I just pegged myself as a legal geek in sharing my delight at these little legal gold nuggets. I can't help it, law is just so cool!
As I mentioned, the Perry Mason books tend to be pretty fast paced, which means there is very little descriptiveness. Not necesarily a bad thing, but I keep imagining that these stories take place in a Noir like setting, and I'd love a little more atmosphere.
Overall fun, and recommended for a quick, enjoyable read.
3.5/5 Stars
April 17, 2023
This was the most interesting opening to a Perry Mason case that I have yet read. A woman finds out that her fiancé has been embezzling from the company that they both work at and is taking off. She doesn’t know what to do. She starts driving aimlessly and at a gas station, picks up a hitchhiker who is also a woman with some problems on her hands. They talk about running away together and then the hitchhiker does a Thelma and Louise and forces the car they are driving off the road. The hitchhiker is killed, the woman is only bruised. As she gets out of the car, she decides to take the hitchhiker’s identity. Using a match to see by, she accidentally sets the car on fire as she grabs the woman’s purse and walks away. She establishes a new life for herself under the assumed identity (Fern) and then things start falling apart. An insurance investigator figures out what she did and shows her how she can be accused of murdering the other woman and tries to blackmail her. Enter Perry Mason who takes the woman as a client on the strength of a 5 cent retainer. He starts to work on the black mail case, but things quickly get even more complicated.
“Fern” is approached by another woman who is the sister of the man the original Fern was in love with (and possibly pregnant by) and she learns that there are a whole new set of problems over love letters that were in the stolen purse, a payoff, and a second concern over blackmail. And if that isn’t enough, the father of the original “Fern’s” lover enters the picture and he loves to throw his weight around. All of this, mind you, before the mandatory murder case gets introduced.
Gardner really keeps this story jumping and has a closet full of surprises to spring on the reader.
“Fern” is approached by another woman who is the sister of the man the original Fern was in love with (and possibly pregnant by) and she learns that there are a whole new set of problems over love letters that were in the stolen purse, a payoff, and a second concern over blackmail. And if that isn’t enough, the father of the original “Fern’s” lover enters the picture and he loves to throw his weight around. All of this, mind you, before the mandatory murder case gets introduced.
Gardner really keeps this story jumping and has a closet full of surprises to spring on the reader.
December 9, 2025
This was my next venture into Erle Stanley Gardner's iconic lawyer, Perry Mason. Although I've only read a handful, I think this is the best I've read to date. As with all of the Perry Mason books, this one is written in a hardboiled, fast-paced style popular from the 1930s to 1950s.
Jilted by her embezzling fiancé, Mildred leaves her job and drives aimlessly, with no destination in mind. She stumbles on an equally distressed woman waiting alone at a gas station. Mildred offers her a ride, but the decision is a horrendous one. Driving along a sharp drop-off, the passenger insanely grabs the steering wheel and steers the car over a cliff. Mildred survives with just some bruises, but the hitchhiker is killed instantly. In an instant, Mildred decides to switch identities with a dead hitchhiker. It proves to be an awful decision.
An unscrupulous insurance investigator figures out what Mildred had done, and attempts to blackmail Mildred. But when the investigator shows up dead with an ice pick in his chest, Mildred is charged with his murder. Perry Mason defends the young woman in an intense courtroom drama. The twists and turns keep coming until the very end.
This is the tough-guy style of book so popular from the 1930s-1950s. While it is the 55th book in the series, a reader can jump into the Perry Mason books at any point, and read them in any order. If you've never read Perry Mason and are curious, this is a good place to start.
Jilted by her embezzling fiancé, Mildred leaves her job and drives aimlessly, with no destination in mind. She stumbles on an equally distressed woman waiting alone at a gas station. Mildred offers her a ride, but the decision is a horrendous one. Driving along a sharp drop-off, the passenger insanely grabs the steering wheel and steers the car over a cliff. Mildred survives with just some bruises, but the hitchhiker is killed instantly. In an instant, Mildred decides to switch identities with a dead hitchhiker. It proves to be an awful decision.
An unscrupulous insurance investigator figures out what Mildred had done, and attempts to blackmail Mildred. But when the investigator shows up dead with an ice pick in his chest, Mildred is charged with his murder. Perry Mason defends the young woman in an intense courtroom drama. The twists and turns keep coming until the very end.
This is the tough-guy style of book so popular from the 1930s-1950s. While it is the 55th book in the series, a reader can jump into the Perry Mason books at any point, and read them in any order. If you've never read Perry Mason and are curious, this is a good place to start.
July 18, 2019
I know of Perry Mason mostly through the TV show that starred Raymond Burr rather than through novels. I did find it amusing that the original cover price of this novel was 60 cents and the Half-Price Books tag on it says they were selling it for $1!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
My first thought is that it would be harder now to take on a new identity in the way that Mildred Crest did (by taking the purse of another woman). These days you'd likely be caught out by social media, online photos, or some such.
Also, later in the novel, it becomes quite apparent that in today's day and age, it would be unlikely that a PI would have to notify the FBI about a bank robbery or ask them to locate Fern Driscoll in the way it was done in this novel. (Maybe I'm mistaken, but . . .)
The way Mason comes to the conclusion wasn't straightforward to me. There was some roundabout ways of gathering evidence and figuring out what really happened. I was surprised to find that the dead woman wasn't Fern after all. I was glad that Forrester did really seem to love her (even though his father thought she was beneath their social set.)
I thought the money in Fern's purse was a good red herring--it did make me think that Harrison Baylor or his son Forrester had paid Fern to go away.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
My first thought is that it would be harder now to take on a new identity in the way that Mildred Crest did (by taking the purse of another woman). These days you'd likely be caught out by social media, online photos, or some such.
Also, later in the novel, it becomes quite apparent that in today's day and age, it would be unlikely that a PI would have to notify the FBI about a bank robbery or ask them to locate Fern Driscoll in the way it was done in this novel. (Maybe I'm mistaken, but . . .)
The way Mason comes to the conclusion wasn't straightforward to me. There was some roundabout ways of gathering evidence and figuring out what really happened. I was surprised to find that the dead woman wasn't Fern after all. I was glad that Forrester did really seem to love her (even though his father thought she was beneath their social set.)
I thought the money in Fern's purse was a good red herring--it did make me think that Harrison Baylor or his son Forrester had paid Fern to go away.
March 23, 2023
This is a good example of a quick-paced and nifty piece of a criminal plot in addition to a smart, opportunistic crime undone by sharp observational skills and decisive steps taken by Perry Mason to both muddle the facts and keep them straight. Had it not been for his regular habit of juggling the murder weapon to confuse the police and criminals alike, this case would have been much harder to prove in court, even though the true sequence of events was easily known.
This book first appeared in a serialized version, which is made clear by the attempts to bring in small cliffhangers every now and then. Overall, the plot is simple and well-built, without too many red herrings. The readers are kept aware of most of the facts of the case, thus giving them an opportunity to play detective. Eventually, with Drake's ability to magically appear with significant clues every now and then, Mason is able to solve the case in court satisfactorily.
I have rated it 4 out of 5(potentially 3.5+), as it is an easy read and not unnecessarily made convoluted.
This book first appeared in a serialized version, which is made clear by the attempts to bring in small cliffhangers every now and then. Overall, the plot is simple and well-built, without too many red herrings. The readers are kept aware of most of the facts of the case, thus giving them an opportunity to play detective. Eventually, with Drake's ability to magically appear with significant clues every now and then, Mason is able to solve the case in court satisfactorily.
I have rated it 4 out of 5(potentially 3.5+), as it is an easy read and not unnecessarily made convoluted.
July 2, 2023
Mildred Crest is shocked when her fiance, Bob, calls her up at her job and tells her that he has lost a bundle of money on the horses, has been siphoning money from his work, and is going to clean out his office and take off. Oh, by the way, their engagement is over. In shock, she completes her work for the day and then takes off.
While on the way, she picks up a hitchhiker named Fern Driscoll who says that she's burned her bridges and is now a footloose doll. At the end of her rope, Fern pulls on the wheel and causes a car accident. Mildred survives... or does she? Maybe she can become Fern and leave her life behind. Too bad Fern left an even bigger mess behind and Mildred is about to be wrapped up in blackmail and murder. Good thing she had the foresight to hire Perry Mason as her attorney.
This was a pretty good story though the sexism of the times definitely come through and the ending was a little more convoluted than it needed to be.
While on the way, she picks up a hitchhiker named Fern Driscoll who says that she's burned her bridges and is now a footloose doll. At the end of her rope, Fern pulls on the wheel and causes a car accident. Mildred survives... or does she? Maybe she can become Fern and leave her life behind. Too bad Fern left an even bigger mess behind and Mildred is about to be wrapped up in blackmail and murder. Good thing she had the foresight to hire Perry Mason as her attorney.
This was a pretty good story though the sexism of the times definitely come through and the ending was a little more convoluted than it needed to be.
February 20, 2023
I've enjoyed several Perry Mason novels, but the premise was too much for me to believe.
The beginning is very convoluted with a woman running away from her responsibilities, encountering another woman on the run. Allowing that woman to join her, but then (accidentally) causing that woman's death, purposely setting the victim's body on fire to hide the cause of her death, and then stealing that dead woman's identity (and stolen money) to give herself a new life. When a stranger calls on her and blackmails her for the money, she goes to Perry Mason who takes her case, though he feels that there is something his client isn't telling him.
I couldn't get past Perry taking her case and helping her. The dialogue and familiar character interactions are all there, but I was constantly thinking that Perry would turn her in for what she had done. He didn't.
The beginning is very convoluted with a woman running away from her responsibilities, encountering another woman on the run. Allowing that woman to join her, but then (accidentally) causing that woman's death, purposely setting the victim's body on fire to hide the cause of her death, and then stealing that dead woman's identity (and stolen money) to give herself a new life. When a stranger calls on her and blackmails her for the money, she goes to Perry Mason who takes her case, though he feels that there is something his client isn't telling him.
I couldn't get past Perry taking her case and helping her. The dialogue and familiar character interactions are all there, but I was constantly thinking that Perry would turn her in for what she had done. He didn't.
November 5, 2022
I got this one a bit of a whim at a big trip to a semi-local used book store... I'm not particularly a fan (I don't recall ever watching the show). I did like the Cool and Lam book I read, so I had good expectations of Gardner.
The cover and the back cover makes you think noir, but the story was too.. happy for noir. Sure, there was murder and blackmail, but the ending was WAY too happy.
There book was pretty much split evenly between Perry doing legal things in or for court and the readers seeing the events of the case, though I feel pretty confident any actual lawyer that got this involved in a case would notbe allow to continue.
Still, it was entertaining enough of a page turner, though definitely not as good as Cool and Lam.
The cover and the back cover makes you think noir, but the story was too.. happy for noir. Sure, there was murder and blackmail, but the ending was WAY too happy.
There book was pretty much split evenly between Perry doing legal things in or for court and the readers seeing the events of the case, though I feel pretty confident any actual lawyer that got this involved in a case would notbe allow to continue.
Still, it was entertaining enough of a page turner, though definitely not as good as Cool and Lam.
March 31, 2024
[Spoilers Ahead]
As usual, Gardner leads us on a twisting path with regards to the actual details of the case, keeping readers on their toes throughout this who-dunnit. However, this book didn’t feel as complete as the others that I have read. (Granted, its been a few years since I read a Perry Mason novel.) But the case seemed a little loose at the ending still.
Mainly, the question of the girl who stole Fern's identity. Obviously, the case was resolved considering that the charges were against Harrod's murder, but it still seemed a little offputting for the ending to be so cut and dry, almost like it was rushed.
It was still a fun read, and I enjoyed getting back to the Perry Mason series. it had been a little too long
As usual, Gardner leads us on a twisting path with regards to the actual details of the case, keeping readers on their toes throughout this who-dunnit. However, this book didn’t feel as complete as the others that I have read. (Granted, its been a few years since I read a Perry Mason novel.) But the case seemed a little loose at the ending still.
Mainly, the question of the girl who stole Fern's identity. Obviously, the case was resolved considering that the charges were against Harrod's murder, but it still seemed a little offputting for the ending to be so cut and dry, almost like it was rushed.
It was still a fun read, and I enjoyed getting back to the Perry Mason series. it had been a little too long
June 14, 2025
What a fun entry in the series. Gardner's initial bizarre set-up is a luridly improbable, yet classic, noir plot that will be familiar to fans of Detour (either in the form of Martin M. Goldsmith's 1939 novel or director Edward G. Ulmer's low-budget Poverty Row masterpiece of 1945). With multiple fake identities and numerous client and witness lies, Perry can't help but muddle the case even more by turning three ice picks into six. In the previous novel, we had three identical pistols. Now we get six icepicks. I fear some future novel with twelve baseball bats. The plot is convoluted but plays fair. All the clues were there for the reader to decipher. There is even some welcome steam between Della and Perry.
January 9, 2023
Less complicated a story and it starts for a bit with the other characters in the tale. I did like it, though, it was different from the typical Mason fare. We get some interaction with the characters and Perry doing some traveling, as well as a courtroom scene (of course), which dealt with Della and the returning DA Berger over ice pick shopping.....I'd liked to have had a wrap up scene with the smug clerk knowing she was wrong, but either way. The backstory of two of the gals in this one were awfully sad. There was something diluted about Mason's personality in this one, he was just more behind the scenes feel.
October 17, 2023
The plot starts off in a novel and interesting way when a young woman picks up a hitchhiker, there is an accident where the hitchhiker dies and the other woman assumes her identity.
When the story gets to the point where the ice picks are introduced it starts to get ridiculous. Still a good story - typical Parry Mason formula from there on.
This is another case where an assistant DA is running the case and it looks like not only a conviction will be won but that Perry Mason is in trouble. Then Hamilton Burger takes charge and the car blows up and Mason wins again. You think Burger would learn a lesson.
When the story gets to the point where the ice picks are introduced it starts to get ridiculous. Still a good story - typical Parry Mason formula from there on.
This is another case where an assistant DA is running the case and it looks like not only a conviction will be won but that Perry Mason is in trouble. Then Hamilton Burger takes charge and the car blows up and Mason wins again. You think Burger would learn a lesson.
July 3, 2020
This is one of the best Perry Mason books ever. Even though it had been decades since the last time I read it, on page 4 I was like, "Oh, this seems familiar," then on page 9 I was like, "Oh yeah, this one," and on page 13 I was like, "Man, he really knows how to set up a situation!" and by page 20 I was like, "Holy cow! What's going to happen next!?!"
Set in the 1950s, when a college girl from Stanford might calmly advise a new acquaintance to carry an icepick to defend herself from a threatening male. Desperate situations can lead to desperate improvisations.
Set in the 1950s, when a college girl from Stanford might calmly advise a new acquaintance to carry an icepick to defend herself from a threatening male. Desperate situations can lead to desperate improvisations.
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