The Case of the Bigamous Spouse

Perry Mason #65

by Erle Stanley Gardner

Gwynn Elston learns that her best friend's husband already has a wife and family, but when he is found murdered, Gwynn must ask Perry Mason to defend her against a murder charge.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Legal, Murder Mystery, Classics

187 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1961

About the author

Erle 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...

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

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), such as Ross Macdonald, may find the writing style here a bit dry. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: 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 latest ones, written in 1961. The plot is interesting and creative. 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.

The first few pages have some interesting banter about an attrative young woman who has come to see Mason with a strange request. She wants him to test a piece of tissue for strychnine. Intrigued, Mason asks Della to bring her in. She (Gwynn Elston) makes a living by selling books designed for children that answer questions about nature and science. She gets lists of prospective parents from the parent companty, then goes door to door. Ordinarily not a matter for a lawyer, but then she says she thinks she is going to be murdered!

She has been living with her best friend Nell Arlington in the house owned by Nell and her husband Felting Grimes. Grimes' profession is unclear, but he travels a lot, being away from home often for a week at a time. Yesterday, following a name on her contact sheet as usual, she went to the home of a Frankline Gillett, who happens to live next to the estate of a very rich man named Baxter. Long story short, she meets Mrs. Gillett and a young boy, and becomes positive that Frankline Gillett is the same man as Felting Grimes! Grimes is evidently a bigamist, with two wives!

Even more, she now thinks Grimes is suspicious, and tried to poison her with strychnine. Hence the tissue paper.

Gwynn has an appointment to go back to the Gillett residence that night to close the deal and meet the husband -- i.e. Grimes. Mason tells her to go ahead, that probably Gillett (Grimes) won't be there. She goes, he's not there, but just after leaving strange things happen involving a handsome detective (of some sort) and a gun. The plot thickens, and soon Grimes is discovered murdered on the Baxter estate. The obvious suspect is Gwynn Elston.

Paul Drake discovers that the man's real name was Frankline Gillett, and through an unlikely coincidence, that his father, named Gorman Gillett, was a recluse who lived in a cabin in a small mountain community and just died a couple days ago. So both father and son die within a few days of each other? Hmmm....

Characters:

Gwynn Elston
Felting Grimes, alias of
Frankline Gillett, of no clear profession but two wives.
Mrs. Grimes (Nell)
Mrs. Gillett
The mysterious detective
Gorman Gillett, recently deceased recluse in Pine Haven.
Mr. Bolton, funeral director in Pine Haven
George Baxter, wealthy owner of estate next to Gillett residence.
Collington Halsey, caretaker for Baxter.

Good use of Paul Drake and Lt. Tragg. Good courtroom scenes with Hamilton Burger.

Early on there is a subplot with some Chinese characters (letters) written on a photo, but that is dropped about 12% into the book and never mentioned again.

Recurring theme: mountain cabin, down-home mountain locals.

It seems artififcial that they learn about Gorman Gillette through a coincidence.

One of the most mechanially written of the all the books, with stilted dialog and few, if any, descriptions.

[Serdar Poirot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwynn Elston adında bir genç kız, Mason'a müracaat eder. Birinin kendini öldürmeye çalıştığını söyler. İçeceğine striknin atıldığpını düşünmüş ve delil olarak yanına almıştır mendil batırıp. Mason bu mendili incelemeye gönderip, daha detaylı açıklama yapmasını ister. Bir süredir yakın arkadaşı Nell ve kocası Felting Grimes ile yaşayan Gwynn, Felting'in kendisine sulandığını bilir. Nell'e de söyler ama Nell buna kafayı takmıyor görünür. Felting iş konusunda kimseye bir şey söylemediği için durumdan şüphelenen Gwynn onu araştıracaktır. George Baxter adlı zenginin evine gider. Ancak evden çıkınca bir dedektif tekerinin patladığını söyler ve yardım ister. İnanmazsa diye cebinden bir silah çıkarıp verir. Onu benzinliğe götürüp Mason'ı arar Gwynn. O gece Felting öldürülür ve aslında gerçek adının Frankline Gillett olduğu ortaya çıkar. Aslında zaten evlidir ve bir çocuğu vardır. İşin garibi bir gece önce de babası Gorman Gillett ölmüştür. Evdeki araştırmada bir dergi bulunur ve bu dergide Baxter, yanında bahçıvanı Collemon ile fotoğrafı vardır. Evde polisiye olmayan tek şey budur. Zamanında Gorman ve Halsey adında biri suç işlemiştir. Halsey kaçmıştır. Perry onu Baxter olarak düşünür ve parmak izlerini alır. Davaya soktuğu için ve zarara uğradığı için 100 bin dolarlık dava açan Baxter aslında Halsey değildir. Peki suçu işleyen Halsey kimdir? Frankline'den silahı alan ve Gwynn'e veren dedektif başka ne yapmıştır? Frankline son zamanlarda nasıl çok para kazanmıştır? İşin içinde şantaj mı vardır? Katil kimdir ve cinayet neden işlenmiştir? Cinayetin sebebi yoksa para değil midir? Nell Arlington yani kandırdığı karısı neden Gwynn'e düşman olmuştur? Keyifle okunan bir roman.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun courtroom drama, and I really had no idea who the killer was. Starts like a lot of these start, a woman walks into Mason's office with a major problem. She thinks she is about to be murdered. With her she has certain evidence that she wants Mason to check out to see if that's the case. It's the husband of her best friend and she wants to be sure before she goes to her friend. Of course Mason gets thrown in it, when the husband is killed and Mason's new client is thr prime candidate.

Highly recommended, these are quick reads and really make you think. The main characters are always well done and it's always satisfying to see Mason sparring with Lt. Tragg and the DA.

[Aparna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4 / 5
Recommendation: For everyone who have fetish for courtroom drama, this is the lawyer's case files that one would definitely have to read.

The Case of The Bigamous Spouse is the 65th installment in the Perry Mason Series by Erle Stanley Gardner. The book was published in August of 1961. It was also part of the Perry Mason TV Series and aired on November 14th of 1963 - just two years after it was written. Another seemingly simple plot turns into a twisted one within a few pages keeping the readers on the edge.

Gwynn Elston approaches Perry Mason with a rather weird case - that her friend's husband was trying to poison her with strychnine. Upon further inquiry, Mason finds out that Gwynn is working as a door-to-door saleswoman for encyclopedias and living with her best friend Nell Grimes and her husband Felting Grimes. During one of her visit to a home of one Mrs. Franklin Gillette. However when she sees Franklin Jr. she gets the shock of her life - he is a spitting image of Felting Grimes. Confused she inquires further with the child and confirms that Franklin Gillette and Felting Grimes are indeed one and the same. He was leading a double life. And now she is worried that Felting Grimes has suspicion that she is on to his trail and he is resorting to kill her. Mason accepts the case and puts Paul Drake to investigate this further to find out how much of what Gwynn said is truth and also to find out who is the bigamous spouse - Mrs. Gillette or Nell Grimes. Before the investigation could proceed further to a decent situation, Gwynn calls Mason the next day reporting that she found Felting Grimes dead as a stone right near Baxter Estate - next door to where Felting Grimes lived with Mrs. Gillette and their son as Franklin Gillette and owned by one George Belding Baxter. Soon after despite the efforts of Mason to hide Gwynn, Lt. Tragg arrests her under conspiracy to murder of Felting Grimes.

Thus begins the complexity of the plot leading Mason to murder, wanted criminals, blackmail, robbery and lost fathers. Gardner leads the readers into these dark paths all the while keeping them guessing as to who killed Felting Grimes and for what purpose. Another excellent mystery written by Gardner. I must say the characters lived through it even in the TV Series to make it more alive and successful. Even though if you have watched the TV series episode, do pick up the book and read it. It will not disappoint you.

Spoiler Alerts:

1) There were a few differences between the book and the TV episode. Primarily with the child. In the book Franklin Gillette has a boy called Franklin Jr. with Mrs. Gillette. In the TV series they changed the boy to girl and had no name to her.
2) In the TV Series, the character Gwynn Elston was played by Pippa Scott. I remember her in Columbo's episode Columbo: Requiem for a Falling Star where she portrays as Jean Davis, personal assistant to aging movie star Nora Chandler (portrayed by Anne Baxter).
3) Although the credits show Lt. Tragg but he never appears in the actual show on TV. The case is lead by Lt. Andy Anderson instead.
4) In one of the scene Perry Mason while waiting in the ol' RanchHouse, Perry looks through a stack of old magazines, holding one up conspicuously so that the camera gets a good shot of the cover. It's a "Pulp Western" magazine, RANCH ROMANCES - Love Stories of the Real West. It is not mentioned however in the book as to what the exact kind of fiction was read by the ranch house owner, but only that he read fiction. This scene gave me a whole lot of set of books to read and perhaps for future blog posts as well. :P

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#65 in the Perry Mason series. Accustomed as we are to Perry besting DA Hamilton Burger in courtroom battle, this entry contained a shocker. When the judge overruled one of Burger's objections to a question by Mason, the resulting answer was so unexpected that Burger was actually humbled. If only Perry's client could have committed the murder in the window of opportunity then obviously the window is wrong, and Perry must seek far and wide to find the motivation to justify moving the window. Good read.

Perry Mason series - It began the evening pretty Gwynn Elston, hoping to sell a children's encyclopedia, called at the Frankline Gillett residence. The sight of 7-year-old Frankie was shock enough, but the photograph of Frankline Sr. stunned her with its implication - both father and son were the image of Felting Grimes, husband of her best friend, Nell... Later, at the Grimes residence, shock changed to fear when Felting, strangely interested in Gwynn's recent whereabouts, pressed on her a drink that immediately roused her suspicions. She poured it out, carefully taking a sample of the residue... That's where Perry Mason entered the picture. But he was scarcely on scene before Felting Grimes was discovered, a bullet hole in his chest...

[Primadonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters aren't too deep. The culprit is clear right from the start. Somehow, it's enjoyable to glimpse how it was decades past. My first Perry Mason story, and it won't be the last.

[Stephen Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good Perry Mason mystery. One does wonder, though, just why everyone in a Gardner book has such weird names. Bad enough we have Hamilton Burger as one of the regular characters, but every Mason book has the strangest, what-in-the-world names! In this one, there's Felting Grimes, Frankline Gillett, and Collington Halsey, and that's just for starters! No one is named Joe Smith or anything like that! The reason, I believe, is that Gardner dictated his novels to secretaries, often working on four or five novels at a time and the weird names helped keep the characters straight in his head. Anyway, for once I figured out not only whodunit but saw the clue that gave the whole thing away. Unusual for me. I never figure these mysteries out. A fun read.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit it: this was my first encounter with Mr. Perry Mason, and I in no way expected this book to be anywhere near as good as it was.

It was terrific for a lot of reasons. First, the plot was interesting and unpredictable, which is good for a murder mystery. Second, it was snappy--it moved along and was an appropriate length for the genre. Third, the characters were classically stereotypical, but interesting anyway. Finally--the sexism was so awful, so cheesy, so overdone and so ridiculous, that it couldn't be anything but laugh-out-loud hilarious.

I'll be reading ALL the Perry Masons my grandmother left me.

Also, this was 166 pages, not 0, Goodreads.

[Girish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every once in a while, you read a Perry Mason book that has a flashy premise with a dud backstory and a decent finish. This book is one of those books.

Mason, Della and Drake team up to protect Gwynn Elston caught in crossfire with a bigamous spouse and his lies. When it becomes a murder and with so many suspects, the police picks Mason's clients, you know the case is not going to hold water.

The defendant, you get to know, is innocent even before the story sets in and therein became a simple mystery that developed back stories out of the blue. Although engaging enough to finish in a straight sitting, one of the not so great Perry Mason books.

[Vitor Frazão · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tendo visto vários dos filmes na adolescência, há muito que estava curioso por experimentar os livros. Não desilude, é divertido, servido bem para entreter, embora, como é óbvio já não consiga ter o efeito que tinha quando foi escrito.

Um pormenor existente no livro que nunca vi nos filmes é a redundância com que certos elementos dos eventos são explicados vezes sem conta, o que se pode tornar chato se não soubermos saltar certas partes.

[Ashwin Dongre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good novel and a very good plot indeed, . It clearly shows how incidental matters can be of importance.
The title of the novel is also very interesting and cleverly named. All the time you keep in thinking that it indicates the victim. I guessed the murderer quite early in the story, almost as soon as it was commited, and then on went on to see every single clue pointing and strengthening my conviction. Its quite well written.
Do read it.

[Stven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not prime Mason -- it's 1961, pretty late in ESG's long career. But even middling Mason is a good read. Things happen fast, unexpected turns of event, Mason pulls off a little deception in the interests of justice, then pulls a rabbit out of his hat to solve the mystery. The ultimate "comfort food" reading for me.

[Panu Mäkinen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwynn Elston asuu ystävättärensä Nell Arlington Grimesin ja tämän miehen Felting Grimesin luona. Gwynn myy työkseen kirjoja ja saa sattumalta selville erään asiakkaansa luona käydessään, että Felting Grimes on naimisissa myös tämän kanssa. Kun Felting Grimes löydetään ammuttuna ja murha-aseessa on Gwynn Elstonin sormenjäljet, saa Perry Mason kinkkisen tapauksen tutkittavakseen.

[Les Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of the Mason books before this have Mason solving the case during the course of cross-examining a witness and this was no different. The other common element is a load of other clues and secrets that divert attention from the real killer. All in all, a a decent mystery if a bit predictable. The best parts, as always, are the characters themselves.

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's more than one wife. Horrors! Gardner's fantasy come true. In real life he shoved his never divorced wife into another city and they ended their days that way--never together again. Ole Erle Stanley got things set up purdy much the way he wanted it: lofs of single, female secretaries, camping parties with the "b0ys" at the ranch. Buying lots of toys and yippee kay oh kay eh.

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Perry Mason novels. Despite the plethora of weird first names, this was a pretty solid mystery novel. I love the interaction between Perry and Lt. Tragg. Even though the characters really don't grow much, when it comes down to it, I just love Perry Mason novels.

[Rupesh Goenka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The murder mystery is beautifully written with tact & quality humor. There are no drab moments in the novel & it moves smoothly towards a dramatic climax. Though I successfully predicted the killer, still it is an engrossing read. AMAZING.

[James Vest · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 188 pages, this story has less runway than most Perry Mason thrill-rides, but reliably checks all the boxes before a 50 page court showdown where Perry must save both his client and himself from legal peril.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun, easy to read, Perry Mason novel!

[Kedar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was my first book as a kid. It's responsible for creating that passion for books. :-)

[Anoop Pai B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Earl Stanley book and I am pretty sure that this is not his best work. Didn't find this exhilarating as my cousin said his few other books were!!!

[Rijo John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast, short and nice!

[Richa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I guessed correctly the solution of this mystery much early in this case. Mason only proved it competently, providing the motive and the modus.

A good, simple case.

[Newly Wardell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perry Mason in novel form is pretty great! It's old fashioned and a great yarn. I learned about milk toast and now I cant stop eating it.

[John Bunyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty standard for the books at this point in the series (#65). The client and other women characters are all in their 20s and very worldly and experienced. They understand that men will all make passes at them and husbands at bound to cheat. As long as the men aren’t committing bigamy, it’s all just something you have to live with. (The exceptions are the female characters who are dried-up flat-chested spinsters or frumpy women who don’t take care of themselves for their man. This second group doesn’t appear in this book.)
Hamilton Burger whines that Perry Mason is always grandstanding and playing tricks as if Mason’s actions don’t show that Burger had the wrong defendant every time.
Paul Drake is convinced Mason’s client is guilty, as if he also isn’t always wrong.
The subtle romance between Perry and Della is almost completely gone from the books.
Nevertheless, this plot was pretty good and final revelation was the dramatic cliche we expect from these stories. But it satisfies like comfort food that you go back to over and over.

[Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoyed the Perry Mason mysteries on TV but this is the first time I have read one of Erle Stanley Gardner's books starring Mason.

Written in 1961, I do miss the use of cell phones, DNA, internet, etc but the story was a good one with the ending no where near what I was expecting.

The story started out with Gwynn Elston contacting Mason because she suspects her friend's husband has tried to kill her using strychnine. Perry takes on the case with a retainer of $5 and the story begins with a murder, bigamy and blackmail and with Perry winning the court battle against the DA Hamilton Burger.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Erle Stanley Gardner.

A beautiful young woman comes to Perry fearful of what she's learned: the husband of her best friend (whose house she's sharing) is a bigamous and she's worried he will try to kill her. Interested in what he hears, Perry takes her on. Only to discover the next day that the husband has been killed and his client has the gun.

Great twists, some wild moments, and spectacular closing court room scene (is there every not one in these novels?).

I had no idea that the woman could be innocent until Perry and his team discover several oddities, including another body.

An exceptional mystery and an exceptional read.

[Dean Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent Perry Mason Mystery.
But it is amazing at how in this late date in the series, Mason is still fascinated primarily by women in their twenties. Come on, grow up and move along, man.
Weird thing about the times that a wife in the book expects her husband to flirt her good friend, but expects her good friend to shut things down. Because, you know, men will be men and can't control themselves.
And what is it with the title? I know there is the formula of "The Case of Adjective Noun". But still, isn't every Bigamist a Spouse? (It should more properly be, "The Case of the Bigamist's Spouse".

[Debra Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Perry Mason? I remember in the early 60s peaking around the sofa while my parents were watching the black and white Perry Mason TV show. I was suppose to be in bed but didn't want to miss out. A few years later when I had babysitting money coming in I subscribed to a detective book club and so obtained a few of Erle Stanley Gardner's books.
It was fun for me to put the clues together as a 2nd read with many years in between!

[Ala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perry Mason jeszcze nigdy mnie nie zawiódł. Idealna rozrywka na długi wieczór.