What do you think?
Rate this book
Perry Mason #19
The Case of the Empty Tin
A spanking-new tin can, secretly placed among the rows of Mrs. Florence Gentrie's preserves, contains not a speck of food -- but it does carry one very damning clue to a murder that took place right next door. Such an unsavory discovery in such an unlikely place can't help but pique the curiosity of a dedicated mystery hunter like Perry Mason. But the real mystery about this murder is who -- and where -- is the victim? Upstairs neighbor Elston A. Karr heard the telltale sounds of foul play, but his foul temperament (and his own dark secrets) make him most uncooperative. It takes a second murder to clear up the mystery of the missing body -- and to make Perry Mason the next prime candidate to disappear...
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1941
179 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Erle Stanley Gardner
1,354 books806 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 1, 2019
First published in 1941, this is, to my mind at least, one of the least successful of the Perry Mason novels. But then, in a series that runs to eighty-five books, I suppose there's bound to be a clunker now and then.
A murder may have been committed on the ground floor of an apartment building. (There's no body, but there is a lot of blood and Lieutenant Tragg and the rest of the force are treating it as a potential homicide.) The guy who lives in the upstairs apartment is an invalid and a recluse and he does not want to get involved in the investigation. So he hires Perry Mason to come over and shield him from the cops. One would think that, if you're attempting to deflect attention away from yourself, it would NOT be a good idea to have the city's most famous defense attorney standing in your living room when the cops come calling, but that's just my humble opinion.
It takes a long time to determine if a murder actually has been committed, and in this case, Perry will spend no time in court at all. Rather, he will spend the entire book running around attempting to decipher a plot that makes absolutely no sense at all. It involves a suspicious boarder, a house with a lot of mysterious doors leading here and there, a nosey spinster, guys wearing wigs, people running guns in China, and other people scratching coded messages on the lids of tin cans. At one point, Perry is attempting to explain part of what is happening to his secretary, Della Street, when she throws up her hands and says, "I'm sorry, Chief, but I'm all topsy turvy!" To which, the reader can only reply, "Don't worry, Della, you're not the only one..."
Of course, Perry will ultimately get it all sorted out and given a couple of critical clues, most readers will actually get there ahead of him. Still, this book is something of a mess, and a person probably would not want to spend a lot of time attempting to make sense out of it. It's much better just to sit back and let Perry, Della and Paul go about their business and enjoy the various exchanges that take place.
My favorite part of the book occurs a little over halfway through. A little after five o'clock on a busy afternoon, Perry suddenly decides that he needs to make a quick trip to San Francisco. From downtown L.A., he calls the airport and books tickets on a flight leaving at six o'clock. He then calls Della and tells her to meet him at the plane. Della replies that she'll just take time to put on some makeup and then head on out from downtown to the airport. Perry tells her to "Make it snappy," and hangs up. Even though the late afternoon rush is on at the airport, they both make it and are relaxing in their seats when the plane leaves on time at six o'clock! Those must have been the days...
A murder may have been committed on the ground floor of an apartment building. (There's no body, but there is a lot of blood and Lieutenant Tragg and the rest of the force are treating it as a potential homicide.) The guy who lives in the upstairs apartment is an invalid and a recluse and he does not want to get involved in the investigation. So he hires Perry Mason to come over and shield him from the cops. One would think that, if you're attempting to deflect attention away from yourself, it would NOT be a good idea to have the city's most famous defense attorney standing in your living room when the cops come calling, but that's just my humble opinion.
It takes a long time to determine if a murder actually has been committed, and in this case, Perry will spend no time in court at all. Rather, he will spend the entire book running around attempting to decipher a plot that makes absolutely no sense at all. It involves a suspicious boarder, a house with a lot of mysterious doors leading here and there, a nosey spinster, guys wearing wigs, people running guns in China, and other people scratching coded messages on the lids of tin cans. At one point, Perry is attempting to explain part of what is happening to his secretary, Della Street, when she throws up her hands and says, "I'm sorry, Chief, but I'm all topsy turvy!" To which, the reader can only reply, "Don't worry, Della, you're not the only one..."
Of course, Perry will ultimately get it all sorted out and given a couple of critical clues, most readers will actually get there ahead of him. Still, this book is something of a mess, and a person probably would not want to spend a lot of time attempting to make sense out of it. It's much better just to sit back and let Perry, Della and Paul go about their business and enjoy the various exchanges that take place.
My favorite part of the book occurs a little over halfway through. A little after five o'clock on a busy afternoon, Perry suddenly decides that he needs to make a quick trip to San Francisco. From downtown L.A., he calls the airport and books tickets on a flight leaving at six o'clock. He then calls Della and tells her to meet him at the plane. Della replies that she'll just take time to put on some makeup and then head on out from downtown to the airport. Perry tells her to "Make it snappy," and hangs up. Even though the late afternoon rush is on at the airport, they both make it and are relaxing in their seats when the plane leaves on time at six o'clock! Those must have been the days...
May 9, 2016
The story is simple. Mystery is simple. Setting and characters are light unlike now a days. I like the light tone and playfulness of characters. Now the novels are so dark and depressing. Chemistry between Perry and Della is crackling. Paul Drake is very supportive and hapless in front of Perry's antics. Some things remained unanswered and some loose ends were not tied.
Still a very enjoyable story.
Some excerpts:
That's one thing about my husband. No matter what happens, he can sleep like a log. I don't think he ever actually worries about anything. I don't mean by that he isn't concerned over the situation. He simply doesn't worry about it. If he knew he was going to be executed tomorrow, I don't think he'd lose a minute's sleep. He'd simply say, 'Well, if it's going to be that way and there's nothing I can do about it, there's no reason for losing any sleep over it.
Still a very enjoyable story.
Some excerpts:
That's one thing about my husband. No matter what happens, he can sleep like a log. I don't think he ever actually worries about anything. I don't mean by that he isn't concerned over the situation. He simply doesn't worry about it. If he knew he was going to be executed tomorrow, I don't think he'd lose a minute's sleep. He'd simply say, 'Well, if it's going to be that way and there's nothing I can do about it, there's no reason for losing any sleep over it.
March 15, 2020
A murder may have been committed on the ground floor of an apartment building. With no body, but there is a lot of blood and Lieutenant Tragg and the rest of the force are treating it as a potential homicide. The guy who lives in the upstairs apartment is an invalid and a recluse and he does not want to get involved in the investigation. He hires Perry Mason to come over and shield him from the cops.
It takes a long time to determine if a murder actually has been committed, and in this case, Perry spends no time in court. He instead will spend the entire book running around attempting to decipher a plot that makes absolutely no sense at all. It involves a suspicious boarder, a house with a lot of mysterious doors leading here and there, a nosy spinster, guys wearing wigs, people running guns in China, and other people scratching coded messages on the lids of tin cans. At one point, Perry is attempting to explain part of what is happening to his secretary, Della Street, when she throws up her hands. Perry gets it all sorted out and given a couple of critical clues.
I do not know why but Della Street annoyed me in this book. I liked the decipher part how they figured that out. I did not like this one as much as I liked the first one in the series.
It takes a long time to determine if a murder actually has been committed, and in this case, Perry spends no time in court. He instead will spend the entire book running around attempting to decipher a plot that makes absolutely no sense at all. It involves a suspicious boarder, a house with a lot of mysterious doors leading here and there, a nosy spinster, guys wearing wigs, people running guns in China, and other people scratching coded messages on the lids of tin cans. At one point, Perry is attempting to explain part of what is happening to his secretary, Della Street, when she throws up her hands. Perry gets it all sorted out and given a couple of critical clues.
I do not know why but Della Street annoyed me in this book. I liked the decipher part how they figured that out. I did not like this one as much as I liked the first one in the series.
August 21, 2021
3 1/2 stars
March 31, 2021
If you are looking for cosy mysteries with a charming protagonist who knows how to 'play' the law and has a unique method of getting results then look no further than Perry Mason!
I love the setting, the characters, the humour and the style.
I love that Perry has no problem with bending the rules to achieve justice using his encyclopedic knowledge of the law and I love the supporting characters of Della and Paul who balance Perry out and bring a bit of fun to the proceedings.
This is a great story where Perry is more investigator than lawyer.
I love the setting, the characters, the humour and the style.
I love that Perry has no problem with bending the rules to achieve justice using his encyclopedic knowledge of the law and I love the supporting characters of Della and Paul who balance Perry out and bring a bit of fun to the proceedings.
This is a great story where Perry is more investigator than lawyer.
July 19, 2019
I love these old Perry Mason mysteries, and this was another good one. Lots of early 20th century references, like finding pay phones (so glad we don't have to do THAT anymore!). One of the few I haven't figured out before the end. Nicely done.
Not sure whether this one ever was filmed -- if it has been, I haven't seen it, but it would be a tricky one to film!
Not sure whether this one ever was filmed -- if it has been, I haven't seen it, but it would be a tricky one to film!
August 7, 2023
My 5th ESGardner Perry Mason novel of the summer.
Again, a satisfying summer page-turner.
Without spoiling it, lots of twists here, and was again surprised to find out 'whodunnit' - although in hindsight, the perpetrator should have been a bit more on my radar - the clues were there!
Again, a satisfying summer page-turner.
Without spoiling it, lots of twists here, and was again surprised to find out 'whodunnit' - although in hindsight, the perpetrator should have been a bit more on my radar - the clues were there!
September 29, 2024
I like when the name of the book means something. There is indeed an empty tin and it takes a role in this story. Secret codes abound and you could decipher them yourself if you have the correct old book lying around. Unfortunately, I don't, but it was still lots of fun.
December 13, 2020
Crazy but typical Perry Mason! Starts off slow but in typical Perry fashion, it goes into a whirlwind of mystery, murder, and mayhem. The author left you trying to figure out what happened and whose to blame. In the end, the story was pretty good.
September 10, 2021
One of the weaker ones in memory although it started fun
Read
February 17, 2023Once again, Gardner does not disappoint. Interesting characters, murder, and clever deduction by Perry Mason, Paul Drake and Della Street.
July 13, 2020
Não é o melhor Perry Mason, mas é bom entretenimento.
August 1, 2022
Lots of twists and turns in this one! An unexpected ending - to me at least.
June 5, 2017
This book, while not my favorite Perry Mason, stands out from the rest as a very different style/framework. This book provides several different points of view and the structure is more similar to the television show than the other Perry Mason books.
The first few chapters introduce us to the residents of the Gentrie household, which include a 5-person nuclear family, a spinster sister-in-law, and a boarder who rents a spare room. They have a bit of a family mystery by way of an empty sealed tin (like the type you would can preserves in), and suddenly we are off into the mystery!
It's a good story, with a lot of moving pieces (like most Perry Mason stories), lots of players, a few extra murders, and several clues that feel obvious after Perry explains them.
Maybe because I am so used to the terribly formulaic (but wonderful) structure of most of the Perry Mason adventures, this one leaves me feeling a little empty (pardon the pun). Everything feels just a little off, and even the denouement feels just a little bit too neat (and that is REALLY saying something for an ESG mystery!).
I think perhaps this book just causes me a little Perry withdrawal, as he was not the focus of every chapter. But regardless, fun book, good mystery, and witty banter!
The first few chapters introduce us to the residents of the Gentrie household, which include a 5-person nuclear family, a spinster sister-in-law, and a boarder who rents a spare room. They have a bit of a family mystery by way of an empty sealed tin (like the type you would can preserves in), and suddenly we are off into the mystery!
It's a good story, with a lot of moving pieces (like most Perry Mason stories), lots of players, a few extra murders, and several clues that feel obvious after Perry explains them.
Maybe because I am so used to the terribly formulaic (but wonderful) structure of most of the Perry Mason adventures, this one leaves me feeling a little empty (pardon the pun). Everything feels just a little off, and even the denouement feels just a little bit too neat (and that is REALLY saying something for an ESG mystery!).
I think perhaps this book just causes me a little Perry withdrawal, as he was not the focus of every chapter. But regardless, fun book, good mystery, and witty banter!
August 7, 2012
#19 of the Perry Mason series. I found this 1941 novel more enjoyable when I started thinking of it as I would approach a wartime b&w film, such as the Charlie Chan episodes with Sidney Toler in the title role, as a period piece.
Perry Mason series - A new tin can, placed among of Mrs. Gentrie's preserves, contains no food -- but it does carry a clue to a murder that took place right next door. Such a discovery in such a place can't help but pique the curiosity of Perry Mason. But the real mystery about this murder is who -- and where -- is the victim? Upstairs neighbor Elston A. Karr heard the sounds of foul play, but his temperament (and his secrets) make him uncooperative. It takes a second murder to clear up the mystery of the missing body -- and to make Perry Mason the next prime candidate to disappear....
Perry Mason series - A new tin can, placed among of Mrs. Gentrie's preserves, contains no food -- but it does carry a clue to a murder that took place right next door. Such a discovery in such a place can't help but pique the curiosity of Perry Mason. But the real mystery about this murder is who -- and where -- is the victim? Upstairs neighbor Elston A. Karr heard the sounds of foul play, but his temperament (and his secrets) make him uncooperative. It takes a second murder to clear up the mystery of the missing body -- and to make Perry Mason the next prime candidate to disappear....
March 18, 2020
I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books for many years. I 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 about 1953 are the best. This is the nineteenth one, from 1941. By this point, Perry was no longer the hard boiled aggressive ingenious fighter. He (and Gardner) were a bit more relaxed, a bit more mature.
The story begins gradually with the description of daily life in the household of the Gentrie family. We meet Mr. and Mrs. Gentrie, their older son Junior, Arthur Gentrie's sister Rebecca who lives there with them, and the maid Hester. Rebecca is a forty-ish unmarried "maiden aunt" who is a bit of a busybody. They live in an old-fashioned large rambling house. They rent out a room to architect Delman Steele. They also rent half of their garage to a neighbor named R. E. Hocksley.
In those days, and for a few decades afterward, families often did a lot of canning: fresh fruit would be steamed and sealed into glass jars or metallic "tins" for use during the winter. Sometimes dozens of jars would be stored away in the basement. The mystery begins when Mrs. Gentrie (Florence) notices a shiny new, out of place, unlabeled tin on the basement shelf. She soon realizes it is empty. Who would seal up a new empty tin? And what is it doing on her shelf?
Late that night Florence awakens to a strange sound. Then she is convinced there is an intruder. Arthur reluctantly looks and finds nothing downstairs. Florence looks in Junior's bedroom and sees that it is empty! Hmmm...
The focus shifts suddenly. The next morning we are at Perry Mason's office where a thirty-five year old man named Rodney Wenston tells an unusual story about his step-father, one Elston Karr. Karr lives in the second floor flat of a two-story apartment house. He is confined to a wheel chair. The previous night, a murder occurred in the first floor flat! Karr is concerned that the police activity will interfere with an important task he has to do. Mason agrees to go out and see him. He learns that Karr heard a shot after midnight, then sounds of people moving around in the first floor flat.
I said a murder occurred. Actually the police are going on that assumption. No body was found but there was a lot of blood and two people are missing, Hocksley and his housekeeper.
And where is this two-story apartment house? It's right next to the Gentrie house! The first floor flat where the murder occurred is occupied by Hocksley and his housekeeper, Sarah Perlin. They are both missing.
So Perry visits Karr, on the second floor, and then goes next-door to see the Gentries since they knew Hocksley. A casual remark alerts him to the empty tin mystery. They go the basement and see that the tin has just recently been opened, and that there is a strange code scratched on the inside of the lid. Oh ho, a secret code! Offhand, I don't recall any other Perry Mason story with a secret code.
So, two (at least) people with access to the basement are communicating via code in this elaborate way. Why? Why not just telephone?
The questions mount up. We meet more people and learn Karr's story about why he rented the second story flat. It goes back to twenty years earlier in China. Events follow quickly and there is another (?) murder. It is very complicated! There is a thrilling, well-written scene in which Perry steals into a house at night and meets another mysterious prowler in the dark house. Later Perry and Della enter a second house at night and talk their way out of it when the police come!
Eventually Perry devises a trap to catch the murderer. There are no court room scenes at all. No Hamilton Burger, nor any DA. Very good use of Lt. Tragg. Good use of Della. She and Perry hug and kiss!
There are a lot of characters and a good number of red herrings. The plot is very intricate, probably too intricate. For example, OK, some people communicated by code in the tins. Why this elaborate method? Why not pencil and paper? Imagine how much time and work if would take to carefully scratch out a coded message on the metal lid, then use a machine to seal up the top. Did both people do this in the basement of the Gentrie house? Wouldn't that risk being caught? It would be far easier to write the code on a small piece of paper and stash it in a certain spot in the basement.
Other notes:
Chatty, conversational style. Sometimes conversations go on too long and seem unreal. (Unreal conversations are common in Gardner's work.)
Recurring themes: Ingenious subterfuges. Perry takes a big chance by entering a dark house at night -- in fact two!
This is a masterpiece. But it's TOO intricate. No special emotional kick at the end. Perry and Della do a lot of flirting.
Characters who we meet:
Arthur Gentrie, home owner and sometime painter.
Mrs. Arthur Gentrie (Florence), competent efficient housewife and mother.
Rebecca Gentrie, Arthur's sister, a "maiden aunt."
Junior (Gentrie), nineteen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gentrie.
Hester, the maid.
Delman Steele, man who rents a room in the Gentrie house. Says he's an architect.
R. E. Hocksley, who rents space in their garage and lives in a flat nearby.
Opal Sunley, his secretary. Attractive 24 year-old who knows Junior.
Sarah Perlin, housekeeper for Hocksley.
Rodney Wenston, playboy aviator, stepson of
Elston Karr, wealthy eccentric older man confined to a wheel chair who lives in a flat across the street from the Gentries, on the floor above Hocksley.
Gow Loong, Chinese servant of Karr.
Johns Blaine, right-hand man for Karr.
Doris Wickford, potential heir to a lot of money.
On the whole, the ones written by about 1953 are the best. This is the nineteenth one, from 1941. By this point, Perry was no longer the hard boiled aggressive ingenious fighter. He (and Gardner) were a bit more relaxed, a bit more mature.
The story begins gradually with the description of daily life in the household of the Gentrie family. We meet Mr. and Mrs. Gentrie, their older son Junior, Arthur Gentrie's sister Rebecca who lives there with them, and the maid Hester. Rebecca is a forty-ish unmarried "maiden aunt" who is a bit of a busybody. They live in an old-fashioned large rambling house. They rent out a room to architect Delman Steele. They also rent half of their garage to a neighbor named R. E. Hocksley.
In those days, and for a few decades afterward, families often did a lot of canning: fresh fruit would be steamed and sealed into glass jars or metallic "tins" for use during the winter. Sometimes dozens of jars would be stored away in the basement. The mystery begins when Mrs. Gentrie (Florence) notices a shiny new, out of place, unlabeled tin on the basement shelf. She soon realizes it is empty. Who would seal up a new empty tin? And what is it doing on her shelf?
Late that night Florence awakens to a strange sound. Then she is convinced there is an intruder. Arthur reluctantly looks and finds nothing downstairs. Florence looks in Junior's bedroom and sees that it is empty! Hmmm...
The focus shifts suddenly. The next morning we are at Perry Mason's office where a thirty-five year old man named Rodney Wenston tells an unusual story about his step-father, one Elston Karr. Karr lives in the second floor flat of a two-story apartment house. He is confined to a wheel chair. The previous night, a murder occurred in the first floor flat! Karr is concerned that the police activity will interfere with an important task he has to do. Mason agrees to go out and see him. He learns that Karr heard a shot after midnight, then sounds of people moving around in the first floor flat.
I said a murder occurred. Actually the police are going on that assumption. No body was found but there was a lot of blood and two people are missing, Hocksley and his housekeeper.
And where is this two-story apartment house? It's right next to the Gentrie house! The first floor flat where the murder occurred is occupied by Hocksley and his housekeeper, Sarah Perlin. They are both missing.
So Perry visits Karr, on the second floor, and then goes next-door to see the Gentries since they knew Hocksley. A casual remark alerts him to the empty tin mystery. They go the basement and see that the tin has just recently been opened, and that there is a strange code scratched on the inside of the lid. Oh ho, a secret code! Offhand, I don't recall any other Perry Mason story with a secret code.
So, two (at least) people with access to the basement are communicating via code in this elaborate way. Why? Why not just telephone?
The questions mount up. We meet more people and learn Karr's story about why he rented the second story flat. It goes back to twenty years earlier in China. Events follow quickly and there is another (?) murder. It is very complicated! There is a thrilling, well-written scene in which Perry steals into a house at night and meets another mysterious prowler in the dark house. Later Perry and Della enter a second house at night and talk their way out of it when the police come!
Eventually Perry devises a trap to catch the murderer. There are no court room scenes at all. No Hamilton Burger, nor any DA. Very good use of Lt. Tragg. Good use of Della. She and Perry hug and kiss!
There are a lot of characters and a good number of red herrings. The plot is very intricate, probably too intricate. For example, OK, some people communicated by code in the tins. Why this elaborate method? Why not pencil and paper? Imagine how much time and work if would take to carefully scratch out a coded message on the metal lid, then use a machine to seal up the top. Did both people do this in the basement of the Gentrie house? Wouldn't that risk being caught? It would be far easier to write the code on a small piece of paper and stash it in a certain spot in the basement.
Other notes:
Chatty, conversational style. Sometimes conversations go on too long and seem unreal. (Unreal conversations are common in Gardner's work.)
Recurring themes: Ingenious subterfuges. Perry takes a big chance by entering a dark house at night -- in fact two!
This is a masterpiece. But it's TOO intricate. No special emotional kick at the end. Perry and Della do a lot of flirting.
Characters who we meet:
Arthur Gentrie, home owner and sometime painter.
Mrs. Arthur Gentrie (Florence), competent efficient housewife and mother.
Rebecca Gentrie, Arthur's sister, a "maiden aunt."
Junior (Gentrie), nineteen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gentrie.
Hester, the maid.
Delman Steele, man who rents a room in the Gentrie house. Says he's an architect.
R. E. Hocksley, who rents space in their garage and lives in a flat nearby.
Opal Sunley, his secretary. Attractive 24 year-old who knows Junior.
Sarah Perlin, housekeeper for Hocksley.
Rodney Wenston, playboy aviator, stepson of
Elston Karr, wealthy eccentric older man confined to a wheel chair who lives in a flat across the street from the Gentries, on the floor above Hocksley.
Gow Loong, Chinese servant of Karr.
Johns Blaine, right-hand man for Karr.
Doris Wickford, potential heir to a lot of money.
March 9, 2010
Another Perry Mason book I have read multiple times. I really like this one.
June 2, 2019
A brand new, sealed tin can, sitting on a shelf among the many canned goods is the key to solving this mystery. Why would someone do that?
Mason is approached by a Elston Karr; a wheelchair bound man who is used to getting his way and seems to have secrets to hide. It seems there has been a murder in the flat below Karr's and Karr want some legal advice...and no publicity or bother.
The downstairs tenant, named Hocksley, is a man of mystery. He dictates into a dictaphone at night, and sleeps during the day. No one sees him. Not his housekeeper or the stenographer who comes in daily to transcribe the dictation.
When the stenographer comes in, one day, finds no dictation to be done and the housekeeper missing she feels something is wrong. When it is discovered that Karr has heard possible shots during the night, and there is corroboration from the Gentrie family next door, the police are called. The problem is there are no bodies!
Another problem involves Karr's past and past business partner. At one point Karr was involved in gun running in China. His partner is dead and he is winding down his business. Karr has found that the partner had a daughter and wants to give her a share of the money. The problem is locating her and verifying her identity.
The tin can is found the the basement of the Gentrie home. The home has some interesting residents: Mrs. Gentrie who runs the home in a smooth and orderly fashion; Mr. Gentrie who owns a hardware store and sleeps like the dead; Junior, their son who is in 'love' with the stenographer; Rebecca Gentrie, the unmarried sister of Mr. Gentrie; Delman Steele, the Gentrie's boarder.
With all these characters and then more, this was not a simple mystery of who-dunnit!
I've read a good number of the Perry Mason series, and still have a few more to go. I know I'll enjoy them as much as I have this one.
Mason is approached by a Elston Karr; a wheelchair bound man who is used to getting his way and seems to have secrets to hide. It seems there has been a murder in the flat below Karr's and Karr want some legal advice...and no publicity or bother.
The downstairs tenant, named Hocksley, is a man of mystery. He dictates into a dictaphone at night, and sleeps during the day. No one sees him. Not his housekeeper or the stenographer who comes in daily to transcribe the dictation.
When the stenographer comes in, one day, finds no dictation to be done and the housekeeper missing she feels something is wrong. When it is discovered that Karr has heard possible shots during the night, and there is corroboration from the Gentrie family next door, the police are called. The problem is there are no bodies!
Another problem involves Karr's past and past business partner. At one point Karr was involved in gun running in China. His partner is dead and he is winding down his business. Karr has found that the partner had a daughter and wants to give her a share of the money. The problem is locating her and verifying her identity.
The tin can is found the the basement of the Gentrie home. The home has some interesting residents: Mrs. Gentrie who runs the home in a smooth and orderly fashion; Mr. Gentrie who owns a hardware store and sleeps like the dead; Junior, their son who is in 'love' with the stenographer; Rebecca Gentrie, the unmarried sister of Mr. Gentrie; Delman Steele, the Gentrie's boarder.
With all these characters and then more, this was not a simple mystery of who-dunnit!
I've read a good number of the Perry Mason series, and still have a few more to go. I know I'll enjoy them as much as I have this one.
May 1, 2023
Elston Karr adında bir adam Mason ile görüşmek ister. Zamanında Çin'de yaptığı bazı işler yüzünden ifşa edilmemesi gerekmektedir. Peltek olan bir yardımcısı vardır. Ama kaldığı evde bir silah ateşlenmiştir ve bir adamın arabasında kan bulununca korkar. Bu işi halletmesini ister. Gertrie ailesinin işlettiği pansiyonda olmuştur bu olay. Karı koca Gertrie'ler, kızkardeşi Rebecca, oğulları Junior Arthur ve misafirler ile beraber yaşamaktadır. Horcley ve Yardımcısı Sarah Perrin kayıptır. Depoda olmaması gereken bir konserve kutusu bulunmuştur ve üzerinde şifreli bir metin vardır. Della ile bu metni çözen Mason strateji belirlerken Karr'ı da Tragg'in elinden kurtarmaya çalışır. Tekerlekli sandalyeye mahkum olan Karr ifade vermek istemez. Junior da sevdiği kadın olan steno Opal'i korumak için yalan söylemiştir. Rebecca bulmacalara meraklı biridir ve Steele adlı bir konuk da ona yardımcı olmaktadır. Bir gün Mason'a Sarah'tan bir telefon gelir ve söylediği adrese gittiğinde onu ölü bulur. Ama ölüm saati ile telefon saati uyuşmaz. Opal de oradadır ve onu kurtarmak için polise haber verme işini Drake'e bırakır. Sonra da Karr'ı izini sürmeye San Francisco'ya gider. Burada da Steele'in cesedini bulur. Daha önceden kendi şifresini hazırladığı konserve Tragg'in eline geçmiştir ve o da tuzağı devam ettirir. Acaba bu iki kişiyi kim öldürmüştür? Karr'ın ortağının kızının olayla ilgisi nedir? Junior'un annesi neyi itiraf edecektir? Yoksa cinayetleri zeki iki kişi işbirliği halinde mi işlemiştir? Bu işi Mason çözebilecek midir? Şifreli metinler bir sözlüğe mi aittir? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2018
I found this fun, but then again, I am reading the Perry Mason series in order and am finding all of them fun. But I have to agree with other readers in seeing this as not one of the best, and, indeed, so different in tone and structure that it is surprising that this has the same author as the preceding eighteen volumes.
The upside here is a new lightness of tone in the text, and a lot more easy bantering between Mason and his team. Mason and Della seem more like partnered P.I.s than a lawyer and his administrative assistant. You could almost hear the background music in the movie reach a crescendo as they head to the beach at the end of the story.
The main downside for me is an excessively convoluted plot. There are lots of suspects, any one of whom could have misbehaved in a serious way. Somehow the characters are less developed and a bit more flat than usual. It's even difficult to see exactly who is Mason's client and which services he is expected to perform in that relationship. Most of the people in the story are hard to warm up to as well.
So this is one for buffs of the series, I expect.
The upside here is a new lightness of tone in the text, and a lot more easy bantering between Mason and his team. Mason and Della seem more like partnered P.I.s than a lawyer and his administrative assistant. You could almost hear the background music in the movie reach a crescendo as they head to the beach at the end of the story.
The main downside for me is an excessively convoluted plot. There are lots of suspects, any one of whom could have misbehaved in a serious way. Somehow the characters are less developed and a bit more flat than usual. It's even difficult to see exactly who is Mason's client and which services he is expected to perform in that relationship. Most of the people in the story are hard to warm up to as well.
So this is one for buffs of the series, I expect.
August 14, 2024
I liked this story and the way it was told, starting with a busy homemaker worrying about her family and ending up in the usual convoluted story that gives an interesting glimpse into 1941 when people were worried about "the Orient" and unmarried women were "spinsters."
Which means, fair warning, to take off a star or more if you can't take the horribly stereotypical manner is which the Chinese "houseboy" is depicted. Yes, the usual "incurable Oriental" depiction is back along with the stupidest dialogue. But if you frame it as "man, people in the 1940s were pretty ignorant about different cultures" the book certainly illustrates that--and sexist too, by the way.
On the other hand, you get to hear Della Street get in trouble for talking like a gun moll, Paul Drake getting fed up with Perry Mason's penchant for skirting the law, and a clever secret code that assumes that everyone has the same dictionary. And isn't it amusing to think of that innocent time when you could book a flight at the last minute over the phone, leave the ticket for someone at the desk, and have the person get on he plane minutes before take-off? And drive anywhere in LA within minutes?
Which means, fair warning, to take off a star or more if you can't take the horribly stereotypical manner is which the Chinese "houseboy" is depicted. Yes, the usual "incurable Oriental" depiction is back along with the stupidest dialogue. But if you frame it as "man, people in the 1940s were pretty ignorant about different cultures" the book certainly illustrates that--and sexist too, by the way.
On the other hand, you get to hear Della Street get in trouble for talking like a gun moll, Paul Drake getting fed up with Perry Mason's penchant for skirting the law, and a clever secret code that assumes that everyone has the same dictionary. And isn't it amusing to think of that innocent time when you could book a flight at the last minute over the phone, leave the ticket for someone at the desk, and have the person get on he plane minutes before take-off? And drive anywhere in LA within minutes?
May 8, 2017
Not every Perry Mason features a courtroom appearence by Perry, and this is is one of the one's that doesn't. That's a bit of a problem here -- Mason needs a crusade to focus the story and make his ethics bending antics remotely acceptable. In this one, one of the two huge ethical violation does not benefit his client, and frankly only makes sense in that it sets up a nice confrontation between Drake and Mason which illustrates the downside to Mason's fast and loose behavior.
The attraction to this one is that it pairs Mason off against Lt. Tragg, who, like Mason, is just trying to solve a murder case, and who, with pretty good reason, cannot bring himself to trust Mason. The problem is that the murders themselves are just not that compelling and, rather oddly in this set of books, one doesn't care if Mason's client gets off or not.
Worth a read -- most Perry Mason's are -- but far from the best.
The attraction to this one is that it pairs Mason off against Lt. Tragg, who, like Mason, is just trying to solve a murder case, and who, with pretty good reason, cannot bring himself to trust Mason. The problem is that the murders themselves are just not that compelling and, rather oddly in this set of books, one doesn't care if Mason's client gets off or not.
Worth a read -- most Perry Mason's are -- but far from the best.
July 11, 2022
This is my least favorite of the Perry Mason’s I have read. As it is the 19th (1941) in my current re-visit (I have read at least 25 others in the past), that is saying a lot. Right off the bat the opening is not Gardner’s best and book doesn’t really improve from there. The resolution is pretty unsatisfying as well. I think that covers just about the whole book plot-wise. On top of that, while I generally forgive a novel for reflecting its times, the racism in Empty Tin is a bit too up front and cheap to ignore. I cringed a lot, and maybe shouted at the book a time or two. I will give it a plug however for some of the best Della Street scenes so far (she also really shone in Haunted Husband); that is really the best part of the novel and about the only reason to bother reading it. Sad … I usually really like these.
October 13, 2020
The Case of the Empty Tin is my best read of the Perry Mason series I've read so far. Of those books that I've read, the story always begins with Mason and all the scenes will either happen in Mason's presence or will be narrated to him. The story always revolved around Mason. However, in this book, Perry Mason comes only in the third chapter. Hence I was hooked to the story right from the first chapter.
Though I had my doubts on the character introduced in the first chapter who could be the criminal, I couldn't deduce how the person would be the criminal during the course of the story until the penultimate chapter. The author had me there very surprised as usual in all of his previous books I've read.
Though I had my doubts on the character introduced in the first chapter who could be the criminal, I couldn't deduce how the person would be the criminal during the course of the story until the penultimate chapter. The author had me there very surprised as usual in all of his previous books I've read.
January 14, 2025
I listened to this as an audiobook. The most tangled and confused Perry Mason mystery that I have read, and it wasn't very good. A lot involves telephone use which is odd to modern readers, and tin cans that apparently people in the 40s had machines to seal their own tin cans (??). There are some really strange injections about how women ought to behave out of the blue as well.
There are no court scenes, never seen that before in a Mason book. There's a seriously problematic scene in which Mason and Della get into severe legal complications which... is just ignored, vanishes without resolution. Lieutenant Kragg refers to a conversation Mason never had with him once. Overall its just sloppy and not very well crafted, particularly compared to other Mason mysteries.
There are no court scenes, never seen that before in a Mason book. There's a seriously problematic scene in which Mason and Della get into severe legal complications which... is just ignored, vanishes without resolution. Lieutenant Kragg refers to a conversation Mason never had with him once. Overall its just sloppy and not very well crafted, particularly compared to other Mason mysteries.
April 14, 2023
I thought I'd just read another Agathe Christie, but then "The Case of the Empty Tin" showed up on recommendations, so I just got this instead. It's a pretty simple mystery as far as the plot goes and even the characters aren't very well developed. I liked how there's plenty of mystery at the beginning on whether a murder has taken place at all!
I haven't read much of Erle Stanley Garnder and this is actually the first time I am reading a Perry Mason mystery. It's an interesting enough mystery novel if you are looking for something quick and easy to read.
I haven't read much of Erle Stanley Garnder and this is actually the first time I am reading a Perry Mason mystery. It's an interesting enough mystery novel if you are looking for something quick and easy to read.
March 30, 2018
one cannot restrain from falling for perry mason !!! he sparkles like a diamond among other characters, his intelligence mends your heart and mind together. about the story, i didn't find any fault or the faults might have been camouflaged with the sparkle of mason.the way the story unfolds leaves the reader awestruck. to sum it up, falling for a fictional character is so damn true and i fell too hard this time !
October 16, 2025
An exceedingly complicated case! It's from 1941 and really shows its age with ludicrous stereotyping of a Chinese character and some high-handed pop psychology about teenage boys falling in love with older women, "a woman is supposed to be feminine and leave the thinking to the males," etc.
But, take it all with a grain of salt, and we've got the typical whirlwind of events and revelations that have always characterized a Perry Mason entertainment.
But, take it all with a grain of salt, and we've got the typical whirlwind of events and revelations that have always characterized a Perry Mason entertainment.
March 6, 2017
The perfect book for a rainy day weekend, which this last weekend was. I curled up in my favorite chair next to the French Doors with a perfect view of the rain coming down in the backyard, making the lawn green.
Florence Gentrie is a loving, doting mother and a conscientious manager of household affairs. In the middle of the night she hears a shot. Worried, she investigates. She looks in the cellar and around the house but sees nothing amiss. Well, one thing is amiss and it really bothers her (anything not in order really bothers her). Among her rows of canned preserves is a tin that doesn't belong there. She picks it up and is surprised to find it is empty, even though it is sealed. Puzzled, she leaves the tin and moves on.
She checks on her son, Junior, who should be back from work, but when she gets to his bedroom, he's not there. Troubled, she goes back to bed.
Perry Mason is pouring over legal books preparing for a case when his secretary, Della Street, tells him a young man wants him to come with him, because his rich uncle wants to talk with him over an incident.
The old man, Elston A. Kaar, is wheelchair bound. He tells Perry that he heard a shot in the apartment below and he doesn't know what happened. He isn't concerned about what happened, he just wants the whole thing to be kept quiet because he is keeping a low profile and doesn't want the publicity.
Incidentally, Kaar lives next door to Mrs. Gentrie.
The man, a Mr. Hocksley, who lives beneath Kaar has subsequently disappeared.
What has this got to do with the empty tin? Has Hocksley been murdered? Has he murdered someone? Why does Kaar wish to avoid publicity? Is there a connection between Kaar, Hocksley, and the Gentrie household?
I'm not going to tell you because I don't want to ruin the story.
This so far is my favorite Mason novel. The facts of the case are measured out spoonful by spoonful. Just enough to give you a good appetite for what is happening. The story builds up nicely, keeping the reader's curiosity whetted leading into a satisfactory conclusion.
I recommend it as a good, cozy read.
Florence Gentrie is a loving, doting mother and a conscientious manager of household affairs. In the middle of the night she hears a shot. Worried, she investigates. She looks in the cellar and around the house but sees nothing amiss. Well, one thing is amiss and it really bothers her (anything not in order really bothers her). Among her rows of canned preserves is a tin that doesn't belong there. She picks it up and is surprised to find it is empty, even though it is sealed. Puzzled, she leaves the tin and moves on.
She checks on her son, Junior, who should be back from work, but when she gets to his bedroom, he's not there. Troubled, she goes back to bed.
Perry Mason is pouring over legal books preparing for a case when his secretary, Della Street, tells him a young man wants him to come with him, because his rich uncle wants to talk with him over an incident.
The old man, Elston A. Kaar, is wheelchair bound. He tells Perry that he heard a shot in the apartment below and he doesn't know what happened. He isn't concerned about what happened, he just wants the whole thing to be kept quiet because he is keeping a low profile and doesn't want the publicity.
Incidentally, Kaar lives next door to Mrs. Gentrie.
The man, a Mr. Hocksley, who lives beneath Kaar has subsequently disappeared.
What has this got to do with the empty tin? Has Hocksley been murdered? Has he murdered someone? Why does Kaar wish to avoid publicity? Is there a connection between Kaar, Hocksley, and the Gentrie household?
I'm not going to tell you because I don't want to ruin the story.
This so far is my favorite Mason novel. The facts of the case are measured out spoonful by spoonful. Just enough to give you a good appetite for what is happening. The story builds up nicely, keeping the reader's curiosity whetted leading into a satisfactory conclusion.
I recommend it as a good, cozy read.
October 4, 2017
A good fast paced mystery, though, I had a feeling that maybe it wasn't Gardner who wrote this book or maybe he decided to deviate a little from his style... There was hardly any legal angle here. More of a whodunit then the usual Perry Mason affair. He also threw in a cypher! An interesting mystery, but not exactly the stuff one expects from a Mason novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews