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Perry Mason #69
The Case of the Amorous Aunt
Marriage is a big commitment… and so is murder. Lorraine Elmore is a well-to-do widow who’s ready to marry again. But nervous Linda Calhoun is certain that the man her aunt Lorraine has fallen for is a fortune-hunting Bluebeard who's out to make a killing--in more ways than one. Perry Mason alloys Linda's paranoia--until Detective Paul Drake digs up enough dirt to convince the lawyer that dashing, mysterious Montrose Dewitt is digging a grave for his bride-to-be. When the amorous aunt and her amour elope, the chase is on. But when Lorraine's supposedly sinister suitor is the one who ends up murdered, the pressure is on Mason to prove that the blushing bride isn't the one who drew blood.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1963
103 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Erle Stanley Gardner
1,372 books826 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 74 reviews
July 30, 2018
Too much Hunki-punkie in introduction as well as in the middle. Too much irrelevant talk is been talked.
May 26, 2019
Perry Mason Solves The Case
Written late in the Perry Mason series, book 69 out of 80, The Case of the Amorous Lover, showcases the wit and wisdom of everyone's favorite lawyer, Perry Mason. It's fun how Mason takes charge of an investigation even when he initially thinks there's not much to it.
Written late in the Perry Mason series, book 69 out of 80, The Case of the Amorous Lover, showcases the wit and wisdom of everyone's favorite lawyer, Perry Mason. It's fun how Mason takes charge of an investigation even when he initially thinks there's not much to it.
August 30, 2018
I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books off and on for many years. Those who are used to really fine mystery writers (in the literary sense), such as Ross Macdonald, may find the writing style here a bit dry. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the fast pace, the characters of Perry, Della, Paul, Lt. Tragg, and Hamilton Berger. That, and the ingenious plots, are why I read Perry Mason.
On the whole, the ones written by about 1953 are the best. This is one of the later ones, written in 1963. 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.
Two young people come to see Mason with an unusual story. Linda Calhoun's widowed Aunt Lorraine is 48, a "dangerous age", she says. She's not young but she's too young to be put on the shelf. She's fallen for a man named Montrose Dewitt who, Linda says, is only after her money. She and fiancee George Latty have followed them here from Boston. They are afraid Dewitt will take the money and then kill her! Perry points out that there is reallly no evidence against Dewitt, and Aunt Lorraine is perfectly free to asociate with whom she wishes. Nonetheless, he calls in Paul Drake, who agress to do some investigating, not spending more than $200. Linda has a fairly good job but has little money, as she is putting George through law school. Mason takes a dislike to George for this and other reasons.
Paul Drake finds out that Lorraine and Montose Dewitt are about to drive to Arizona, where they can get a quick marriage. Mason decides that it is indeed a serious situation and charters a plane to fly to Arizona to beat them. He, Paul, and Della wait at the checkpoint into Arizona at Yuma. But the car with Lorraine and Montrose doesn't show up that day. However, one with George Latty does! That's weird. The plot thickens as Perry, Della, and Paul rent motel rooms in the city of Colexico, California, thinking that the "love birds" stopped in that area before getting to Arizona. The next morning, the body of Montrose Dewitt is found in one of the motel rooms and Lorraine tells an improbable story. We soon learn that other people stayed at that motel too.
Even more intriguing, it seems that Montrose Dewitt is probably an alias for one Weston Hale. He/they previously defrauded Belle Freeman in a similar plot.
Meanwhile Baldwin Marshall, the ambitious young D.A. of Imperial County, where the body was found, is out to convict Lorraine and will brook no nonsense from "city slicker" Perry Mason. David against Goliath?
This is a pretty good plot and I enjoyed it. Typically, some rather complex moves are done by several people. You have to wonder if real live people would go through those gyrations.
There aren't very many suspects. I guessed the culprit, but it could easily have been someone else.
Very good courtroom scences, but they are enhanced by the arrogance of the young DA.
Paul Drake finds out things too easily, unrealistically.
Recurring themes: young man who won't stand on his own two feet; hotel or motel where several people go in and out of several rooms.
No Lt. Tragg or Hamilton Berger. Not much Della.
Characters:
Linda Calhoun, worried about her aunt Lorraine.
George Latty, fiancee of Linda.
Howlend Brent, financial advisor to Lorraine Elmore.
Montrose Dewitt, suitor of the amorous aunt, has a long history.
Lorraine Elmore, the amorous aunt.
Belle Freeman, who was swindled by Montrose Dewitt.
Duncan Crowder, local lawyer who's going places.
Dr. Kettle, local doctor who knows his way around.
Weston Hale, man with a glass eye.
Ronley Andover, apartment mate of Weston Hale
Henry T. Jasper, boss of Weston Hale.
Baldwin Marshall, DA for Imperial County
On the whole, the ones written by about 1953 are the best. This is one of the later ones, written in 1963. 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.
Two young people come to see Mason with an unusual story. Linda Calhoun's widowed Aunt Lorraine is 48, a "dangerous age", she says. She's not young but she's too young to be put on the shelf. She's fallen for a man named Montrose Dewitt who, Linda says, is only after her money. She and fiancee George Latty have followed them here from Boston. They are afraid Dewitt will take the money and then kill her! Perry points out that there is reallly no evidence against Dewitt, and Aunt Lorraine is perfectly free to asociate with whom she wishes. Nonetheless, he calls in Paul Drake, who agress to do some investigating, not spending more than $200. Linda has a fairly good job but has little money, as she is putting George through law school. Mason takes a dislike to George for this and other reasons.
Paul Drake finds out that Lorraine and Montose Dewitt are about to drive to Arizona, where they can get a quick marriage. Mason decides that it is indeed a serious situation and charters a plane to fly to Arizona to beat them. He, Paul, and Della wait at the checkpoint into Arizona at Yuma. But the car with Lorraine and Montrose doesn't show up that day. However, one with George Latty does! That's weird. The plot thickens as Perry, Della, and Paul rent motel rooms in the city of Colexico, California, thinking that the "love birds" stopped in that area before getting to Arizona. The next morning, the body of Montrose Dewitt is found in one of the motel rooms and Lorraine tells an improbable story. We soon learn that other people stayed at that motel too.
Even more intriguing, it seems that Montrose Dewitt is probably an alias for one Weston Hale. He/they previously defrauded Belle Freeman in a similar plot.
Meanwhile Baldwin Marshall, the ambitious young D.A. of Imperial County, where the body was found, is out to convict Lorraine and will brook no nonsense from "city slicker" Perry Mason. David against Goliath?
This is a pretty good plot and I enjoyed it. Typically, some rather complex moves are done by several people. You have to wonder if real live people would go through those gyrations.
There aren't very many suspects. I guessed the culprit, but it could easily have been someone else.
Very good courtroom scences, but they are enhanced by the arrogance of the young DA.
Paul Drake finds out things too easily, unrealistically.
Recurring themes: young man who won't stand on his own two feet; hotel or motel where several people go in and out of several rooms.
No Lt. Tragg or Hamilton Berger. Not much Della.
Characters:
Linda Calhoun, worried about her aunt Lorraine.
George Latty, fiancee of Linda.
Howlend Brent, financial advisor to Lorraine Elmore.
Montrose Dewitt, suitor of the amorous aunt, has a long history.
Lorraine Elmore, the amorous aunt.
Belle Freeman, who was swindled by Montrose Dewitt.
Duncan Crowder, local lawyer who's going places.
Dr. Kettle, local doctor who knows his way around.
Weston Hale, man with a glass eye.
Ronley Andover, apartment mate of Weston Hale
Henry T. Jasper, boss of Weston Hale.
Baldwin Marshall, DA for Imperial County
September 22, 2016
This is a tedious read. The narrative is convoluted. I did not like very much.
Some excerpts :
Della Street, Perry Mason’s confidential secretary, said, “A couple of lovebirds have strayed into the office without an appointment. They insist it’s a matter of life and death.”
“Everything is,” Mason said. “If you start with the idea of perpetuating life, you must accept the inevitable corollary of death—but I presume these people aren’t interested in my philosophical ideas.”
Some excerpts :
Della Street, Perry Mason’s confidential secretary, said, “A couple of lovebirds have strayed into the office without an appointment. They insist it’s a matter of life and death.”
“Everything is,” Mason said. “If you start with the idea of perpetuating life, you must accept the inevitable corollary of death—but I presume these people aren’t interested in my philosophical ideas.”
March 12, 2023
Zkrátka klasika. Od autora mě baví Lam a Coolová, tohle je pro mě první Perry Mason. A mohu i doporučit jako oddechovou detektivku k vodě (ideální dovolenková četba).
December 8, 2013
This is perhaps the best Perry Mason novel to date; it was published in 1964. It certainly is on a par with the the usually acknowledged best, The Case of the Howling Dog, published in the '30s. Here, the exposition of the case is patient, thorough, and spellbinding. There are several different threads, and the investigation techniques are as plausible today as they were then. The confrontation with the Imperial County is priceless, and, once in court, Mason's delegation to his young co-counsel does nothing to diminish his own skill and flair. Best of all, the solution, when revealed, is spot on and we realize that we missed, as did Perry, the most important clue that was hiding in plain sight. As I read this series in order, I was becoming more and more disappointed until I came to this, and my faith in Erle Stanley Gardner has been restored.
May 29, 2018
One of the juicier cases. Enjoyed this book immensely! This is one case where Mason meets a worthy opponent and beats him on par! The end does not seem all-too-convenient either. A fast-paced, crunchy mystery.
October 7, 2024
I thought this Perry Mason novel was one of the better one, possibly because the money motive ran through various plots. We have wealthy aunt Lorraine who is at a 'dangerous age' where her head can be turned by a possible con artist. We have her niece, Linda who is involved with a mooch, George Latty who needs her to pay for his law school and expenses. He refers to his savings, but they are the funds that he has kept back from what she gives him (Mason can't stand Latty and treats him with contempt). We have a district attorney (not Hamilton Burger who isn't in this outing) who may be bribing witnesses. And we have the possible con artist, Montrose Dewitt who may or may not be preying on foolish women of a certain age and level of wealth.
Through these various plot lines, Perry and Della and Paul Drake work together as a team to get to the truth. This novel has one of the famous (and famously parodied) Perry Mason scenes where the truth comes out in the courtroom and all hell breaks loose. Lots of fun.
Through these various plot lines, Perry and Della and Paul Drake work together as a team to get to the truth. This novel has one of the famous (and famously parodied) Perry Mason scenes where the truth comes out in the courtroom and all hell breaks loose. Lots of fun.
February 23, 2024
The Case of the Amorous Aunt
This book was written in 1963, a year or so too late to be made into a TV episode. It's perhaps the best Perry Mason book I've read. It would have made a terrific TV show.
This book was written in 1963, a year or so too late to be made into a TV episode. It's perhaps the best Perry Mason book I've read. It would have made a terrific TV show.
December 23, 2014
#71 in the Perry Mason series. Perry, secretary Della Street and detective Paul Drake fly to Arizona to head off Lorraine Elmore, who is apparently heading to Yuma with con man Montrose DeWitt and thoughts of matrimony. Lorraine's niece has hired Perry check on DeWitt her aunt but when DeWitt is murdered and Lorraine is arrested, Lorraine becomes the client. Imperial Valley DA Marshall is determined to build his reputation as the small town victor over the big city legal expert.
Perry Mason series - From Massachusetts, rich Lorraine Elmore elopes with eye-patch swindler Montrose Dewitt to Arizona, where she sees him bludgeoned to death in the desert, but he dies in a motel bed from her sleeping medicine in his whisky bottle and icepick wounds. Suspicious niece Linda Calhoun, urged by law student fiancé George Latty hires California lawyer Perry Mason.
Perry Mason series - From Massachusetts, rich Lorraine Elmore elopes with eye-patch swindler Montrose Dewitt to Arizona, where she sees him bludgeoned to death in the desert, but he dies in a motel bed from her sleeping medicine in his whisky bottle and icepick wounds. Suspicious niece Linda Calhoun, urged by law student fiancé George Latty hires California lawyer Perry Mason.
February 9, 2015
Enjoyable Read
Erle Stanley Gardner delivers again. A Perry Mason case complete with all the trimmings. A damsel ( or two ) in distress, a questionable suitor, and the promise of money- lots of money - which naturally adds up to murder. Perry sorts out all the twists and turns in the end, and with his expected sharp wit makes a monkey once again out of an over eager Prosecutor. Great escapism reading, with the satisfaction that justice wills out in the end.
Erle Stanley Gardner delivers again. A Perry Mason case complete with all the trimmings. A damsel ( or two ) in distress, a questionable suitor, and the promise of money- lots of money - which naturally adds up to murder. Perry sorts out all the twists and turns in the end, and with his expected sharp wit makes a monkey once again out of an over eager Prosecutor. Great escapism reading, with the satisfaction that justice wills out in the end.
May 6, 2021
One part of the evidence in this case turns on what the meaning of the word "is" is. I guess Bill Clinton must have read Perry Mason stories too.
The confirming clue to the murderer comes very late in the story, so it's quite difficult to pick out the killer. Very much of it's time when written.
The confirming clue to the murderer comes very late in the story, so it's quite difficult to pick out the killer. Very much of it's time when written.
December 3, 2014
This was not my favorite Mason novel. I got interested about halfway through the book. But the first half of the book seemed a little silly.. Several people running all over 2 States and Mexico trying to stop a woman from getting married.
April 19, 2015
This was a good one with Perry trying up with another young blood lawyer. I didn't see the end coming.
January 6, 2018
One of the more telling Perry Mason books I’ve read. The first where I consistently had the idea of what was going to happen next throughout.
September 22, 2025
The Case of the Amorous Aunt (P. Mason #69) (1963) by Erle Stanley Gardner. How Perry Mason gets involved with some of his cases is always new and unusual. That is true for the half dozen books in the series that I have read and it is true in this case also. While reading lawyer stuff in his office, Perry is interrupted by Della Street announcing there is a young couple in the outer office who want to speak with him. She gives him a few details that she observed and, based on her say-so, he tells her to bring them in.
Linda and George are worried about her aunt. Seems the aunt, from that state with Boston in it, has cashed out a lot of her portfolio and drove out to SoCal to be with the man of her dreams. Literally. She has never met him but the have corresponded quite often. Writing letters is what happened prior to E-Mail, Zoom, Facebook, Etc,
Linda is certain the man is a Bluebeard and she doesn’t want the aunt to do something foolish, like marry him, give him all her money, or both. Mason, being a bit older and wiser, has Paul Drake look into the matter quickly. What is found makes the lawyer think that the lothario likely means to both take the money and possibly kill the aunt.
What ensues is a chase across southern California, lies and more lies, and naturally murder. The local D.A. takes to hiding witnesses, sets Mason up for disbarment and other not so nice things. After the introduction to the players within this play, the action takes off and soars through the remainder of the book. The courtroom scene (there is always going to be a courtroom scene) starts out dourly but soon turns into a rumpus most attorneys could only dream of.
I think the proceedings are against the rules of the legal system, but this is entertainment so lay off. Besides, it all is so well written, the characters brought to life so well, the action believable, that you’ll be booing at the killer along with the spectators in the courtroom.
Besides, this is also a love story.
You just can’t go wrong with a Gardner book, even those without Perry and the gang.
Linda and George are worried about her aunt. Seems the aunt, from that state with Boston in it, has cashed out a lot of her portfolio and drove out to SoCal to be with the man of her dreams. Literally. She has never met him but the have corresponded quite often. Writing letters is what happened prior to E-Mail, Zoom, Facebook, Etc,
Linda is certain the man is a Bluebeard and she doesn’t want the aunt to do something foolish, like marry him, give him all her money, or both. Mason, being a bit older and wiser, has Paul Drake look into the matter quickly. What is found makes the lawyer think that the lothario likely means to both take the money and possibly kill the aunt.
What ensues is a chase across southern California, lies and more lies, and naturally murder. The local D.A. takes to hiding witnesses, sets Mason up for disbarment and other not so nice things. After the introduction to the players within this play, the action takes off and soars through the remainder of the book. The courtroom scene (there is always going to be a courtroom scene) starts out dourly but soon turns into a rumpus most attorneys could only dream of.
I think the proceedings are against the rules of the legal system, but this is entertainment so lay off. Besides, it all is so well written, the characters brought to life so well, the action believable, that you’ll be booing at the killer along with the spectators in the courtroom.
Besides, this is also a love story.
You just can’t go wrong with a Gardner book, even those without Perry and the gang.
November 30, 2023
Bir gün Mason'ın ofisine Linda Calhoun ve George Patty adında nişanlı bir çift gelir. Linda teyzesi Lorraine Elmore'un Montrose Dewitt adında bir adamla beraber olduğunu, adamın onun yanında parası için kaldığını söyler ve araştırılmasını ister. George'un hukuk okulunda okumasını sağlayan ve az parası olan Linda önce Drake'i tutar. Çifti araştırmaya başlayan Paul, Mason'a yola çıktıklarını söyler. Yuma'ya gidip evleneceklerdir. Ama sınırda bekleyen Mason onları göremez. Çünkü Patty kendince onları takip etmiş ama yakalanmıştır. Bir otele giden çiftin peşine Mason da düşer. Ama otelde bir çığlık duyulur. Dewitt ölmüştür. Lorraine ise inanılmayacak bir hikaye anlatır. Biri onları silah zoruyla kaçırmış, döve döve sevdiği adamı öldürmüş, kendisi de çıplak ayak otele kadar yürümek zorunda kalmıştır. Otel odasında Lorraine'in 35 bin doları ve Dewitt'in Andover adlı arkadaşından aldığı 15 bin dolar kayıptır. Ölüde darbe izi yoktur. Bazı uyku haplarından dolayı böyle olduğunu düşünür. Yerel bir avukat ile beraber hareket eder ve kadını saklar. Ancak sonradan ölenin vücudunda buz kıracağı izleri bulunur. Biri onu uyuşturup öldürmüştür. Lorraine şüpheli olur. Imperial kasabasının savcısı Marshall, Mason'ı tehdit eder. Patty de kayıptır. Ama mahkemede öyle bir sorgular ki, paraları onun çaldığı ortaya çıkar. Marshall zor duruma düşmüştür. Takma gözü olan, Wesley Hale adını da kullanan, göz bandı takan bu adamın suç ortağı kimdir ve ortağı onu neden öldürmüştür? Mason sorguda kime sorarak bu gizemi çözecektir? Yanındaki avukat Linda'nın kalbini kazanabilecek midir? Marshall ne yapacaktır? Keyifle okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
Take a convoluted criminal plot, add at least one complication and at least one red herring. Add a slightly corrupt local prosecutor and an intrigued Perry Mason, and you have a pretty standard Perry Mason mystery that is pretty standard for a reason. It works.
Like many Perry Mason stories, this is obviously a different time. Mason and his entourage fly to and from nearby cities at a moment’s notice, and without regard for expense. And like many Mason stories, he never actually gets paid, although given the financial wherewithal of his client he probably has no worries on that score. Despite the fact that he wasn’t actually hired by his client, but by her niece.
A niece whose boyfriend is a suspicious character from the start.
The niece did pay Paul Drake $100 in advance for two days of work that quickly became longer than two days—and which were covered by Mason.
It’s also interesting because it takes place mostly in Imperial County near the Mexican border, with no worries about crime (other than the one that Mason is trying to solve) on either side.
Like many Perry Mason stories, this is obviously a different time. Mason and his entourage fly to and from nearby cities at a moment’s notice, and without regard for expense. And like many Mason stories, he never actually gets paid, although given the financial wherewithal of his client he probably has no worries on that score. Despite the fact that he wasn’t actually hired by his client, but by her niece.
A niece whose boyfriend is a suspicious character from the start.
The niece did pay Paul Drake $100 in advance for two days of work that quickly became longer than two days—and which were covered by Mason.
It’s also interesting because it takes place mostly in Imperial County near the Mexican border, with no worries about crime (other than the one that Mason is trying to solve) on either side.
You think he’ll say that?” Crowder asked.
“Sure, he’ll say it,” Mason said. “He damned well has to say it. Otherwise he’d be out on the pan for giving a patient a prescription for such a large amount of powerful hypnotics. You can point out to him that his reputation is going to be put on the line and that before the press smears him, you think that it would be a good idea for the press to learn the true facts.”
“And then tell him what the true facts are?” Crowder asked.
March 27, 2021
Written in the early 1960s, back when a 55-year-old was considered to be an elder, the "amorous aunt" shocks her young niece by falling for a smooth-talking stranger who the niece suspects is a con man. Slow-motion auto chases, short-hop plane trips, shady motels, high-class hotels, missing people, drugs, hallucinations, murder, and a ton of suspects as Mason, Paul Drake, and Della Street head into a courtroom battle with a crafty DA and a new ally. I've never known anyone to use small private planes as quickly and as often as Perry Mason. Business must be good. Perry is also a control freak who is constantly ordering food for the entire table. I'm waiting for him to order cottage cheese for Paul Drake. It usually involves a thick steak, smothered in onions, medium rare, a baked potato, a salad with thousand island dressing, rolls, and a few double Barcardi rum cocktails to start. Then a few twirls around the dance floor with Della. Perry Mason books involve a lot of doggy bags, and no one has a dog. I wonder what Gardner died of? Blocked arteries?
I was reading a first edition, published in 1963, and most of the pages were splattered with long ago dried blood. You could have passed on the book to a forensic team. :::shudder:::: Blood? Or A-1 Steak Sauce?
I was reading a first edition, published in 1963, and most of the pages were splattered with long ago dried blood. You could have passed on the book to a forensic team. :::shudder:::: Blood? Or A-1 Steak Sauce?
August 10, 2024
An engaged couple enters Perry Mason's office worried about the bride's widowed aunt, who has recently fallen in love and they are worried that the old aunt's beau might just be trying to take advantage of her considerable fortune. Perry turns the case over to his private eye friend Paul Drake who starts to drum up some suspicious details on the target before the old guy ends up murdered and Mason has to defend the aunt.
Verdict: Mysteries are usually about finding the truth but this one is more about Perry Mason hiding it with legal tricks and press headlines. Too much repetitive dialogue, expositional morality of evidence-gathering gymnastics, and a trial via the press makes "The Case of the Amorous Aunt" more of a chore than a mystery.
Jeff's Rating: 1 / 5 (Bad)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
Verdict: Mysteries are usually about finding the truth but this one is more about Perry Mason hiding it with legal tricks and press headlines. Too much repetitive dialogue, expositional morality of evidence-gathering gymnastics, and a trial via the press makes "The Case of the Amorous Aunt" more of a chore than a mystery.
Jeff's Rating: 1 / 5 (Bad)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
August 5, 2017
Someone on the M/T board gave me the idea to try this series out, the source of the beloved (by me) TV series of the ‘60s. Perry, Della Street and Paul Drake join forces to sort out whether the aunt of a client is being defrauded by an amorous beau, and naturally murder appears along the way given them even more to explore. The story is definitely of its time when it comes to attitudes toward women, but still chock full of mystery and legal drama. I enjoyed it and will read more.
February 21, 2021
Linda Calhoun tries to hire Perry Mason to investigate her aunt's boyfriend, who she believes is a gold digger. Mason refuses the case, but soon the gold digger turns up dead. Mason must use all of his skills to untangle the web of deception thrown up to obfuscate the crime.
Cleverly, Gardner shifts attention away from Hamilton Burger to a new District Attorney, who is arrogant enough to build his own downfall when he confronts Mason in court.
Cleverly, Gardner shifts attention away from Hamilton Burger to a new District Attorney, who is arrogant enough to build his own downfall when he confronts Mason in court.
August 17, 2023
A young couple comes to Perry Mason suspecting their aunt has fallen for a con man and may get murdered. Mason brushes it off until the evidence builds that the man really is a con, and when they track him down, they find *he* has been murdered. The book is fast-paced; the plot has a lot of threads that we know Mason must follow, and they weave together in the end. The reveal of the murderer did not come as a big surprise, but it was not too obvious, either.
June 7, 2024
The early Perry Mason books were much simpler, the plots pretty straightforward, not so many characters and the solutions were standard. I think these novels that I’m reading now are a little more complex to a lot more complex with a host of characters and although Perry usually wins in the pre-trial or the trial situation for his client, there’s a more nuanced way of determining who the actual murderer is. I enjoyed this book.
December 13, 2017
I've long been a fan of mystery novels, though this is the first Erle Stanely Gardner I've ever read, knowing the famours lawyer exclusively via the television program. I must say the novel itself is even more satisfying, though Raymond Burr was born to play Perry Mason. This particular mystery was notable for showing Mason in the role of mentor to a younger attorney.
December 27, 2018
"El caso de la tía enamorada" (3/5)
Una muchacha y su prometido están preocupados porque la tía millonaria de ella parece haber caído en las garras de un cazafortunas, así que deciden contratar al abogado Perry Mason. Junto a sus habituales colaboradores, su secretaria y su amigo detective, Mason investiga el caso. Ligera, sencilla, fácil de leer.
26.12.18
Una muchacha y su prometido están preocupados porque la tía millonaria de ella parece haber caído en las garras de un cazafortunas, así que deciden contratar al abogado Perry Mason. Junto a sus habituales colaboradores, su secretaria y su amigo detective, Mason investiga el caso. Ligera, sencilla, fácil de leer.
26.12.18
July 25, 2020
Another first rate case from the Case Files of Perry Mason. The Case of the Amorous Aunt is another spellbinding story that has a lot of twists and turns along the way. The courtroom scene yet again shows Perry's skill at defence. Not only does he get the murderer and a thief but he makes the prosecution squirm. A great read and I'm now waiting for my next Perry Mason book to be delivered. 10/10
December 18, 2022
An elopement by Lorraine Elmore with con artist Montrose Dewitt brings Perry Mason to defend Lorraine after Dewitt is found dead in his motel room. An overzealous District Attorney is out to make his bones by winning this case against Perry Mason. Twist, turns, and sudden surprises makes for a good mystery, and puts Perry Mason to the test once again to fight for his client.
March 9, 2024
Mason goes to a different jurisdiction and meets up with a brash young DA then thoroughly embarrasses him. Courtroom action was fun. Mystery was pretty good. 4 stars as compared to some others in the series.
If you don’t want to read dated stereotyping of women then don’t read any of Erle Stanley Gardner. I just pretend it’s satire.
If you don’t want to read dated stereotyping of women then don’t read any of Erle Stanley Gardner. I just pretend it’s satire.
July 8, 2024
golly, lots going on here
Blackbeard type antics on the part of a swindler. A weak fiancé. A devoted niece. A swindled aunt. A suspicious financial adviser. Lots of gambling. An up and coming defense attorney who thought he could take on Perry Mason. An up and coming small town attorney who was an able assistant to Perry. Hint: there are no unnecessary characters in this book.
Blackbeard type antics on the part of a swindler. A weak fiancé. A devoted niece. A swindled aunt. A suspicious financial adviser. Lots of gambling. An up and coming defense attorney who thought he could take on Perry Mason. An up and coming small town attorney who was an able assistant to Perry. Hint: there are no unnecessary characters in this book.
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