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Perry Mason #20
The Case of the Drowning Duck
FOWL PLAY? A dead man in the kitchen, gas fumes permeates the house, a duck seem to be drowning in the fishbowl, but it didn't die. Maybe that fact has something to do with murder? John L. Witherspoon, a wealthy patrician, is loath to let his daughter marry Marvin Adams, the son of a convicted murderer, something Marvin's mother managed to keep a secret-until now. To set the love-struck lass straight, Witherspoon engages Perry Mason to weigh the twenty-year-old evidence that sent Marvin’s father to the gallows, and prove that the young man is kin to the murdering kind. Reopening the case, however, quickly opens up a can of worms. While Mason dredges the past for new clues, a blackmailer threatens to dredge up the whole sordid affair in the society pages. Then the whistle-blower is done in by a dose of deadly homemade gas, and the damning evidence points to chemistry whiz Marvin. Like father, like son? Like hell, says Mason, who sets out to bird-dog the clever killer who’s trying to turn the young swan into a sitting duck.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1942
135 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Erle Stanley Gardner
1,341 books813 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 91 reviews
January 6, 2020
This is the twentieth Perry Mason novel, about a quarter of the way through the series. It's set in 1942, just as the U.S. has entered the Second World War, and as always, reflects the standards and the attitudes of its time.
As the book opens, Perry and his secretary are away from the office on vacation in Palm Springs. Why Perry and Della are vacationing together is something that the author doesn't bother to explain, but it turns out to be fortuitous when Mason is approached by a very wealthy local man, named Witherspoon, who has a strange request.
Witherspoon's daughter has fallen in love with a young, penniless college student named Marvin, who will soon be going off to fight in the war. Marvin and the daughter believe that he was kidnapped as a baby and was raised by the woman he thought was his mother, until she died making a deathbed confession about the kidnapping. However Witherspoon has conducted an investigation and knows that the story was false. The boy's father was hanged for murder years earlier and the mother made up the lie to spare the boy the embarrassment of knowing that he was the son of a convicted killer.
Witherspoon is determined to protect his family's good name at all cost and is determined that his daughter will not marry the son of a man rightfully convicted of murder. He has a copy of the trial transcript and wants Mason to review it. If Mason can convince Witherspoon that the man was wrongly convicted, Witherspoon will say nothing and will allow his daughter to marry Marvin. But if there's even a breath of suspicion left, Witherspoon will expose the secret and forbid the marriage.
Mason thus faces several seemingly impossible tasks, the most important of which is saving the young lovers from the stupidity and narrow-mindedness of the girl's father. It won't be easy. More people are going to die, a poor little duck is going to be put in mortal danger, and in the end, only Perry Mason could sort out all the complex strands of this mystery.
All in all, it's a fairly typical Mason story, save for the fact that it does not take place in L.A. Perry will not see all that much time in court, but will ultimately wind up in a judge's chamber trying to explain all the evidence in a way that won't leave the judge and the readers shaking their heads in dismay. A fun read.
As the book opens, Perry and his secretary are away from the office on vacation in Palm Springs. Why Perry and Della are vacationing together is something that the author doesn't bother to explain, but it turns out to be fortuitous when Mason is approached by a very wealthy local man, named Witherspoon, who has a strange request.
Witherspoon's daughter has fallen in love with a young, penniless college student named Marvin, who will soon be going off to fight in the war. Marvin and the daughter believe that he was kidnapped as a baby and was raised by the woman he thought was his mother, until she died making a deathbed confession about the kidnapping. However Witherspoon has conducted an investigation and knows that the story was false. The boy's father was hanged for murder years earlier and the mother made up the lie to spare the boy the embarrassment of knowing that he was the son of a convicted killer.
Witherspoon is determined to protect his family's good name at all cost and is determined that his daughter will not marry the son of a man rightfully convicted of murder. He has a copy of the trial transcript and wants Mason to review it. If Mason can convince Witherspoon that the man was wrongly convicted, Witherspoon will say nothing and will allow his daughter to marry Marvin. But if there's even a breath of suspicion left, Witherspoon will expose the secret and forbid the marriage.
Mason thus faces several seemingly impossible tasks, the most important of which is saving the young lovers from the stupidity and narrow-mindedness of the girl's father. It won't be easy. More people are going to die, a poor little duck is going to be put in mortal danger, and in the end, only Perry Mason could sort out all the complex strands of this mystery.
All in all, it's a fairly typical Mason story, save for the fact that it does not take place in L.A. Perry will not see all that much time in court, but will ultimately wind up in a judge's chamber trying to explain all the evidence in a way that won't leave the judge and the readers shaking their heads in dismay. A fun read.
May 25, 2018
Sicuramente non il migliore della serie. La trama troppo complicata toglie il piacere della lettura di un libro che si propone come svago e invece si trasforma in un puzzle.
October 4, 2024
It gave me pause when Mason asked, "What's a detergent?" Apparently, that must have been a new technology in 1942. It doesn't seem like that long ago. At any rate, I have learned that if you put detergent in water with a duck, the detergent will get on the duck's normally water-repellant oily feathers and cause them to get wet. The air formerly enclosed in the feathers will no longer be there and the duck will sink. I can promise you I won't be performing this experiment any time soon. As for the book, there is no need to worry, Mason saves the duck before it drowns. The human victims on the other hand....
I was totally absorbed in this mystery. The much loved court scene is back in this one. Highly recommend.
On a side note, I enjoyed Mason's sense of humor in this one, especially when he was discussing the identity of a duck. I also enjoyed that Della was a bit jealous when she found out Mason had gotten someone else to do his dirty work.
I was totally absorbed in this mystery. The much loved court scene is back in this one. Highly recommend.
On a side note, I enjoyed Mason's sense of humor in this one, especially when he was discussing the identity of a duck. I also enjoyed that Della was a bit jealous when she found out Mason had gotten someone else to do his dirty work.
January 6, 2015
I picked this up as a Kindle ebook and Amazon has a number of Erle Stanley Gardner books available. I loved the old TV series with Raymond Burr and the slightly newer ones featuring a much older Raymon Burr. I like that the ebook format is allowing us to revisit a lot of older authors. I am sometimes disappointed as I was with Leslie Charteris "Enter the Saint". Often these older novels just don't stand the test of time but that isn't the case here. Yes, the world has changed since the time this novel was written but it offers us a look into the way people loved before cell phones and the internet. And yes, these are even better than the TV series. It is hard for me to get the picture of Raymond Burr out of my mind but Perry isn't Raymond so do yourself a favor and meet the "real" Perry Mason.
February 22, 2024
I used to watch Perry Mason on TV, both the old and new series. I enjoyed those programs so when I saw one of the books by Erle Stanley Gardner that were the source of the TV shows at a used bookstore, I decided to read it. I see that Gardner wrote over 80 Perry Mason books between 1933 and 1973. I have no plans to read them all but I did enjoy this story and so plan to read at least a couple more. I may see if I can find the first and the last in the series. The one I have just finished was quite well written and kept the reader guessing until the very end about who really committed the crime.
I reread it because I had forgotten most of the story and the above review didn't give any hints.
I am not going to give any this time either.
I reread it because I had forgotten most of the story and the above review didn't give any hints.
I am not going to give any this time either.
January 28, 2018
I got confused with this one, the plotline was a good one but the ending and the reveal was poor.
June 19, 2011
I picked up a bunch of old Perry Mason mysteries and thought I’d try one. I fondly remember reading several when I was a kid and they hold up well. There are the usual archaic references to contemporary technology, and one very jarring reference to a Red River Valley in California where there were large cotton farms. That was a bit ungeographical. Not to mention the constant cigarette smoking . It was just a given that everyone smoked. And women were to be good-looking and useful.
Nevertheless, interesting plot lines. A wealthy blue-blood, John Witherspoon approaches Mason and asks him to look into the background of his daughter’s fiance, Marvin Adams. Supposedly, Marvin had been kidnapped as a child and brought up by the kidnappers. Withersppon had hired detectives who contrarily learned the boy’s father had been convicted of murder and Witherspoon, overly genetically inclined, is sure those evil traits might have been passed down from father to son. He wants Mason to read the trial transcript, see if the conviction was representative of the truth, and if so he will devise a test involving murder that will show Marvin’s true colors. And the key to it all is a drowning duck.
True to the formula (this is not a negative,) Mason arrogantly bends the law, manipulates the evidence, pulls rabbits out of his hat, even switches ducks. It’s hardly a spoiler to reveal that he again gets his client (always innocent) off and reveals the identity of the killer in court.
Not as sophisticated as many of the currently published legal thrillers, there is still an undercurrent of criticism of the legal system that surprised me.
Nevertheless, interesting plot lines. A wealthy blue-blood, John Witherspoon approaches Mason and asks him to look into the background of his daughter’s fiance, Marvin Adams. Supposedly, Marvin had been kidnapped as a child and brought up by the kidnappers. Withersppon had hired detectives who contrarily learned the boy’s father had been convicted of murder and Witherspoon, overly genetically inclined, is sure those evil traits might have been passed down from father to son. He wants Mason to read the trial transcript, see if the conviction was representative of the truth, and if so he will devise a test involving murder that will show Marvin’s true colors. And the key to it all is a drowning duck.
True to the formula (this is not a negative,) Mason arrogantly bends the law, manipulates the evidence, pulls rabbits out of his hat, even switches ducks. It’s hardly a spoiler to reveal that he again gets his client (always innocent) off and reveals the identity of the killer in court.
Not as sophisticated as many of the currently published legal thrillers, there is still an undercurrent of criticism of the legal system that surprised me.
June 18, 2011
This was a quick and intriguing read. I've only read a few books in the Erle Stanley Gardner. It was an interesting story and although it was written almost 70 years ago, it seems almost timeless. I thought the description of "detergent" was very funny, however, considering the advances of technology in our cleaning materials. Overall it was a very entertaining story and was perfect for a long flight home.
interesting quote:
"Every man who has lived enough to be more than a stuffed shirt, has a closed chapter in his life. If he hasn't, he isn't a man." (p. 1)
"The absolute silence of the desert descended upon them, stilled the desire for conversation, left them calmly contented, souls purified by a vast tranquility." (p. 16)
new words: quirt, tyro, ferrule, cuspidor
interesting quote:
"Every man who has lived enough to be more than a stuffed shirt, has a closed chapter in his life. If he hasn't, he isn't a man." (p. 1)
"The absolute silence of the desert descended upon them, stilled the desire for conversation, left them calmly contented, souls purified by a vast tranquility." (p. 16)
new words: quirt, tyro, ferrule, cuspidor
December 8, 2020
I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books off and on for many years. Those who are used to really fine mystery writers may find Gardner's writing style a bit stiff and mechanical. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the characters of Perry, Della, Paul, Lt. Tragg, and Hamilton Berger. That, and the ingenious plots, are why I read Perry Mason.
On the whole, the ones written by 1950 are the best. This is number 20 in the series and was written in 1942. 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. It is very good. It has good descriptions of people and places.
Perry and Della are vacationing in Palm Springs when a wealthy ranch owner, John Witherspoon, starts a conversation. He knows who Perry is. (By 1942 in the novels, Perry is well known.) He owns a ranch not far away. His 21 year old daughter, Lois, is in love with a serious studious young man, Marvin Adams. Marvin does not know the real story about his childhood, but Witherspoon does. Eighteen years earlier his father, Horace Legg Adams, was convicted of the murder of his business partner, one David Latwell, in Winterburg City, a fictitious town presumably east of Palm Springs. He was executed about a year later. Witherspoon is aghast at the idea that the son of a murderer could become part of his family. He thinks he sees some "murdereous" tendencies already in Marvin. But he wants to be fair. He wants Perry to study the transcript of the trial to see if Horace Adams could have been innocent. Perry agrees. He, Paul Drake, and Della spend a night at Witherspoon's ranch.
In the old murder, there were hints of David Latwell having an affair with someone, "Miss X." The identity was never revealed. Perry concludes that Adams was convicted more because of the way his lawyer handled the case than for any other reason. That's not good enough for Witherspoon.
There are two other guests at the Witherspoon ranch, a Mr. and Mrs. Roland Burr. Apparently Mr. Burr had struck up a conversation with Witherspoon about fishing, and Witherspoon impulsively invited them to come for a week to go fishing. However Roland Burr has an accident with a horse and is now bed ridden. From his bed he says someone is trying to kill him! How weird, must be the influence of the pain medication... [BTW this is quite a coincidence: "Roland Burr" vs. the very famous "Raymond Burr" of twelve years later. It must be just a coincidence, as in 1942 Raymond Burr was a young actor starting out on Broadway and in Pasadena. Or did Gardner happen to see him in a performance in Pasadena?]
Marvin is interested in science and the recent discovery of detergents. He does a demonstration for some of the guests in which a young duck is put in a bowl of water, some detergent is added, and the duck sinks, starts to drown. (The oil on the feathers has washed off.) Witherspoon thinks this is evidence of a murderous inclination.
Soon a detective who had been investigating Marvin Adams for Witherspoon, named Leslie Milter, is murdered by an odd method: adding cyanide to a bowl of hydrocloric acid. In the neighboring room is a duckling about to drown in a fishbowl! Such a "high tech" scientific method of murder would seem to implicate someone knowledgable in chemistry, like Marvin Adams.
The plot thickens as several women are introduced who knew Milter, or had lived in Winterburg City 18 years earlier. Then there is a second murder by the same method!
Witherspoon is arrested for the second murder, but Mason has annoyed him a great deal and he gets a different lawyer for the trial. There are courtroom scenes, but they are strange as Mason is not the lawyer for the defense. But then Witherspoon does rehire him, and the climactic reveal happens soon.
The resolution makes sense in the end but is quite complicated, and I don't think any reader could guess it. Perry just dopes it all out rather unrealistically.
The method of murder is highly unusual. I can see how someone could surreptitiously get close to someone with a hidden gun or knife, but this method is hard to picture.
There is no juggling of guns, but there is juggling of ducks!
There are no recurring police or prosecutor characters. Recurring themes: headstrong young woman; Mason in some jeopardy for cutting corners with evidence.
Good descriptions of the California desert near Palm Springs. Once again, Gardner could write good descriptions when he wanted to. By this time in his life he was becoming enamored of the desert.
It's never made clear where Winterburg City is, and is somewhat confusing.
The defendant (Witherspoon) is not very sympathetic. Even the two young lovers are not all that interesting.
The cast:
John L. Witherspoon, wealthy ranch owner, father of
Lois Witherspoon, headstrong young woman, in love with Marvin Adams.
Horace Legg Adams, was convicted and executed 17 years ago for the murder of
David Latwell, murdered 18 years ago.
Marvin Adams, son of Horace, now 21, boy friend of Lois.
Corine Hassen, mysterious Miss X in the murder case of 18 years ago.
Raymond E. Allgood, detective agency owner; all bad?
Leslie Milter, operative for Allgood.
Roland Burr, recent house guest of John Witherspoon. [Raymond Burr? coincidence as this was written in 1942.]
Diana Burr, wife of Roland, a real "knock out".
George Dangerfield, married David Latwell's widow, Estelle.
Estelle Dangerfield, wife of George.
Recommended
On the whole, the ones written by 1950 are the best. This is number 20 in the series and was written in 1942. 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. It is very good. It has good descriptions of people and places.
Perry and Della are vacationing in Palm Springs when a wealthy ranch owner, John Witherspoon, starts a conversation. He knows who Perry is. (By 1942 in the novels, Perry is well known.) He owns a ranch not far away. His 21 year old daughter, Lois, is in love with a serious studious young man, Marvin Adams. Marvin does not know the real story about his childhood, but Witherspoon does. Eighteen years earlier his father, Horace Legg Adams, was convicted of the murder of his business partner, one David Latwell, in Winterburg City, a fictitious town presumably east of Palm Springs. He was executed about a year later. Witherspoon is aghast at the idea that the son of a murderer could become part of his family. He thinks he sees some "murdereous" tendencies already in Marvin. But he wants to be fair. He wants Perry to study the transcript of the trial to see if Horace Adams could have been innocent. Perry agrees. He, Paul Drake, and Della spend a night at Witherspoon's ranch.
In the old murder, there were hints of David Latwell having an affair with someone, "Miss X." The identity was never revealed. Perry concludes that Adams was convicted more because of the way his lawyer handled the case than for any other reason. That's not good enough for Witherspoon.
There are two other guests at the Witherspoon ranch, a Mr. and Mrs. Roland Burr. Apparently Mr. Burr had struck up a conversation with Witherspoon about fishing, and Witherspoon impulsively invited them to come for a week to go fishing. However Roland Burr has an accident with a horse and is now bed ridden. From his bed he says someone is trying to kill him! How weird, must be the influence of the pain medication... [BTW this is quite a coincidence: "Roland Burr" vs. the very famous "Raymond Burr" of twelve years later. It must be just a coincidence, as in 1942 Raymond Burr was a young actor starting out on Broadway and in Pasadena. Or did Gardner happen to see him in a performance in Pasadena?]
Marvin is interested in science and the recent discovery of detergents. He does a demonstration for some of the guests in which a young duck is put in a bowl of water, some detergent is added, and the duck sinks, starts to drown. (The oil on the feathers has washed off.) Witherspoon thinks this is evidence of a murderous inclination.
Soon a detective who had been investigating Marvin Adams for Witherspoon, named Leslie Milter, is murdered by an odd method: adding cyanide to a bowl of hydrocloric acid. In the neighboring room is a duckling about to drown in a fishbowl! Such a "high tech" scientific method of murder would seem to implicate someone knowledgable in chemistry, like Marvin Adams.
The plot thickens as several women are introduced who knew Milter, or had lived in Winterburg City 18 years earlier. Then there is a second murder by the same method!
Witherspoon is arrested for the second murder, but Mason has annoyed him a great deal and he gets a different lawyer for the trial. There are courtroom scenes, but they are strange as Mason is not the lawyer for the defense. But then Witherspoon does rehire him, and the climactic reveal happens soon.
The resolution makes sense in the end but is quite complicated, and I don't think any reader could guess it. Perry just dopes it all out rather unrealistically.
The method of murder is highly unusual. I can see how someone could surreptitiously get close to someone with a hidden gun or knife, but this method is hard to picture.
There is no juggling of guns, but there is juggling of ducks!
There are no recurring police or prosecutor characters. Recurring themes: headstrong young woman; Mason in some jeopardy for cutting corners with evidence.
Good descriptions of the California desert near Palm Springs. Once again, Gardner could write good descriptions when he wanted to. By this time in his life he was becoming enamored of the desert.
It's never made clear where Winterburg City is, and is somewhat confusing.
The defendant (Witherspoon) is not very sympathetic. Even the two young lovers are not all that interesting.
The cast:
John L. Witherspoon, wealthy ranch owner, father of
Lois Witherspoon, headstrong young woman, in love with Marvin Adams.
Horace Legg Adams, was convicted and executed 17 years ago for the murder of
David Latwell, murdered 18 years ago.
Marvin Adams, son of Horace, now 21, boy friend of Lois.
Corine Hassen, mysterious Miss X in the murder case of 18 years ago.
Raymond E. Allgood, detective agency owner; all bad?
Leslie Milter, operative for Allgood.
Roland Burr, recent house guest of John Witherspoon. [Raymond Burr? coincidence as this was written in 1942.]
Diana Burr, wife of Roland, a real "knock out".
George Dangerfield, married David Latwell's widow, Estelle.
Estelle Dangerfield, wife of George.
Recommended
July 15, 2021
This was my first Gardner / Perry Mason novel, loaned to me by my sister-in-law. Though I grew up in the era of the original Perry Mason TV shows, I didn't watch them, so I am just learning about him and his work and personality. The Case of the Drowning Duck was published in 1942, and I have to admit that I was surprised by its more modern feel.
The basic setup 0f the story is that a wealthy man comes to see Perry Mason with a problem. His daughter seems to be about to marry a young man whose father was executed for murder. She isn't aware of his family's past, because his "parents" kidnapped him and lied to him about his background. The young woman's father wants Mason to review the transcripts of the case, and determine if the young man's father might have been innocent. If not, he plans to do everything in his power to prevent the marriage, because he cannot have a miscreant marrying into his family. Let's just say that once certain involved individuals learn of the unofficial reopening of the case, everything explodes all around Mason and the family.
I'll comment primarily on the interesting aspects of Perry Mason - those of you who are familiar with him can dispense with the review, since you already know all about him. I had to check other sources to see if Gardner or Mason was originally British (they weren't), because he often replies "Indeed?" when he is surprised at something someone says. Perhaps that expression was in use in America at that time by cultured gentlemen. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that the novel is set in the Palm Springs area - as I've mentioned here before I have a thing for stories set in L. A. and its surroundings.
Perry Mason has gotten to a point in his career where he can afford to select only the most interesting cases to take on - those that tickle his intellect and curiosity. Perhaps one of the more unique aspects of the story (and I assume the entire series) is that while Mason is an attorney, what he is now doing with these exceptionally complex cases is detective work. He has an assistant Paul Drake who is a detective, and Mason uses him for the grunt work of trailing people, eavesdropping, fact gathering, etc. Della Street, his "secretary", is really more of another all-around assistant. After years of working side by side every day, she knows Perry forwards and backwards, and also acts as a protective and corrective mother figure.
Mason uses language cleverly as a tool in everyday situations, to direct conversations either toward or away from topics as he sees fit. Nearly every chapter includes Mason talking to someone who is lying through their teeth. I don't think Gardner would have much work for him if people weren't such liars! I always say that what keeps me coming back to an author is an understanding and facile use of subtle and complex emotions, and Gardner has that in spades.
The basic setup 0f the story is that a wealthy man comes to see Perry Mason with a problem. His daughter seems to be about to marry a young man whose father was executed for murder. She isn't aware of his family's past, because his "parents" kidnapped him and lied to him about his background. The young woman's father wants Mason to review the transcripts of the case, and determine if the young man's father might have been innocent. If not, he plans to do everything in his power to prevent the marriage, because he cannot have a miscreant marrying into his family. Let's just say that once certain involved individuals learn of the unofficial reopening of the case, everything explodes all around Mason and the family.
I'll comment primarily on the interesting aspects of Perry Mason - those of you who are familiar with him can dispense with the review, since you already know all about him. I had to check other sources to see if Gardner or Mason was originally British (they weren't), because he often replies "Indeed?" when he is surprised at something someone says. Perhaps that expression was in use in America at that time by cultured gentlemen. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that the novel is set in the Palm Springs area - as I've mentioned here before I have a thing for stories set in L. A. and its surroundings.
Perry Mason has gotten to a point in his career where he can afford to select only the most interesting cases to take on - those that tickle his intellect and curiosity. Perhaps one of the more unique aspects of the story (and I assume the entire series) is that while Mason is an attorney, what he is now doing with these exceptionally complex cases is detective work. He has an assistant Paul Drake who is a detective, and Mason uses him for the grunt work of trailing people, eavesdropping, fact gathering, etc. Della Street, his "secretary", is really more of another all-around assistant. After years of working side by side every day, she knows Perry forwards and backwards, and also acts as a protective and corrective mother figure.
Mason uses language cleverly as a tool in everyday situations, to direct conversations either toward or away from topics as he sees fit. Nearly every chapter includes Mason talking to someone who is lying through their teeth. I don't think Gardner would have much work for him if people weren't such liars! I always say that what keeps me coming back to an author is an understanding and facile use of subtle and complex emotions, and Gardner has that in spades.
June 12, 2018
Ah, I needed this one. From the Palm Springs start (in 1942 - the same year my mom graduated from Palm Springs High!) to the shenanigans in El Templo (hi, El Centro!), this was a wonderfully nostalgic read for me. The characters were great, the mystery was a mystery right up to the grand unveiling, and Della Street continues to be a Boss.
And on another note, town names in the Perry Mason books continue to befuddle me. Palm Springs is Palm Springs, but El Centro is El Templo? Like Santa Monica is Bay City? Why do some get name changes but not others?
And on another note, town names in the Perry Mason books continue to befuddle me. Palm Springs is Palm Springs, but El Centro is El Templo? Like Santa Monica is Bay City? Why do some get name changes but not others?
December 17, 2020
Better Than The Television Episode. This story traveled back and forth from interesting to baffling all due to Perry Mason and his deductive mind. The cast of characters built the story into one crazy concoction that ended up solving four murders; two in1924 & two in 1942, 18 years apart.
June 27, 2020
Erle Stanley Gardner certainly knew how to plot a mystery and use logic in a legal setting. Classic mystery writing.
May 25, 2010
Just another atypical typical Perry Mason story. Courtroom hysterics, more suspects than you can shake a duck at, and a duck that sinks.
It is interesting to read a book, set in the present at the time of its writing that is instructive of new developments that we take for granted today. Detergents were something relatively new at the time, and not referred to in the same fashion as we would consider them today.
And there was a drowning duck....sort of.
It is interesting to read a book, set in the present at the time of its writing that is instructive of new developments that we take for granted today. Detergents were something relatively new at the time, and not referred to in the same fashion as we would consider them today.
And there was a drowning duck....sort of.
May 1, 2023
John Witherspoon adlı bir adam Perry Mason'a gelir ve ondna yardım ister. Kızı Lois, Marvin Adams adlı bir çocukla evlenmek istemektedir. Marvin 3 yaşındayken evlat edinildiği için anne babasını bilmeden büyümüştür. Ancak John kimsenin bilmediği bazı şeyleri bilir. Marvin'in babası Horace, ortağı Latwell'i öldürdüğü için idam edilmiş bir suçludur. John Mason'a bu davayı araştırmasını 18 yıl önce işlenen bu suç gerçekse ve Horace suçluysa haber vermesini ister. Doğruysa kızı ile bu çocuğun evlenmesini engelleyecektir. Çünkü çocukta hayvanlara zarar verme gibi bir huy olduğunu düşünür. Bir gün kimyasal bir deneyle suya deterjan karıştırıp bir ördeğin neredeyse boğulmasını sağlamıştır. Bu deneyde John olmasa bile evde kalan Mr. Ve Ms. Burr, diğerleri çok etkilenmiştir. Ms. Burr da John ile çok yakınlaşmıştır. Allgood Dedektiflik ajansına geçmiş suçu sorgulama işi veren John detaylı bilgi alamadan Litter adlı Dedektifi işten çıkarıldığını öğrenir. Büyük ihtimalle şantaj yapacak olan bu kişiyi bulmak için Mason yola çıkar. Ama yolda lastiği patlar. Evi bulup bir polisle içeri girince Dedektifi cesedi ile karşılaşır. Bir akvaryumda da boğulmak üzere olan bir ördek ile. Lois ile konuşan ve Marvin'in arabasına başka bir ördek yerleştiren Mason, at teptiği için yatakta yatan Mr. Burr'u da inceler. Dedektif siyanid ile asit ile çıkan gazdan zehirlenmiştir. Sonrasında Latwell'i eski karısı Ms. Dangerfield ortaya çıkar ve eski cinayet ile ilgili bazı bilgiler verir. Onun da derdi kocası ile beraber para koparmaktır. Bu arada Mr. Burr da aynı yöntem ile öldürülür. Olaylarda John Witherspoon şüpheli bulunur ve dava başlar. Savcı Copeland, John ve avukatını iyice sıkıştırır. John en sonunda Mason'a onu savunmasını söyler. Yeni avukatı olan Mason ifadede gedikler bulur. Lois tam ördek konusunu itiraf edecekken hep araya girer. Acaba başarılı olabilecek midir? 2 cinayet de aynı katilin işi midir? Yoksa Dedektifi ve Burr'u öldüren kişiler ayrı mıdır? Burr kim tarafından öldürülmüştür? Dedektif aslında kime şantaj yapmaya çalışmıştır. Eski Horace olayının dedektif cinayeti ile ilgisi nedir? Horace masum mudur? Lois ve Marvin evlenecek midir? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
Khi người ta tưởng làm truyện hay nhất với cố thêm một quyển của Erle Stanley Gardner rồi mấy nữa lại quay về làm truyện Tàu chữa tiền thì mình lại vén con mèo nó màn lên, Ú oà!
Tác giả được xuất bản một lần mới cẩn thận chứ tác giả tái bản hơn hai lần thì đã muốn làm gì thì làm! Ok, sau khi quá phê với quyển Người đàn bà đáng ngờ, mình đọc luôn Mười tám năm sau hay con vịt chết chìm.
Có thể nói tác giả rất biết cách đổi mới nội dung, tránh gây nhàm chán nha! Nếu mọi người nghĩ ông này có một lối viết là Perry Mason áp đảo toàn diện phe đối lập, bên còn lại mờ nhạt thì lầm. Với quyển vịt này, anh chàng luật sư Mason của chúng ta lại ngồi ở hàng ghế nhân chứng. Và thay vì trổ tài tranh luận như những truyện khác thì truyện này anh ta suy luận thần sầu nhất trong các truyện về Perry Mason. Mỗi manh mối chàng thám tử Paul Drake tìm ra đều nằm trong dự đoán của Perry Mason. Truyện này có chi tiết thú vị rằng Mason bị thân chủ từ chối và gọi luật sư khác ra bào chữa. Vai trò Mason ở truyện này là thám tử nhiều hơn là luật sư.
Đọc truyện của Erle Stanley Gardner mình hết sức là phục tác giả bởi ông có thể dẫn dắt câu chuyện đi từ những tình tiết lạ đời đến ngớ ngẩn sang những vấn đề to đùng dính đến hình sự. Một bà mẹ giây phút lâm chung tuyên bố con trai mình là do vợ chồng bà bắt cóc từ một gia đình giàu có nơi phương xa. Cha vợ tương lai của chàng trai thuê Mason điều tra thân thế của chàng rể bất đắc dĩ. Rồi một câu nói bâng quơ của chàng trai về việc con vịt có thể chết chìm tưởng chừng không liên quan lại lật ngược về vụ án mười tám năm trước, gây thêm hai vụ “hát sại”. Não to, tác giả đúng não to!
Với lối dẫn dắt cực kỳ giật gân, lập luận cực đanh thép của Perry Mason như thế, mình không hiểu tại sao các nhà cứ chờ ai đó ghi tên Sơn Tùng M-TP? Mình là đứa đọc chậm, nhưng truyện về Perry Mason cứ một ngày ngốn hết một quyển. Vậy thôi! Mình cũng bó tay nếu tương lai gần không thấy có thêm truyện nào của ông tác giả não to này.
Tác giả được xuất bản một lần mới cẩn thận chứ tác giả tái bản hơn hai lần thì đã muốn làm gì thì làm! Ok, sau khi quá phê với quyển Người đàn bà đáng ngờ, mình đọc luôn Mười tám năm sau hay con vịt chết chìm.
Có thể nói tác giả rất biết cách đổi mới nội dung, tránh gây nhàm chán nha! Nếu mọi người nghĩ ông này có một lối viết là Perry Mason áp đảo toàn diện phe đối lập, bên còn lại mờ nhạt thì lầm. Với quyển vịt này, anh chàng luật sư Mason của chúng ta lại ngồi ở hàng ghế nhân chứng. Và thay vì trổ tài tranh luận như những truyện khác thì truyện này anh ta suy luận thần sầu nhất trong các truyện về Perry Mason. Mỗi manh mối chàng thám tử Paul Drake tìm ra đều nằm trong dự đoán của Perry Mason. Truyện này có chi tiết thú vị rằng Mason bị thân chủ từ chối và gọi luật sư khác ra bào chữa. Vai trò Mason ở truyện này là thám tử nhiều hơn là luật sư.
Đọc truyện của Erle Stanley Gardner mình hết sức là phục tác giả bởi ông có thể dẫn dắt câu chuyện đi từ những tình tiết lạ đời đến ngớ ngẩn sang những vấn đề to đùng dính đến hình sự. Một bà mẹ giây phút lâm chung tuyên bố con trai mình là do vợ chồng bà bắt cóc từ một gia đình giàu có nơi phương xa. Cha vợ tương lai của chàng trai thuê Mason điều tra thân thế của chàng rể bất đắc dĩ. Rồi một câu nói bâng quơ của chàng trai về việc con vịt có thể chết chìm tưởng chừng không liên quan lại lật ngược về vụ án mười tám năm trước, gây thêm hai vụ “hát sại”. Não to, tác giả đúng não to!
Với lối dẫn dắt cực kỳ giật gân, lập luận cực đanh thép của Perry Mason như thế, mình không hiểu tại sao các nhà cứ chờ ai đó ghi tên Sơn Tùng M-TP? Mình là đứa đọc chậm, nhưng truyện về Perry Mason cứ một ngày ngốn hết một quyển. Vậy thôi! Mình cũng bó tay nếu tương lai gần không thấy có thêm truyện nào của ông tác giả não to này.
August 20, 2024
I listened to this on audio, the voice given Perry Mason was a bit high and odd which was distracting but overall he did well reading.
This case is somewhat complicated, but for a Perry Mason case was kind of straight forward. I had most of it figured out before Perry did his big reveal that is unusual for these books. The duck thing was kind of amusing, this book was written in 1942 and the new and amazing new chemical "detergent" was very new, so new that it had to be explained to everyone and the term was introduced as a novelty.
Perry is part of a dinner party, meeting various wealthy people and finds out that one was being investigated. Later, the detective investigating the young man is found dead. For once, Perry is not a major target of the investigation, and its out of LA so the usual heavies from the LA law enforcement are not involved.
The court scenes are truncated, particularly the first part since Perry Mason isn't even a lawyer, just an audience member. Pretty good stuff, although Perry doesn't just bend the law in this one, he straight up breaks it.
This case is somewhat complicated, but for a Perry Mason case was kind of straight forward. I had most of it figured out before Perry did his big reveal that is unusual for these books. The duck thing was kind of amusing, this book was written in 1942 and the new and amazing new chemical "detergent" was very new, so new that it had to be explained to everyone and the term was introduced as a novelty.
Perry is part of a dinner party, meeting various wealthy people and finds out that one was being investigated. Later, the detective investigating the young man is found dead. For once, Perry is not a major target of the investigation, and its out of LA so the usual heavies from the LA law enforcement are not involved.
The court scenes are truncated, particularly the first part since Perry Mason isn't even a lawyer, just an audience member. Pretty good stuff, although Perry doesn't just bend the law in this one, he straight up breaks it.
July 9, 2018
This one is fun, more complicated than many of the Perry Mason predecessors but also with a touch of humor. For instance, Perry finds observing a ocurt case in which he is not the attorney is "a trying experience." And the drowning duck motif is amusing, and taught me that detergents were invented in the early 1940's. Who knew?
There are the usual problems -- all the women are sexy and attractive, for instance, even when they are not in their twenties,and Della and Perry may or may not have a romantic relationship. They ride horses together, spend the night in a romantic inn and so forth.
Unfortunately, the ending did not work for me. The plot is a bit byzantine, and its solution comes more or less out of thin air and is a bit taxing on one's credibility.
Still, fun, as I said above.
There are the usual problems -- all the women are sexy and attractive, for instance, even when they are not in their twenties,and Della and Perry may or may not have a romantic relationship. They ride horses together, spend the night in a romantic inn and so forth.
Unfortunately, the ending did not work for me. The plot is a bit byzantine, and its solution comes more or less out of thin air and is a bit taxing on one's credibility.
Still, fun, as I said above.
September 12, 2022
Drowning Duck is the 5th Perry Mason novel published in the 1940s, and one of the best of Mason’s first 20 appearances. I would give this one 6-stars if I could. Well plotted and featuring some of the most entertaining courtroom scenes of the series to this point. Like a couple of previous entries, Duck gives a special role to Della and her part in making Mason shine (and in repeatedly pulling his ass out of the fire). Paul Drake also gets to shine in this one. The three of them seem more like a team than in most of the 1930s cases. This might be a good one to read if you just want to try out Gardner’s writing. Unlike I have said with some other series, there is no real reason to read these in order (though I am very much enjoying reading them in publication order to track how the author matured his style).
September 23, 2024
I find these so interesting to read! This one is from 1941, so why isn't Perry Mason fighting in the war? One of the main characters is going off the fight in WW2, so just wondering if Mason is going to join the war effort.
Not to keep you in suspense, the duck does not drown but I would say it was treated rather callously. The interesting tidbit is that detergent was a new thing and no one had heard of it. I would have thought it had been introduced well before the 1940s, so that was a cool plot point (that does not give anything away).
Perry Mason bends the law a whole lot more than usual and is almost hoist with his own petard in this one by someone whose conscience almost gave the game away. Enjoyable and befuddling as usual, with the usual caveats as far as the different, um, sensibilities of the times.
Not to keep you in suspense, the duck does not drown but I would say it was treated rather callously. The interesting tidbit is that detergent was a new thing and no one had heard of it. I would have thought it had been introduced well before the 1940s, so that was a cool plot point (that does not give anything away).
Perry Mason bends the law a whole lot more than usual and is almost hoist with his own petard in this one by someone whose conscience almost gave the game away. Enjoyable and befuddling as usual, with the usual caveats as far as the different, um, sensibilities of the times.
September 30, 2017
This exactly scratched the Pulp Hero craving I had. It never slows down. Perry Mason is bigger than life, and always working angles that no one else sees. I thought his would be unreadable, but it flies by and never crossed the line of reality that would kick me out of the story. Does the mystery hang together? I have no idea. I'm reading it for the style and a glimpse into a long gone age of fiction and history. I got exactly what I wanted, hence the five stars. The overall attitude towards women feels old fashioned but never becomes outrageous. The mention of Mexican servants as bits of background certainly implies a racist society, but isn't overtly racist. Both things in older fiction that can ruin a story.
June 12, 2020
This is the 20th book of the Perry Mason series and the 18th that I have read. I would personally place it in the bottom 10 books so far, as solving three murders stretched 20 years apart does make the plot unnecessarily complicated while the solution is quite simple. The pivotal murder, while ingenuous, does have substantial amount of luck associated, with respect to the people visiting the victim at about the time he is murdered, which makes it slightly unbelievable as well. Apart from that, it is a straightforward case with not many red herrings and makes for a light read without the dangerous undertones that are normally associated with a Perry Mason book when Mason gets too deeply involved in the case.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
Always enjoy a Mason mystery. This one is slightly different in that the case found him while he was on vacation. A rich man found out about him being close and wanted him to look into a case from 18 years ago. The thing is that the case was already finished and the man convicted had already been executed. He wanted to know if the man could have been innocent since that man happened to be the father of his future son in law and he wanted to know if he was the son of a murderer or not. Of course Mason is on the case so other murders happen that seem somehow attached to that original case.
Highly recommended, none of these that I've read have been duds. Gardner just has a knack for writing these.
Highly recommended, none of these that I've read have been duds. Gardner just has a knack for writing these.
March 2, 2021
A self centered, egotistic, opinionated, wealthy man with delusions of grandeur and beliefs that his family is better than everyone else approaches Mason while the lawyer is taking a short break in Palm Springs. He wants him to review an old case and prove that the relatives of a convicted murderer are themselves tainted and unfit to marry his precious daughter.
So of course Mason is interested and then the fun begins. Blackmail, murder, a drowning duck, lies and a dose of 'you too are just as likely to murder someone' so lets put you on trial and see how you like it gets us another tale of twists and turns and Mason ledger-domaine.
So of course Mason is interested and then the fun begins. Blackmail, murder, a drowning duck, lies and a dose of 'you too are just as likely to murder someone' so lets put you on trial and see how you like it gets us another tale of twists and turns and Mason ledger-domaine.
July 26, 2017
Quintessential Perry Mason!
Gardener proves why he is the world's most read writer! An astute observer of humankind and a love for justice as can be meted out in a framework of the American judicial system sums up the story in broad strokes. All the players in this almost real life drama are brought to life flawlessly. I was figuring the touch of the drowning duck would be gimmicky but Gardener uses it for some lessons in Chemistry as well as an interesting pivotal point! Masterful and compelling!
Gardener proves why he is the world's most read writer! An astute observer of humankind and a love for justice as can be meted out in a framework of the American judicial system sums up the story in broad strokes. All the players in this almost real life drama are brought to life flawlessly. I was figuring the touch of the drowning duck would be gimmicky but Gardener uses it for some lessons in Chemistry as well as an interesting pivotal point! Masterful and compelling!
April 8, 2025
This is classic Perry Mason in all of his ethically-questionable glory. The lawyer takes on reviewing an eighteen-year-old case and ends up with two bodies, two clients, and a pair of ducks made to sink by means of a new invention: Detergent.
The story is both convoluted and (once revealed) fairly self-evident. Fun to read and fast-paced, even for Gardner, the biggest flaw here is not enough Paul Drake. Watch out for the casual 1940s racism and misogyny that creeps in a few places, but that (thankfully) isn't as prevalent as in many stories of this era.
The story is both convoluted and (once revealed) fairly self-evident. Fun to read and fast-paced, even for Gardner, the biggest flaw here is not enough Paul Drake. Watch out for the casual 1940s racism and misogyny that creeps in a few places, but that (thankfully) isn't as prevalent as in many stories of this era.
November 12, 2016
Not one of the best Perry Masons. The interesting thing here is that Mason isn't the defense attorney in the case, at least at first. Of course, when he joins the team, he takes over completely. It's also interesting that Mason meddles with evidence, and this nearly lands him in trouble. Only some fast talk and some fast thinking allows him to avoid probable arrest. The main trouble here, though, is the convoluted solution to the crime. Goodness, it made my head spin.
October 13, 2020
This 1942 Perry Mason mystery is pleasantly dated. One of the main characters is a young man who has studied chemistry and hopes to marry his sweetheart before heading off to war. He demonstrates a new chemical compound--detergent--which happens to point the finger of suspicion towards him when the inevitable murder happens. The plot is nicely convoluted and entertaining, and easily finished in an evening.
October 11, 2022
I imagine that Gardner wanted to make a point about circumstantial evidences, which he does well.
I also suspect that he had seen the trick with the “drowning” duck and the miracle of the new chemical discovery of dependents, and decided to put this in a book as a plot element. It makes for some humorous scenes. The whole set of intertwined crimes and the ultimate solutions are interesting and Gardner’s twisted plot is clever, even though it does stretch the imagination.
I also suspect that he had seen the trick with the “drowning” duck and the miracle of the new chemical discovery of dependents, and decided to put this in a book as a plot element. It makes for some humorous scenes. The whole set of intertwined crimes and the ultimate solutions are interesting and Gardner’s twisted plot is clever, even though it does stretch the imagination.
April 28, 2019
The end of this case was one part predictable and one part unpredictable. Considering, this is another book where Mason solves two cases simultaneously, it is also one where he gets out of a very tricky place purely using his ingenuity! A fast paced, crisp thriller, which keeps you gripped till the very end.
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