The Case of the Beautiful Beggar

Perry Mason #76

by Erle Stanley Gardner

Librarian Note: This is a pre-ISBN edition of this book.

A beautiful young woman seeks the help of the world-famous lawyer to free her frail, wealthy uncle from the clutches of a conniving half brother. But the police believe she may be a murderer. Could they be right? Or will Perry Mason and his clever assistants, Paul Drake and Della Street be able to prove her innocence?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Novels, Detective, Audiobook

225 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Erle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories who also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J. Kenny, Les Tillray, and Robert Parr.

Innovative and restless in his nature, he was bored by the routine of legal practice, the only part of which he enjoyed was trial work and the development of trial strategy. In his spare time, he began to write for pulp magazines, which also fostered the early careers of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. He created many different series characters for the pulps, including the ingenious Lester Leith, a "gentleman thief" in the tradition of Raffles, and Ken Corning, a crusading lawyer who was the archetype of his most successful creation, the fictional lawyer and crime-solver Perry Mason, about whom he wrote more than eighty novels. With the success of Perry Mason, he gradually reduced his contributions to the pulp magazines, eventually withdrawing from the medium entirely, except for non-fiction articles on travel, Western history, and forensic science.

See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Sta...

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to enjoy Perry Mason mysteries a lot. But this one fell short. Too many plot holes, a very slow dragging book. Not much to explore. I also felt the characters were underdeveloped.

A very beautiful young woman approaches Perry Mason with a strange request: her uncle Mr. Horace Shelby has given her a check for $12500 and wants her to immediately meet Mason and together go to the bank to withdraw money. She had gone for a 3 month vaccation and had come back to find this letter waiting for her.

Mason and Daphne Shelby (that's her name) go to the bank to withdraw the amount. That's when they are shocked to find out that the account is empty. It seems like her uncle's half brother Finchley has been appointed as the Conservator for Shelby's wealth as it was proven in court that Shelby was incompetent to handle his financial affairs. All this happened when Daphne was away. She goes home (uncle Shelby has adopted her as her parents died in an accident when she was very young) to find uncle Shelby missing and Finchley and his wife has taken over the house. They asked her to move out immediately. Penniless and homeless she goes back to Mason. Its upto Mason, his able Secretary Della Street and Mason's sharp friend, detective Paul Drake to help Daphne and find out where Horace Shelby is. And there you have the Case of the Beautiful Beggar.

I liked the beginning of the book. But it dragged on and on without any incidents taking place. Plot was almost predictable. There was nothing very thrilling or mysterious in it. The court room drama was very dull and occupied very few pages. Often I found the character of Mason very imbecile. For example he is still trying to cover for Daphne when he realises she has double crossed him twice. There is evidently a lack of good conversation taking place. The characters of Mason, Drake and Della look almost mechanical. This I've seen through quite a few books.

Well, I used to enjoy and I still like Perry Mason mysteries. However this one is not so great.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A typical Erle Stanley Gardner Perry Mason mystery. And by typical I mean a fun, rollicking mystery.

A young woman comes to Mason desperate to find her uncle who she's been living with. She had been taking care of his affairs until she went on vacation overseas for a timely rest. When she returns she finds her uncle taken away to a hospital for the mentally incompetent and another uncle taking over the house. She has a day to move out herself.

Mason helps the young lady find out if her Uncle is really incompetent and why his brother is trying to prove it and would the will leaving everything to the niece have anything to do with it?

Is the brother a slime ball? Or is the girl not quite what she seems to be? Is there a murder? Who's the unlucky character?

You'll have to read and find out yourself.

[Doug Dams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Perry Mason book. A beautiful woman raised by a rich uncle hires Perry Mason to protect her and her uncle from relatives trying to steal the uncle's fortune. It has the usual Mason twists and turns. It takes a while to find out the true relationships of all the characters and what their motivations are. And then there is a murder, and the beautiful beggar is accused. It takes all the resources of the Drake detective agency, Perry and Della Street to finally find the solution. I like Perry Mason books because they are a quick read and there is always a court room twist that surprises you. If nothing else, Erle Stanley Gardner teaches you to never believe what you are told. Verify it. I like this book.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Perry Mason book I've read, and I have to say, I enjoyed it quite a bit! It was humorous, and although it took me a bit to figure out the character-type of Perry Mason (kind of in D&D style - i.e., lawful/neutral/chaotic good/neutral/evil), I did get into the swing of the story eventually.

It is a bit dated, but it's not like I wasn't expecting that, since I knew that Gardner wrote Perry Mason novels from the early 1930s to the mid 1970s. This particular novel was published in 1965 and reflects views/stereotypes that I expect coming from that time. I did read a few reviews of The Case of the Beautiful Beggar prior to writing my own review, and there was a reviewer who said that there was (my words, not his/hers) some swearing and indecent exposure. I have absolutely no idea what that was referring to. I can't recall any swearing in particular, which doesn't mean a whole lot since swearing only catches my attention if the F-bomb is dropped every other sentence or so, but intellectually I know that really the only swear word seen in popular books in the 1960s was "damn" (and related "mild" swear words). And IMO there wasn't anything inappropriate or indecent... so anyway. Just wanted to throw that out there because I found it curious.

I'm on vacation right now and will have a lot of time to read tomorrow when I'm flying home/in layovers at the airport, so maybe I can finish the other Perry Mason book I packed! :)

[shravya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars
it would be a 3.5 rating but it fit my personal taste.
it was funny, witty and there was no sudden stereotypical 'plot twist in the courtroom' scene.
very enjoyable,fast paced and one of my favourites, so glad i randomly picked it up at the library :)

[Richa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery was too obvious here. A lot of repetetion. It seemed more like a book wanting to champion the cause of the rich elderly, than actually a murder mystery. With all due respect for these silver people, I expected little less of the sob story and little more ingenious detection.

[L Y N N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent! I picked this book up very cheaply at a library sale and was rather blown away that I’ve never read a book from this series before!

I will definitely be reading more!

[Jennifer Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#76 in the Perry Mason series. Daphne had spent her life caring for her elderly uncle. When his half-brother showed up, with his wife and a friend, they convinced the uncle that Daphne was overworked and needed a vacation. This gave them the chance to drug the uncle and have him committed. The half-brother told the court that Daphne wasn't really the old man's niece but the illegitimate daughter of his deceased housekeeper. This novel has the usual twists of a Perry Mason entry and the requisite courtroom finale, including a rare bit of cooperation with Lt. Tragg of Homicide.

Perry Mason series - Daphne Shelby was young, beautiful, and thoroughly upset.
The letter she handed Perry Mason had been written in haste and great agitation. It was from her uncle and had reached her just after her ship had sailed from Honolulu on the return fron a three months' cruise of the Orient.
"Don't come home, " the message read. "Get in touch with Perry Mason immediately...and be prepared for a shock."

[W · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only Perry Mason book in my personal library,it was rather dull and unexciting.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books off and on for many years. Those who are used to really fine mystery writers (in the literary sense), such as Ross Macdonald, may find the writing style here a bit dry. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the 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 last ones, written in 1965. The plot is interesting and creative. But like most late books, written after the TV series became a huge hit, there isn't much in the way of embellishment or descriptive detail.

A young woman, Daphne Shelby, comes to see Mason with an unusual story. She's been living with her Uncle Horace since she was a baby, taking care of him for the last few years. He is now 75. Her father, Robert, was one of Horace's brothers. Her parents died a long time ago in a car accident. About three months earlier Horace's half brother Borden Finchley and his wife Elinor arrived for a visit. They brought along a "friend" named Ralph Exeter. They suggested that Daphne was exhausted and she needed a long vacation, so she took a cruise to the Orient. She has just returned after three months to find a letter from Uncle Horace with a check to her for $125000 dollars, exhorting her to look up Perry Mason before she goes home!

It seems that Borden and Elinor were able to get Horace declared incompetent and themselves appointed guardians. Horace is confined to an institution, run by one Dr. Tillman Baxter, who isn't really a physician. Perry tries to cash Daphne's check for $125000 but finds that Borden Finchley has closed the account and taken all the money!

Soon Perry gets a court hearing to rexamine the declation of incompetentcy. He gets a shock though when it turns out that Daphne's mother was really Horace's long time housekeeper, now deceased! Borden, as a half brother, knew that Robert and his wife never had children. Who was Daphne's biological father? Borden thinks it was someone back in the East that she never knew.

That changes everything. Now Daphne is not a blood relative of Horace and has no legal standing before the court!

Perry pulls some ingenious legal maneuvers to get $50000 of the $125000 to Daphne. Daphne in turn turns out to be quite resourceful, on several occasions. Before long there is a murder, and Daphne is arrested.

The book references the recent (at that time) Miranda decison. There is mention of cars with telephones, something quite rare and expensive in 1965.

This is one of the better late books. However, there aren't many suspects. There is some emotional kick at the end.

Recurring themes: older man who is thought to be incompetent; hotel or motel where several people go in and out of several rooms.

Good use of Lt. Tragg. Not much Hamilton Berger. Not much Della. Some use of Drake and his operatives. Drake seems to find lots of informatin quite quickly.

Characters:

Daphne Shelby, worried about her uncle
Horace Shelby.
Judge Ballinger, wants to be fair.
Borden Finchley, half brother of Horace.
Elinor, nurse wife of Borden.
Ralph Exeter, "friend of the family".
Dr. Tillman Baxter, so-called doctor, runs a rest home.
Dr. Grantland Alma, court appointed real doctor.

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Case of the Beautiful Beggar" I thought was a pretty good Perry Mason story compared to many others. To quote my headline it comes down to some money hungry relatives who come out of the wood work to apply their scheming ways against an elderly relative who has good financial resources. Of course with a Perry Mason story line murder is involved. Good read with a few twists and turns as usual. Read it in one day or should say one sitting. According to Gardner in 1965 75 years of age left you enfeebled, demented and slow to recover the trauma of kidnapping and drugs. What can I say? Times have changed. 75 is old now, but instead of looking like a grandmother or great-grandmother, you look like an extra on a rap video.

Mason has always, since book one, had a predeliction for damsels in distress, fluttery, weak and hopelessly in a mess. Perry to the rescue. I have to admit liking the first books the best when Della Street was two Charleston steps away from being a flapper and Perry was quick to the fisticuffs if someone got in his way. He's still eating the same dinner: a steak, baked potato with sour cream, fried onion rings and a double Barcardi. Poor Paul Drake invariably is stuck at his phone eating a bag of greasy hamburgers and french fries. Perry and Paul both speed. Paul still has a secret handshake to use on Perry's side door. I've been re-reading all of the Mason books for the past three years. I've probably got about ten more to go. I have taken side trips to his other work: the Bertha Cool series and his non-fiction.

In his real life he had things set up completely to his liking: a wife stashed in San Francisco since...forever, a stable of secretaries and weekend trips in his canvas van going on trips to the great outdoors with his drinking buddies and running around campfires slapping wet towels. It's been quite a journey spending time in this world.

[Serdar Poirot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daphne Shelby adında bir genç kız Doğu gezisinden döner dönmez Mason'a gelir. Amcası Horace yeni bir vasiyet hazırlaması ve 125 bin dolar parayı hesabından çekip gizlemesi için Mason'a gitmesi gerektiğini belirten bir mektup yazmıştır. Bankaya giderler ama Horace'ın başına vasi atandığını bu yüzden parayı çekemeyeceğini öğrenirler. Mason, vasi atayan hakimi öğrenir ve görüşür. Ek bir duruşma çıkar. Kararı alan uzak akraba Borden Finchley, karısı ve arkadaşı Ralph Exeter kızın akrabası olmadığını, hizmetçinin kızı olduğunu söyler. Davada Horace'ın kontrol edilmesi kararı çıkar. Doktor Alma, Horace'ın kapatıldığı dinlenme yerine gider ama onu orada bulamaz. Mason da o gün işe giren birinden şüphelenir. Paul Drake ve adamlarına bu işi verir. Sonradan o gece işe girenin Daphne olduğu ortaya çıkar. Horace'ı saklamıştır. Adım adım takip edildiğinden haberi yoktur. Horace'ın saklandığı otele gidince orada polisi bulurlar. Tragg orada ne yaptıklarını sorar. 21 nolu odada biri ölmüştür. Bunun Horace değil de Exeter olduğu ortaya çıkar. Gerçek adı Cameron olan bu kumarbaz, Borden'den alacağı 150 bin dolar için onun yanından ayrılmaz. Ama borçlu olduğu kumarbazlar da onu takip eder. Uyuşturucu katılmış Çin yemeğini yedikten sonra biri gazı açmış ve onu havasız bırakmıştır. En büyük şüpheli Daphne'dir. Horace ise ortadan kaybolmuştur ama Meksika'ya kadar takip edilir. Duruşma sırasında Meksika'ya giden ve Horace ile konuşan Mason onu davaya tanık olarak Katar. Burada Daphne'nin kendi kızı olduğunu açıklayan Horace Hamilton Burger'ı sessiz bırakır. Peki gaz koku nerededir? Mason Tragg'e bu konuda yardımcı olacak mıdır? Katil kimdir ve yakalanacak mıdır? Daphne ne yapacaktır? Keyifle okunan bir roman.

[👀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The case of a beautiful beggar and

"If all beggars were as beautiful as you are, it'd be a wonderful world." Of course, the beautiful one is Mason's client, he would have it any other way.
Another fine book by Gardner,but it'd seem that he lost his passion for trial work though. Usually he devotes around 50% but here, the murder is committed in the middle of the book so that leaves less than 20% for the murder trial itself. There's not much fun with cross examination so typical of Gardner.

A young and penniless beauty visits the famous lawyer on a matter of greatest importance, naturally, without any appointment. She received a letter instructing her to call on Mason and cash the enclosed check as soon as she's back from her long vacation. Not only doesn't she have any funds, but also she's about to become homeless with a day notice. The lawyer deals with greedy relatives, dementia, kidnapping, lies, intrigues and a murder. Drake does a great detective work, trusting his boss for once. Mason keeps his mind sharp pulling a few fast ones. They're some plot twists and overall, I'd recommend it.

[Massimo Monteverdi · Rating 2 out of 5]

C’è una ragazza agitata che chiede di parlare urgentemente con Perry Mason. Siccome l’avvocato è un uomo gentile, la accoglie nonostante gli impegni e, dopo una breve conversazione, ecco una nuovissima cliente da difendere. La storia si sviluppa secondo i canoni tipici del giallo alla Gardner, con qualche colpo di scena (uno in particolare abbastanza prevedibile) e un’impeccabile svolgimento della trama. Si dovrebbe sorvolare su certi dialoghi ormai obsoleti, e concentrare l’attenzione sulla minuziosità con la quale il tuttologo Mason svela il mistero e incastra il colpevole. Alla fine, chiudiamo il romanzo con la consapevolezza che ogni personaggio principale fa esattamente quello che ci aspettava facesse, che Mason è scaltro ma sempre trasparente e che a Della Street avrebbero dovuto ritagliare un ruolo ben più interessante. Mi chiedo poi se l’ispettore Tragg riesca mai a risolvere da solo un caso e se Hamilton Burger abbia mai vinto una causa contro un avvocato della difesa che non sia Perry.

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman named Daphne Shelby appears in Perry Mason's office asking for help. Upon returning from a six month trip to the Orient, she finds a letter waiting for her from her uncle. Until the trip, she had cared lovingly for her wealthy uncle. The letter tells her to contact Mason and not to return home. Enclosed in the letter is a check she is to cash as soon as she can. When she goes to the bank she discovers that a half-brother and his wife have taken control of the uncle's fortune and committed him to an institution claiming he is unable to manage his affairs. The checking account is closed. Daphne finds herself penniless and is told to move her belongings from the house. Convinced that her uncle is as mentally competent as when she left she asks Mason for help.

I love vintage mysteries and, in particular, the Perry Mason series. This is one of the best I've read. It's complex and full of surprises often unearthed in court. The enscounced relatives tell the court that Daphne isn't the uncle's niece. She is the illegitimate daughter of his deceased housekeeper but that is only half the story which the reader discovers at the novel's close. Her uncle was drugged so that he appeared unbalanced, verifying the claim that he can no longer manage his affairs.

Using the Drake detective agency, Perry and Della Street work to find the answers. When a murder occurs, Daphne becomes the number one suspect. Furthermore, Mason finds Daphne is a difficult client. She kidnaps her uncle and takes other actions that keep him in the dark and make his investigation difficult. Still believing in her innocence he persists. With the help of Lt. Tragg of Homicide, the plot is uncovered.

[Amit Bikram · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first of the later Perry Mason books that I read to reinitiate myself to the world of this virtious and stand up defense lawyer, having read most of the first 20 books in my first stint. The book did feel a bit of a let down, the plot not being original, atleast it didn't feel original to me. The Case of the Rolling Bones(Perry Mason #15) had a broadly similar beginning, with an old man, the head of the family, being tucked into a mental asylum by greedy relatives while the good relative struggles to get the old man free.

In this book, Daphne Shelby, the neice of Horace Shelby, retains Perry Mason to help her fight off the hungry wolves who have managed to surreptiously take charge of her uncle's estate while she was away on a cruise. What ensues for some time is a repeat of book #15, until the murder is committed. From there on, it is upto Mason to save his client who , to no one's surprise, goes behind Mason's back a few times in the book and straight up lies to Mason's face. The actual reveal feels a bit rushed and circumstantial as well (won't go further in fear of revealing any spoiler)

Going to rate it 3 stars simply because the backdrop is a rip-off from a previous novel and also the characters seem a bit less life-like and devoid of emotions.

[John Bunyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a few consecutive short, weak editions, Gardner produced a much better story this time. 260 pages rather than 170 and worth the extra effort.
The plot is sufficiently complicated and the murder weapon and the way Main works out into the case is novel.
It’s still not as fun as some of the earlier books and the big surprise is not really surprising but I have 4 stars for how much better ours was than the previous 3.

In this book I learned that car phones existed far longer than I thought. They first appeared in 1946, But only in St. Louis. By 1965 (when this book was published), 1 million cars nationwide were equipped with phones (according to Wikipedia). Paul Drake of the Drake Detective Agency has two cars so equipped.

[SueChor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only gave this 2 stars, because it doesn’t hold up against contemporary detective fiction, but I read it because it’s important historically. Perry Mason and Della Street, c. 1965, were a marker on the road to what we read now, although Gardner’s stories hark back to decades earlier. They are simple, sexist (yes, Della, order the sandwiches) and representative of the times. However in this one, which is generally black and white, the young female client does show a few surprising character twists, but no great noir references here. It’s a straightforward detective hero story, with Perry Mason as the ego.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This late entry (1965) in the series features a defendant who is as annoying and obtuse as any that Perry ever represented. Nonetheless, he sticks with her all the way. The plot is easier to grasp than most of the Mason books, and the story moves along nicely. Even if the identity of the murderer is less than shocking, and an important twist near the end a bit too prettily-wrapped, this is an entertaining read. As a bonus, we are treated to a two-page restaurant scene revolving around the manner in which Paul is going to consume his steak.

By the way, do these people ever eat chicken or seafood when dining out? Maybe a vegetable?

I should mention that the plot is very similar to TCOT Rolling Bones, although it has been streamlined and decluttered to a degree that makes this book more enjoyable.

[Dheer Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book lying on a free-reading shelf at the university and was really surprised to read the claim on the cover "#1 mystery writer of all time", being an avid mystery/thriller reader myself and having never heard of Gardner before.

Needless to say I was very positively surprised with the book! I love the character of Perry Mason and his nonchalant, chivalrous and witty personality. It was quite an easy read and proved to be quite refreshing, more like a break from other books I was parallely reading.

I actually saw more books on that shelf and I am pretty sure I am gonna read them as well - given that nobody else has thought about it too!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best Perry Mason novels that I have ever read. It was fast-paced with a tightly woven plot, well-developed characters and best of all, Perry practically meets his match in a client who comes close to outwitting him. A most enjoyable read! I do have one regret- it’s a pity that this book is not available as an ebook, I would love to add it to my collection of Perry Mason novels!

[JayeL]

2020: ayoung woman comes to Perry's office with a letter from her uncle and a check she can't cash. Her uncle has been committed to a psychiatric facility by unscrupulous relatives and all of his money taken. The uncle disappears, there is a murder and the niece is tried. Of course Perry resolves everything, gets the money back and explains what really happened.

This was not a very complex book, but had a lot of twists. The niece made some bad decisions which exasperated me (and Perry!).

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always love any time I can watch Perry, Della, and Paul hang out and be adorable and charming. Even when they're being a bit stage-y. Even when the client is a bit dippy. This was a fast, fun read with plenty of twists and turns and some of those good old "Dammit, Perry, you're gonna get yourself arrested" hijinks... And who doesn't love those?

[Βρόσγος Άντυ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 /5
Μας έπρηξε η Καββαδία Μειζον κ Μειζον. Υπήρξαν 1-2 μη ρεαλιστικές σκηνές καταστάσεις που θα μπορούσαν να λείπουν.
Ο Γκαρντνερ, ο πιο ευπωλητος Αμερικανός συγγραφέας όσο ζούσε, με πολλά εκατομμύρια λέξεις στο ενεργητικό του, προσφέρει πάντα μια εύκολο διάβαση και διασκεδαστικη ιστορία. Ο Περυ Μεισον μορφή.

[Tejsweeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have read these courtroom dramas by Gardner over the decades and they don't get old somehow. Even when , just like with Agatha Christies, I kind of know the format, the contrived plot, and can often guess a part of whats coming, but still there is some bit that it throws in which keeps the interest.

Good enjoyable short read!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perry Mason takes on a case involving Daphne Shelby who enters his office with a letter from her uncle telling her to return at once from her Honolulu vacation and contact the lawyer immediately. The case seems simple at first, but several twists and turns which eventually lead up to murder, has Mason pulling out all the stops to protect his client.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine story by Mr. Gardner. This story lived up to its billing. The story was a bit different than the usual Perry Mason fare but just as good. There is a murder as usual but we do not know who is the culprit until the end of the story. There are the usual twists and turns which makes the story interesting and hard to put down.

[James Vest · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elaborate family drama, including a man forced into a sanitarium, a niece determined to rescue him, and a half-brother bent on stealing his fortune. A satisfying web that neatly untangles in court with the help of an army of private detectives and some evidence tampering.

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the portrayal of Perry Mason by Raymond Burr while listening to this audiobook. All the usual characters were there and sounded like their TV actors except for Perry Mason. This Perry was constantly "grinning", while the TV version NEVER grinned.