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Perry Mason #35
The Case of the Negligent Nymph
While Perry Mason is enjoying a moonlit canoe ride, he admires a naked bathing beauty. Little does he know he'll soon be rescuing her- and that next day he'll have to clear her of a jewlery-theft charge. But then she's suddenly charged again- this time with murder. It takes all of Perry's wiles, Della's insights, and Paul Drake's deft detecting to solve The Case of the Negligent Nymph.
Erle Stanley Gardner is the king of American mystery fiction. A criminal lawyer, he filled his mystery masterpieces with intricate, fascinating, ever-twisting plots. Challenging, clever, and full of surprises, these are whodunits in the best tradition.
Erle Stanley Gardner is the king of American mystery fiction. A criminal lawyer, he filled his mystery masterpieces with intricate, fascinating, ever-twisting plots. Challenging, clever, and full of surprises, these are whodunits in the best tradition.
215 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
9 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Erle Stanley Gardner
1,350 books815 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 52 reviews
December 3, 2023
"... But those who have been following the astonishing legal career of Perry Mason point out that hurling questions at him in front of a jury is apt to be a dangerous pastime."
Too true. :)
I don't know why I gave this book originally 2-stars only. Maybe I was not in the mood?? But on re-reading it, I have definitely changed my mind.
Perry Mason is brilliant as ever and it's just as well as he needs all his cunning to extricate Dorothy Fenner, his extremely troublesome client as well as himself from the predicament they find themselves in due to the actions of said client.
As Mason himself says about her:
"I know the type. When she thinks everything is coming her way she can be dead game, but the minute the going gets tough she starts crying and seeking sympathy."
Maybe it was her and her machinations I found repulsive first time around, but if it wasn't for them, we would not see Mason in full-swing, fighting a seemingly hopeless cause and emerging victorious just when you think the game is all over for him.
All in all a really exciting, enjoyable mystery.
Too true. :)
I don't know why I gave this book originally 2-stars only. Maybe I was not in the mood?? But on re-reading it, I have definitely changed my mind.
Perry Mason is brilliant as ever and it's just as well as he needs all his cunning to extricate Dorothy Fenner, his extremely troublesome client as well as himself from the predicament they find themselves in due to the actions of said client.
As Mason himself says about her:
"I know the type. When she thinks everything is coming her way she can be dead game, but the minute the going gets tough she starts crying and seeking sympathy."
Maybe it was her and her machinations I found repulsive first time around, but if it wasn't for them, we would not see Mason in full-swing, fighting a seemingly hopeless cause and emerging victorious just when you think the game is all over for him.
All in all a really exciting, enjoyable mystery.
February 24, 2024
Paul Drake looked at Della Street, signed and said, "...thank heavens I wasn't the one that was in there trying that case, with a two-timing client and a district attorney who was laying for my scalp, and me with my fingerprints on the canoe."
"That goes double for me," Della Street said. "It Should teach Mr. Mason not to go around picking up nymphs who make passes at his canoe."
Disguised somewhat as a courtroom thriller, there's no mistaking this for anything but pulp in it's purest form. Simplistic storytelling clothed in a complexity little more than window dressing. Perry Mason's antics; laugh out loud, childish, and ever effective. Who else but Mason could turn a murder case on its head with a missing dog, signatures misplaced on an envelope, and letter in a bottle. Fun.
Paul Drake raised his glass, caught Della Street's eye. "And here's a toast, Della, to the greatest court-room strategist of them all."
June 25, 2020
The title made me skeptical, but the courtroom drama got me hooked. Judging by how yellowed the pages were, I am guessing it’s been quite some years since this book was in its prime, but surprisingly, I enjoyed it more than some of the recent crime thrillers I have read.
It took a little time to get interested, though, as it felt like the book was rambling in the beginning, but I am glad I stuck till the end because the courtroom scenes were amazing!
The mystery was a regular whodunit, nothing too special, but the descriptions and snappy dialogues provided a nice relief against the legal jargon.
All in all, I would say, it's pretty much like Agatha Christie novels – a nice tea-time read.
It took a little time to get interested, though, as it felt like the book was rambling in the beginning, but I am glad I stuck till the end because the courtroom scenes were amazing!
The mystery was a regular whodunit, nothing too special, but the descriptions and snappy dialogues provided a nice relief against the legal jargon.
All in all, I would say, it's pretty much like Agatha Christie novels – a nice tea-time read.
May 14, 2021
Unlike many other Mason mysteries, where the case and the defendant usually rush in to Mason's office, this case has Mason offering a lift to a lady burglar on his canoe on a moonlit evening as she escapes from a ferocious hound. Soon after, Mason finds himself in the midst of an intriguing thriller as he reads a letter stolen by the lady burglar after having successfully escaped their pursuers.
Eventually, the lady burglar gets caught and Mason is called upon to defend her in the case of burglary, but curiously enough, the plaintiff files a false report, hiding the actual object of theft. This gives Mason the opening he needs to crush the state's case and the plaitiff is scurrying around for a settlement before long. Mason's client makes the mistake of not heeding his advice and, sure enough, before long there is a murder and Mason's client is back in custody, this time accused of murder.
Mason does come up with some ingenuous techniques to stall the state's case and is able to bring out the real killer but this book lacks the fast pace that ESG is usually known for. But there isn't much to complain about in terms of plot and how the mystery unfolds and hence the usual 4 stars for me.
Eventually, the lady burglar gets caught and Mason is called upon to defend her in the case of burglary, but curiously enough, the plaintiff files a false report, hiding the actual object of theft. This gives Mason the opening he needs to crush the state's case and the plaitiff is scurrying around for a settlement before long. Mason's client makes the mistake of not heeding his advice and, sure enough, before long there is a murder and Mason's client is back in custody, this time accused of murder.
Mason does come up with some ingenuous techniques to stall the state's case and is able to bring out the real killer but this book lacks the fast pace that ESG is usually known for. But there isn't much to complain about in terms of plot and how the mystery unfolds and hence the usual 4 stars for me.
September 3, 2017
A great Perry Mason story but no real Perry/Della moments. (That's the true reason I read these not gonna lie.)
Recommended 12+ for language, murder, some innuendos, and some violence.
Recommended 12+ for language, murder, some innuendos, and some violence.
Read
January 24, 2022Entertaining classic crime, Mason finds himself caught up in a possible crime after rescuing a woman from the water.
March 24, 2022
I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books off and on for many years. Many years ago, I was an intense fan of the series, and read them all, at least once. Now, after a lot of water over the dam, I'm looking at them again.
Those who are used to really fine mystery writers, such as Ross Macdonald, may find the writing style here off-putting. It can be 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 1945 are the best. This one was written in 1950, and is very good, better than most of those written after 1945. It opens with a bang (as many do that were written after, say, 1948) with Mason in a canoe checking out a privately owned island by moonlight. The owner is wealthy George Alder. Mason has been hired by a group contesting some of Alder's rights to build there. Suddenly Mason sees a shapely young woman emerge from the water onto the island, having swum there in the nude! You wouldn't have that scene in the Mason books of ten years earlier. She opens a backpack, towels off, pulls out shoes and a dress, and enters the mansion where a party is in full swing. Mason continues to watch from his canoe, and soon thereafter she emerges from a window and dashes into the water pursued by a dog and a lot of shouting. Instinctively, and naturally, Perry rescues her.
There follows a tale of a mysterious letter evidently written six months earlier by a woman who drowned. A web of intrigue surrounds George Alder, involving an uncle, the woman who drowned, a half sister, and the swimming "nymph" who was "negligent" by leaving some evidence on the island that allowed the police to trace her. Soon there is a murder and Perry is in the thick of it.
"The Half-Wakened Wife" also involves people contesting the right to build on a private island.
This is a very fine page turner of a story, full of excellent courtroom scenes, unfortunately not with Hamilton Burger. The only fault I can see is that there are not very many suspects. Of all the Mason books, I would say it misses the top five, but may be in the top ten. Highly recommended.
Those who are used to really fine mystery writers, such as Ross Macdonald, may find the writing style here off-putting. It can be 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 1945 are the best. This one was written in 1950, and is very good, better than most of those written after 1945. It opens with a bang (as many do that were written after, say, 1948) with Mason in a canoe checking out a privately owned island by moonlight. The owner is wealthy George Alder. Mason has been hired by a group contesting some of Alder's rights to build there. Suddenly Mason sees a shapely young woman emerge from the water onto the island, having swum there in the nude! You wouldn't have that scene in the Mason books of ten years earlier. She opens a backpack, towels off, pulls out shoes and a dress, and enters the mansion where a party is in full swing. Mason continues to watch from his canoe, and soon thereafter she emerges from a window and dashes into the water pursued by a dog and a lot of shouting. Instinctively, and naturally, Perry rescues her.
There follows a tale of a mysterious letter evidently written six months earlier by a woman who drowned. A web of intrigue surrounds George Alder, involving an uncle, the woman who drowned, a half sister, and the swimming "nymph" who was "negligent" by leaving some evidence on the island that allowed the police to trace her. Soon there is a murder and Perry is in the thick of it.
"The Half-Wakened Wife" also involves people contesting the right to build on a private island.
This is a very fine page turner of a story, full of excellent courtroom scenes, unfortunately not with Hamilton Burger. The only fault I can see is that there are not very many suspects. Of all the Mason books, I would say it misses the top five, but may be in the top ten. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2013
In The Case of the Negligent Nymph Perry Mason is floating in a canoe while keeping a pair of binoculars trained on the island hide-away home of George Alder. Mason is looking for a chink in the businessman's armor--a chink that will help his clients manage a claim for drilling rights. He's not sure what he expects to see...but he's certain that he didn't expect to see a woman swim up to the sandspit beach, climb nude out of the water, don a summer evening gown, and sneak up to the house where a party is going on. The woman isn't gone long before she racing back to the water with a rather ferocious guard dog on her heels. Mason decides to play gallant hero and helps the woman escape her pursuers. What begins as a gallant act turns into a case when the girl is identified by the police and accused of robbing Alder of $50,000 worth of jewelry. Mason gets set to defend the girl on the robbery charge (and to try and keep his identity as the "mystery man in the canoe" a secret) only to have the scene change again. This time to murder. Alder is found shot in his own home and the guard dog apparently went berserk in his closet in an effort get free and help his master. The local sheriff puts two and two together and decides that the thief has turned murderer. It's up to Mason to reveal the true killer without admitting his habit of canoeing in the evening.
This is a very solid installment in the Perry Mason series. Not quite enough Della Street for my tastes. I really enjoy her interactions with Perry (something that was very prominent in my first Erle Stanley Gardner read--The Case of the Grinning Gorilla last year) and would have liked to have had more of them here. But the ending is terrific--watching Perry twist the Prosecuting Attorney and the Sheriff into knots of contradiction is worth the price of admission. A nice three-star read.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
This is a very solid installment in the Perry Mason series. Not quite enough Della Street for my tastes. I really enjoy her interactions with Perry (something that was very prominent in my first Erle Stanley Gardner read--The Case of the Grinning Gorilla last year) and would have liked to have had more of them here. But the ending is terrific--watching Perry twist the Prosecuting Attorney and the Sheriff into knots of contradiction is worth the price of admission. A nice three-star read.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
October 12, 2013
#35 in the Perry Mason series. This 1950 entry has one of Mason's all time best examples of courtroom pyrotechnics.
Perry Mason series - Perry is in a rented canoe when he sees a young woman swimming to the George S. Alder island he is reconnoitering. A while later, she is on the run chased by an attack dog and is plucked from the water by Mason. He leaves her without identifying himself but the following day she has been arrested and is requesting attorney Perry Mason to represent her. Although she constantly manages to worsen her situation by refusing to heed Mason's instructions not to say anything, eventually he will use the courtroom to demolish evidence, find new evidence and rescue his client.
Perry Mason series - Perry is in a rented canoe when he sees a young woman swimming to the George S. Alder island he is reconnoitering. A while later, she is on the run chased by an attack dog and is plucked from the water by Mason. He leaves her without identifying himself but the following day she has been arrested and is requesting attorney Perry Mason to represent her. Although she constantly manages to worsen her situation by refusing to heed Mason's instructions not to say anything, eventually he will use the courtroom to demolish evidence, find new evidence and rescue his client.
May 13, 2021
A solid mystery. Great courtroom technique, even if a bit over the top. The "negligent nymph" was a set-up that's just too much; I doubt it was made in its original form into the 50s-60s TV series. If it is film as part of the new series, I'm sure it will be played up for all its worth. Not often does Perry meet his client naked!
July 20, 2023
Mason denizde bir kano kiralamış George D. Adler'ın adasını gözetlerken bir kadının üzdüğünü görür dürbünle. Bu kadın elbiselerini değiştirip eve girer ve Sonea gürültü olur. Elinde bir şey tutan bu kadın kaçmaya başlar. Peşinden bir doberman salınır. Onu yakalamak üzereyken Mason ona yardım eder ve kanoyu kadının isteği üzerine teknelere yanaştırır. Kadın Dorothy Fenner'dir ve George'un kardeşi olan Corinne'in bir tanıdığıdır. Aldığı şişede ise Corinne'in ölümüne dair bilgiler içeren bir mektup vardır. Adler ortalığı ayağa kaldırır ve 50 bin dolarlık mücevherinin çalındığını iddia eder. Ön mahkemede iddiasını rezil eden Mason, Dorothy'nin tahliyesini sağlar. Sonra ise Adler, Dorothy'nin evine gelir ve onu adasına davet eder. Çünkü şişeyi ele geçirmiştir. Dorothy kesim bir cevap vermez. Ancak ertesi gün Adler öldürülmüş bir şekilde bulunur. Carmen Monterrey, Durham Adler gibi isimler de Corinne olayı sırasında hayattadır. Mason, Dorothy ile olan kano macerasının bilinmesini istemez. Köpek odasından çıkmamıştır ve öldüren mermi bulunamamıştır. Savcı Gloster sürekli üzerine gider ama Şerif de dahil olmak üzere hepsinin ifadelerini çürütür Mason. Özellikle köpekle ilgili sorular sorar ama savcı onun nerede kiminle olduğunu söylemez. En sonunda Carmen'e verdiğini söyler. Bu arada Dorothy'nin o akşam adaya gittiği öğrenilir. Acaba Mason köpek kulübesinde mermiyi bulabilecek midir? Katil kimdir? O mektup gerçekten de George'un dediği gibi sahte midir? Mason müvekkilini kurtarabilecek midir? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2020
"Kergemeelse nümfi kohtuasi" on üsna täpselt selline, nagu üks Perry Masoni lugu olla võiks. On seaduste piirimail mängimist ning põnevat kohtudraamat. Ning lahendus, nagu ikka, saabub alles kohtusaalis.
Seega suurepärane meelelahutus.
Küll aga ei ole tegu just säravaima Perry Masoni looga. Minu jaoks jäi puudu üllatusest - tõsi, mõrvarit ma ära ei aimanud. Sellele vaatamata ei pannud lõpplahendus mind imestusest õhku ahmima; arvan, et mõrvar jäi minu jaoks salduseks puhtalt selle pärast, et see mind just ülemäära ei huvitanud. Suunamuutused olid liig kiired ning liiga palju oli fakte, mis olid lugeja eest varjatud.
Ega seegi halb pole, ent klassikalises kriminaalromaanis on üldjuhul kõik kangelasele teadaolevad faktid ka lugejale teada; lugeja ülesanne on need lihtsalt sama meisterlikult kui detektiiv (või antud juhul advokaat) kokku panna.
Ajaviiteks igati mõnus meelelahutus; esmatutvuseks Perry Masoniga soovitaksin aga midagi muud kätte haarata.
Seega suurepärane meelelahutus.
Küll aga ei ole tegu just säravaima Perry Masoni looga. Minu jaoks jäi puudu üllatusest - tõsi, mõrvarit ma ära ei aimanud. Sellele vaatamata ei pannud lõpplahendus mind imestusest õhku ahmima; arvan, et mõrvar jäi minu jaoks salduseks puhtalt selle pärast, et see mind just ülemäära ei huvitanud. Suunamuutused olid liig kiired ning liiga palju oli fakte, mis olid lugeja eest varjatud.
Ega seegi halb pole, ent klassikalises kriminaalromaanis on üldjuhul kõik kangelasele teadaolevad faktid ka lugejale teada; lugeja ülesanne on need lihtsalt sama meisterlikult kui detektiiv (või antud juhul advokaat) kokku panna.
Ajaviiteks igati mõnus meelelahutus; esmatutvuseks Perry Masoniga soovitaksin aga midagi muud kätte haarata.
April 5, 2024
Perry rescues a beautiful blond apparent thief, fleeing a killer guard dog, by offering her a ride in his canoe. No good deed goes unpunished. Quality entry in the series with a stellar and taught courtroom scene where Perry, as usual, snatches victory from what seemed like inevitable defeat. For me, the actor I most associate with Perry is Warren Williams. I could see this novel in my head as a brilliant 1930s (even though it was written in '49) movie. I love this series. When my wife and I go on long car trips, she usually does most of the driving, and I keep her awake and entertained by reading a Mason novel aloud. Makes the trip quite enjoyable. A Perry Mason novel lasts almost exactly the time it takes to travel from Houston, TX to Huachuca City, AZ, or about 1,000 miles, in case you ever need to know.
March 1, 2021
Maybe the other offerings in this franchise are different, but there's a whole lot in this series installment that fails to satisfy. The prose, while grammatically correct, never once provides anything close to wit or nimbleness. The characters lack inner lives and do little more than spew dialog appropriate to their assigned template--as in smart secretary or ribald best friend. The attitudes toward women, especially those who express a modicum of sexual desire, are misogynistic. I'll grant that most of the legal concepts that are brought forward are accurate--which is an improvement over most legal thrillers. But what my reading experience mostly did was make me appreciate how much work had gone into making the HBO update of this franchise work for a modern audience.
May 13, 2017
Good old Perry Mason! Erle Stanley Gardner was at the top of every legal-mystery reader's list back in the day (this one was originally published in 1949, I believe) -- and how far we've come since in this genre! A great glimpse into all the conventions of the day -- the "silly little girl" attitude, the whirling and accusatory pointing actions the characters make, among others -- but the mystery itself was not particularly difficult to solve and Perry's explanation at the end seemed like a "for those of you who missed it, here it all is again, point by point" postscript. Even so, it was worth it to see one of the writers who brought this genre to the fore at work, in its original form.
January 2, 2024
What can I say? Another fun adventure in the world of Perry Mason. This poor guy can’t even go out for a relaxing canoe paddle just to unwind for a bit, without a near naked beauty needing to be fished out of the water followed soon by another murder case involving one of his clients as the suspect. Perry himself, of course, winds up being involved enough in the events of the case for the police to suspect him of having a hand in it. This, again of course, leads to some special courtroom antics as he tries to get out of the accusation of being an accomplice to the murder.
Just find any Mason book and read it – they’re all good light mysteries.
Just find any Mason book and read it – they’re all good light mysteries.
November 9, 2016
This book started out well. I think it is one of the few books where in the client was not entirely honest. I really liked the courtroom maneovers shown here. It showed the real tactics lawyers use in courts. Mason had to rely on keeping up pretences and the end is completely on luck, as accepted by him too. Enjoyable.
October 17, 2018
During a reconnaissance of an island at the centre of a land dispute, Perry Mason rescues a young woman from the water who is being chased by a vicious dog. When it becomes apparent that she has stolen an incriminating letter from the island, Mason finds himself an unwitting accomplice.
Gardner twists and turns the plot expertly, bamboozling readers in a delightful way.
Gardner twists and turns the plot expertly, bamboozling readers in a delightful way.
March 4, 2023
4 stars may be a little generous but I enjoyed this one.
The courtroom theatrics were very satisfying.
The circumstances Mason outlines to Della and Paul seem highly unlikely and relies on some coincidence and detail planning doubtful to have been carried out by the murderer, but I’ll allow it. Objections overruled.
The courtroom theatrics were very satisfying.
The circumstances Mason outlines to Della and Paul seem highly unlikely and relies on some coincidence and detail planning doubtful to have been carried out by the murderer, but I’ll allow it. Objections overruled.
August 21, 2022
When a client lies and blows up Mason’s defense, that’s a sign the legal fireworks are about to fly. And with as the unwitting accomplice to a crime, the stakes couldn’t be higher as Mason must work his magic against and open and shut case.
September 7, 2024
Incidentally the defendant (the” nymph “ ) seems a very supporting role in the book.
Love all these books, best thing I like is the dialogue style exchange in the books, making the books even more fast paced and edge-of-the-seat reading
Love all these books, best thing I like is the dialogue style exchange in the books, making the books even more fast paced and edge-of-the-seat reading
June 21, 2017
A very attention grabbing opener and a very unpleasant client are the highlights here. Unfortunately gets long in tooth at the end (compared to other Mason books, of course).
July 27, 2017
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
June 22, 2019
Typical Perry Mason. Stupid title.
May 25, 2020
A very good Perry mason as he and his team solve a high profile murder case. Brilliant courtroom writing. Exciting.
August 28, 2020
After watching new HBO series Perry Mason, I thought I’d read one of the original books. Copyright 1949. Kind of fun to read these old mystery/lawyer books.
March 28, 2021
Overall very average.
April 2, 2021
The sheriff and DA did a piss poor job of investigating the murder scene.
Want to read
December 19, 20222 copies
July 15, 2023
Lovely read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews