The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito

Perry Mason #23

by Erle Stanley Gardner

The death of his wife leaves Banning Clarke, a former successful prospector turned mining magnate, the prey of a host of human predators, including his calculating mother-in-law, and it is up to Perry Mason to keep things on the up and up. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Legal, Detective, Murder Mystery, Novels

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1943

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

[James Thane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1943, this is one of the most unusual novels in the Perry Mason series. It's also one of the most absurd with a plot so convoluted that it's impossible to make any sense out of it at all. There are no courtroom scenes, and Mason functions more as a detective than a lawyer. His usual detective, Paul Drake, does very little detecting and instead is assigned to play a rather ridiculous role as a drunken prospector for the sake of eliciting some information that Mason needs.

The case revolves around two prospecting partners, one a guy named Salty Bowers who has squandered his fortune, and the other, Banning Clarke who has saved his money and who now lives in a luxurious mansion with a small desert annex. The two men remain pals, and as the book opens, Bowers is trying to nurse Clarke back to health after an illness. Bowers believes that Clarke has become ill by being "housed-up" and that he'll regain his health by living simply back in the desert again.

Clarke has a number of shirttail relatives and others living in his home and, naturally, most of them are up to no good. Clarke sends Bowers into the city for the purpose of bringing Mason out to see him on a matter of critical importance. Before long, some people will be shot; some people will be poisoned, and some people will be both shot and poisoned. There's a mixture of stock fraud, mining fraud, blackmail, disputed wills, and something about a mosquito that mysteriously pops up at the last minute.

Mason will have to commit a forgery or two and try to make sense out of a completely nonsensical situation. At the end, as always, Perry will pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat, but the solution to the various mysteries involved in this story will leave most readers shaking their heads in wonder. Of the eighty-five entries in the Perry Mason series, one of them has to be the least satisfactory, and to my way of thinking, The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito would certainly be a leading contender for the honor.

[Ettore1207 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non dei migliori della serie. Trama piuttosto aggrovigliata e un paio di passaggi non troppo verosimili.

[Andy Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking fun without a courtroom in sight but a cross Sheriff and a bemused DA make up for it.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the books in this series are excellent. This one happens to be even more so. It takes Perry Mason out of the city and into some fun environments with quirky characters that are very likable.

[Richa · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the few cases where Mason is an incidental lawyer. He is a detective here who just happens to be in the legal profession. There are no courtroom examinations and no arrests. It almost seems like just another whodunit! Nevertheless, the case is interesting and fast moving with a plausible, if predictable, end that Mason very adroitly serves up, finished and well garnished, for the reader and the official detective to partake (a la Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie to name a few)!

[Josh Hitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always enjoy these, and this one is no exception. Mason is hired by an eccentric desert prospector who made good but now has problems, mainly people all around he doesn't trust. Mason starts wading through his businesses and estate when the prospector is murdered and that puts Mason in a pickle too because of some fast thinking on his part. Lots of red herrings and Mason, Della, and Drake are all likeable mains.

Highly recommended, the ideal behind the drowsy mosquito is an interesting part of the mystery.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the last thirty-five years I've read all of the Mason novels at least once, and most several times. This one was written during the War Years (1943), one of Gardner's best eras. The film-noir feel of the early novels (1934 - 39) was fading. Mason (and Gardner) were mellowing. Mason was no longer the dogged fighter in a world of men scrambling for money and power. He didn't always skate around and over the edge of the law any more.

Gardner was never a really good writer in the literary sense, but at least during this era he could write good descriptions and set the scene. This book has several wonderful evocative descriptions of the desert, a habitat that Gardner knew well and loved. It shows in his writing.

The plot here is centered on a pair of old desert gold prospectors. A number of years earlier they struck it rich. One, Salty Bowers, quickly ran thorough most of his money. The other, Banning Clarke, wisely invested his and became wealthier. He got married, but his wife died after only a few years. He owns a large house and estate. He and Salty are still good friends. Clarke is ill with a heart condition, and Salty is trying to get him well by having him sleep outside, not inside his nice house where it is too "soft."

The plot becomes very complicated quickly with the introduction of a lot of characters: Clarke's mother-in-law and her son, a nurse (for Clarke) and housekeeper, the house-keeper's husband, a doctor, a mining agent, a lawyer. There is a complicated story about a lost mine (which actually exists) and a swindle involving some other mines. Frankly, I found it too complicated to really follow.

Soon four people are poisoned with arsenic, including Perry and Della! They recover, but a bit later Clarke does not. It's murder. Clarke was both poisoned and shot! If that's not enough, there are two wills and a stock certificate that Mason forges Clarke's name to. It seemed innocent at first, but soon Mason is in trouble for it.

Drowsy mosquito? The nurse is awakened during the night by an odd buzzing sound that she takes for a mosquito flying around in her room. But it's really something else.

Lieutenant Tragg and Paul Drake are in it only briefly. No Hamilton Burger, no courtroom scenes, although there is the taking of a deposition, an unfriendly local sheriff, and a friendly local DA.

Notable indeed is that Perry proposes to Della near the end! She declines, saying she wants to remain his secretary and not become a stay-at-home wife with a family.

This is one of the few Mason novels (from before 1960) that I really didn't like. It's too complex, has too many characters, and none of them are all that sympathetic. Mason never has a client who's accused of murder! Recommended only for the descriptions of the desert.

[John Bunyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Possibly my least favorite of the series so far. Mason really has no client and there is no trial. There is a deposition at which Perry traps a witness; that is the highlight of the book.
There are several PM books that involve mines and mining stock; this one goes too deep into this industry. This books delves into prospecting “culture” and Paul Drake of the Drake Detective Agency’s only role is to pretend to be a drunken prospector.
The drowsy mosquito is a dumb clue.
I still like the series and look forward to reading the rest. This one seems to be an effort be Gardner to create some colorful characters but it just falls flat.

Once again Perry proposes to Della and she turns him down because she just enjoys being a secretary with benefits. She is dedicated to being his secretary and she can’t work if she’s his wife - the 1940s attitude toward women is fully on display here (and in all the books, of the time, to be fair). They will however continue to snuggle together and take vacations together and whatever else.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Perry Mason book, and I have to say it was quite good. It all came together in the end, and I didn't guess whodunnit, so that is good, and the writing is very good, but there was a lot of stuff about mining and law that I had trouble following and had to check back on. I spent a good deal of time re-reading due to all of the technicalities and twisty turns and stuff, so... overall, a good book, but not NEARLY as quick a read as I expected!

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perry and Della spend time in the desert uncovering the ownership of salted gold mines. Then Perry proposes to Della. She turns him down. No courtroom scenes. Not one of my favorites.

[Elderberrywine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, now, it’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Man, I love this series, and this one, #23, was just plain fun. Not a courtroom in sight, and instead of Paul Drake putting in a bit of sleuthing footwork for Perry, he gets to be bait. A good time was had by all.

Banning Clarke and Salty Bowers are a pair of prospectors, seeking lost gold mines in Southern California. (Ahahaha, sure, boys.) But Banning got mixed up with a wealthy dame (now deceased) and is currently holed up in her seaside mansion with her family and assorted hangers-on. And his ticker is giving him problems. Not to worry, his buddy Salty has come to save him. He rustles up a little campsite in a cactus garden on a corner of the estate, and as soon as Banning gets some plain camp cooking and a few nights under the stars, Salty is positive he’ll be good to go, and the buddies can resume their nomad life in the desert. But this place is crawling with all sorts of colorful characters, such as Perry’s cattle baron buddy from down the street to the former hash-slinging cook from a Mojave greasy spoon, a Ma Kettle type. Arsenic poisoning seems to be running rampant, although no one dies from that, and there are all sorts of crooked share trading schemes going on. Let just say this place is LIT.

Now one of the fun bits for me with Perry Mason books, is to try to figure out the actual locations. You do have to know a bit about the history of Southern California, and its road system at the time. This was written in 1943 (pre-freeways) and I believe the seaside mansion on the hills is in Malibu. The ranch where Perry and Della get to ride horses with the baron is, I think, King Gillette Ranch in Agoura. The gold was placer gold, the only kind discovered in So. Cal, in Placerita Canyon (now Santa Clarita), and they were traveling there from San Bernardino via the south rim of Antelope Valley, through Pinyon Hills. OK, now I know where we are.

And Paul? Well, his assignment to show up in the above greasy spoon as a drunk prospector with a bit of gold to flash around and tales to tell of where he found it. Lad seems to enjoy his assignment.
Paul Drake lurched forward, peered up at Mason with the intense scrutiny of someone who is having some difficulty focusing his eyes. “Hello, stranger,” he said. “Let me introduce myself. My name’s Drake. I’m half owner of the richest bonanza ever discovered in the whole mining history of the West. I’m happy. You, my boy, look hungry. You look thirsty. You look dissatisfied. You look unhappy. In short, my lad, you look like a Republican on an appropriations committee. . . . let me buy you a piece of pie.” *snicker*

And just for the record, Mason makes another offer to make Della an honest woman, but she is still having none of that. You go ahead and live your best life, girl.

[Serdar Poirot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mason'a Salty Bowers adında bir adam ziyarete gelir. Bir madenci olduğunu, çölde yaşadığını ve ortağının sağlık durumu sebebiyle oradan ayrılamadığı için fikrine başvurmak üzere evine çağırdığını söyler. Mason yola çıkar ve Banning Clarke ile tanışır. Golar adında meşhur bir altın madeninde bahseder. Eşi öldükten sonra onun akrabaları Jim ve bayan Brandison, aşçı olan atasözü meraklısı Nell Sims, kocası Pete, kızı Dorina, hemşire Velma ve daha bir çok insan ile aynı yerde yaşadığını, ancak iş konusunda bazı hileler olduğunu bu konuda yardım istediğini söyler. Della ile evde kalan Mason, Paul Drake'e de bir maceracı kılığına girmesini söyler. Avukat Mofgatt Brandison ailesini temsil etmektedir. Anne oğul Brandison bir gün zehirlendiklerini iddia eder. Doktor Keynard'ı çağıran Velma arsenikten şüphelenir. Tuzlukta arsenik bulunur. Bir gün sonra yemekten sonra çay içen Mason ve Della da zehirlenip. Bu sırada dışarıda karaltı gören Velma ışığı yakınca kurşunlanır ama yaralanmaz. Bir sivrisinek sesi duyduğunu sanar. Clarke ve Bowers kayıptır. Sonradan öğrenilir ki Clarke da zehirlenmiştir ve Bowers doktor ararken bir kurşunla öldürülür. Mofgatt Brandison ve Pete arasındaki hile davasını Mason yüzünden kaybeder. Hisseleri tamamen alamazlar. Pete arseniği eve getirmiştir ve Bob adında ikinci bir kişiliği olduğunu iddia eder. Tragg'in akrabası olan Şerif Greggory Mason'a evrak çalmaktan yakalamak ister ama başarılı olamaz. Bu sırada Pete ile konuşan ve sivrisinek benzeri ses çıkaran bir aletle madeni tespit eden Mason, şahitlerden Small'u da tuzağa düşürür. Brandison ailesi şantaj yapmaktadır. Peki Clarke'ı kim öldürmüştür? Karısının ölmeden önce yazdığı vasiyet nerededir? Mofgatt nerededir? Greggory Mason'ı dinleyecek midir? Velma ile doktor evlenecek midir? Keyifle okunan bir roman.

[Shikha | theliteraryescapade · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito by Erle Stanley Gardner is a book that I picked up because I got intrigued with its title. Before reading this, I was not aware that there's an entire series of Perry Mason novels, and also a television courtroom drama.

It's one unusual mystery, where Perry Mason, a defense attorney while fighting to get his client out of a conspiracy, turns detective in figuring out a murder. ( No spoilers)

After the death of his wife, Banning Clarke becomes a prey to people who are mostly in his acquaintance, all because of conspiracy and confusion arousing out of his will. It's up to Perry Mason and his secretary Della Street to get back for Clarke what's rightfully his.

In carrying out due diligence for the case, absurd incidents happen leading to
- a mysterious dual natured murder plan,
- character descriptions and back stories of all people involved, and
- case browsing by a skeptical Sheriff
- an unveiling of the infamous 'Drowsy Mosquito'.

I was blown away when I discovered the mystery of the titular drowsy mosquito. It's an ingenious concept, and very well executed. I also liked that before the story begins, the author lists and puts a brief introduction of all the characters that appear in the story, like in a play!

The book is a slow mystery/thriller, and in middle it felt like story was being dragged; but it never feels like you want to give up on the story.

I recommend it if you like to read mystery, and one that is a little different from usual templates of thrillers, and unexpected endings.

[Amit Bikram · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel takes Mason and Della on a journey into the desert and on a tour of a past which refers to the decades after the California Gold Rush, which probably still lasted till the end of the 19th century and early parts of the 20th century. The book starts off in an atypical fashion, with a guy dressed up like a vagabond knocking on the doors of the most famous(infamous?) defence lawyer to seek help regarding some corporate law. That takes our story's protagonists out to a vast plot of land, which has been redesigned to mirror the desert, where Salty(the vagabond) and his partner/friend are living out in the open, while the remaining people of the household occupy the house.

There are a few cases of people ingesting arsenic and subsequently getting poisoned and bed ridden, Mason and Della being two of the victims unfortunately. The murder eventually happens and bullet joins arsenic as a killer mechanism, and there seems genuine danger to the life of anyone innocent poking her nose into the mystery surrounding the murder. Tragg's brother-in-law is introduced as the sheriff of the town though he lacks the brains of the Lieutenant. Also, Drake, the PI sidekick of Mason, finally gets to enjoy a life of royalty on the expense account, going around town drinking and making a nuisance.

The plot seems a bit drawn out and there are many clues all throughout the book, the drowsy mosquito being one of them. It turns out to be a vital clue to the whole puzzle while at the same time being of little or no use in solving the murder. Going to rate it three stars, simply because there are way too many red herrings and the plot is unnecessarily complicated with many technicalities of the law discussed and not a single courtroom scene.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prospecting, murder and a series of double-crosses to make your head spin.

This 1940s entry in the long running series sees Perry Mason and Della Street spending a fair proportion of their time in the desert, and we get to learn all about a few sharp confidence tricks and how best to pull them off. Perry finds himself flirting perilously with the limits of professional ethics and there's an amusingly atypical role for Paul Drake to fulfill.

The Mason books of the 30s had a definite hard-boiled vibe yet by the next decade a few of the rougher edges had been shaved off, but not all. This novel also contains a number of wartime references - how many young men are off in the army and the effect of that on society. Then there's the rationing of coffee and sugar, and the way the characters are drinking lots of tea.

I've come to think of Gardner in the same the way I think of Rex Stout - not that they are similar in writing styles, but rather for their ability to create a set of characters that I enjoy spending time with, going about their business in a familiar world that I always look forward to visiting.

[FM · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be honest . . . most of the time I had no earthly idea what was going on in this book. I just kind of went along for the ride. The "mystery" itself made no sense to me at all--real estate and gold claims and who the heck were those people living in the house and why didn't the guy want his partner to marry that woman and how the hell did Perry and Della get arsenic poisoning and how on earth did Paul Drake get all kitted out as a crazy drunken prospector between 3 a.m. and noon??? The mosquito wasn't a mosquito but was a red herring in a jar.
It didn't really matter. Of course Mason wins in the end (somehow).
My husband read this book before me (he's the one who started reading these in chronological order) also couldn't make heads nor tails of this so I'm not alone.
Read it, however, for the beautiful descriptions of the Southern California desert. And the bizarre idea that 80 years ago, people were still looking for gold in California.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 1 out of 5]

What preposterous nonsense. A hot-shot lawyer heads into a dessert - with his secretary - based on yapping by a bun-looking "prospector". Worse, the lawyer stays in the dessert...in a tent. Even in 1942 this would not occur. My grandfather was a hot shot lawyer at that time in Miami. I can not begin to envision him in the Everglades in a tent anymore than I can imagine him in a dessert in a tent.

The book swerves into nearly science fiction involving a mosquito. This is a basis for solving all that goes wrong. A LOT goes wrong. Yet, Mason and Reese don't go running and screaming from where death and near-death occurs. They keep hanging around, sleeping in a tent and are nearly killed.

This is horrible plotting. Rotten logic and convoluted storytelling.
Not only should this have not been published the first time...but the many reprints that followed.

Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 2 out of ten points.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with a number of other readers in finding this plot complex and a bit hard to follow. Even with my law degree, the legalities of corporate law and fraud one needs to understand to follow this story were burdensome. I am not sure I ever sorted it all out.

Some of the writing is better than usual for Gardner. There is also an attempt at humor represented by a character who mangles proverbs. And the desert setting is unusual for this series.

It's worth a read if you like the series, as I do, but this was a bit of a chore compared to most of the previous "The Case Of's..."

[Keziah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this from one of the many second hand book boxes outside people’s houses in the covid lockdown. It started pretty dry and pretty lawyer technical (I had to get my housemate who studies law to translate most of the first chapter) but grew massively on me - can’t believe I’ve not heard of this author before - he’s quality! A solid detective/lawyer story, with many plot twists (sometimes pretty convoluted though). Genuinely didn’t know who had done it until the big reveal at the end. A good book for a bedtime read 👌🏼

[Vance Cariaga · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the blog (vancecariaga.com): In this installment, Mason and his assistant Della travel to a part of the California desert that was home to a gold rush during the late 19th century. Mason is approached by a vagabond who wants help with an old gold mine claim. From there, the plot goes into a dozen different directions that I frankly had a hard time keeping up with. People get poisoned by arsenic, including Perry and Della. Somebody is murdered. There’s a drowsy mosquito – in the desert. Maybe read another Mason book instead.

[Bill Suits · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one quite difficult to read. The subject matter I just found very confusing and there is a few red herrings out there so just be warned. It's all explained towards the very end, which is usual with these books, but I kind of kept wanting it to be finished so I could find out as opposed to enjoying reading the book as I went along. The only spoiler I can tell you is that it takes place in a mining community out in the desert away from Los Angeles. Yet somehow, and we know it's not a coincidence, the lieutenant from the LAPD comes into the story.

[Jc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous Perry Mason story, Drowsy Mosquito is the 23rd (1943) novel of the series. Very little, if any, court room drama here, but lots of interesting Perry, Stella, and Tragg adventures centered around one of Gardner’s favorite settings – old California mines. The family intrigue, and the goings on between generations and corporate powers, make for fun puzzles to unravel. And, of course while getting others out of trouble, Perry manages to get himself in trouble. One of the best of outside-the-courtroom stories in the Mason canon.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to be back with Perry Mason. I very much enjoyed following Perry and Della on this adventure. The descriptions of the dessert were really good and they helped me get a good sense of the setting. The end was pretty complicated and I'm still not entirely sure I understand the contribution of the mosquito. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Karien Díaz Valdez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perry Mason, Della Street y Paul Drake van al desierto y a las minas para resolver un asertijo que tiene como pieza principal un mosquito adormilado.
Crimen, misterio y reflexiones sobre el desierto y cómo este moldea a la persona.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, and really fun characters. Similar confusing, plot, revolving a lot around contracts and legal suits but beautiful descriptions of the desert. And it’s the first time in the books that Perry asked Della to marry him. She wisely refuses.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's a little different making it hard to review by comparing it to others. No courtroom scenes. But the story is very good, showing us Perry and Della camping outdoors. A good murder mystery, and I would have given it 5 stars but I was a bit confused by the solution at the end.

[Val Ras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perry Mason takes a case of prospector, who gets killed later. A lot of of pages related to prospecting and although it's interesting I found plot a little bit too convoluted and not exactly fitting together. Maybe it's just me.

[Larisa Scates · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone has doubts that Perry and Della were "involved" romantically, or were moving that way, or should have been involved (!!), the last couple of pages of this book will remove your doubt.

[James Vest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perry Mason is sidelined by a droll lineup of characters and repeatedly breaks the law in a run-up to a solution that never sees the light of a courtroom.

[Walt Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent mystery, almost a parlor room mystery without a single scene in a courtroom.