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Perry Mason #25
The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde
"When beautiful blonde Diana Regis appears at Perry Mason's office with a nasty black eye, the lawyer agrees to investigate. What does he find? ...
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1944
9 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Erle Stanley Gardner
1,351 books817 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 64 reviews
April 3, 2018
Perry Mason novels are always good for escaping the negativity that surrounds us every day. Same thing with Agatha Christie novels. As for this particular case, it's the first time that the unspoken crush Mason and Della have for each other is physically shown. In fact, this is the first of many Perry Mason novels I've read where they actually kiss! Hubba hubba! Maybe it's the result of them both spending a night in jail for concealing evidence. My copy is part of a two-fer including The Case of the Singing Skirt which was also fun reading. I don't remember if I reviewed it or not.
October 28, 2012
When I was around ten years old, I pulled a yellowed paperback from the family bookcase called The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde written by Erle Stanley Gardner. It was my first introduction to lawyer Perry Mason, and the tale was lurid and politically incorrect. I loved it.
Gardner died at the age of eighty-one in 1970, the author of more than seven hundred fictional works, including 127 novels, 400 articles and more than a dozen travel books. He also wrote under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J. Kenny, Les Tillray, and Robert Parr. In the mid-1960s, Gardner’s novels sold around 20,000 per day. He is considered one of the best-selling mystery writers of all time with 325 million books distributed globally.
Gardner could have stepped, larger than life, from the pages of one of his own novels. He attended law school for only a month, when he got suspended for making a boxing ring in his dorm room, and a professor got knocked down during a demonstration. The school sought a warrant for his arrest and Gardner claims he “skipped town one jump ahead of the sheriff.” Gardner eventually settled in California where he studied law on his own and passed the state bar exam in 1911, qualifying him to practice law as an attorney.
In 1921, a dozen years before his first Perry Mason sale, Gardner broke into print with a story he sold for fifteen dollars entitled, “Nellie’s Naughty Nighty.” His mother read the title and was so scandalized, she refused to read another word. After that first sale, Gardner faced repeated rejection. "I wrote the worst stories that ever hit New York,” he later admitted. "My stories were terrible...I didn't know how to plot [and] I had no natural aptitude as a writer."
Sweet fortune smiled eventually, but Gardner had bitter criticism to face first. His novelette, The Shrieking Skeleton was under consideration at Black Mask magazine, and the circulation manager sent a scathing note to the editor, saying, "This story gives me a pain in the neck . . . it's pretty near the last word in childishness, and the plot has whiskers...” The story was "puerile, trite, obvious, and unnatural.” The note was accidently sent to Gardner, who sat down and rewrote the story over three nights, carefully fixing everything the note mentioned. He mailed it back to the embarrassed editor, who purchased it for $160.
Perry Mason became arguably the most famous fictional lawyer of all time, featured in more than 80 novels and short stories. Gardner personally cast actor Raymond Burr—dark, handsome and velvet voiced—for the TV role, and episodes still run today on television all over the world.
The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde is still my favorite Perry Mason, and it’s even more entertaining today because of its little political-editorial asides by Gardner, that don’t get in the way of the plot. I love this dialogue from the black-eyed heroine, has a job reading stories to a rich man, and she passes his opinions along to Perry Mason:
“He claims that the great American trouble is that we are too credulous.
He says our national trait is to believe everything that’s dished out to us
and then, when the gilt paint wears off the gold brick, to blame everyone
except ourselves.”
Gardner wrote that in 1944. The more things change the more they stay the same. Of course there’s lots of derring-do, with help from trusty, recurring characters Della Street and Paul Drake. Lt. Tragg and the crusty men of his force are always hot on the trail, but they stay a step behind Perry and his sleuthing, at the best of times.
Gardner had a formula for Perry Mason novels, and it made them them reliable pulp escapism. No matter how dire the situation, Perry always solved the case in court, the bad guys were vanquished and justice was served. No wonder the books are still selling, and the series is still on TV.
A magnificent collection of Gardner’s manuscripts and papers reside in The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center in Texas, described as, “one of the most complete records of a writing career ever made.” The library features a model of his study room, on display for viewing by visitors.
Finally, Gardner is the author of the best piece of writing advice ever: “It’s a damn good story. If you have any comments, write them on the back of a check.”
Gardner died at the age of eighty-one in 1970, the author of more than seven hundred fictional works, including 127 novels, 400 articles and more than a dozen travel books. He also wrote under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J. Kenny, Les Tillray, and Robert Parr. In the mid-1960s, Gardner’s novels sold around 20,000 per day. He is considered one of the best-selling mystery writers of all time with 325 million books distributed globally.
Gardner could have stepped, larger than life, from the pages of one of his own novels. He attended law school for only a month, when he got suspended for making a boxing ring in his dorm room, and a professor got knocked down during a demonstration. The school sought a warrant for his arrest and Gardner claims he “skipped town one jump ahead of the sheriff.” Gardner eventually settled in California where he studied law on his own and passed the state bar exam in 1911, qualifying him to practice law as an attorney.
In 1921, a dozen years before his first Perry Mason sale, Gardner broke into print with a story he sold for fifteen dollars entitled, “Nellie’s Naughty Nighty.” His mother read the title and was so scandalized, she refused to read another word. After that first sale, Gardner faced repeated rejection. "I wrote the worst stories that ever hit New York,” he later admitted. "My stories were terrible...I didn't know how to plot [and] I had no natural aptitude as a writer."
Sweet fortune smiled eventually, but Gardner had bitter criticism to face first. His novelette, The Shrieking Skeleton was under consideration at Black Mask magazine, and the circulation manager sent a scathing note to the editor, saying, "This story gives me a pain in the neck . . . it's pretty near the last word in childishness, and the plot has whiskers...” The story was "puerile, trite, obvious, and unnatural.” The note was accidently sent to Gardner, who sat down and rewrote the story over three nights, carefully fixing everything the note mentioned. He mailed it back to the embarrassed editor, who purchased it for $160.
Perry Mason became arguably the most famous fictional lawyer of all time, featured in more than 80 novels and short stories. Gardner personally cast actor Raymond Burr—dark, handsome and velvet voiced—for the TV role, and episodes still run today on television all over the world.
The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde is still my favorite Perry Mason, and it’s even more entertaining today because of its little political-editorial asides by Gardner, that don’t get in the way of the plot. I love this dialogue from the black-eyed heroine, has a job reading stories to a rich man, and she passes his opinions along to Perry Mason:
“He claims that the great American trouble is that we are too credulous.
He says our national trait is to believe everything that’s dished out to us
and then, when the gilt paint wears off the gold brick, to blame everyone
except ourselves.”
Gardner wrote that in 1944. The more things change the more they stay the same. Of course there’s lots of derring-do, with help from trusty, recurring characters Della Street and Paul Drake. Lt. Tragg and the crusty men of his force are always hot on the trail, but they stay a step behind Perry and his sleuthing, at the best of times.
Gardner had a formula for Perry Mason novels, and it made them them reliable pulp escapism. No matter how dire the situation, Perry always solved the case in court, the bad guys were vanquished and justice was served. No wonder the books are still selling, and the series is still on TV.
A magnificent collection of Gardner’s manuscripts and papers reside in The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center in Texas, described as, “one of the most complete records of a writing career ever made.” The library features a model of his study room, on display for viewing by visitors.
Finally, Gardner is the author of the best piece of writing advice ever: “It’s a damn good story. If you have any comments, write them on the back of a check.”
March 9, 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. Now, after a lot of water over the dam, I'm looking at them again.
Those who are used to really fine mystery writers (in the literary sense), 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 around 1953 are the best. This one was written in 1944, and is excellent. It opens with an attractive young blonde woman, Diana Regis, coming to Mason's office one morning dressed only in a nightgown and a fur coat -- and a black eye. She tells a story of having been out at her employer's large house the night before, where the employer, Jason Bartsler, lives with his second wife, stepson Carl, and a business associate. The ne'er-do-well stepson made heavy passes at her and punched her in the eye. She managed to escape the house poorly clad and had to walk a long way and spend the rest of the night in a train station before coming to see Mason. Meanwhile stepson Carl has convinced his mother that Diana is a "tramp" and totally at fault. Eventually Mason arrives at the house, cross-examines Carl, and convinces Jason Bartsler that Diana should be compensated for the sins of Carl.
That would seem to be the end of it, but Bartsler is impressed with Mason and comes to his office the next day to tell a very different type of story. His only son Robert, by his first now deceased wife, was killed at Pearl Harbor. Robert had married a young woman named Helen, whom Jason Bartsler did not approve of, calling her a gold-digger. Jason Bartsler recently learned from an anonymous tip that apparently Robert and Helen had a baby born soon after Robert died! Helen now hates Jason Bartsler and will not even confirm that a child exists. Bartsler wants Mason to track down his missing grandchild.
What does this have to do with Diana Regis? Bartsler hired detectives to keep an eye on Helen. They learned that Helen seems to have a friend, another young woman named Mildred Danville. Mildred shares an apartment with -- you guessed it -- Diana Regis. Bartsler employed Diana to gain info about Mildred.
Before long Mildred Danville is murdered on the property where Helen Bartsler is living. Evidence points to Diana Regis. Sergeant Holcomb plays a strong role as Mason's foil. He even arrests Mason and Della so they can be searched for a missing diary! No diary is found since Della cleverly hid it before anyone could read it.
The case goes to trial (a preliminary hearing) and there are good courtroom scenes, but not with Hamilton Burger. We eventually meet two middle aged matronly type women who may be baby sitters. What exactly was the intense relationship between Mildred and Helen? Who initially tipped off Jason Bartsler that he had a grandchild? What secret about her own past is Diana hiding? Perry manages to get the diary out from under Sgt. Holcomb's nose and eventually solve the crime.
This is one of the best Perry Mason stories. It's a rapid paced page-turner of a book. There is plenty of suspense, plenty of clever interactions with Holcomb and Tragg. There is a dramatic finish as Mason speeds to prevent a second murder. The plot is complex but not overly complicated nor far-fetched. And, as in all of the best ones, there is a special emotional kick at the end that I won't discuss, as it would be a spoiler.
Good use of Della, Paul Drake, and Lt. Tragg. Exceptional use of Sgt. Holcomb! Both Holcomb and Tragg! [Like the Lonely Heiress.]
Tragg was introduced in 17, this is 25.
Recurring themes: problematic second marriage; ne'er-do-well son or stepson; mining business. Mason taking chances and risking disbarment. Romance between Perry and Della.
This story could not happen today.
Highly recommended.
Diana Regis, blonde young radio actress who gets a black eye.
Jason Bartsler, wealthy older man with a second wife and a lothario stepson.
Carl Fretch, the ne'er-do-well stepson.
Frank Glenmore, business associate of Jason Bartsler.
Mrs. Bartsler, wife of Jason.
Helen Bartsler, estranged daughter-in-law of Jason, had been married to Jason's deceased son Robert.
Mildred Danville, roommate of Diana Regis, seems to be playing a deep game.
Ella Brockton, older woman who cares for children.
Those who are used to really fine mystery writers (in the literary sense), 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 around 1953 are the best. This one was written in 1944, and is excellent. It opens with an attractive young blonde woman, Diana Regis, coming to Mason's office one morning dressed only in a nightgown and a fur coat -- and a black eye. She tells a story of having been out at her employer's large house the night before, where the employer, Jason Bartsler, lives with his second wife, stepson Carl, and a business associate. The ne'er-do-well stepson made heavy passes at her and punched her in the eye. She managed to escape the house poorly clad and had to walk a long way and spend the rest of the night in a train station before coming to see Mason. Meanwhile stepson Carl has convinced his mother that Diana is a "tramp" and totally at fault. Eventually Mason arrives at the house, cross-examines Carl, and convinces Jason Bartsler that Diana should be compensated for the sins of Carl.
That would seem to be the end of it, but Bartsler is impressed with Mason and comes to his office the next day to tell a very different type of story. His only son Robert, by his first now deceased wife, was killed at Pearl Harbor. Robert had married a young woman named Helen, whom Jason Bartsler did not approve of, calling her a gold-digger. Jason Bartsler recently learned from an anonymous tip that apparently Robert and Helen had a baby born soon after Robert died! Helen now hates Jason Bartsler and will not even confirm that a child exists. Bartsler wants Mason to track down his missing grandchild.
What does this have to do with Diana Regis? Bartsler hired detectives to keep an eye on Helen. They learned that Helen seems to have a friend, another young woman named Mildred Danville. Mildred shares an apartment with -- you guessed it -- Diana Regis. Bartsler employed Diana to gain info about Mildred.
Before long Mildred Danville is murdered on the property where Helen Bartsler is living. Evidence points to Diana Regis. Sergeant Holcomb plays a strong role as Mason's foil. He even arrests Mason and Della so they can be searched for a missing diary! No diary is found since Della cleverly hid it before anyone could read it.
The case goes to trial (a preliminary hearing) and there are good courtroom scenes, but not with Hamilton Burger. We eventually meet two middle aged matronly type women who may be baby sitters. What exactly was the intense relationship between Mildred and Helen? Who initially tipped off Jason Bartsler that he had a grandchild? What secret about her own past is Diana hiding? Perry manages to get the diary out from under Sgt. Holcomb's nose and eventually solve the crime.
This is one of the best Perry Mason stories. It's a rapid paced page-turner of a book. There is plenty of suspense, plenty of clever interactions with Holcomb and Tragg. There is a dramatic finish as Mason speeds to prevent a second murder. The plot is complex but not overly complicated nor far-fetched. And, as in all of the best ones, there is a special emotional kick at the end that I won't discuss, as it would be a spoiler.
Good use of Della, Paul Drake, and Lt. Tragg. Exceptional use of Sgt. Holcomb! Both Holcomb and Tragg! [Like the Lonely Heiress.]
Tragg was introduced in 17, this is 25.
Recurring themes: problematic second marriage; ne'er-do-well son or stepson; mining business. Mason taking chances and risking disbarment. Romance between Perry and Della.
This story could not happen today.
Highly recommended.
Diana Regis, blonde young radio actress who gets a black eye.
Jason Bartsler, wealthy older man with a second wife and a lothario stepson.
Carl Fretch, the ne'er-do-well stepson.
Frank Glenmore, business associate of Jason Bartsler.
Mrs. Bartsler, wife of Jason.
Helen Bartsler, estranged daughter-in-law of Jason, had been married to Jason's deceased son Robert.
Mildred Danville, roommate of Diana Regis, seems to be playing a deep game.
Ella Brockton, older woman who cares for children.
April 27, 2017
Every time I read a Perry Mason book, the same question keeps lurking in the back of my mind:
How come Perry trusts his client so much?
I mean, I get that it’s the formula of the series and that a lawyer is bound by his/her professional obligation, but it’s still amazing to see Perry operating/being forced to operate with the full assumption that his client—who always ends up being Very Suspicious Person Doing the Most Suspicious Things—is innocent.
Anyway, standard Perry Mason mystery formula here, with him having to clean up the mess left by a desperately unlucky client, a jackass woman-hitting dude, and a wealthy man with custodial issue. There are fewer courtroom scenes than usual though, as even the climax and reveal of the true criminal happen outside of court. The case and the characters are okay, although not exactly memorable—I just finished this book yesterday, and I already mostly forgot about the killer’s motive.
Still, there’s a lot of fun stuff in the Perry+Della+Paul vs. Lieutenant Tragg+Sergeant Holcomb duel to secure key evidence, leverage information, and find opening on each other’s case. The amusing dialogue and snarkfest between these characters are pretty much the highlight of this book. Perry and Della have gotten pretty romantic too, and it’s a pleasant treat for readers who have seen them work well together as a team. I like how unobtrusive this aspect is; appearing in just few lines here and there but still works effectively, as reflected in this lovely passage:
They settled back against the cushions, listening to the beat of the rain on the steel top of the car, relaxing in the silence of perfect understanding.
How come Perry trusts his client so much?
I mean, I get that it’s the formula of the series and that a lawyer is bound by his/her professional obligation, but it’s still amazing to see Perry operating/being forced to operate with the full assumption that his client—who always ends up being Very Suspicious Person Doing the Most Suspicious Things—is innocent.
Anyway, standard Perry Mason mystery formula here, with him having to clean up the mess left by a desperately unlucky client, a jackass woman-hitting dude, and a wealthy man with custodial issue. There are fewer courtroom scenes than usual though, as even the climax and reveal of the true criminal happen outside of court. The case and the characters are okay, although not exactly memorable—I just finished this book yesterday, and I already mostly forgot about the killer’s motive.
Still, there’s a lot of fun stuff in the Perry+Della+Paul vs. Lieutenant Tragg+Sergeant Holcomb duel to secure key evidence, leverage information, and find opening on each other’s case. The amusing dialogue and snarkfest between these characters are pretty much the highlight of this book. Perry and Della have gotten pretty romantic too, and it’s a pleasant treat for readers who have seen them work well together as a team. I like how unobtrusive this aspect is; appearing in just few lines here and there but still works effectively, as reflected in this lovely passage:
They settled back against the cushions, listening to the beat of the rain on the steel top of the car, relaxing in the silence of perfect understanding.
January 20, 2022
When a young woman comes to Perry Mason complaining that she has been sacked after rejecting advances, his investigation leads him into a minefield seeded by his old adversary, Sgt Holcomb.
A nicely bubbling plot which draws together satisfactorily at the climax. Well worth a read.
A nicely bubbling plot which draws together satisfactorily at the climax. Well worth a read.
February 14, 2012
Worth reading only for the descriptions of California in the 40's---Raymond Chandler-lite. Plot, character development and relationships were lame. My first and last foray into Perry Mason.
June 21, 2021
Major characters:
Diana Regis, radio actress, the "black-eyed blonde"
Mildred Danville, her roommate
Jason Bartsler, mining operator, and her employer
Robert Bartsler, Jason's son, killed at Pearl Harbor prior to the story
Helen Bartsler, Robert's widow
Robert Bartsler, Jr., 3-year old son of Robert and Helen
Carl Fretch, Jason's stepson
Frank Glenmore, a mining manager for Jason
Perry Mason, attorney
Della Street, his secretary
Synopsis: Diana Regis shows up at Perry Mason's office. She has been assaulted - and give a black eye - by Carl Fretch, stepson of her employer, Jason Bartsler. Bartsler is a mining operator, and due to limited vision, has employed Diana to read him various articles and printed matter in the evenings. The assault occurred after a dinner date with Fretch went bad and he made her find her own way back. (Diana had an apartment with roommate Mildred Danville, but also had a room at Bartsler's home for her convenience while working there).
She arrived back at Bartsler's to find Fretch holding Diana's purse, and showing Mrs. Bartsler it contained a diamond pendant belonging to her - alleging Diana had stolen it. Jason, being the problem-solving executive, offers Diana - through Mason - a quick $1500 settlement to forget everything, which she accepts. Case closed.
Jason likes Mason, and hires him to solve a separate problem of his own. He had a son, Robert Bartsler, who is missing in action from the 1941 attack at Pearl Harbor. Robert and his wife, Helen, apparently had a son (Robert Jr.) which Jason was unaware of; and wants Mason to track him down. Helen is apparently putting the child up for adoption.
Mason and secretary Della Street go out to Helen's home, and find a blonde woman dead in back of the house. They initially think it is Diana Regis, but it turns out to be her roommate Mildred Danville; who resembles her.
Review: (caution, potential spoilers here)
I do enjoy a Perry Mason, especially when there is a limited cast of characters to follow. Sometimes there are way too many to follow without making notes, but this one is quite concise.
In this early Mason, he is much tougher than later stories; and his relationship with Della quite a bit more steamy - they get to the point of deep kisses and making out in his car [shocking!].
I was fooled on one big account. I was expecting Robert Bartsler, MIA but never declared dead, to show up and become part of the plot. But no, he continued to rest in peace. Perhaps his role cast as a Pearl Harbor casualty (only three years before this writing) was too serious to be trifled with.
The one big annoying aspect of this story is that the cad, Carl Fretch, never got what he had coming to him. He walked away without being prosecuted or becoming the next victim.
Diana Regis, radio actress, the "black-eyed blonde"
Mildred Danville, her roommate
Jason Bartsler, mining operator, and her employer
Robert Bartsler, Jason's son, killed at Pearl Harbor prior to the story
Helen Bartsler, Robert's widow
Robert Bartsler, Jr., 3-year old son of Robert and Helen
Carl Fretch, Jason's stepson
Frank Glenmore, a mining manager for Jason
Perry Mason, attorney
Della Street, his secretary
Synopsis: Diana Regis shows up at Perry Mason's office. She has been assaulted - and give a black eye - by Carl Fretch, stepson of her employer, Jason Bartsler. Bartsler is a mining operator, and due to limited vision, has employed Diana to read him various articles and printed matter in the evenings. The assault occurred after a dinner date with Fretch went bad and he made her find her own way back. (Diana had an apartment with roommate Mildred Danville, but also had a room at Bartsler's home for her convenience while working there).
She arrived back at Bartsler's to find Fretch holding Diana's purse, and showing Mrs. Bartsler it contained a diamond pendant belonging to her - alleging Diana had stolen it. Jason, being the problem-solving executive, offers Diana - through Mason - a quick $1500 settlement to forget everything, which she accepts. Case closed.
Jason likes Mason, and hires him to solve a separate problem of his own. He had a son, Robert Bartsler, who is missing in action from the 1941 attack at Pearl Harbor. Robert and his wife, Helen, apparently had a son (Robert Jr.) which Jason was unaware of; and wants Mason to track him down. Helen is apparently putting the child up for adoption.
Mason and secretary Della Street go out to Helen's home, and find a blonde woman dead in back of the house. They initially think it is Diana Regis, but it turns out to be her roommate Mildred Danville; who resembles her.
Review: (caution, potential spoilers here)
I do enjoy a Perry Mason, especially when there is a limited cast of characters to follow. Sometimes there are way too many to follow without making notes, but this one is quite concise.
In this early Mason, he is much tougher than later stories; and his relationship with Della quite a bit more steamy - they get to the point of deep kisses and making out in his car [shocking!].
I was fooled on one big account. I was expecting Robert Bartsler, MIA but never declared dead, to show up and become part of the plot. But no, he continued to rest in peace. Perhaps his role cast as a Pearl Harbor casualty (only three years before this writing) was too serious to be trifled with.
The one big annoying aspect of this story is that the cad, Carl Fretch, never got what he had coming to him. He walked away without being prosecuted or becoming the next victim.
July 6, 2023
Bir önceki davasını başarıyla sonuçlandırmışken bürosuna sarışın bir kızın geldiğini öğrenir Mason. Bu kız, bir gözü morarmış ve paltosu dışında herhangi bir elbisesi olmayan biridir. Diana Regis zamanında bir iş teklifini kabul edip Jason Barster'a makale okuma işine girişmiştir. Ama bu gece üvey oğlu Carl Fretch onu dışarı çıkarmış, yemekten sonra sarkıntılık edince eve tek başına dönmüş, çantası da Carl'da kalmış, eve gidince bir kadın onun taksi parasını ödemiş, evde hırsızlık ile suçlanmış ve Carl tarafından yumruklanınca ev arkadaşı Mildred Danville'i yardım için aramak istemiş, parası olmayınca da buraya kadar gelmiştir. Mason bu bilgileri aldıktan sonra Jason'un evine gider ve orada Frank Girlmore ile de tanışır. Jason ve ailesi ile görüşen Mason, Diana adına büyük bir tazminat alır. Ayrıca Jason'un talebini de alır. Gelini Helen, ölen oğlu Robert ile beraber bir çocuk yapmıştır. Ama bunu yeni öğrenmiştir ve torunu nerede bilmemektedir. Bir gün Diana, Mason'ı Mildred ve Helen ile buluşmak için çağırır ama kendisi gelmeyince Mason ve Della belirtilen adrese gider. Burada bir ceset bulurlar ama o sırada Tragg gelir. En başta Diana zannederler ama sonra Mildred olduğu anlaşılır. Della sonradan evine gelen Diana'yı saklamak isterken yakalanır. Dava açılacaktır. Ayrıca Komiser Holcomb da dönmüş ve sürekli Mason ile uğraşmaktadır. Mason, Paul Drake'i bir yandan Jason evini bir yandan da Diana evini kontrol etmesi için görevlendirir. Bir çöpçü sayesinde Diana'nın evindeki günlüğü alan Mason, ölüm olan yerde bir çeşmenin açık olduğunu ama Helen'in aksi yönde ifade verdiğini fark eder. Bu arada o gece eve gelen topal kadının torun Robert'i saklayan kadın olduğu ortaya çıkar. Ama kadın Mason'ın arabasını çalıp kaçar. Mason Holcomb ile görüşür ama onu ikna edemez. Paul ile çocuğu da alarak Jason evine gider. Burada polislerle girince Jason'ı bulur yaralı bir vaziyette. Katil kimdir ve yakalanabilecek midir? Topal kadın ilk gece eve geldiğinde kimle uzun uzun konuşmuştur? Ayrıca Carl, Paul'un kadın dedektifine sarkıntılık edince başına ne gelecektir? Mason bu işi çözebilecek midir? Tragg ona inanacak mıdır? Torun ait olduğu yere gidecek midir? Keyifle okunan bir roman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
I love a good Perry Mason book. This one isn’t my favorite. The reveal was a little convoluted for me, and the courtroom scene didn’t have its usual punch. However, there are some interesting parts with social commentary that I enjoyed: Diana Regis, the titular character, tells Perry and Della Street that she worked for a man who read old newspaper articles filled with logic about current events that would or wouldn’t happen, and he read them to prove that, even with logic, nobody could predict the future, and that Americans are too gullible (imagine reading an article about corona 20 years from now and seeing how much we got wrong but how much of the false information people believed at the time); the police have too much power—Mason is arrested, and Della Street asks if it was legal, and Mason says no, but Sergeant Holcomb is able to arrest him anyway because he’s a cop and has the power; justice for all people, that it’s about right and wrong, not the nuances; and finally, that men see what they want when they look in the mirror but that women are more realistic about what they see in themselves.
All these points are interesting to contemplate and reveal the deeper layers Gardner dives into besides his mystery. The mystery itself builds up well, and I like the characters. I love the banter. Mason is perfect, and I love him and Della Street together. The story was interesting, but like I said, the ending is more convoluted, and I was disappointed by the reveal and the motive. What it seemed to be at first was much more interesting and intriguing (in every sense of the word).
That being said, I love Gardner’s mysteries. I enjoy the main, recurring characters, and I love any book with a courtroom scene. I also enjoy the interplay between lawyers and cops and how both are arguably fighting for justice but how they go about it in different ways and oddly conflict in their seemingly common goal. I recommend this book but also just Perry Mason mysteries in general!
All these points are interesting to contemplate and reveal the deeper layers Gardner dives into besides his mystery. The mystery itself builds up well, and I like the characters. I love the banter. Mason is perfect, and I love him and Della Street together. The story was interesting, but like I said, the ending is more convoluted, and I was disappointed by the reveal and the motive. What it seemed to be at first was much more interesting and intriguing (in every sense of the word).
That being said, I love Gardner’s mysteries. I enjoy the main, recurring characters, and I love any book with a courtroom scene. I also enjoy the interplay between lawyers and cops and how both are arguably fighting for justice but how they go about it in different ways and oddly conflict in their seemingly common goal. I recommend this book but also just Perry Mason mysteries in general!
December 14, 2020
This novel technically starts at the end of the previous book "The Case Of The Crooked Candle" with a blonde visiting the office of the prominent defense attorney, Perry Mason. The initial pages deal with a minor case involving assault at the blonde's place of work. While the case in itself seems quite trivial at that point, it would do well for the readers to keep a note of all that happens during the case, and see if any can get at the correct outcome before Mason does. (I couldn't)
The plot moves along at a nice pace and the setup gives a foreboding of a very sinister force at work against Mason. This novel also marks the return of Sergeant Holcomb to the homicide division, after his humiliation and transfer from the squad in a previous novel. (Can someone please help me know which novel it was?)
The characters in the book all look menacing at some point or the other, so there are a few red herrings along the way. There is a detailed court scene as well, but unlike previous novels, Mason has no clue what actually happened (except for one vital point) and kind of goes through the motion a bit, as the real chase starts after the courtroom scene. Also, there is a scene with a toddler enjoying the fast and loose driving of Mason while Drake is scared, which added a bit of comic relief to an otherwise exhilarating and tense finish.
I love the way the actual culprit is revealed to the readers even though I felt a few plot points being quite weak. Would still rate it 4 stars for the way the machinations built it up to a frenetic finish.
The plot moves along at a nice pace and the setup gives a foreboding of a very sinister force at work against Mason. This novel also marks the return of Sergeant Holcomb to the homicide division, after his humiliation and transfer from the squad in a previous novel. (Can someone please help me know which novel it was?)
The characters in the book all look menacing at some point or the other, so there are a few red herrings along the way. There is a detailed court scene as well, but unlike previous novels, Mason has no clue what actually happened (except for one vital point) and kind of goes through the motion a bit, as the real chase starts after the courtroom scene. Also, there is a scene with a toddler enjoying the fast and loose driving of Mason while Drake is scared, which added a bit of comic relief to an otherwise exhilarating and tense finish.
I love the way the actual culprit is revealed to the readers even though I felt a few plot points being quite weak. Would still rate it 4 stars for the way the machinations built it up to a frenetic finish.
July 12, 2023
You did what, Sergeant Holcomb? You put Perry Mason and Della Street in separate holding cells, and then you had the both of them strip searched? Oh, son, you just made a huge mistake. That is so not on. You are so going down.
OK, let’s back up a bit. Diane Regis, she with the shiner, has made her way to Mason’s office dressed in a fur coat and not much underneath. Seems as though her employer’s step-son (she’s a radio actress, employed to read articles for him as he has problems with his eyes, oh, and he is also a mining tycoon, as is par for the usual in Mason west coast rich types), slapped her around when she wouldn’t concede to his charms, planted some diamonds in her purse, and is now, in cahoots with his mom, accusing her of stealing from them. Well then. Obviously, no one is going to believe the hussy what with the black eye and all. But then things go from bad to worse when she is now accused of murder as well.
Enjoy a little 1944 tobacco power play. Mason offered Della Street a cigarette. Bartsler (Diane’s employer) declined one and took a cigar from his humidor. Mason, in turn, declined one of Bartsler’s cigars, and lit his own and Della’s cigarettes. Well then. I guess we all know where we stand now. ;
And also, I know that it was pre-Me Too times but I was disappointed that Diane didn’t file physical assault charges against the rich douche bro who gave her the black eye. It’s not as if you don’t have a lawyer RIGHT THERE. Seriously, girl.
OK, let’s back up a bit. Diane Regis, she with the shiner, has made her way to Mason’s office dressed in a fur coat and not much underneath. Seems as though her employer’s step-son (she’s a radio actress, employed to read articles for him as he has problems with his eyes, oh, and he is also a mining tycoon, as is par for the usual in Mason west coast rich types), slapped her around when she wouldn’t concede to his charms, planted some diamonds in her purse, and is now, in cahoots with his mom, accusing her of stealing from them. Well then. Obviously, no one is going to believe the hussy what with the black eye and all. But then things go from bad to worse when she is now accused of murder as well.
Enjoy a little 1944 tobacco power play. Mason offered Della Street a cigarette. Bartsler (Diane’s employer) declined one and took a cigar from his humidor. Mason, in turn, declined one of Bartsler’s cigars, and lit his own and Della’s cigarettes. Well then. I guess we all know where we stand now. ;
And also, I know that it was pre-Me Too times but I was disappointed that Diane didn’t file physical assault charges against the rich douche bro who gave her the black eye. It’s not as if you don’t have a lawyer RIGHT THERE. Seriously, girl.
September 14, 2023
Diana Regis, a good-looking blonde, wearing only a fur coat approaches Perry Mason in his office. She has a black-eye. She was hired to read numerous publications that had been printed years ago for a wealthy mine owner named Jason Bartsler because of his poor vision. She had been assaulted by her employer's stepson, Carl Fretch, when she rebuffed his crude advances. Carl and his mother accused her of stealing jewelry. She wants Mason to take Carl to task for his bad behavior and get back her unpaid dues. Jason quickly settles the dispute with Mason after learning about his stepson's attitude and the matter is closed. A short time after the agreement, Mildred Danville, Diana's roommate and someone who resembles her greatly, is found dead with a bullet wound to the back of the head. Diana's purse and a gun smeared in her fingerprints are discovered by the police at the crime scene. She is accused of the killing. Perry Mason advocates for her. The storyline of this instalment in the series is complex. The somewhat implausible conclusion falls short of expectations and is not gratifying. Not one of Perry Mason's best mysteries. BELOW PAR.
November 4, 2018
Neither the best nor the worst of the first 25 Perry Mason books (I am reading them in order).
The plot is complicated, but somewhat easier to follow than a few of tits predecessors in the series. There are a ton of twists and turns. For a change, the courtroom portion is not at the end, and Perry and Della finally kiss. (Whew...it sure took them long enough!). Sgt. Holcomb is back, and more annoying than ever.
Sure, there are off-putting details. Perry always asks Paul Drake for his best men, and Drake seems to have an enormous number of operatives. Some of the slang is decidedly dated. Perry's car is stolen by a woman with no mention of his having left the keys in it (which seems something he would never do), and a three-year-old is in a crib (maybe that;s normal; I have never lived with a kid that age). Women forget their purses often (the women I know are not at all prone to that).
But the plot is good enough, things move along well, and if you take a few notes as you read along, everything stays pretty clear. Not a great book, but still fun.
The plot is complicated, but somewhat easier to follow than a few of tits predecessors in the series. There are a ton of twists and turns. For a change, the courtroom portion is not at the end, and Perry and Della finally kiss. (Whew...it sure took them long enough!). Sgt. Holcomb is back, and more annoying than ever.
Sure, there are off-putting details. Perry always asks Paul Drake for his best men, and Drake seems to have an enormous number of operatives. Some of the slang is decidedly dated. Perry's car is stolen by a woman with no mention of his having left the keys in it (which seems something he would never do), and a three-year-old is in a crib (maybe that;s normal; I have never lived with a kid that age). Women forget their purses often (the women I know are not at all prone to that).
But the plot is good enough, things move along well, and if you take a few notes as you read along, everything stays pretty clear. Not a great book, but still fun.
April 13, 2024
When a young blonde woman sporting a black eye turns up at the office of Perry Mason, it sets in motion a series of events resulting in blackmail and murder.
This is the first Perry Mason novel I've read in many years - possible two decades - and this one is, I'm sorry to say, a bit of a jumbled mess. The story is convoluted and implausible, although it does boast Erle Stanley Gardner's trademark snappy dialogue and breakneck pacing. The characters of Mason, his elegant secretary Della Street, and his private investigator colleague Paul Drake, are distinct and reliable, and so what if the prose prioritises plot over characterisation? This is typical of much of the crime fiction from the Golden Age. The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde is a workmanlike novel, nothing groundbreaking, but enjoyable in its own right.
This is the first Perry Mason novel I've read in many years - possible two decades - and this one is, I'm sorry to say, a bit of a jumbled mess. The story is convoluted and implausible, although it does boast Erle Stanley Gardner's trademark snappy dialogue and breakneck pacing. The characters of Mason, his elegant secretary Della Street, and his private investigator colleague Paul Drake, are distinct and reliable, and so what if the prose prioritises plot over characterisation? This is typical of much of the crime fiction from the Golden Age. The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde is a workmanlike novel, nothing groundbreaking, but enjoyable in its own right.
May 13, 2025
This was a pretty good one, although still quite convoluted. At least I could follow who the people were (for the most part). Some humorous scenes with various detectives and a lecherous jerk finally got what was coming to him.
This story starts in a very different place from where it ends with some unexpected plot twists. As usual, it's fascinating to glimpse LA and southern California in the 1940s, and how much life has changed in general. The role of DNA in today's world would make this book have a very different ending. (In fact, the ending of the book is surprisingly casual . . . laughably so.)
But the book is briskly plotted and the details matter--from the very beginning, it's important to pay attention to timing and who is encountered when.
And seeing how many times hats are mentioned. That's how you know it was the 1940s.
This story starts in a very different place from where it ends with some unexpected plot twists. As usual, it's fascinating to glimpse LA and southern California in the 1940s, and how much life has changed in general. The role of DNA in today's world would make this book have a very different ending. (In fact, the ending of the book is surprisingly casual . . . laughably so.)
But the book is briskly plotted and the details matter--from the very beginning, it's important to pay attention to timing and who is encountered when.
And seeing how many times hats are mentioned. That's how you know it was the 1940s.
May 15, 2023
Black-Eyed Blonde (Perry Mason #25; 1944) is not the best of the more than 2 dozen Perry Mason’s I have read (many more to go), but it is an entertaining, adventurous Gardner detective/lawyer story still deserving 4-stars. It has all the usual characters, and the usual Perry-and-Della-skirting-the-edge-of-the-law scenarios, along with just enough goofy courtroom shenanigans to make it work. A fun, classic Mason story, but just not quite in the top ten for me. Glad I read it, but Black Eyed Blonde probably should not be chosen as the only original Gardner you pick up. Instead try maybe Dangerous Dowager, Shoplifter's Shoe, or Crooked Candle.
August 26, 2023
This is my first Perry Mason book – enjoyable but not especially engaging and I doubt he’ll become a firm favourite. Trouble is, it’s very lawyerish: a book about a lawyer as sleuth that very much reads as though written by a lawyer. Which funnily enough…..
It’s a decent 40s crime yarn, very much not pulp or noir or any such darkness. It’s a light legal procedural which means there’s a rather long-winded and convoluted court scene and the characters serve the case rather than adding any heft or emotion. Luckily, there’s a better and fairly exciting denouement. So all-in-all, an ok read but nowt to get the pulse racing or the emotions welling
It’s a decent 40s crime yarn, very much not pulp or noir or any such darkness. It’s a light legal procedural which means there’s a rather long-winded and convoluted court scene and the characters serve the case rather than adding any heft or emotion. Luckily, there’s a better and fairly exciting denouement. So all-in-all, an ok read but nowt to get the pulse racing or the emotions welling
August 10, 2017
I spent a large part of this summer at a fairly remote island research station and managed to run through all the books that I had brought with me. I found a copy of this book, tattered and pocked by honest-to-goodness bookworm, floating around one of the labs. It quite enjoyed it. It's only the second Erle Stanley Gardner I've ever tried, but already I think I can begin to grasp the formula. It made me miss working on the comedy-noir radio drama I used to write for at Oberlin.
September 7, 2022
This one was excellent. The author has gone back to the original model of having clients come to Perry at the beginning of the story instead of doing the let's find out about everything background he was doing before. I much prefer this original method. The story was quite good and it kept me going towards the end and once again I was completely fooled. Oh well
January 24, 2024
When I was school, our librarian allowed us to pick only academic books. But once, she gave this book, and I issued it for a week. I had a lot of fun reading this, and after two days, gave it to a friend. She enjoyed it too.
The mystery is engaging, and the language, easy.
I would recommend it if you're looking for a bit of light reading, with good ending.
The mystery is engaging, and the language, easy.
I would recommend it if you're looking for a bit of light reading, with good ending.
May 27, 2025
I got so absorbed in the second half that I felt like I was right there riding along with Della and Perry and I didn't look up again until the book was finished. I didn't suspect the right person even though it fit together when Mason laid out the timing of everything. Already ordered the next book in the series.
September 12, 2017
An engaging mystery starring the one and only Perry Mason. When a beautiful blonde lady with a black eye comes to Mason for help saying she was beaten by her employer's stepson it sets in motion a whole train of events leading to murder and kidnap...A must for any mystery fan.
July 11, 2020
#25 in the Perry Mason series. Initially this seemed a case more suited for Della than Perry, but of course everything went downhill with a murder. An abundance of false leads, luckily Gardner had Perry Mason to solve the case for him.
January 16, 2024
Always wanted to read an Erle Stanley Garner "Perry Mason" novel. Glad I did. It had it's rewarding facets but it didn't make me want to go deeper in the series. I'll stick with the televison series which I have always enjoyed.
November 16, 2024
This is not what you would call literary fiction. Nor is it precisely the noir classic my wife anticipated when buying it for me, but it was very good company for a couple of days and definitely got better as it went along.
November 4, 2017
Loads of Perry-Della sweet moments here. <3 It would have been a 5-star but the solution simply came out of the blue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2018
An action-packed, fast-paced mystery. The client though was a rank outsider to the crux of the mystery. Much more action here than in most of Perry Mason novels.
October 21, 2018
Me is reading and/or re-reading the Perry Masons. Starting to get bored. Am mostly just enjoying the details of life in the 30s/40s/40s.
This particular book was not one of his best.
This particular book was not one of his best.
May 28, 2019
Sou fã do Dr. Mason, mas este não foi dos mais fortes.
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