The Case Of The Vagabond Virgin

Perry Mason #32

by Erle Stanley Gardner

Platinum blonde, Veronica Dale, is arrested on a charge of vagrancy, yet she has a hotel reservation in her name. Addison, head of a department store, booked the room for her and is now being blackmailed. Perry Mason can’t decide who is hiding what and then comes murder and one of Mason’s toughest trial scenes.

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

222 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1948

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

[Alan Tomkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun and clever classic Perry Mason novel. I enjoyed the dialogue, the 1940s slang and old time LA setting, as well as the plot twists and colorful characters. An enjoyable mystery that brings a bygone era back to life for the reader.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable Perry Mason mystery from the late 1940s whose title and opening chapter telegraphs many of the critical elements of the mystery and its ultimate solution. However, the red herrings and plot turns keep you reading until the end, although much of this would be implausible in 2016.

[Kurt Reichenbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Perry Mason in the late 40s.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 a bit stiff and mechanical. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the characters of Perry, Della, Paul, Lt. Tragg, and Hamilton Berger. That, and the ingenious plots, are why I read Perry Mason.

On the whole, the ones written by 1950 are the best. This one was written in 1948, and is very good. Until the last couple chapters, I thought it would be one of the very best Perry Mason Stories. But the ending is subpar.

The story begins one morning when wealthy client John Addison calls Mason to go down to the county jail and bail out a young woman named Veronica Dale. Addison picked up Veronica the previous evening as she was hitchhiking on the outskirts of town. He was so impressed with her youth and innocence that he took her into the city and got her a room, alone, in a good quality hotel. Ordinarily a young woman alone would not be given such a room, but Addison used his influence with the manager of the hotel. Unfortunately, an hour later she left her room and wandered the streets. She was picked up for "vagrancy", but was really suspected of soliciting. She spent the night in jail. Addison is appalled and wants Perry to get her out.

Perry succeeds in getting her free. Soon she is given a job at Addison's department store. That is only the begining however, as a blackmailer named Eric Hansell learns of the story and puts the bight on Addison. After all, it certainly would seem that Addison has an ulterior motive for sponsoring the much younger Veronica. At the same time, Addison's ineffective partner, Edgar Ferrell, seems to have set up a love nest in the dessert very close to where Addison picked up Veronica. Coincidence?

Soon Ferrell is murdered and Addison is arrested for the crime. There is a marvelous courtroom interrogation scene, among the very best of any Perry Mason novel -- and that's saying something. You'll have to read it to see who Mason skewers on cross-examination. Hamilton Burger is at his sputtering best.

Excellent Hamilton Burger, little Tragg, some Holcomb. Average use of Della and Drake.

There are not very many suspects for who could have done it.

Recurring themes: Stock manipulation, very similar to The Case of the Silent Partner.

Recommended for the plot and the cross-examination. The ending is disappointing. It would be hard for the reader to guess all the important features.

The cast:

John Addison, wealthy department store owner.
Veronica Dale, the sweet young virgin hitchhiker. (Yeah, sure.)
Edgar Ferrell, business partner of John Addison.
Lorraine Ferrell, wife of Edgar.
Laura Mae Dale, mother of Veronica. Also a hitchhiker(?)
George Dundas, publisher of rumors and gossip.
Eric Hansell, blackmailer who sometimes works for Dundas.
Myrtle Northrup, personnel director for John Addison.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a hitchhiking girl who's not exactly what she seems. It's pretty easy to figure out what she's up to though. There was a long court scene which I happen to like. I had this on audio as well as print which helped. I've been a little distracted lately. I finished this book just a few days ago and already forgot who the culprit was so it might be that I can re read it some day. First, I am working my way through the entire Perry Mason series. Still not even half way there.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid installment in the Perry Mason series, and the perfect reminder of why the "good old days" were not good for everyone... basically if you were a woman (or any minority) life was rough. We are reminded that women were not allowed to rent hotel rooms alone, go out after a "reasonable" hour in the evening unescorted, or exist at all sans man.

Anyway, equality of the day aside, the book is a fun little mystery that provides more clues than most Perry Mason stories, AND contains a wholly satisfying cross-examination! Don't try to stop mid-scene, because it is just so good ;)

[Tita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perry Masson é chamado para retirar da prisão uma jovem que foi acusada de vadiagem, e acaba por ter outro cliente, que foi acusado de homicídio.
Um policial à moda antiga, focado na investigação por parte do advogado e onde vamos acompanhando as suas descobertas.

Vejam a minha opinião mais detalhada em vídeo, AQUI.

[Neha · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Print] My Father-in-law left this book at our place, and in this book opened up my reading to another excellent author!

It was intriguing, devious at the same time as not overly coincidental. I enjoyed thinking about how Perry Mason crafted his case, and pieced together the clues in this book.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I ever go to jail, I want my lawyer to be Perry Mason :D

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisty, turney plot! Lots of good characters and a complex who-done-it. I have to say that having read so many Perry Mason novels, it was pretty clear to me in this story who actually did what. But given that novels like this one were written so long ago, I cut a lot of slack for these early mysteries.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry to say I had a lot of issues focusing on this one compared to other Mason's. One of my favorite features of the books is an extended interview type intro, but this one rushed into it, did not have as strong of a court presence. Still of course worth reading as I travel through all these Masons eventually.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am getting better at picking out the clues! Only about a million more of these to read in my 'Read all Perry Mason' quest!!!!

[Richa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, but not great. I foresaw the correct solution much early in the story. Personally, because of that maybe, I wanted this book to end sooner.
Anyways, loved the court scene, as always.

[James Thane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father was a huge fan of Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason series, and one day when I was a young lad of about twelve years old, I stumbled across this novel in his collection. My father's edition, which I still have, was published by Pocket Books in 1959 and sold for thirty-five cents. I confess that in that moment and at that age, I cared very little about the publisher or the price, but I was very intrigued by the cover of his edition, which shows a sexy young blonde in a negligee. In the illustration, the right strap of the flimsy garment has slipped off her shoulder to the point where things are beginning to get very exciting.

In short, at that tender age, I thought this looked like it might be a very interesting book!

I'm sorry to report that it wasn't nearly as interesting as I had hoped, at least in some regards, but I recall it being the first Perry Mason novel that I ever read, and it started me on a life-long quest to collect and read all of the Mason novels, which turned out to be eighty-two in all. And of all of them, this one remains my favorite, if only for sentimental reasons.

As the book opens, a wealthy department store owner named John Addison picks up a very attractive young hitchhiker named Veronica Dale. The woman says that she is eighteen years old and has been hitchhiking across the country. She is practically down to her last dollar and so Addison, feeling sorry for the virginal young thing, gets her a hotel room. Later that night, Veronica is arrested for vagrancy outside of the hotel, and Addison quickly hires Perry Mason to get the poor girl off the hook.

I would like to think that even at the age of twelve, I was smart enough to realize that Addison was an idiot. And sure enough, before long a blackmailer has moved in, threatening to expose Addison's "relationship" with the nubile hitchhiker. Addison pleads with Perry to somehow get him out of the mess, which, (naturally) is only about to get worse when someone is murdered and Addison becomes the prime suspect.

What follows is a story with a lot of exciting twists and turns. The book was first published in 1948, which means that Perry can still skirt the law in defending Addison in ways that he wouldn't dare do later and that no attorney would ever countenance in this day and age. It's a fun read with a great courtroom payoff and, in addition to inducting me into the world of crime fiction,it taught me a very valuable lesson in life about the dangers of picking up hitchhikers.

Five stars, if only for sentimental reasons, and thanks a lot, Dad...

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I found a bunch of old Erle Stanley Gardner paperbacks in my parents’ attic. They belong to my Dad, who read all of the books in the series. Curious, I decided to read a few. I started with this because I was curious about the depiction of women in it based on the title and cover. Published in the 1940s, it’s not as racy as either suggests, but was still subtly suggestive.

The part I most enjoyed were the subtle insights into everyday life of the period. How they made phone calls and the key premise that a woman alone could not arrive in a city and get a room at a decent hotel without a reservation made well in advance. She’s be considered a loose woman and no respectable hotel would give her a room. Which is what sets off the whole plot.

An innocent young woman left her small hometown and is hitch hiking to seek her fortune in a city. Lawyer Perry Mason’s client, a wealthy business man, picks her up, snd concerned about her welfare, arranges a hotel room. When the girl gets picked up on the street outside the hotel on a vagrancy charge, he asks Mason to help. Vagrancy seems to be code for solicitation or prostitution, and as with the hotel, just being an unescorted female on the street is enough to make the police question her. And not answering questions about why she’s there or where she’s from gets her arrested. Next thing he knows, Mason’s client is being blackmailed by someone who found out about this girl—accused of keeping her as a mistress. And then a murder is discovered.

A detective/legal style mystery, it’s well crafted overall. Perry Mason was a surprising protagonists in that he was not always ethical. He breaks the law to benefit his client and see justice served, but suffers consequences for it as well. The trial starts before Mason has figured out the answers, which adds something of a ticking clock to drive the story to the conclusion. But there is a flaw in this novel—Mason asks a very specific question of one witness, and I assumed it was because he’d figured out a key element in the case. Except he hasn’t…yet. It is a key element, he just didn’t realize it when he asked that question, which made me wonder why he asked it (I mean his motive, it was necessary to establish that fact to play fair with the reader). And I thought the solution was sound enough, and I didn’t figure it out.

I’ll be interested to read some more of these mysteries to see how they compare. I can see why they were so popular. They’re also relatively short, only about 200 pages, though the text is relatively dense.

[Serdar Poirot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bir gün John Racer Addison, telaşla Perry Mason'ı arar ve yardıma ihtiyacı olduğunu söyler. Veronica Dale adında bir genç kız serserilik yaparken polise yakalanmıştır ve adı ortaya atılmadan onu kurtarmasını ister. Mason istendiği gibi onu kurtarır ama durumdan şüphelenmiştir. Kadın kendini zorla attırmak istemiş gibidir. Addison onu otostop çekerken görmüş şehre getirmiş, bir otele yerleştirmiştir. Sonrasında dükkanında ona iş de verir. Veronica'nın annesi de gelir ve bir çek verir Mason'a. Ama sonra Eric Haskell adında biri Addison'a şantaj yapmaya başlar. Mason bu işle ilgilenip sahte bir çek verir. Öncesinde bankaları da uyarmıştır. Haskell yakalanır ve Holcomb tarafından yapılan sorgusuna Mason da katılır. Addison, ortağı Edgar Ferrell ile sorunlar yaşamaktadır. İkisi de yüzde kırk hisseye sahiptir ve Myrtle Northnup gibi diğer küçük hissedarlar da vardır. Ferrell bir ev almıştır gizlice. Tatile gidiyorum diye yola çıkmıştır. Myrtle da yıllık izin almıştır ve nerede olduğu bilinmez. Addison da o evin çok yakınında Veronica'yı arabasına almıştır. Eve gittiklerinde Ferrell'in öldürüldüğü ortaya çıkar. Addison'un silahı ile öldürülmüştür. Evde parmak izleri de çıktığı için en önemli şüphelilerden biridir. Veronica da Tragg ve ekibi tarafından bulunur ve savcılık şahidi olarak alınır. Perry dava sırasında Veronica'nın annesini bulur ama bu kendisine çek veren kadın değildir. Ayrıca tüm olay dışarıdan ateş edildiği üzerine kurgulanmıştır ama camda bir gariplik vardır. Masum bir genç kız gibi ifade vermeye gelen Veronica'yı Mason ifade alırken paramparça eder. Eric Haskell ile bir şantaj şebekesi kurdukları ortaya çıkar. Otostop çektikleri arabalara şantaj yapmaktadırlar. Ayrıca Ferrell'in evinde de parmak izleri çıkmıştır. Ama Lorraine Ferrell gelince kaçmıştır. Peki katil kimdir? Mason katili bulabilecek midir? Drake ve Della nasıl yardım edecektir? Mason sahte çek yüzünden başı belaya gireceksen Della ne yapmıştır? Keyifle soluksuz okunan bir roman.

[Mike Billington · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this novel, Perry Mason gets dragged into a case involving a businessman, a pretty girl he picked up hitchhiking, and murder.
In other words, just a normal day for the high-powered lawyer.
Author Erle Stanley Gardner was a prolific writer who wrote under several different pen names but none of his fictional creations have stood the test of time as well as Perry Mason. In the television series starring Raymond Burr - a classic in its own right - Mason was sharp as a tack and somewhat cerebral. He was polite. In Gardner´s novels, however, he´s much more the man of action. He´s willing to dance along the edge of the law for his clients, cracks wise to the cops, occasionally throws a punch, and occasionally gets punched.
In this novel Gardner has created some truly interesting characters, including the so-called "vagabond virgin" who maintains her maidenly honor if not her virtue when she gets involved in a smalltime crook´s hush money racket. The cops try to pin a murder rap on Mason´s client, a successful businessman who stops to pick up the pretty blonde hitchhiker, and it´s up to the lawyer to not only defend his client but also solve the crime.
Written in Gardner´s trademark staccato style, "The Case of the Vagabond Virgin" moves right along. It can be read in an afternoon at the beach or inside on the couch during a rainy weekend. It holds the reader´s interest because, while it has a complicated plot, Gardner doesn´t make the mistake of dragging out the narrative.
The verdict: A fun read featuring one of America´s most iconic fictional characters.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not originally on my list of to-read "classic" Perry Mason novels (although it was adapted early in season 1 of the TV show), but reading a description of it later caught my eye. Now I know why it wasn't on my list. It's about 2.5 stars, but just entertaining enough to get up to 3. The plot is pretty simple. Basically Perry realized that the prosecution assumed the facts in the case supported a certain interpretation but needn't necessarily do so. Once he realized this, he solved the case in about 5 minutes. But the novel was still fun to read. The machinations of the "vagabond virgin" and her blackmailing ring (boy is there a LOT of blackmailing in these Perry novels) were interesting, and Perry's plot to give one of the blackmailers a forged check in order to get him in trouble works out a little too well, adding to interesting complications.

All in all, I wouldn't recommend this unless you're looking for a "deep cut" Perry novel.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in 1948, this is a tale of blackmail, business skulduggery and murder.

Mason's client is the co-owner of a successful department store who, with a naivety somewhat at odds with his business acumen, not only picks up a lovely and innocent-looking girl but believes the story she spins. Perry is initially hired to deal with the blackmail, but soon finds himself defending his client on the charge of murdering the business partner he hated.

There is some fairly dull and routine court action, only enlivened by Mason's cross-examination of the prosecution star witness. There really isn't much of a case against his client and an equally good one could have been made against at least one other person, but in the end the wily lawyer pulls a rabbit out of a hat and gets his client his freedom.

Easy-to-read as ever, not taxing to the little grey cells, and not all that great a mystery.

3.25 stars.

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

This is the last book in the Perry Mason series. The books are more interesting than either the Perry Mason TV series and HBO Max series. In the book series, Perry is more of an investigator than a lawyer. In fact, there is hardly any scenes in the courtroom. In this book, there are many plot twists which assist the reader to remain interested in the story. Della Street who is Perry's assistant is an integral part of the series. As I have written many times previously, I enjoy reading stories in which the women are not one dimensional. I congratulate Mr. Gardner in creating a strong woman character. He was forward thinking when one realizes the book was written in 1948. If you want a sense of what America was like in the 1930's and 40's, this series is for you.

[Rupesh Goenka · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Racer Addison, a departmental magnate instructs Perry Mason to rescue a beautiful young hitchhiker and vagrant Veronica Dale from jail without naming him. Eric Hansell, a crooked newspaper man blackmails Addison for not publishing the article on his tryst with Veronica. Mason fixes it up. John’s partner Edgar Z. Ferrell who had inherited his father’s stock is murdered on his recently acquired secret ranch house. John who hates Edgar is accused for the crime. Both the cases get entangled. Perry Mason cracks the case. The blackmail drama portrayed is sensational and humorous. ENJOYED IT - LOVED IT.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never read a bad Perry Mason novel yet, they are all fun and fast paced for basically a court room drama. This one has a rich business owner worried about a blackmailer because of him picking up a young female hitchhiker. When Mason deals with that it comes to find out that the guys business partner was killed and the little hitchhiker puts him near the scene. Is all of this related or coincidence well that's what Mason and cohorts have to figure out.

Highly recommended, all Gardner's Masons I've read are.

[Alonzo Church · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfectly OK Mason, noteworthy only that some quick thinking by Della Street saves Mason from finally being had up for a felony. Mason actually is a bit short on super-genius stuff this time as he makes a mistake in assessing evidence that the CSI and Law and Order detectives would figure out in moment one.

There is a priceless Berger bit — when Mason complains that the DA isn’t sharing evidence, he proudly admits it — because if the defense had it, they’d only use it to distort the facts. Very different from the legal thrillers of today, where “discovery” is often a huge part of the book.

3.5 stars. Definitely good for a beach or an airplane.

[Tim Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narcissistic Businessman in Trouble

I read the first 30 pages and almost stopped, thinking it wasn't realistic that a smart successful business man could be this narcissistic, greedy, and frankly stupid. Then I opened the Google headlines that day (December 17, 2022) and saw 5 news stories about Sam Bankman-Fried and the FTX scandal. So I went happily back to Perry Mason realizing that yes, the story concept was totally realistic. A very intricate and well written Perry Mason case.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perry Mason books are always good and this one was no exception. As always, Perry outsmarts the other guys and saves the day. That's what I like about Perry Mason....consistency. I would give this book a 4 star rating if it weren't' for the horrible typos in the e-book format. I understand that the book was written in 1948...but the typos where it was changed to an e-book should have been caught. I mean, I paid money for this? Not Mr. Gardner's fault, but it really took away from the reading experience.

[Charles R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Figured It Out at the Last Minute

I read this mystery more than 60 years ago, when I was in high school. I remembered only bits and pieces of the story and had forgotten how it came out. The solution involves a twist that I figured out shortly before I got to the chapter in which the solution is revealed. Up to that point, I had been focused on a different suspect.
As a teenager, I could not fully appreciate the skill with which Erle Stanley Gardner weaves his plots. Now I can appreciate his mysteries to the full. Like his other books, this one is well worth reading.

[Robert (NurseBob) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the wonderfully sleazy cover art and some PG-rated language this is a straight-up whodunnit with any potential vices relegated to innuendo. But those expecting the TV version of Perry Mason will be in for a bit of a jolt for Gardner's super lawyer is something of a legal Mary Sue (Marty Stu?) and a smug jerk to boot who isn't above using people and manipulating evidence in order to win his case. And his secretary, the virginal Della Street, is not much better. Recommended for those who like their fiction with extra pulp.

[James Vest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anxious millionaire. Sneering blackmailer. Mousy virgin. This book’s characters are bigger than life, if not at times a bit over the top. Everything is destined to come crashing back to earth at a crime scene with a menagerie of finger prints and tire tracks and a very mobile set of characters. It’s again up to Perry Mason to make a complete mess of the DA’s open and shut case—all in the name of justice.

[Vicki O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery. A little confusing at times but, that's what makes Perry Mason stories so much fun. These are period novels and since they were written in the time frame of their setting, there are no anachronisms. It makes you wonder what Perry, Della and Paul could do with cell phones and laptops.

[Janith Pathirage · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent detective story with lot of suspense but nowhere close to Sherlock Homes adventuresses. I think the influence of Sherlock Holmes is too heavy on me so I spontaneously tend to compare other detective characters with the greatest one. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this story but don't think I will read another Erle Stanley book unless I'm bored.