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DA Calls A Turn (Perry Mason Mysteries (House O)

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The D.A. Calls a Turn, Erle Stanley Gardner

Chapter 1 introduces the Freelman family of Madison City during the early 1940s. In Chapter 2 Sheriff Rex Brandon gets a telephone call from a man who is drunk and stole a car; they will pick him up. But there is a collision on the highway. They find Carleton Grines dead, but his cheap suit is too small for him. The custom made shoes lead to an identification. The name leads to the Freelman family. Gilbert and Carmen Freelman identify the body as her boss Desmond Billmeyer (Chapter 4). Brandon and D.A. Doug Selby talk to the owner of the car and learn more (Chapter 6). There seems to be no connection. The autopsy said knockout drops caused Billmeyer's death. The time of death was between 8:30 and 9:30PM. Lawyer A.B. Carr tells them Carmen Freelman is in a sanitarium and can't answer questions (Chapter 7). Who owned the dog found at the accident scene (Chapter 8)? They learned the history of Carleton Grines. Calculating the mileage on the odometer gives the location of Carmen. Unless they drove to the airport.

Sheriff Brandon calls the local airport, Selby goes to the distant city and finds Carmen (Chapter 10). She tells what really happened. Carleton Grines' wife gives her history to Selby (Chapter 11). Selby learns more from the Freelman family (Chapter 12). One of the big LA dailies sent its ace reporter to cover this case. He "cracked the Borden murder mystery" (Chapter 13). Thomas L. Bemexter used the latest science to analyze the tweed suit worn by Billmeyer. Madison County did not have such equipment. A suspect is arrested on suspicion of murder (Chapter 14). By chance Selby stops by a house and finds Fido and an unwanted surprise (Chapter 17)! Selby learns the reason for Billmeyer's death: it was a mistake. Chapter 18 has the ending that solves the murder. It does not tell what happened later with the Grines' family.

This story runs a few pages shorter than the others in this series. The sugar and coffee rationing dates this novel.