The Case of the Fan-Dancer's Horse [Mass Market Paperback]

Erle Stanley Gardner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 1992

It all begins with the fan-dancer's "costume" -- what there is of it. When Perry Mason stumbles upon the barely there accessories of an exotic performer, he sets out to do a good turn by returning the lost glad rags. But the attorney's discreet good deed brings more than one delectable dancer -- and more than a little trouble -- waltzing into his office.

Two dazzling dead ringers each claim to be the same famed fan-dancer. And hot on their heels are a zealous ex-husband and a jealous would-be boyfriend. But the missing property all four are after isn't feathered finery -- it's a full-grown horse! And when one of the men gets brutally murdered, Mason finds he may be dancing dangerously close to a killer....

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 45 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (August 23, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345371445
• ISBN-13: 978-0345371447
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,586,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Typical Perry Mason, August 27, 2001

By 

Brian C. Taylor "smug feldspar magnate" (Tallahassee, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Case of the Fan-Dancer's Horse (Mass Market Paperback)

Perry Mason's at it again, trying to save the hide of a beautiful fan dancer accused of murder. If you've never read a Perry Mason novel, here's what they have going for them: Terrific pace (a couple of pages in and you're embroiled in a mystery), good dialogue, complicated plot, a decent amount of suspense (especially in the court room scenes) and best of all, a very quick read. A lot like the TV show. All the Perry Mason novels I've read (about 10) are pretty much the same, which is really the one main drawback. Six months from now, I doubt I'll remember much about this book. Still, a lot of fun. Again, a lot like the TV show.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced, a lot of obfuscation, typical Perry Mason novel, August 3, 2008

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Case of the Fan-Dancer's Horse (Mass Market Paperback)

It starts with an auto accident where an elderly Mexican woman is injured. Perry Mason and Della Street witness the accident and stop to lend assistance to the woman. She refuses their aid and another Mexican man takes her away. This begins the story and the event is included later, but is incidental to the main plot.
A woman (Lois Fenton) was a very successful fan dancer but she was getting married. In those times, a woman did not work after marriage and certainly not as a fan-dancer. Therefore, she filled out and signed a paper that allowed another woman with a nearly identical build to take over her bookings and name. However, there was an exit clause that she could take back her name at any time if the marriage did not work out. There were serious problems in the marriage and the real Lois Fenton was trying to get her name and fan-dancing career back. At a time when there was a confrontation with her soon to be ex-husband, he is murdered by being stabbed through with a Japanese sword.
The real Lois is charged with the murder and it took place while the murdered man was under surveillance by Paul Drake's operatives working for Mason. This drags Mason into the case at a time when he is trying to get out of it. There are many contradictory clues and the two similar Lois Fenton's lead to what appears to be solid evidence of the real Lois Fenton's guilt. The situation is further complicated by some deceptive practices on the part of the police. In typical Mason style, he has a sudden revelation and probes in the right direction to determine the identity of the real killer.
This story moves along at a fast pace and there are many convolutions that obfuscate the path to the real killer. However, if you, as Mason himself points out, take the proper point of view on one aspect of the case, then everything else falls into place and the identity of the killer is clear. It is one of the better Perry Mason stories, although once again the inclusion of deceptive work on the part of the police seems contrived.

3.0 out of 5 stars Too complicated-- one for the Perry Mason Completists., February 24, 2010

By 

frumiousb "frumiousb" (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Case of the Fan-Dancer's Horse (Mass Market Paperback)

I am an unashamed Perry Mason fan. I always enjoy the frothy mix of law and ladies. Perry's snappy one-liners, the reliable Paul Drake and Della Street, the always complicated plots. They hit a sweet spot. Don't know why.

The Case of the Fan Dancer's Horse is rather more complicated than others-- nearly annoyingly distracting in its complication. Two fan dancers, many men, horses. I kept having to concentrate on the characters and their names. The fact is, if you have to concentrate hard on a Perry Mason book, then you've already lost.

One for the completists.