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The Case of the Singing Skirt

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"The Case of the Singing Skirt" is one of Erle Stanley Gardner's eighty-five Perry Mason books. In this case, the famed defense attorney undertakes to help Ellen Robb, a cigar-and-cigarette girl who works at a local gambling club. Because she refused to help the owner swindle a gambler, Ellen finds herself framed for the theft of a certain amount of money. Mason quickly defuses that situation, enabling the woman to keep the money and threatening suit against the employer for defamation. Events escalate soon, though, when Ellen turns up with a gun in her possession that she cannot explain. Mason suspects that another attempt to frame Ellen is in the works, and he takes steps to thwart that attempt. When a woman turns up dead, though, Mason must defend his client on murder charges--and himself against charges of being an accessory after the fact.

"The Case of the Singing Skirt" is really a novel in two parts. The first part deals with the machinations of the various parties before court, and the second part puts Mason in his element--the courtroom. As a legal thriller, "The Case of the Singing Skirt" is passable, though not particularly exciting. Mason spends a great deal of time deflecting his opponent's thrusts, but only in the last few pages does Mason go on the offensive. As a result, this book is not the best forum for Mason's considerable legal expertise. As a mystery, there is little doubt who the murderer is. Once one starts with the premise that Mason's clients are, as a rule, innocent, there is little more to figure out. Still, eighty-five books with a single character do not come about by accident, and there is a fair amount of charm to "The Case of the Singing Skirt."

From 1959 we have super lawyer Perry Mason on the case.

A night club singer enters Perry's office with a gun and the tale of how her employers were planning to steal from a client with a gambling scam.

Then bodies start and turn up.

Of course Perry bamboozles everyone with his genius in Court as he always does with the assistance of his assistant Della Street.

My only complaint is that Gardner cheats the reader in not giving him some crucial information which breaks what Chandler calls " the rules'. The lack of this information stops the reader from logically following the investigation.

But, as with all the Perry Mason stories , its a good time filler and not unenjoyable

Perry Mason books are great "pick up, put down" reads, and for the most part this novel was that. Part of the mystery deals with multiple murder weapons and that seemed to get so confusing to me, the reader, that I stopped trying to understand it. Otherwise, a nice visit with fiction's greatest lawyer (apologies to Atticus Finch).

The Case of the Singing Skirt

The 'Foreword' is dedicated to Nicholas J. Chetta M.D. Coroner of New Orleans. The ultimate function of the autopsy is to protect the living. The cause of death in any obscure case may be of great importance not just to surviving relatives but to society. Dr. Chetta has modernized the coroner's office to aid law agencies in determining causes of death.

This story begins with details about the bathing-beauty contest racket. Beautiful girls win a free trip to Hollywood. But then they are discarded and stranded, forced to seek a living anyway they can. [Too much pride to go back home?] Ellen Robb consults Perry Mason to complain about her firing from a gambling casino after she refused to spy on the cards held by a sucker. Rowena is a small town with a sleazy reputation. There was an alleged shortage after Ellen worked as the cashier. The owner of the gambling casino owns the justice of the peace, the chief of police, and has friends in high places. Perry Mason calls George Anclitas and will defend Ellen Robb against defamation of character. Mrs. Helman Ellis shows up to complain about her husband's losses at gambling, and ask for a return of the money. Impossible? Perry Mason cites California's community property law which can be used to recover money lost at gambling (Chapter 3).

In Chapter 6 Perry Mason explains how to date a gun to determine when a bullet was fired by it. Ellen Robb found a pistol planted in her belongings, and brought it to Perry Mason. He inspected it, then returned a pistol to Ellen Robb. Is there something being planned? There is more conflict between Helman Ellis and his wife due to Ellen Robb. Do gamblers have a need to lose (Chapter 7)? In Chapter 8 we find out why Mrs. Ellis couldn't be found. The police arrive to question Ellen Robb about her whereabouts. The facts and problems in this case are reviewed (Chapter 9). Perry learns some shocking news! The Preliminary Hearing discusses the two bullets found in Mrs. Ellis. Did they both come from the same gun (Chapter 10)? One gun was traced back to Perry Mason, the second gun was not the one given to Helman Ellis. Questioning a witness, there is an outburst and confession in court. Perry's client is freed, so Perry won't face any charges. Perry notes the significance of eyewitness testimony that can't be corroborated.

Erle Stanley Gardner does a better job is describing civic corruption, in fiction, than his contemporaries.