Customer Reviews

I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

CeCe Caruso is a writer, specifically a writer of biographies. Currently, she's working on piecing together the fascinating tale of the life of Erle Stanley Gardner, the creator of the Perry Mason series. She inadvertently comes across a murder-mystery of her own when going through some of Gardner's old files.

CeCe stumbles her way through a muddled confusion of suspects, innuendo and out-and-out blackmail, trying to find the answer to the question of who killed whom, and for what reason, all the while attempting to hold together her own somewhat odd, and oh-so-human life.

Along the way, CeCe becomes attached to a younger man, struggles to work out the mystifying possibilities of her daughter's husband's before-marriage wild oats, solve the problem of the slimy, and pesky, snail intruders in her yard and, last but not least, finish the Gardner biography in time to give it to her editor.

I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON is a romp that reader's of chic-lit and women's fiction won't want to miss. Filled with unpredictable, down-to-earth characters that grab your attention and make you feel like you're right there in the moment, living their slightly twisted lives right along with them. Author Susan Kandel has given the leading characters quirky little traits that add depth and a deliciously humorous bent to the tale. Readers will have no trouble relating to slap-dash, sometimes-messy, vintage-clothes-loving CeCe. Nor will they have a problem connecting with beautiful big-hearted Lael, CeCe's best friend. And, they certainly won't find it hard to imagine CeCe's attraction to `tall dark and handsome' Burnett.

Susan Kandel's I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON is truly one of the most entertaining books I've read this year. Writing is an art form, and Kandel certainly has a gift with words. Filled with originality, humor and an earthy charm, I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON is a stunning success. For anyone wanting an escape from the usual, Kandel's latest novel delivers.

At first I was a bit put-off by the first person scenario. As a general rule, I dislike novels written in first-person, but Kandel pulls off this difficult style without a hitch. With sly verbiage, ingenious wit and a storyline that will keep you hooked until the end, I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON has all the bases covered.

What a great little book. The title is a little misleading because Perry Mason never makes an appearance, instead it is the story of an Erle Stanley Gardner biographer getting caught up in an old murder mystery. I thought the story jumped around a little too much sometimes, but overall it was very good and I thought the premise was unique.

If you like this kind of mystery, I would also recommend Harley Jane Kozak's books.

When I was thirteen, my Mama took me to our local library and introduced me to her favorite authors. These were the acknowledged masters of the "Golden Age of Mystery Novels"-Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Ngaio Marsh, Rex Stout, Dorothy Sayers, Erle Stanley Gardner, Mary Roberts Rinehart, etc. They kept me busy-and reading-for a good many years. In fact, I still go back to them, with great anticipation, and am seldom ever disappointed. Even the occasional anachronisms are fun!

How then, could I pass up "I dreamed I married Perry Mason"? I couldn't, it's that simple. I rather like the trend of using real (older) characters in new books, as long as it's done in a sensible fashion. Here, the author really does a great job of telling us more about the man, Erle Stanley, and his various series of books. I loved the Donald Lam/Bertha Cool books as much as those about Perry Mason and Della Street. I knew nothing about the earlier books, which makes me want to go find them.

CeCe Caruso is a delightful, mature lady-not an oldster, by any means, but not a young chick, either. Thank goodness! She's bright, and insecure, and persistent-admirable qualities, all. Her love of vintage clothing is an added fillip. One wonders which of today's fashionistas will be so celebrated in 40 years as the great names of the previous century.

CeCe has a career, too, as a biographer whose books are actually published. Good for her! When she gets stuck mid-way through her 6th book-about Erle Stanley-she stumbles over an intriguing letter to the Court of Last Resort, an offshoot of Gardner's early career as an attorney. The clues to the mystery involved are scattered throughout, but not blatantly displayed, leaving the reader to wonder a bit. The research involved is awesome in its complexity, and presented in a very accessible manner.

The secondary characters-and the plots in which they are involved-are an exotic bunch, but after all, they do live in La-La land! The writing is terrific: engaging and extremely descriptive with ample humor, as well. CeCe isn't afraid to occasionally deride herself or her foibles, but never gets maudlin about it. Bring on Nancy Drew, I say! And after that-who knows?

Move over Stephanie Plum. Kandel's heroine, Cece, is Italian (in name only) instead of Polish; but she's got big hair, she's tall and her boyfriend is a policeman. Well, if the formula works, why change it? Cece has left New Jersey for West Hollywood and she's prettier than Ms. Plum,and thinner,too. But, like Stephanie, Cece lives on a diet of junk food.

The mystery is solved and the culpable meet their fate all in the space of two pages. Considering the book is 280 pages long, she could have dragged out the climax for a few more pages. Unlike Evanovich, the prose doesn't ring true. Evanovich manages to make the most outlandish characters seem plausible--maybe because she feeds into our dearly-held stereotypes. Kandel always seems to be trying to hard to make her characters loveable eccentrics, but they aren't believable for a minute. Still, I couldn't put the book down.

A friend gave me this book because I'm a fan of the Perry Mason books and because I live in Ventura (where the book takes place, and where Erle Stanley Gardner, the author of the Perry Mason books, practiced law himself).

For some reason I found it annoying at first and put it down. Then one night, desperate for something to read, I picked it up again and thoroughly enjoyed it. Her breezy writing style is entertaining and it's good for the kind of light, pleasant, undisturbing story that is nice to read before bed. The dialogue was witty and the main character spunky and fun to hang out with. The plot got a little thick, but she was canny enough to provide recaps along the way so that one didn't get lost. The character is interested in vintage clothing and I found that an interesting side plot.

Her depiction of Ventura was accurate and insightful.

I would read another book starring this character.

I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason is a delightful novel. The main character, Cece Caruso, doesn't think of herself as a detective (which is not her occupation), likes to dress well, has more than one all-purpose dress, and doesn't even carry a gun (I don't think she even owns one). I also enjoy the other popular girl detectives, but Susan Kandel's Cece is a pleasant departure. And being a big fan of Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason, I found the history of both Gardner and Mason, which is interlaced throughout the novel, fascinating. I live close to the areas this novel takes place - I didn't check the locations out -- but they ring true - as do the facts about Gardner. I would highly recommend this novel as a great read.

The story itself was a good idea. However, it moved a bit slow for my taste. I found myself thinking I would never get to the end. I don't like to give away anything for those who might enjoy it more than I, so I won't go into the details of the storyline. I will wait for the second book to be released in paperback, that is if I decide to give it another try. I like to think the kinks are being worked out in a first book, so I usually read 2 before giving up completely. I think it takes great courage and skill to put a book together, kudos for those brave enough to try.

A fun, light read - enjoyed the author's style of writing and the narrator was great. I look forward to listening to the other book(s) in this series.

I moderate a monthly mystery book club at a neighborhood library in Houston, Texas and this was our January book. I enjoyed this book on several levels, as I am a retired attorney as well as an avid mystery reader. My group of 28 this month thoroughly enjoyed the book, for both the main character of Cece and for the insight on Erle Stanley Gardner. In a week when Robert P. Parker has died, it brought back how so much was owed to Parker, who in turn owed much to Gardner.

Just discovered Susan Kandel on Kindle and fell in love with Cece Caruso. She's bright and sassy and not as ditsy as Stephanie Plum. I liked all the descriptions of her vintage clothes obsession - I might be there myself, if I were taller than 5"2.
The research on E.SG. was quite thorough, and lent an added twist to the mystery, which I thought was fairly well plotted. My only criticism was that the minor characters, like Lael, Bridget and Annie were barely sketched. They need more life, as does the hot cop boyfriend. Since this is Kandel's first novel I hope her skills will improve in future books. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. All in all, a promising debut.