The D.A. Goes to Trial (Doug Selby Mysteries) (Pocket Bk #407) [Mass Market Paperback]

Erle Stanley Gardner (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket Books, Inc.; 10th THUS edition
• ASIN: B000AZL1NA
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,972,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Mystery of a Double Murder, September 26, 2006

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Acute Observer (By the Shore NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The D.A. Goes to Trial (Doug Selby Mysteries) (Pocket Bk #407) (Mass Market Paperback)

The D.A. Goes to Trial

An early morning train approached Madison City. The fireman saw a dead body by the trestle, and notified the station agent, who then called the Coroner. Mark Crandall visits D.A. Doug Selby on a matter that must be kept confidential. There is important news about the disposition of that hobo's body (Chapter iii). The bookkeeper of the Las Alidas Lumber Company has gone missing. Auditors found a shortage or about $8,000. Their safe had $10,000 wrapped in a newspaper (Chapter iv)! They learn more about the hobo's brother in Phoenix; the conditions point to murder. A banker wants the investigation of John Burke's disappearance ended (Chapter v).

Inez Stapleton has returned with a law degree and has also studied criminology (Chapter vi). Selby flies to Tucson to interview James Lacey about his stolen Cadillac, found in Las Alidas. They learn about the missing Mrs. Burke, and get an identification of the dead hobo (Chapter vii). Selby learned who took $10,000 out of his bank (Chapter viii). Selby is awakened early to hear of a bank robbery and murder of the banker in Las Alidas. Later Selby gets a phone call and learns about Jim Lacey. The fingerprint evidence has startling facts. There is a conflict over the identification of John Burke's photographs. A broker in Los Angeles identifies the photographs as Allison Brown (Chapter x).

Inez Stapleton will defend James Lacey and Mrs. John Burke. The LA fingerprint men checked John Burke's home - the fingerprints there don't match the corpse (Chapter xi)! The events before the Grand Jury have dramatic highlights (Chapter xiii). Selby flies to Phoenix to investigate Lacey's background and finds an important clue (Chapter xiv). The case against Lacey seems wrapped up, but then Sylvia Martin tells Selby about a new witness (Chapter xv). This witness will testify about the identification if needed (Chapter xvi). The trial begins in Chapter xvii. The questioning of a witness is stopped by a surprise objection. Later reporter Sylvia Martin found another surprise witness for Doug Selby. Another witness shows up to repeat what he heard about Lacey's story. If Lacey hadn't first lied to Selby he would've been in the clear. But Selby suddenly asks for fingerprints on a cellophane package. This leads to a solution in Chapter xviii. The guilty person was found out, the innocence of the defendant established. A happy ending with justice. All the loose pieces of the puzzle now fit.

These novels echo Erle Stanley Gardner's 'Perry Mason' series. A lawyer who follows the facts to achieve his goal, aided by an investigator and a female newspaper reporter. The investigation finally uncovers the facts needed to solve the puzzle. [This series deserves reprinting.]