Customer Reviews

The Case of the Lonely Heiress (Perry Mason Mysteries (Fawcett Books))

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

 

 

Perry Mason mysteries are always dependably interesting and fast moving, and "The Case of the Lonely Heiress" is no exception. As per usual, Perry is defending a client who has been framed, and Perry engages in a few unorthodox practices to protect his client. The client anticipates inheriting wealth from her mother who had nursed a sick man. The man wrote a will to her, leaving the bulk of his fortune. Needless to say, his family did not appreciate the bequest, and one of the witnesses to the will is considering changing her testimony to the effect she did not witness the signing. Murder enters within the confines of this thick plot.

It is not easy to figure out "who done it," but Perry, assisted by Della Street and with minimal help from Paul Drake, manages to frustrate Lieu. Tragg once again. You can't go wrong with any Perry Mason mystery, but this one had an extra touch of human interest.

Robert Caddo is the publisher of a pamphlet style magazine for lonely hearts in need of a chance at romance. The publication contains tales of fantasy romance and there is a form that a reader can fill out and send in. Their notes are then published in a future issue and there are numbered boxes where letters can be sent.
When he receives an unusual letter from someone claiming to be an heiress and needing a sturdy man that is ignorant of city ways, Caddo consults Perry Mason. Mason goes along and discovers that the woman does in fact exist and is a wealthy heiress. Unfortunately for her, the relatives of the person that left her the money are contesting the will.
Circumstances change dramatically when one of the witnesses to the signing of the will is murdered. She had previously testified that the deceased was of sound mind at the signing but now is making noise about a possible recant to claim that he was coerced. Mason then becomes the heiress's lawyer and since there is significant circumstantial evidence against his client, Mason is forced to reconstruct the crime.
One of the things that I like about this story is that the police are depicted as having a brain. In my opinion, one of the weakest aspects of the Mason stories by Gardner is that he often portrays the police as dunces, unable to see evidence right in front of them. The scene where Mason and secretary Della Street are in the police car with a "dumb cop" is a classic one. It is rare when Gardner has Mason topped by an officer of the law, but it happens here. This helps make it one of the better Mason stories.

The Case of the Lonely Heiress

Perry Mason gets a visit from Robert Caddo, the publisher of "Lonely Lovers Publications". Caddo has run an ad from an heiress. The authorities suspect some sort of fraud and are investigating. But since the advertisers are anonymous, Caddo wants Perry Mason to verify this item. Caddo explains the market for this publication, and how it works (Chapter 1). Perry explains how his letters will try for a response from than anonymous heiress. Perry wonders if that ad is part of a scheme (Chapter 2). One letter draws a reply, and Perry will have detectives who can spot and follow "MM" (Chapter 3). In Chapter 4 Perry and Della visit Union Depot to watch the meeting. The next morning Perry reports the facts to Caddo. Later that day Perry gets a report from the young detective who met "MM"; was there a trick? An errand brings Perry and Della back to Union Depot, and they see familiar faces (Chapter 6). Later Marilyn Marlow visits Perry to ask for help with the problem about a will. She explains the purpose of her ad (Chapter 7).

In Chapter 8 Perry gets a visit from Mrs. Dolores Caddo, who is upset by her husband's involvement with "MM"; she's not so dumb even if she is a big blonde. Perry tries to calm her and fails, so he calls Marilyn Marlow to warn her. After this Bob Caddo shows up. [This is one funny scene!] Marilyn Marlow calls with terrible news: Rose Keeling has been murdered! Rose's prior testimony will stand. Perry and Della arrive, question Marilyn, and Perry decides to take a chance with his client (Chapter 9). Lt. Tragg arrives, and holds Perry and Della for a while [another funny scene]. When they are released they try to visit the other witness, Ethel Furlong. But Perry is fooled by appearances (Chapter 11). In Chapter 12 Perry meets the Endicott family: Ralph, Palmer, and Lorraine. [The new ballpoint pen is mentioned here.] The Endicotts will benefit if George Endicott's will is broken. Ralph had seen Rose Keeling a few hours before her murder. Next Marilyn Marlow is intensively questioned and she blurts out some facts to Sergeant Holcomb. Next Lt. Tragg takes her to his office. It is an example of a police interrogation using `bad cop, good cop' (Chapter 13). Perry sums up the known facts in Chapter 14.

When Perry visits Mr. & Mrs. Caddo he learns that Dolores Caddo met Rose Keeling after 11 am. But Mr. & Mrs. Caddo deny everything to Lt. Tragg. Did they outsmart Perry (Chapter 15)? No one seems to have a motive for Rose Keeling's murder except Perry's client (Chapter 16). Perry and Della return to take another look at Rose Keeling's apartment. Della tells the difference between packing and unpacking. But they get a big surprise when they leave (Chapter 17). The Preliminary Hearing starts in Chapter 18. A bloody knife was found hidden in Marilyn's car, wiped clean of any fingerprints. On their return Perry and Della see Robert Caddo with the Endicott brothers (Chapter 19). The cross-examination of Lt. Tragg involves the difference between packing and unpacking clothes (Chapter 20). Perry sends Paul Drake to get more information. An important and new fact arises from the use of the then new and rare ballpoint pen (Chapter 21). The case against Marilyn Marlow is dismissed, and Perry explains the solution (Chapter 22). "Once you get the correct solution all of the evidence fits into place." [You need to multiply the dollar amounts by 20 to adjust for today's values.]

The Case of the Lonely Heiress, by Erle Stanley Gardner

Perry Mason gets a visit from Robert Caddo, the publisher of "Lonely Lovers Publications". Caddo has run an ad from an heiress. The authorities suspect some sort of fraud and are investigating. But since the advertisers are anonymous, Caddo wants Perry Mason to verify this item. Caddo explains the market for this publication, and how it works (Chapter 1). Perry explains how his letters will try for a response from than anonymous heiress. Perry wonders if that ad is part of a scheme (Chapter 2). One letter draws a reply, and Perry will have detectives who can spot and follow "MM" (Chapter 3). In Chapter 4 Perry and Della visit Union Depot to watch the meeting. The next morning Perry reports the facts to Caddo. Later that day Perry gets a report from the young detective who met "MM"; was there a trick? An errand brings Perry and Della back to Union Depot, and they see familiar faces (Chapter 6). Later Marilyn Marlow visits Perry to ask for help with the problem about a will. She explains the purpose of her ad (Chapter 7).

In Chapter 8 Perry gets a visit from Mrs. Dolores Caddo, who is upset by her husband's involvement with "MM"; she's not so dumb even if she is a big blonde. Perry tries to calm her and fails, so he calls Marilyn Marlow to warn her. After this Bob Caddo shows up. [This is one funny scene!] Marilyn Marlow calls with terrible news: Rose Keeling has been murdered! Rose's prior testimony will stand. Perry and Della arrive, question Marilyn, and Perry decides to take a chance with his client (Chapter 9). Lt. Tragg arrives, and holds Perry and Della for a while [another funny scene]. When they are released they try to visit the other witness, Ethel Furlong. But Perry is fooled by appearances (Chapter 11). In Chapter 12 Perry meets the Endicott family: Ralph, Palmer, and Lorraine. [The new ballpoint pen is mentioned here.] The Endicotts will benefit if George Endicott's will is broken. Ralph had seen Rose Keeling a few hours before her murder. Next Marilyn Marlow is intensively questioned and she blurts out some facts to Sergeant Holcomb. Next Lt. Tragg takes her to his office. It is an example of a police interrogation using `bad cop, good cop' (Chapter 13). Perry sums up the known facts in Chapter 14.

When Perry visits Mr. & Mrs. Caddo he learns that Dolores Caddo met Rose Keeling after 11 am. But Mr. & Mrs. Caddo deny everything to Lt. Tragg. Did they outsmart Perry (Chapter 15)? No one seems to have a motive for Rose Keeling's murder except Perry's client (Chapter 16). Perry and Della return to take another look at Rose Keeling's apartment. Della tells the difference between packing and unpacking. But they get a big surprise when they leave (Chapter 17). The Preliminary Hearing starts in Chapter 18. A bloody knife was found hidden in Marilyn's car, wiped clean of any fingerprints. On their return Perry and Della see Robert Caddo with the Endicott brothers (Chapter 19). The cross-examination of Lt. Tragg involves the difference between packing and unpacking clothes (Chapter 20). Perry sends Paul Drake to get more information. An important and new fact arises from the use of the then new and rare ballpoint pen (Chapter 21). The case against Marilyn Marlow is dismissed, and Perry explains the solution (Chapter 22). "Once you get the correct solution all of the evidence fits into place."
[You need to multiply the dollar amounts by 20 to adjust for today's values.]