Perry Mason: The Case of the Baited Hook [Paperback]

Erle Stanley Gardner (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Bks # 6067 (April 1961)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000O6KMV2
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Close Call for Perry Mason, March 23, 2011

By 

Acute Observer (N. Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perry Mason: The Case of the Baited Hook (Paperback)

The Case of the Baited Hook, Erle Stanley Gardner

On a blustery March night Perry Mason got a phone call from "John L. Cragmore" who offers $1,000 if Perry will see him right now. Perry agrees, then calls the Drake Detective Agency to set watchers on the visitor. Robert Peltham is in trouble, but he wants Perry to protect the woman who came with him. But Perry can't know the name or even hear her voice! Perry agrees, subject to his conditions, and the couple leaves (Chapter I). In Chapter II an elderly but dynamic woman visits Perry about a trust fund and an illegal adoption. Mrs. A.E. Tump explains a complicated situation. She doesn't like Albert Tidings as the trustee for Byrl Gailord's fortune. Chapter III begins with the newspaper report of mismanagement at a hospital; Albert Tidings is one of the trustees. The coded personal ad tells Perry he can represent Byrl Gailord. When Perry and Paul Drake go to interview Mrs. Tidings at her home they find a dead body. They call Homicide, then Mrs. Tidings returns.

Mrs. Tump and Byrl Gailord visit Perry Mason, who tells them Albert Tidings was murdered. Sergeant Holcomb shows up and begins to question Mrs. Tump and Gailord about their business with Albert Tidings, and their alibis. Carl Mattern, Albert Tidings' secretary, tells Perry Mason that Mr. Tidings sold $50,000 worth of stock to buy shares in an unlisted prospecting company around noontime (Chapter V). Perry learns that Robert Peltham skipped out; the police went to question him as he co-signed the checks with Albert Tidings. The investigation continues on the other people involved. Would the death of a trustee negate a sale? Perry deduces the events from the facts about Tidings' body - no shoes. This connects to Perry's mysterious client. Perry then follows the woman who replied to his blind ad, but she notices her shadows. Adelle Hastings won't answer Perry's questions (Chapter VI). Perry pulls a slick stunt with a purse!

The investigation continues with the questioning of the bookkeeper, and we learn more about the case (Chapter VII). Perry goes to Peltham's apartment, borrows his car, then plants a bloody coat with a bullet hole in it (Chapter VIII)! Perry visits Mattern to learn of his whereabouts that Tuesday; he has a perfect alibi (Chapter IX). But Perry's questions drag out the truth. Now Perry deduces the identity of that mysterious woman and goes to question her. The interview ends when the police arrive to take her into custody (Chapter X). Next Perry goes to interview another person who was involved in this case (Chapter XI). Perry's stunt with Peltham's coat and car reels him in. But Paul Drake calls Perry to warn of a double cross; Sgt. Holcomb arrives to bring in Perry so the D.A. can question him! D.A. Hamilton Berger accuses Perry of criminal conspiracy and being an accessory after the fact to Tidings' murder (Chapter XIII)! Perry uses his limited time to question the bookkeeper again (Chapter XIV). In the last chapter Perry explains the overlooked clue to Sgt. Holcomb, and how it is tied in with the known facts. The newspaper features the bookkeeper's confession. Perry skated on thin ice and almost fell in. This is another story that you can't put down.