The case of the backward mule [Unknown Binding]

Erle Stanley Gardner (Author)

Product Details

• Unknown Binding
• Publisher: Aeonian Press (1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884114333
• ISBN-13: 978-0884114338
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,942,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Importance of a Proper Response, March 22, 2006

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

This review is from: The case of the backward mule

The Case of the Backward Mule, by Erle Stanley Gardner

A big steamer arrives at San Francisco. When Terry Clane disembarks the police take him in for questioning. A friend of his girlfriend was arrested for murder and convicted, but escaped on his way to San Quentin! Chapter 3 describes a sample "lie detector" session. Questions and answers are recorded on wax records. Clane uses his imagination to stymie the questioning [instead of a tranquilizer pill]. We learn about one of the eight Chinese Immortals, seated backwards on a mule. It may symbolize life where you can see the past but not the future. When he is released Clane visits the Stacey Nevis Investment company. Chapter 4 gives the background to this story. [The dollar figures are way out of date, but were a small fortune then.] Clane goes to Cynthia Reston's apartment, and is caught in a "mouse trap": the police are watching (Chapter 5). Chapter 6 takes us for a visit in San Francisco's Chinatown, and the contrast in culture. Chapter 7 tells of the murder of Howard Farnsworth. Edward Harold was convicted on circumstantial evidence.

Chapter 8 explains the politics and publicity in surrendering a wanted man. Terry Clane goes to meet George Gloster at his office, and finds him dead (Chapter 9). The questioning of Clane is as interesting as a courtroom scene (Chapter 10). Clane explains the Chinese philosophy that good or bad fortune is relatively unimportant, it is how you react to it that is important. The story continues (Chapter 11). Clane meets Bill Hendrum and explains why Edward Harold must surrender. Clane surmises what happened to Gloster (Chapter 13). Inspector Mallory shows up, and Clane's apartment is searched again (Chapter 14). Clane follows the "back trail" of Edward Harold, and locates him only minutes before the police arrive (Chapter 15). Clane's involvement leads to his arrest as an accessory (Chapter 16). This provides a way for Clane and Harold to discuss this case while in jail (Chapter 17). [Could the police be listening to their conversation?] Have the police been following and using Clane as a bird dog to flush out the game (Chapter 20)?

This book shows what a fast-paced story Gardner could write when not doing the "Perry Mason" novels. You will note the presence of legal details not found in the works of Hammett or Chandler. The story could be an example on the proper or improper handling of fortune. It provides a snapshot of that era (arrests without a warrant). San Francisco, with one of the largest Chinatowns, had no police officers who could speak Cantonese! Was Terry Clane one of those who travel abroad to "find themselves:?