Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Hello Perry ! It’s Been a Minute.

The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom by rle Stanley Gardner

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Back to the curious mid-century rules of divorce, especially in a community property state like California.  No-fault divorce did not yet exist, so if either party wanted to get out of the deal fast, they had to file in the state of Nevada, and even then there were certain rules regarding residency.  Which explains the dude ranches that proliferated in the vicinity of Reno and Las Vegas, where they usually hung out for the necessary month or so.  The other alternative was the quickie Mexican […]

If You are Hiring Perry Mason? Just Spill It, Sister.

The Case of the Lazy Lover by Erle Stanley Gardner

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Holy moral ambiguity, Batman!  Turns out the actual murderer never gets charged, and we are all fine with that.  Also, Perry’s client did what most of them do, and never really laid the facts out to him.  True, he’s not going to represent them if he’s convinced they are guilty, but the coy runaround never works in their favor, and I can’t blame Perry for getting a little ticked off.  They are usually trying to protect  and plot come out gradually, as Perry tries to […]

Which, of Course, Features a Generic Redhead on the Cover

The Case of the Borrowed Brunette by Erle Stanley Gardner

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  cbr16bingo vintage So the forties were boom years in Hollywood, and everybody was looking for a break.  Starlets were a dime a dozen, so when an ad appeared offering a job to young ladies of a certain appearance and some very specific measurements, stating that if they would hang around various street corners for an hour, wearing specified clothes, they might pick up a job.  What can it hurt, right? Mason just happens to pick up on the observation, as he and Della are […]

Never Trust Oil Guys. Just Sayin’

The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife by Erle Stanley Gardner

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I love it when Gardner kicks off his latest case by getting deep down into the legal weeds of whether deferred drilling payments can be cured at the very last minute before the property is sold by the widow title holder or not.  I know what he is referring to is very much a California property issue, and a fidgety bit of law, but dang, Erle, this is only eight pages into the book, and none of the characters have been properly introduced to us […]

Nothing Says Different Times Like Tobacco Power Plays

The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde by Erle Stanley Gardner

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cbr15bingo Nostalgia You did what, Sergeant Holcomb?  You put Perry Mason and Della Street in separate holding cells, and then you had the both of them strip searched?  Oh, son, you just made a huge mistake.  That is so not on.  You are so going down. OK, let’s back up a bit.  Diane Regis, she with the shiner, has made her way to Mason’s office dressed in a fur coat and not much underneath.  Seems as though her employer’s step-son (she’s a radio actress, employed […]

Alas, Not As Fun As the Last One, Still Can’t Go Wrong with PM.

The Case of the Crooked Candle by Earle Stanley Gardner

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Quick question for any of you nautical types out there.  You can see from the title that a key clue involves a candle.  Said candle has been burning in an interior cabin on a small yacht, completely unattended for a period of time.  Is this a thing, even in the 1940s?  Seriously, Gardner?  Aren’t those vessels infamously, well, woody?  SMH. OK, aside from blatant safety violations, this case had to do with a lot of trotting back and forth along the Ventura coastline, with the […]



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