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Perry Mason bibliography
View on WikipediaThe following is a list of the Perry Mason novels and short stories by Erle Stanley Gardner, published from 1933 to 1973.
Many Perry Mason novels were first published in magazines, most often The Saturday Evening Post, some with different titles. Sixteen appeared in the Toronto Star Weekly in condensed form. All books were first published by William Morrow and Company, New York. Most were published simultaneously in Toronto.[1][2]
Six of the novels were adapted for a series of Perry Mason films produced in the 1930s. Many of the novels and short stories were adapted for the CBS television series Perry Mason (1957–1966); details are available at the list of episodes for the TV series.
The Perry Mason series ranks third in the top ten best selling book series, with sales of 300 million. R. L. Stine's Goosebumps series is ranked second, with over 400 million; J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is first, with over 500 million.[3][4]
Novels
[edit]1930s
[edit]- The Case of the Velvet Claws (1933)
William Morrow and Company, March 1933[5]: 323 [a]
In the first Perry Mason mystery, we meet Perry, Della Street and detective Paul Drake for the first time. District Attorney Hamilton Burger and Lieutenant Arthur Tragg do not appear in this story. There is no courtroom scene in the entire novel, which is routine in the later books. The plot revolves around a spoiled woman, who calls herself "Eva Griffin". She comes to Mason claiming that she is being blackmailed by her powerful husband. She wants to keep the news of her affairs secret from him and seeks help from Mason. Meanwhile, she is accused of murder and, in turn, puts the blame on Mason himself. But Perry avoids being double-crossed and fights to free her from the charges. - The Case of the Sulky Girl (1933)
William Morrow and Company, September 1933[5]: 324
A bratty heiress wants to keep the news of a man in her life a secret from the guardian who controls her purse strings. Then, when there is a murder, that same man is accused. - The Case of the Lucky Legs (1934)
William Morrow and Company, February 1934[5]: 324
Perry tries to represent a woman taken in by a con man. Other women show up conned by the same man, and their boyfriends show up, and suddenly there is a death. A mistake at the murder scene dogs Perry, as he tries to figure out what is going on before something happens to him... - The Case of the Howling Dog (1934)
Serialized in Liberty Magazine, January 13 – March 17, 1934; William Morrow and Company, June 1934[5]: 324
When a potential client wants to see Mason about a howling dog and a will, the attorney is uninterested. He does not enjoy drafting wills, and wonders if the man should not see a veterinarian. However, the man's next question, whether a will is legal if the person who made it had been executed for murder, immediately piques Mason's interest. He finds, in addition to the will and the dog, a man who had run away with the wife of another, and a sexy housekeeper.[6] The Hollywood movie of this name is considered the best big screen adaptation of a Perry Mason book. - The Case of the Curious Bride (1934)
Serialized in Liberty Magazine, July 7 – September 15, 1934; William Morrow and Company, November 1934[5]: 324
A woman claiming not to be a bride consults Mason about her "friend" whose husband, long thought to have died in a plane crash, turns up alive. - The Case of the Counterfeit Eye (1935)
William Morrow and Company, April 1935[5]: 324
Peter Brunold has a bloodshot glass eye to use the "morning after." It is distinctive, closely identified with him, and thus a handicap when a corpse is found clutching a bloodshot glass eye. Later, another corpse is found, with another bloodshot glass eye in hand. But Mason is in almost as much jeopardy as his client, as his fingerprints have been found on one of the alleged murder weapons.[6] This is the first novel in which District Attorney Hamilton Burger appears. - The Case of the Caretaker's Cat (1935)
Serialized in Liberty Magazine, June 15 – August 17, 1935; William Morrow and Company, September 1935[5]: 324
After his employer dies in a fire, a caretaker hires Mason to allow him to keep his cat against the wishes of the men who inherit. When the caretaker is killed, Mason defends the man accused of his murder. - The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece (1936)
William Morrow and Company, March 1936[5]: 325
When two men change bedrooms at a house party, everyone thinks that the sleepwalker with the carving knife killed the wrong man. This is not the first novel in which Perry kisses Della Street in the office. Della and Perry first kissed in The Case of the Velvet Claws. - The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1936)
William Morrow and Company, September 1936[5]: 325
Mason gets a telephone call from a man who identifies himself as Anglican Bishop William Mallory, recently returned from many years in Australia, and tells Mason that he will testify on the behalf of Mason's client, if Mason can find him. But Mason observes that a bishop who has delivered many sermons is unlikely to stutter. - The Case of the Dangerous Dowager (1937)
William Morrow and Company, April 1937[5]: 325
Mason is hired to retrieve a spoiled granddaughter's gambling IOUs by a wealthy cigar-smoking dowager. A murder aboard a gambling ship is beyond the three-mile limit. - The Case of the Lame Canary (1937)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, May 29 – July 17, 1937; William Morrow and Company, September 1937[5]: 325
A snoopy neighbor and a canary whose claws have been cut too short give the clues to an illicit affair and a murder. - The Case of the Substitute Face (1938)
William Morrow and Company, April 1938[5]: 326
During a dark and stormy night aboard ship, a man goes missing. A portrait photograph is mysteriously changed out of a frame. Mason must solve the mystery to save a life. - The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe (1938)
William Morrow and Company, September 1938[5]: 326
Mason defends an elderly woman who claims to have no memory of shooting a man, but he needs to know why she would go shoplifting when she has plenty of money in her purse. - The Case of the Perjured Parrot (1939)
William Morrow and Company, February 1939[5]: 326
One of Perry Mason's trademarks is his ability, in court, to switch the physical evidence in a case. He generally does this with guns or bullets, and it confuses the jury, to his client's advantage. In this case, Perry offers a coroner's inquest two parrots, one of which swore like a muleskinner and was found near the body of a millionaire hermit who had been murdered.[6]
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime: "This early Perry Mason is uncommonly full of detection, and the games played in it with parrots do not detract from plausibility. Denouement not huddled—all in all, a model in his special genre."[7] - The Case of the Rolling Bones (1939)
William Morrow and Company, November 1939[5]: 326
A murder during the Alaskan Gold Rush has ramifications that lead to murder in the present day. This is the first novel for Mason's intrepid switchboard operator, Gertie.
1940s
[edit]- The Case of the Baited Hook (1940)
William Morrow and Company, March 1940[5]: 327
Mason is given a third of a $10,000 bill to represent a masked woman in the future. It takes him almost until the murder trial to find out which cheating woman is his client. - The Case of the Silent Partner (1940)
William Morrow and Company, November 1940[5]: 327
A dynamic young businesswoman is in danger of losing control of her flower shop, and someone sends poisoned bonbons to a nightclub hostess. Mason must reacquire some stock and defend the businesswoman. This novel is the first to feature Lt. Arthur Tragg, who was introduced as a replacement for Sgt. Holcomb. Gardner felt that Tragg, though plenty tough and smart, had a smoother approach than the rough-and-ready Holcomb character, and gave the police a better image. Holcomb would continue to appear sometimes as a secondary character, though. - The Case of the Haunted Husband (1941)
William Morrow and Company, February 1941[5]: 327
A cigarette girl in San Francisco leaves her job and the city abruptly, and hitchhikes to Los Angeles. She gets in a car wreck with a would-be Romeo, waking up in the hospital to find herself charged with his death.[b] - The Case of the Empty Tin (1941)
William Morrow and Company, October 1941[5]: 327
A snoopy spinster discovers the passing of coded messages sealed into empty tins, but it is someone else who is killed in the basement. - The Case of the Drowning Duck (1942)
William Morrow and Company, May 1942[5]: 328
Perry Mason and Della Street are on a vacation in Palm Springs when a wealthy businessman asks for advice about his daughter's boyfriend, a chemist who drowns ducks and becomes a murder suspect.[8][9] - The Case of the Careless Kitten (1942)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, May 23 – July 11, 1942; William Morrow and Company, September 1942[5]: 328
Mason defends Della Street, who is accused of helping a material witness or possible murder suspect vanish from a crime scene. Key clues in the murder case are the behavior of a greedy kitten and the impersonation of an elderly crippled woman. - The Case of the Buried Clock (1943)
William Morrow and Company, May 1943[5]: 328
A returning war veteran stumbles across a buried clock that is apparently keeping sidereal time. A murder victim is found in a rural area where, it seems, all the neighbors go out for walks at night. - The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito (1943)
William Morrow and Company, September 1943[5]: 328
A wealthy prospector is camping in his own back yard, someone tries to poison Perry and Della, Paul Drake poses as a drunken prospector, and the clue to the murder is the sound of a mosquito flying in lazy circles. - The Case of the Crooked Candle (1944)
William Morrow and Company, May 1944[5]: 328
A key element in a complicated story of a body found on a beached boat is a candle that stands at a steep angle.
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime: "The details of the boat grounded at low tide with a corpse in the cabin are superbly handled, and the rest of the story—motives and characters—is both believable and reasonably straightforward; … It is an absolutely first-rate job."[7] - The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde (1944)
William Morrow and Company, November 1944[5]: 328
A beautiful blonde gets a fist in the eye from her employer's son, and Mason must defend her when her roommate is murdered. - The Case of the Golddigger's Purse (1945)
William Morrow and Company, May 1945[5]: 329
Mason is surprised to hear that someone wants to consult him about a sick goldfish, and the case also concerns a crooked partner, a secret formula, and a gold-digging ingenue accused of murder. - The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife (1945)
William Morrow and Company, September 1945[5]: 329
A shady promoter is blocking the sale of a valuable island when he comes up with an oil lease, but when he is murdered on a pleasure cruise, it is his wife who stands trial for murder. - The Case of the Borrowed Brunette (1946)
William Morrow and Company, November 1946[5]: 329
A young woman is hired to impersonate someone because her measurements and coloring match a very specific list. It is a tricky ploy in a divorce, and it soon leads to a murder charge against her chaperone. - The Case of the Fan Dancer's Horse (1947)
William Morrow and Company, June 1947[5]: 329
There are two gorgeous fan dancers with the same name, two blood-soaked ostrich fans, a samurai sword, and a horse with a very unusual addition to its saddle. - The Case of the Lazy Lover (1947)
William Morrow and Company, October 1947[5]: 329
A man tells everyone that his wife has run away with his best friend, who seems to have a strange lack of enthusiasm about the affair. The case leads to murder and a trial that hinges on multiple sets of footprints. - The Case of the Lonely Heiress (1948)
William Morrow and Company, February 1948[5]: 330
Mason is hired to find the identity of an "heiress" who ran ads in a lonely hearts magazine. Later, he defends the heiress against a murder charge. - The Case of the Vagabond Virgin (1948)
William Morrow and Company, July 1948[5]: 330
A man picks up an innocent young hitchhiker and gets into even more trouble when his partner is found murdered.
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime: "Despite the fact that compelling evidence of virginity is not offered, the lady vagabond is well done, and the plot is better-than-average Gardner; indeed, it is surprisingly good when one considers the deluge that had already gone over the dam by 1948."[7] - The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom (1949)
William Morrow and Company, February 1949[5]: 330
First Mason gets his face slapped by a beautiful burglar in his office building, then a Tijuana wedding trip leads to a murder. - The Case of the Cautious Coquette (1949)
William Morrow and Company, May 1949[5]: 330
At the behest of Mason, who is representing a young man hit by a car, Paul Drake places an ad in the paper asking for witnesses to the hit and run. To Mason's astonishment, two different drivers are identified, one by a mysterious letter enclosing a key. The 1949 first edition has just this story. Morrow issued a later hardcover edition marked "Book Club Edition" in a taller format which included two Mason short stories: The Case of the Crying Swallow and The Case of the Crimson Kiss. This later edition has a jacket that includes a blurb for the two included stories, while the true first edition jacket does not.
1950s
[edit]- The Case of the Negligent Nymph (1950)
Serialized in Collier's, September 17 – October 22, 1949; William Morrow and Company, January 1950[5]: 331
A young woman swims to Mason's canoe to escape a vicious watchdog, then is accused of jewel theft and murder. But it is the dog who provides the key to the murder. - The Case of the One-Eyed Witness (1950)
William Morrow and Company, November 1950[5]: 331
When a mysterious woman hires Mason over the telephone, he must defend her in a case that involves an adoption racket and her husband's murder. A woman in an eyepatch is a key witness. - The Case of the Fiery Fingers (1951)
William Morrow and Company, May 1951[5]: 332
Mason defends a woman twice—once on theft charges, and then on murder charges. - The Case of the Angry Mourner (1951)
William Morrow and Company, October 1951[5]: 332
A playboy is murdered in his lakeside cabin and a mother and daughter, who had both been there, start to suspect each other so call on Perry Mason for help. - The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink (1952)
William Morrow and Company, April 1952[5]: 332
A waitress in a favorite restaurant of Mason's runs out in the middle of the lunch rush, leaving behind her moth-eaten mink, and is hit by a car. Later, a message in lipstick helps Mason disprove the murder case against her framed boss. This novel was the basis for the script for the pilot episode of the CBS television series. - The Case of the Grinning Gorilla (1952)
William Morrow and Company, November 1952[5]: 332
Mason buys the diary of a drowned woman at an auction, and after a murder he finds himself confronted by a hypnotized gorilla. - The Case of the Hesitant Hostess (1953)
William Morrow and Company, April 1953[5]: 333
A hostess at a nightclub seems determined to convince a jury that Mason's client committed armed robbery, so he goes over her story in painstaking detail on the stand. - The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister (1953)
William Morrow and Company, November 1953[5]: 333
Mason, hired to protect a family from illegitimate blackmail, ends up defending a woman who the police claim murdered the blackmailer.
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime: "One of the tightest knit and richest in gimmicks and characters. (Mason's) fiddling with tape recorders is excellent, and the dialogues in and out of court show what can be done with backchat to create drama."[7] - The Case of the Fugitive Nurse (1954)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, September 19 – November 7, 1953; William Morrow and Company, February 1954[5]: 333
When young Steffanie Malden, recently widowed by the death of her husband, the very successful surgeon Summerfield Malden, consults Mason, she wants the $100,000 her husband and nurse hid from his wife and the IRS in a love nest, but changes priorities when the authorities prosecute her for murder. - The Case of the Runaway Corpse (1954)
William Morrow and Company, June 1954[5]: 333
Mason defends a woman accused of poisoning her husband--even though witnesses saw the corpse climb out the motel window. - The Case of the Restless Redhead (1954)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, September 13 – October 30, 1954; William Morrow and Company, October 1954[5]: 333
Mason helps a young defense attorney get an innocent verdict for a woman accused of theft. Later, he defends her in a murder case with a large number of twists. This novel was the basis for the script for the first episode of the television series. - The Case of the Glamorous Ghost (1955)
William Morrow and Company, January 1955[5]: 334
A scantily-clad woman claims she has amnesia, and cannot remember anything about the jewel smuggling or the murder. - The Case of the Sun Bather's Diary (1955)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, March 5 – April 23, 1955; William Morrow and Company, May 1955[5]: 334
Mason defends the daughter of a man convicted of armed robbery who first loses her trailer, all her clothes and her diary. - The Case of the Nervous Accomplice (1955)
William Morrow and Company, September 1955[5]: 334
Mason is hired by a woman whose husband is having an affair to wreck it, then defends her on a murder charge. - The Case of the Terrified Typist (1956)
William Morrow and Company, January 1956[5]: 335
After a temporary typist who enjoys trick photography has left Mason's office in a tearing hurry, he and Della find some diamonds stuck in chewing gum on the bottom of her desk. Her involvement in a murder trial features an ending unique in the Mason series.This was the only case in the series Gardner wrote where Perry Mason lost the case. - The Case of the Demure Defendant (1956)
Serialized as "The Case of the Missing Poison" in The Saturday Evening Post, December 10, 1955 – January 28, 1956; William Morrow and Company, May 1956[5]: 335
A woman confesses to murder during a therapy session, and her doctor consults Mason as to the legal ramifications. Later Mason defends the woman in court. - The Case of the Gilded Lily (1956)
William Morrow and Company, September 1956[5]: 335
Mason defends a man thought to have killed his blackmailer. - The Case of the Lucky Loser (1957)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, September 1 – October 20, 1956; William Morrow and Company, January 1957[5]: 335
Mason defends a man previously convicted of killing a man with an automobile while intoxicated. When the body is found to have been killed with a gun, Mason argues double jeopardy as a plea, but eventually clears his client of all crimes. - The Case of the Screaming Woman (1957)
William Morrow and Company, May 1957[5]: 335
Mason defends a woman accused of murdering a doctor running an illegal adoption agency. - The Case of the Daring Decoy (1957)
Serialized as "The Proxy Murder" by the Chicago Tribune-New York News syndicate, September 8 – October 19, 1957; William Morrow and Company, October 1957[5]: 336
Mason defends a man embroiled in a stock battle who is accused of killing a business rival's secretary. Was the woman in a nightgown with a mudpack on her face trying to keep the gun herself, or palm it off? - The Case of the Long-Legged Models (1958)
Serialized as "The Case of the Dead Man's Daughter" in The Saturday Evening Post, August 10 – September 28, 1957; William Morrow and Company, January 1958[5]: 336
Mason defends a woman accused of murdering the man who murdered her father, and does so by juggling identical guns until no one knows what is what and involving the car dealer and his newlywed son. - The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll (1958)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, February 1 – March 22, 1958; William Morrow and Company, May 1958[5]: 336
Mason defends a woman against charges of two murders—she has already stolen $4,000, stabbed a man with an ice pick, and fled a fatal accident, but he is convinced she is innocent of murder. - The Case of the Calendar Girl (1958)
William Morrow and Company, October 1958[5]: 336
Mason masterfully defends a man accused of murdering a corrupt politician by shoving the blame onto a model. When the model is accused of murder using the evidence Mason uncovered, Perry defends her. - The Case of the Deadly Toy (1959)
Serialized as "The Case of the Greedy Grandpa" in The Saturday Evening Post, October 25 – December 13, 1958; William Morrow and Company, January 1959[5]: 337
A boy with a toy printing press and a .22 leads Perry Mason to a murder trial where his mother is on trial for the murder of his father, and his wealthy grandfather will do anything to get her convicted. - The Case of the Mythical Monkeys (1959)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, May 2 – June 20, 1959; William Morrow and Company, June 1959[5]: 337
Gladys Doyle, secretary of underworld moll turned bestselling novelist Mauvis Meade, keeps an appointment in her employer's stead at mountaintop Summit Inn, but gets stuck in the mud on her way back and spends the night with a man who vanishes. A crucial clue is a scarf printed with the three mythical monkeys whose poses say, "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." - The Case of the Singing Skirt (1959)
William Morrow and Company, September 1959[5]: 337
Mason's client is framed for theft and fired because of her refusal to assist in cheating a casino patron. Then she is accused of murder, and the gun juggling begins.
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime: "The court scene is excellent; the characters, though thin as usual, are amply credible; and the pace never flags."[7]
1960s
[edit]- The Case of the Waylaid Wolf (1960)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, September 5 – October 24, 1959; William Morrow and Company, January 1960[5]: 337
A woman defends herself from date rape by stealing his car. When her would-be rapist is found dead, Mason defends her on the murder charge and does some spectacular misdirection with the evidence. - The Case of the Duplicate Daughter (1960)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, June 4 – July 23, 1960; William Morrow and Company, June 1960[5]: 337
Perry is unsure which woman, wearing only a nightgown, was running away from a garage that has become the scene of a murder, and as a retainer, he asks for title to all the money found in the garage. - The Case of the Shapely Shadow (1960)
William Morrow and Company, October 1960[5]: 337
A secretary, convinced her boss is being blackmailed, hires Mason to secure evidence. But when her boss is found murdered, she needs him to defend her on murder charges. - The Case of the Spurious Spinster (1961)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, January 28 – March 11, 1961; William Morrow and Company, March 1961[5]: 338
A shoebox full of cash and an elderly mine owner who disappears, wheelchair and all, leave a secretary charged with murder. - The Case of the Bigamous Spouse (1961)
Serialized in The Saturday Evening Post, July 15 – August 26, 1961; William Morrow and Company, August 1961[5]: 338
Gwynn Elston, door-to-door saleswoman, finds herself implicated in the murder of her best friend's new husband. - The Case of the Reluctant Model (1962)
Published as "The Case of the False Feteet" in the Toronto Star Weekly, October 7, 1961; William Morrow and Company, January 1962[5]: 338
Mason gets involved in a case of slander when an art dealer questions the authenticity of a painting by fictional artist "Phellipe Feteet" (whose backstory closely follows that of American painter Edgar Leeteg). When Mason goes to the apartment of the main witness, all he finds is a very dead body. - The Case of the Blonde Bonanza (1962)
Serialized in the Toronto Star Weekly, April 7–14, 1962; William Morrow and Company, June 1962[5]: 338
Mason believes it is crazy that someone is paying a beautiful girl $100 a week to put on weight, but she may be a missing heiress—or a murderess. When Mason finds out what is behind it all, he discovers that the scheme is crazy - like a fox.[7] - The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands (1962)
William Morrow and Company, October 1962[5]: 338
An interesting legal point arises about an embezzler who gambles on the ponies and wins, and an interesting murder trial centers on some trout packed in dry ice. - The Case of the Mischievous Doll (1963)
The Saturday Evening Post, December 8, 1962; William Morrow and Company, February 1963[5]: 338
Mason is hired to identify a woman based on an appendix scar, as she fears being a look-alike to an heiress may be a setup for her arrest. Mason later defends the heiress on murder charges. - The Case of the Stepdaughter's Secret (1963)
William Morrow and Company, June 1963[5]: 338
Blackmail leads to murder on a yacht and a cash-filled purse on the bottom of the ocean weighted down with a gun. Paul Drake investigates by driving a speedboat surrounded by bikini-clad beauties who take turns water skiing. Mason comments he picked the wrong business. - The Case of the Amorous Aunt (1963)
William Morrow and Company, September 1963[5]: 338
After a young woman hires Mason to prevent her aunt from throwing away her money on a con man, he ends up defending the aunt on a charge of murder. - The Case of the Daring Divorcee (1964)
William Morrow and Company, February 1964[5]: 339
A purse containing thousands of dollars and a twice-fired gun is left in Mason's office, but his potential client has disappeared. - The Case of the Phantom Fortune (1964)
William Morrow and Company, May 1964[5]: 339
Mason is hired to protect a man's wife from an unknown blackmailer. However, while Mason's ingenious plan to ruin the blackmailer works, he ends up having to defend the man after he is prosecuted for murder. - The Case of the Horrified Heirs (1964)
William Morrow and Company, September 1964[5]: 339
Mason defends a woman twice; once on drug smuggling charges, and once on murder charges. - The Case of the Troubled Trustee (1965)
William Morrow and Company, February 1965[5]: 339
Why would a talented investment advisor embezzle a quarter of a million dollars from his client "for her own good?" Mason first advises him, then defends him as the case becomes murder. - The Case of the Beautiful Beggar (1965)
William Morrow and Company, June 1965[5]: 339
When her wealthy uncle disappears, his niece has no money, except his check for $125,000. Did she poison his Chinese food after she kidnapped him from the asylum? - The Case of the Worried Waitress (1966)
William Morrow and Company, August 1966[5]: 339
A pretty waitress is accused of stealing $100 from her wealthy aunt's hatbox, and a blind pencil-seller earns enough to come to work in a taxicab. - The Case of the Queenly Contestant (1967)
William Morrow and Company, May 1967[5]: 340
Mason is hired to stop a news story about an old beauty pageant. Later, he ends up defending the former contestant on murder charges. - The Case of the Careless Cupid (1968)
William Morrow and Company, March 1968[5]: 340
Mason defends a wealthy widow who is accused of murdering her husband. - The Case of the Fabulous Fake (1969)
William Morrow and Company, November 1969[5]: 340
Trying to protect her brother, a woman tries to handle the person blackmailing him—only to be implicated in his murder.
Posthumous
[edit]- The Case of the Fenced-In Woman (1972)
William Morrow and Company, September 1972[5]: 341
Mason becomes involved in the bizarre case of a house split right through the living room with a barbed-wire fence—and a body in the pool. - The Case of the Postponed Murder (1973)
William Morrow and Company, 1973[5]: 341
A young woman asks Mason to find her sister—but what does she really want? And did the corpse sail the yacht away after he was shot?
Short stories
[edit]
- "The Case of the Crying Swallow" (1947)
The American Magazine, August 1947[5]: 329
Published with The Case of the Cautious Coquette (1949) and then in a short story collection The Case of the Crying Swallow published in 1970. - "The Case of the Crimson Kiss" (1948)
The American Magazine, June 1948[5]: 330
Published with The Case of the Cautious Coquette (1949) and then in a short story collection The Case of the Crimson Kiss published in 1971. - "The Case of the Suspect Sweethearts" (1950)
Radio and Television Mirror, May 1950; radio series tie-in with Della Street's byline[5]: 331 [10] - "The Case of the Irate Witness" (1953)
Collier's, January 17, 1953[5]: 332
First book publication Fiction Goes to Court : Favorite Stories of Lawyers and the Law Selected by Famous Lawyers (1954) and later included in the short story collections The Case of the Irate Witness in 1970, and The Oxford Book of Detective Stories (2000).
Pastiche
[edit]After Gardner's death, Thomas Chastain wrote two Perry Mason novels licensed by the author's estate, "based on characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner". Both follow the made-for-TV movies in the use of Paul Drake, Jr.
- Perry Mason in The Case of Too Many Murders (1989) – A businessman seems to have been in two places at once—once as a murderer, once as a victim.
- Perry Mason in The Case of the Burning Bequest (1990) – Mason's client has apparently killed his mother-in-law-to-be in the same room where his fiancée's real mother was killed by the client's father. The case is complicated further by the client's refusal to exonerate himself.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The bibliography in Dorothy B. Hughes' biography of Gardner was compiled by Ruth "Honey" Moore, the youngest of the three Walter sisters who were Gardner's longtime secretaries.
- ^ Near the end, Mason shares, in the words of Paul Drake, "a five minute talk on the philosophy of life and death I'll never forget."
References
[edit]- ^ Hubin, Allen J. (1984). Crime Fiction, 1749–1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography. New York and London: Garland Publishing. ISBN 0-8240-9219-8.
- ^ Mundell, E.H. (1968). Erle Stanley Gardner: A Checklist. Kent State University Press. ISBN 0-87338-034-7.
- ^ Grossman, Lev. "R.L. Stine Finally Has a Movie After 400 Million Books Sold". Time. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Scholastic Reveals Cover of Spectacular New Edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to Be Published on October 20, 2020". Scholastic News Room. Scholastic. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch Hughes, Dorothy B.; Moore, Ruth (1978). "Bibliography of Erle Stanley Gardner". Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Real Perry Mason. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. pp. 311–341. ISBN 0-688-03282-6.
- ^ a b c Roseman, Mill; et al. (1971). Detectionary. New York: Overlook Press. ISBN 0-87951-041-2.
- ^ a b c d e f Barzun, Jacques; Taylor, Wendell Hertig (1971). A Catalogue of Crime (revised and enlarged 1989 ed.). New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-015796-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0345378682. OCLC 21493120
- ^ For commentary, see: Wild, Peter (2011). Paradise of Desire: Eleven Palm Springs Novels. Tucson, AZ: Estate of Peter Wild. p. 281. OCLC 748584112.
- ^ Gardner, Erle Stanley (as Della Street) (May 1950). "The Case of the Suspect Sweethearts". Radio and Television Mirror. 33 (6). Macfadden Publications, Inc., at the Internet Archive: 64–65, 98–104. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
Perry Mason bibliography
View on GrokipediaNovels by Erle Stanley Gardner
1930s Publications
The Perry Mason series debuted in 1933 with The Case of the Velvet Claws, marking Erle Stanley Gardner's introduction of the titular criminal defense attorney as a hard-boiled, resourceful figure navigating complex legal and criminal intrigues. Published by William Morrow and Company, this inaugural novel established the core formula of fast-paced courtroom drama intertwined with detective work, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression era. Gardner's rapid output in the series' early years reflected his prolific writing pace, with two novels released in 1933 alone, building immediate popularity among readers of detective fiction.[3][6] Key supporting characters were introduced in the debut: Della Street, Mason's loyal and efficient secretary, and Paul Drake, the private investigator who becomes a vital ally in gathering evidence outside the courtroom. These elements evolved across the 1930s publications, as Gardner refined the series' blend of legal procedure and pulp-style action, often drawing from his own experience as a practicing attorney. While Gardner's earlier short stories had appeared in pulp magazines like Black Mask, the Perry Mason novels were primarily book originals during this decade, though some later entries saw serialization in periodicals such as Liberty magazine. The 15 novels from this period laid the foundation for the series' enduring appeal, emphasizing Mason's unorthodox methods to exonerate seemingly guilty clients.[7][4]| Title | Publication Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| The Case of the Velvet Claws | 1933 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Sulky Girl | 1933 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Lucky Legs | 1934 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Howling Dog | 1934 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Curious Bride | 1934 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Counterfeit Eye | 1935 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Caretaker's Cat | 1935 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece | 1936 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Stuttering Bishop | 1936 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Dangerous Dowager | 1937 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Lame Canary | 1937 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Substitute Face | 1938 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe | 1938 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Perjured Parrot | 1939 | William Morrow and Company |
| The Case of the Rolling Bones | 1939 | William Morrow and Company |
1940s Publications
The 1940s marked a prolific period for Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason series, building on the foundation established in the previous decade with more intricate legal dramas and character developments. Gardner maintained a high output, typically releasing two novels per year through much of the decade, resulting in 19 Perry Mason titles published between 1940 and 1949. These works were first issued in hardcover by William Morrow and Company in New York, reflecting the series' established success with the publisher.[9] The novels of this era continued to feature Perry Mason as the resourceful defense attorney, often navigating complex cases involving deception, financial intrigue, and courtroom confrontations, with recurring support from Della Street and Paul Drake. Gardner's pace slowed slightly toward the end of the decade, with only one release in 1946, but the consistent publication schedule underscored the enduring demand for the series during and after World War II.[10]| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1940 | The Case of the Baited Hook |
| 1940 | The Case of the Silent Partner |
| 1941 | The Case of the Haunted Husband |
| 1941 | The Case of the Empty Tin |
| 1942 | The Case of the Drowning Duck |
| 1942 | The Case of the Careless Kitten |
| 1943 | The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito |
| 1943 | The Case of the Buried Clock |
| 1944 | The Case of the Crooked Candle |
| 1944 | The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde |
| 1945 | The Case of the Golddigger's Purse |
| 1945 | The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife |
| 1946 | The Case of the Borrowed Brunette |
| 1947 | The Case of the Fan Dancer's Horse |
| 1947 | The Case of the Lazy Lover |
| 1948 | The Case of the Lonely Heiress |
| 1948 | The Case of the Vagabond Virgin |
| 1949 | The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom |
| 1949 | The Case of the Cautious Coquette |
1950s Publications
The 1950s represented a peak of productivity for Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason series, during which he published 26 novels featuring the intrepid defense attorney. These works, all issued by William Morrow and Company, built on the momentum from previous decades while adapting to evolving cultural landscapes, including the burgeoning influence of television. The debut of the CBS television series Perry Mason on September 21, 1957, starring Raymond Burr, dramatically expanded the character's reach, prompting Gardner to refine plot structures in subsequent books to emphasize courtroom confrontations and moral clarity over the rougher investigative tactics of earlier entries.[11][12] This period's novels solidified the series' signature titling convention—"The Case of the [adjective] [noun]"—which evoked intrigue through evocative, alliterative phrasing, as exemplified in titles like The Case of the Fiery Fingers and The Case of the Grinning Gorilla. Recurring motifs included Mason's unyielding defense of seemingly guilty clients who prove innocent, often involving complex deceptions around alibis, hidden motives, and surprise witnesses, themes that resonated with postwar audiences seeking justice narratives. The television adaptation not only serialized adaptations of several 1950s novels but also elevated Gardner's sales, with the books moving at a rate of approximately 20,000 copies per day by the mid-decade.[13] The complete list of Perry Mason novels published in the 1950s is as follows:| Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|
| The Case of the Negligent Nymph | 1950 |
| The Case of the One-Eyed Witness | 1950 |
| The Case of the Fiery Fingers | 1951 |
| The Case of the Angry Mourner | 1951 |
| The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink | 1952 |
| The Case of the Grinning Gorilla | 1952 |
| The Case of the Hesitant Hostess | 1953 |
| The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister | 1953 |
| The Case of the Fugitive Nurse | 1954 |
| The Case of the Runaway Corpse | 1954 |
| The Case of the Restless Redhead | 1954 |
| The Case of the Sun Bather's Diary | 1955 |
| The Case of the Glamorous Ghost | 1955 |
| The Case of the Nervous Accomplice | 1955 |
| The Case of the Terrified Typist | 1955 |
| The Case of the Gilded Lily | 1956 |
| The Case of the Demure Defendant | 1956 |
| The Case of the Screaming Woman | 1957 |
| The Case of the Lucky Loser | 1957 |
| The Case of the Daring Decoy | 1957 |
| The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll | 1958 |
| The Case of the Long-Legged Models | 1958 |
| The Case of the Calendar Girl | 1958 |
| The Case of the Singing Skirt | 1959 |
| The Case of the Mythical Monkeys | 1959 |
| The Case of the Deadly Toy | 1959 |
1960s Publications
The 1960s represented the culmination of Erle Stanley Gardner's prolific output in the Perry Mason series, with 20 novels published during the decade, all adhering to the established formula of fast-paced legal intrigue, moral dilemmas, and triumphant courtroom revelations. Building on the momentum from the popular Perry Mason television series that aired from 1957 to 1966, these books sustained the character's appeal to a broad readership, often exploring complex interpersonal deceptions and ethical quandaries within professional settings. As Gardner approached the end of his career, these publications marked his final original contributions before his death in 1970 from cancer.[13] The novels of this period featured Gardner's signature style, with Perry Mason employing deductive reasoning and bold strategies to exonerate clients accused of murder, typically involving twists related to forged documents, hidden motives, or familial secrets. The Case of the Fabulous Fake (1969), published by William Morrow & Company, stands as Gardner's last fully authored Perry Mason novel, wrapping up the decade with a plot centered on art forgery and international intrigue.[4][16] The following table lists all 20 titles from the 1960s, with their publication years and original U.S. publishers:| Title | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| The Case of the Waylaid Wolf | 1960 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Duplicate Daughter | 1960 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Shapely Shadow | 1960 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Spurious Spinster | 1961 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Bigamous Spouse | 1961 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Reluctant Model | 1962 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Blonde Bonanza | 1962 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands | 1962 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Mischievous Doll | 1963 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Stepdaughter's Secret | 1963 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Amorous Aunt | 1963 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Daring Divorcee | 1964 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Phantom Fortune | 1964 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Horrified Heirs | 1964 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Troubled Trustee | 1965 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Beautiful Beggar | 1965 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Worried Waitress | 1966 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Queenly Contestant | 1967 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Careless Cupid | 1968 | William Morrow & Co. |
| The Case of the Fabulous Fake | 1969 | William Morrow & Co. |
Posthumous Publications
Following Erle Stanley Gardner's death on March 11, 1970, two complete Perry Mason manuscripts were discovered among his personal files, ready for publication without significant editing. These works, found in his pending file, represented the final authentic contributions from the author to the series, confirming their authenticity through direct examination of the original typescripts. Publishers William Morrow proceeded with their release, preserving Gardner's signature style of intricate legal puzzles and moral dilemmas. The first posthumous novel, The Case of the Fenced-In Woman, was published in September 1972 by William Morrow. In this story, Perry Mason takes on the defense of Morley Eden, whose newly purchased desert home is bizarrely bisected by a barbed-wire fence erected by a contentious divorcee claiming partial ownership. The plot escalates when contractor Loring Carson is murdered with a butcher knife, drawing in suspects like the enigmatic Nadine Palmer and revelations about hidden securities and a backyard swimming pool. True to classic Mason elements, the narrative builds to a tense courtroom confrontation where Mason's sharp deductions and cross-examinations unravel a web of deceit, exonerating his clients while highlighting themes of property rights and deception.[18][19] The second and final posthumous entry, The Case of the Postponed Murder, appeared in 1973, also from William Morrow. Here, Mason investigates the shooting death of playboy Penn Wentworth aboard his yacht, with secretary Mae Farr as the prime suspect after receiving threatening notes. Evidence implicates aviation enthusiast Hazel Tooms, who may have fired from a low-flying plane, but Mason employs forensic analysis of a key photograph and a tennis medal to expose the true culprit in a climactic trial. The book exemplifies Gardner's hallmarks, including Della Street's loyal assistance, Paul Drake's investigative prowess, and Hamilton Burger's prosecutorial tenacity, all woven into a tale of postponed vengeance and aerial intrigue.[18][20] These publications extended the series' legacy briefly beyond Gardner's lifetime, offering fans closure with unadulterated examples of his 1960s-era productivity in crafting fast-paced legal thrillers.Short Stories
Original Magazine Appearances
Erle Stanley Gardner, best known for his extensive Perry Mason novel series, also authored four original short stories featuring the character, all initially published in popular magazines during the late 1940s and early 1950s. These works adapted the lawyer's investigative style to shorter formats, emphasizing tight legal puzzles and dramatic courtroom confrontations within condensed narratives, often illustrated by prominent artists of the era. Unlike the full-length novels, these stories were crafted for periodical audiences, highlighting Perry Mason's quick thinking and moral acuity in resolving mysteries involving murder accusations and hidden motives.[21] The stories' magazine origins contributed to their relative rarity, as original issues are collectible items seldom reprinted individually before later anthologies, making them prized by fans for capturing Gardner's pulp-influenced prose in episodic form. One notable example is the radio tie-in story, which tied directly into the contemporary Perry Mason broadcasts, blending print and audio media to expand the character's reach.[22][23] The four original Perry Mason short stories and their publication details are as follows:| Title | Publication Date | Magazine | Issue Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Case of the Crying Swallow | August 1947 | The American Magazine | Illustrated by Robert Stanley Douglass; a novelette involving a suspicious death and a jeweled bird figurine as key evidence.[24][21] |
| The Case of the Crimson Kiss | June 1948 | The American Magazine | Focuses on a lipstick-marked clue in a poisoning case; cover-featured with artwork by Barbara Schwinn.[25][21] |
| The Case of the Suspect Sweethearts | May 1950 | Radio and Television Mirror | Published under the pseudonym Della Street; a radio show tie-in story exploring romance and alibi discrepancies among young lovers.[21][23] |
| The Case of the Irate Witness | January 17, 1953 | Collier's | Centers on a hostile witness's testimony unraveling a frame-up; Gardner's final original Mason short story.[22][26][21] |
Collected Editions
The collected editions of Perry Mason short stories were assembled and published posthumously after Erle Stanley Gardner's death in 1970, serving to compile and preserve his limited output of short fiction in a bibliography overwhelmingly focused on novels. These volumes typically paired each Perry Mason short story—originally published in magazines—with other mystery tales written by Gardner under pseudonyms such as A.A. Fair and Carleton Kendrake, highlighting the rarity of his Perry Mason shorts amid his prolific novel production. By bringing these works into book form, the collections made them more accessible to readers and collectors, countering the dominance of the novel series that defined Gardner's career.[27] The inaugural posthumous collection, The Case of the Crimson Kiss and Other Stories, was issued in 1971 by William Morrow and Company in New York. It features the Perry Mason novelette "The Case of the Crimson Kiss" as its centerpiece, alongside non-Perry Mason stories including "Fingers of Fong," "The Valley of Little Fears," "Crooked Lightning," and others.[28][29] Likewise, The Case of the Crying Swallow and Other Stories was published in 1971 by William Morrow and Company, centering on the title Perry Mason story "The Case of the Crying Swallow" while incorporating additional short mysteries by Gardner. This volume, like its counterpart, underscores the posthumous effort to curate and republish his magazine-era shorts.[27][29] The remaining two Perry Mason short stories, "The Case of the Suspect Sweethearts" and "The Case of the Irate Witness," appeared together in The Case of the Irate Witness and Other Stories, published in 1972 by William Morrow, featuring these stories alongside supporting mystery tales by Gardner, often centered on themes like stolen jewels and legal intrigue. These three editions represent the complete scope of Gardner's authentic Perry Mason short fiction in bound form, limited to just these four pieces compiled posthumously.[30][31][32][26]Pastiche Works
Authorized Novels by Thomas Chastain
Thomas Chastain, an American mystery writer, was commissioned by the estate of Erle Stanley Gardner to continue the Perry Mason series with two authorized novels in the late 1980s. These works were the first Perry Mason novels written by an author other than Gardner published after his death in 1970, maintaining continuity with the original characters while incorporating elements from the 1980s television movies starring Raymond Burr, such as the introduction of Paul Drake Jr. as the primary detective following the retirement of his father, Paul Drake Sr.[33][34] The first novel, Perry Mason in the Case of Too Many Murders, was published in 1989 by William Morrow and Company. In this story, set in Los Angeles, businessman Gil Adrian shoots his dinner companion in a crowded restaurant and flees, only to be murdered himself minutes later. His estranged wife, the prime suspect, hires Perry Mason to prove her innocence, leading to a complex investigation involving multiple suspects and apparent murders. Assisted by his faithful secretary Della Street and Paul Drake Jr., Mason navigates courtroom drama and uncovers a web of deceit tied to corporate intrigue, preserving the series' hallmark legal twists and ethical dilemmas.[35][36][37] The second and final authorized novel, Perry Mason in the Case of the Burning Bequest, appeared in 1990, also from William Morrow and Company. Here, John Leland discovers the charred body of his fiancée Anne's stepmother in a house fire, positioning him as the prime suspect in her murder due to a suspicious inheritance clause in the family will. Mason defends Leland, probing a decades-old connection to the room where Anne's mother had been murdered twenty years prior by Leland's own father, revealing hidden motives among heirs and business associates. With Della Street's support and Paul Drake Jr.'s investigative prowess, the narrative emphasizes Mason's deductive brilliance and commitment to justice, culminating in a trial that exposes the true perpetrator.[38][39][40]Other Derivative Publications
Beyond the authorized continuations by Thomas Chastain, which represent the primary official extensions of the Perry Mason series, derivative works featuring the character in unofficial capacities remain notably scarce, largely confined to early adaptations and satirical treatments rather than expansive pastiches.[21] One prominent example of a peripheral adaptation is the Perry Mason newspaper comic strip, syndicated by King Features from October 16, 1950, to June 21, 1952, spanning eight story arcs and illustrated by Charles Lofgren, with possible writing contributions from Erle Stanley Gardner himself.[21][41] This short-lived strip adapted elements of the character's courtroom dramas into a visual format but did not achieve widespread longevity or lead to collected editions, distinguishing it from the core novel and short story canon. Similarly, Dell Comics produced limited comic book adaptations in the 1940s, including the 1946 Perry Mason Feature Book, which retooled Gardner's third novel, The Case of the Curious Bride, into a graphic narrative, though only a handful of such issues appeared before the format faded.[42][21] Radio tie-ins further exemplify minor derivatives not formalized into books, with the Perry Mason radio series airing from 1943 to 1955 across multiple networks, delivering approximately 3000 fifteen-minute episodes—many featuring original plots devised for the medium rather than direct lifts from Gardner's prose.[43][44] These scripts, often starring John Larkin as Mason, emphasized serialized suspense and courtroom theatrics but remained ephemeral broadcasts, uncompiled into print anthologies due to their broadcast-exclusive nature.[44] Unofficial pastiches and parodies are even more limited, with published examples primarily satirical rather than reverent extensions; a key instance is the 1959 Mad Magazine spoof "The Night That Perry Masonmint Lost a Case" in issue #48, illustrated by Mort Drucker, which lampooned the character's infallible legal prowess through exaggerated absurdity.[45][46] While modern fan fiction proliferates online—platforms like FanFiction.net host over 900 Perry Mason stories—these remain unofficial, non-commercial works without formal anthologies, underscoring the dominance of estate-sanctioned materials.[47] This scarcity stems from stringent copyright oversight by the Erle Stanley Gardner estate, managed post-1970 by his widow Jean Gardner until her 2002 death, which rigorously limited unauthorized derivatives to protect the franchise's integrity and commercial value.[48] Following the Chastain novels, no further official pastiches emerged, as estate controls—bolstered by U.S. copyright extensions—effectively curtailed new works, channeling creative output into licensed media like television reboots rather than literary expansions.[48]References
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perry-Mason-Crying-Swallow-1.jpg
