Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Perry Mason, lawyer, is called upon to defend an elderly man, Alden Leeds, who has been falsely accused of murder.

Alden who recently announced his engagement to a much younger woman Emily, is framed by his greedy relatives who have him confined in a sanitarium as they seek to inherit his fortune.

Perry Mason uncovers a series of events involving fixed dice, blackmail, and multiple identities. (1939) 264 pgs

Anyone up for a shady private detective named Dave Kemp?

This was the May book, Lesle. A Perry Mason book is the book for June.

Oh dear Rosemarie the dementia is setting in already! lol
I must have left the title in when I copied and past the set up over.

Thank you!

You're welcome!

Anyone up for another Perry Mason read?

Hey (view spoiler)[Perry Mason, won the case! Does Perry ever lose a case? (hide spoiler)] Perry remains composed and in control as he confronts the case. There were clues along the way, misidentified people, and multiple storylines.

I enjoyed your spoiler!

In one place in this Gardner uses ‘unlax’ instead of ‘relax.’ Never heard that before. A search told me it was a slang conjunction of ‘unwind’ and ‘relax.’ A 1940s version, I guess, our time's equally awkward ‘chillax.’

As pulp this was okay but mistaken and switched identity plots can be confusing and Gardner doesn't make much of an effort to help the reader keep things straight.

I agree, John. This was okay but I found it confusing and I lost interest in it for a while. This isn't nearly as good as the other Perry Mason books I've read.
I rated it three stars because the ending made up for a lot of the more confusing/boring sections.

Rosemarie wrote: "I agree, John. This was okay but I found it confusing and I lost interest in it for a while. This isn't nearly as good as the other Perry Mason books I've read.
I rated it three stars because the e..."

That is not good at all. How did it get rated 4 stars in GR?

Who knows?
The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe was so much better!
I almost rated Rolling Bones two stars until the ending redeemed it.

Wow!
I never would have thought any of his mysteries would be that bad.

I did look at John Dishwater's review he gave it 3 also but said this:
"This prose is basically written to be skimmed. But the plot is tangled up enough that you have to slow down to untangle it. Well, I just kept skimming. Mistaken and switched identity plots are confusing anyway and Gardner makes no real attempt to help the reader keep things straight so I didn’t mind going through this not knowing exactly who was who."