Criminal lawyer and bestselling mystery author Erle Stanley Gardner wrote nearly 150 novels that have sold 300 million copies worldwide. Now, the American Bar Association is bringing back his most famous and enduring novels-featuring criminal defense lawyer and sleuth Perry Mason-in striking trade paperback editions. Bratty heiress Frances Celane visits Perry Mason to inquire about an odd codicil in her father's will, stating she would be disinherited if she married young. Her uncle is the trustee, and stands to inherit everything if Frances marries-which she has. And when her uncle is found murdered, her groom is accused. The Case of the Sulky Girl combines hard-boiled detective work with the first trial in the novels.
While I think Perry Mason’s second case is a little less flashy than his first, I did find this to be a more entertaining and well-balanced read. The courtroom scenes are strong and though the resolution may not shock, the process getting there is interesting and clever.
Read my full review at Mysteries Ahoy!
