So, I just finished reading the Perry Mason book I picked up for 25 cents at the Atwater Library’s book sale last week. The title of the book was Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Cautious Coquette, which naturally caught my eye, what with the coquettes and the alliteration. Here’s what I wrote about it for my GoodReads review:
The Case of the Cautious Coquette by Erle Stanley Gardner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Picked this one up for 25 cents at the Atwater Library’s book sale. Worth every penny! Especially for this exchange printed on the book’s back cover:“‘Could this letter,’ Mason asked Della Street, ‘have been written by the woman herself? I want to get the feminine angle.’
Della laughed. ‘There aren’t any feminine angles–they’re curves.’
Fast curves!”
Definitely has retro appeal, with its terminology like “frame-up” and “slick flimflams” and I think, at some point, someone must have referred to women in this book as “broads” (though it probably wasn’t Perry Mason, since he’s such a stand-up guy). Also, for future reference: I love the saying “What the deuce?”
A quick read, great for mystery lovers and Perry Mason fans (I must admit, I’ve never read any Perry Mason books before this one, nor even seen the TV show). Not the best mystery I’ve ever read, but definitely not the worst. Besides, it reminded me of all the silly “Cat Who…” books I used to read when I was a kid, and makes me want to try writing a mystery/detective novel of my own.
There’s just one more thing… why the deuce is Perry Mason, a lawyer, always getting mixed up in the crime-solving element of the case? It don’t add up. Thoughts?
For reals, though: aren’t detectives supposed to be solving cases, not lawyers? I think Mr. Mason may be in the wrong line of work!
Anyway, like I said: the book makes me want to try my hand at a mystery of my own. This seems like the ultimate challenge, since you’d really have to know the plot all the way through and, I figure, start at the end and work backwards. For someone who usually likes to see what develops as she writes, this is the exact opposite of my writing style. Hence the challenge.
So… any mystery lovers out there? Got any advice for someone who’d like to write a mystery of her own? I’m digging the retro angle of this particular book (which I realize was not “retro” when it was written, but would be if imitated today), so I’m thinking something noir would be good. I just can’t find any dang Raymond Chandler books around here, which I think would help put me in the mood more, and give me that whole “learning from the best” perspective. Thoughts? Suggestions? Books to donate?
