Review of "Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Baited Hook," by Erle Stanley Gardner

 Review of

Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Baited Hook, by Erle Stanley Gardner

Four out of five stars

No courtroom climax in this one

 Given that the Perry Mason novels authored by Erle Stanley Gardner follow a basic formula, any evaluation of a specific book must be done within that context. Based on that premise, this book follows it well, yet deviates in significant and effective ways. In this book, Mason never makes an appearance in a courtroom, the climactic event takes place in his office where he faces Sergeant Holcomb. Determined to destroy Mason, Holcomb must be forced to admit the truth regarding the murderer(s).

 The opening is rather unique. A rich and powerful man enters the law offices of Perry Mason with a woman that is wearing an effective disguise. After some preliminary banter, a large denomination bill is torn into two pieces with Mason given one. The deal is that Mason will know his client based on the presentation of the other section. Intrigued by such an arrangement, Mason agrees to take the case.

 There are many undercurrents and twisted plot devices in the story. From an unscrupulous adoption home to a questionable time of death of the victim, to embezzlement and even a story about a Russian princess rescued from a ship sinking after being torpedoed. All of these aspects of the plot keep your mind focused on the story. Unlike other Mason stories, putting this one aside and picking it up later requires a few pages of reading before you get back up to speed.

 Mason as always is pressing and going beyond the bounds of legality as it pertains to an attorney. There is the standard antagonism with the police and the District Attorney, yet at the end Mason expresses respect for the nemesis Sergeant Holcomb. This makes the story one that rises above the usual Mason stories.

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