Where Perry Mason Cracks Wise

The Case of the Runaway Corpse by Erle Stanley Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first time reading a Perry Mason story, or anything by Erle Stanley Gardner. I liked it.

This was published in 1954, and it surprised me how some parts of it felt very modern and other parts felt the way I had imagined it. The forensics seemed pretty similar to today, and the quick travel--jumping on planes here and there at almost a moment's notice--was more modern than I thought I'd find in a Perry Mason story. In fact, many elements of the story--almost all of it, actually--could happen right now. These characters could have the same story today, it feels like.

One noticeable difference is the communication thing. Some of the story turns on the difficulty of getting a message to someone when they're not near a phone or if they plan to be driving or something, and those details would be totally different now in a murder mystery.

I like the way Perry Mason isn't screwing up the way he does on the newest TV show. He isn't superhuman, but he's very competent and very confident, which makes him a fun character to watch. (More fun than in the show. I'm waiting for him to be awesome there.) I don't know yet if this is a typical mystery for the series, but it moves along quickly, with lots of dialogue, and it actually feels more like a screenplay or radio script. It would be easy to turn it into one, anyway.

This is a quick read and a satisfying mystery. I have to admit it's more modern and nearer to my tastes than I expected to find, and I'm glad. Thrift stores have bunches of these books. :)

Recommended for readers of mysteries who, like me, haven't already tried Erle Stanley Gardner. Worth a shot.

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