As ever Gardner's writing is brilliant.
In his will, Peter Laxter guaranteed his faithful caretaker
a job and a place to live for life. But Laxter's grandson Sam says the deal
doesn't include the caretaker's cat. When Perry Mason takes the case, he finds
there's much more at stake than an old man's cat -- a million dollars to be
exact. And as he investigates, he finds a web of greed and treachery among the
heirs. But which one actually pulled off the almost perfect crime?
Perry Mason, criminal lawyer or seems to work as a detective
an awful lot of the time.
Della Street, the attractive (well she is in my head)
secretary to Perry Mason.
Unlike some of the books I've previously read by Gardner (no
where near the majority) there seemed to be a lot more law as opposed to
detective work, including one point where Mason referenced one of his law book
(Chapter 13). That was one of the reasons I really enjoyed this book, seeing
the law side of a crime instead of just the chase is really interesting for me.
Other reasons being the story line, the conclusion and the fact Perry Mason is
in this book.
I enjoyed that the whole story line developed from a
Caretaker's Cat in such a dramatic and yet catchy way. And although it
definitely didn't feel like something that could happen in real life (as in the
development from something so small, to something so major), there was a well
developed line of reasoning throughout making it intriguing and keeping a certain amount of realism.
I mean isn't that why we read fiction.
And like other Gardner books the conclusion was genius and
went completely over my head. I really enjoy reading books that I can't work
out the ending, just as much as I like the ones that make perfect sense. I think I enjoy being outsmarted for some odd reason.
I really liked the development of Mason and Street's relationship, which again I can't describe too much due to spoilers but I squealed... Della is completely loyal to Perry and I really love that she seems to have complete trust in Mason as he often puts her in situations that could get her arrested it. And in this book that was done, but Gardner added a quality to Della that I haven't seen in previous Perry Mason books and that was her own knowledge of law that she learnt just working with Perry (or so that is implied). I enjoyed that, as it gave her empowerment that isn't often seen in women of books written in the 1930's.
I have no complaints about this book except for the slight confusion I got just before the trial, however it was all explained in Perry's magical way at the end of the book so I can't complain.
Would highly recommend 9/10
And FYI you don't have to have read any other book in the series to understand what happens.
xo
Book first published 1935
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