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Book ReviewsThe Case of the Lucky Loser: A Perry Mason Mystery |
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Book: The Case of the Lucky Loser: A Perry Mason Mystery
Written by: Erle Stanley. Gardner |
Publisher: John Curley & Assoc
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5
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Unexpected Twists & Conclusion: One of Gardner's Best
Rating:
5 / 5
Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970) wrote more than one hundred novels over the course of his long career. A trial lawyer himself, Gardner's best known creation was Perry Mason, a flamboyant criminal defense attorney who earns his large fees by virtue of a remarkable talent for using the law to uncover the truth on the witness stand.
Gardner was at the peak of his talents during the 1950s, and THE CASE OF THE LUCKY LOSER, published in 1956, is among the best of his works. Mason is retained to attend a trial by a mysterious client--not as counsel for the defense, but to give an opinion about a particular witness. The case concerns Ted Balfour, a wealthy young man who has been accused of drunk driving that has resulted in a death. It all seems very open and shut, but Mason spots a few unlikely details, and when the case suddenly takes a very unexpected turn he finds himself acting as counsel for the defense indeed, and the charge is murder one.
With plot details that range from a huge inheritance to a lovelorn secretary to an unexpected twist on the nature of double jeopardy, THE CASE OF THE LUCKY LOSER is quite complicated, but it never becomes disorganized, and when the truth is revealed it proves one of Gardner's most satisfying solutions. Although laws--and certainly police procedure and forensics--have changed a great deal since this novel was first published, it is a tremendous amount of fun from start to finish. Recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Family Relations and Rivalry
Rating:
5 / 5
Perry Mason receives a phone call from a young woman who won't give her name. She wants Perry to attend a trial and give his conclusions. The trial starts in less than an hour, but Perry agrees to go. A young man is on trial for hit and run, manslaughter. Ted Balfour's attorney shows his skill in his cross-examination of George Dempster (Chapter Two), and Myrtle Anne Haley (Chapter Three). The problem with this eyewitness testimony is given in Chapters Four and Five. Further discussions with various people bring out the hidden facts (Chapter Nine). Investigations reveal hidden evidence and relationships. Chapter Fourteen warns against gambling with strangers, and reveals another level to this puzzling case. It becomes more complicated by Chapter Fifteen, which also tells how a family-controlled business can use "business expenses" to give tax-free money to family members.
It appears that Ted Balfour will be convicted, based on the testimony of his step-mother and his company's trouble-shooter. But Perry notices a discrepancy between the victim's driver license and his fingerprints, which leads to the surprising conclusion, and a victory for his client. [The secret is similar to the one in Graham Greene's "The Third Man".] This story will educate the reader as to cross-examination, where a witness is tested by opposing counsel.
perry mason & twice dead corpse
Rating:
5 / 5
The case is solidly plotted and masterfully suspenseful.The most dazzling case in Perry Mason's career where he has to solve the case of the corpse dying twice. Gardner smoothly mixes the ingredients like rivalry,betrayal,love,family honour and prepares a dish that was hard to resist for me. so, i strongly recommend this book!
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