Perry Mason lost me in the courtroom scene. This never happens. The editor must have gotten confused, too, because a diagram of the murA ghostwriter?
Perry Mason lost me in the courtroom scene. This never happens. The editor must have gotten confused, too, because a diagram of the murder scene is included in the book.
The Case of the Crooked Candle features qualities not typically found in Perry Mason mysteries:
1. The characters are more fully developed.
2. The author makes good use of place. Locations are well-described and feel authentic.
3. Mason reflects on his own feelings and thoughts about being a lawyer.
4. Della Street is put in legal jeopardy.
5. The characters have last surnames connected to geographical locations. There are Burbanks, Van Nuys, Newark, etc.
6. No one stands up in the courtroom scene and confesses.
These additions provide engaging variations from Gardner's typical formula.
The Case of the Crooked Candle doesn't meet the standard, though.
Perry Mason novels always include a final chapter that explains the who, what, when, where, how and why of the crime. It's common in these mysteries for a random fact to appear for the first time, squeezed in at the last moment to make the mystery work. That's expected and forgivable. You can still figure out who did it and see why or how all the strands connect. The explanation chapter in this book includes so many of these facts not in evidence, though, it seems like a desperate attempt to make a satisfying whodunit after the fact.
Most Perry Mason novels are much, much better mysteries. ...more
In Worst Enemies, Author Dana King disregards political correctness and writes a story about cops who actually talk like cops. The story is also told In Worst Enemies, Author Dana King disregards political correctness and writes a story about cops who actually talk like cops. The story is also told in a male's voice and from a male's point of view. There is no timidity in his writing and it surprises. Worst Enemies plays out a complicated whodunit and does it well. All of the facts are there and none seemed forced into the story to make the mystery work. It's a real accomplishment and kept this reader involved. The book gets four stars instead of five for two reasons. First, the end is a bit congested. A whole lot gets explained very quickly. Second, King uses an idiosyncratic writing style that is usually effective. There were a number of times, however, where this abbreviated writing method stopped me and forced me to go back to figure out what was going on. The book is certainly worth reading. A fine hard-boiled police procedural....more
This cozy mystery continues the saga of Grace Cassidy, a former society wife who finds herself abandoned and without funds in a coastal California towThis cozy mystery continues the saga of Grace Cassidy, a former society wife who finds herself abandoned and without funds in a coastal California town and now the keeper of a dysfunctional family's bed & breakfast. When one of scions comes back from the dead, murder follows and things get complicated.
Author Jackie King writes witty dialogue and is a master of creating awkward situations and funny scenes. The novel is a classic whodunit with a number of unexpected twists and a rapid ending. This book is ideal for cozy mystery readers.
A fine collection of quotes from Raymond Chandler's fiction and photographs of the places he wrote about or could have been writing about. Some annotaA fine collection of quotes from Raymond Chandler's fiction and photographs of the places he wrote about or could have been writing about. Some annotation is provided.
The photographs are in black and white, and the book is rather succint, both of which are major detractions from the effort.
I think the book rates 3.5 stars and is thus rounded up to 4 stars.
A number of intriguing elements intertwined through this book. The narrative lost focus about a third of the way through. McCrumb probably could have A number of intriguing elements intertwined through this book. The narrative lost focus about a third of the way through. McCrumb probably could have made this a masterpiece if she had set it aside and went back to it later for serious editing and reworking. It's really too bad she didn't....more
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