The Case of the Stepdaughter's Secret

Almost 5 star. Clever and twists. Not as intense as some of his other stories ultimately, so I'll leave a 4 on here. The only side character that was fleshed out was the husband Harlowe, and he was my favorite of the family that refuses to talk to each other.

A weak Perry Mason from 1963. Harlow Bancroft comes to Perry because he has discovered that his soon-to-be-married step-daughter (who doesn’t have much of a part and seems to exist only to give the novel its name) is being blackmailed. He believes it is because of something in his past and wants Perry’s help. Perry dreams up some kind of convoluted scheme involving extra blackmail money, duplicate coffee cans, Paul Drake on a speed boat and bathing beauties. The best part of the Perry Masons is usually the courtroom action which here is confined to rather late in the story and isn’t very engaging.

This one had a few more twists, but still was good. There were enough clues to come up with a possible solution, but there was still some doubt. Of course there was the dramatic courtroom scene with Perry taking control.

I enjoyed the mention of some of the areas that really do exist and the references to places that do exist but are given different names. Local colour.

Perry Mason is a favourite of mine and a good escape and quick read. Old friends.

Not the best Perry Mason novel, but not too bad. He pulled a neat trick to expose the murderer. The premise was nice, but somehow I just didn't care much about the characters. This is one of the weaker books. It didn't have the usual passion in it that many of the others have.

MASON UNRAVELS A WEB OF LIES IN A FAMILY WHERE A YOUNG WOMAN HIDES A DANGEROUS SECRET THAT COULD PROVE DEADLY.

An OK situation

Big Ship
24 July 2016

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