An easy and entertaining story–an effective palate cleanser between heavier reads.
High Point: The dangerous dowager–an eccentric matriarch who lies, smokes cigars, drinks and cusses.
Low Point: It’s a run-of-the-mill Perry Mason story.
Author: Erle Stanley Gardner
Publication Date: 1937
Genre: Fiction
Project Gutenberg: Not available
LibriVox: Not available
Movie/TV Adaptation: Perry Mason (TV series episode) (1959)
Erle Stanley Gardner’s The Case of the Dangerous Dowager is a run-of-the-mill Perry Mason mystery. And that’s not a bad thing.
As usual, the famous attorney stretches the rules as he attempts to outsmart the police and district attorney to protect his innocent client. There is no courtroom drama here, but much of the story still unfolds through dialog and interviews. There isn’t a great deal of action.
All the usual characters are there, such as Della Street and Paul Drake. But the real star is the eccentric matriarch of a rich and powerful family who simply wants to enjoy herself. She lies, smokes cigars, drinks, and cusses. And at times, she’s smarter than Mason. How can you go wrong with that?
The Case of the Dangerous Dowager is an effortless and entertaining story—an effective palate cleanser between heavier reads. It’s easily worth the small investment of time to enjoy.
