Book Review: The Case of the Beautiful Beggar by Erle Stanley Gardner (1965)

Synopsis: While on her way back from a 3-month-long Asian retreat, 22-year-old Daphne Shelby receives a letter from her wealthy uncle, Horace, instructing her to cash an enclosed check for $125,000 and then have attorney Perry Mason take charge of the money on her behalf and make out a will naming her his sole heir. When Daphne and Mason attempt to follow the letter's instructions, they learn Horace's finances have been seized by his half-brother, Borden Finchley, and Horace has been committed to a sanitarium. 

Believing it is an attempt to steal Horace's money, Mason agrees to help Daphne free her uncle, only to find the case is more complicated than first believed. Things become even more complicated when Daphne breaks her uncle out of the sanitarium without Mason's knowledge and later becomes the primary suspect in the murder of Ralph Exeter, Finchley's associate. 

Review: It's been a while since I've read a Perry Mason book, and I even needed to do some research to figure out where I was in the series. Fortunately, the library had The Case of the Beautiful Beggar available, and I was able to pick up where I left off. Overall, I can say I was happy with this choice.

Daphne Shelby is what made this murder mystery interesting. She originally comes off as someone who is a bit naive but as the book progresses, it's clear she's a lot more cunning than she originally appeared. As a result of that and her habit of not keeping Mason in the loop as she did her own thing, she was one of those characters who could potentially turn out to be a killer. After all, it wouldn't be the first time Mason represented someone who was guilty.

The case against her became even more interesting when Exeter was killed. She bought the food he was drugged with. It was her sleeping pills in the food and her uncle, who had been in the room at one point, had eyewitnesses saying he left an hour before the murder while one of Paul Drake's own detectives could place Mason's client in the room.

On top of it, even if Daphne was innocent, the next most likely suspect was her uncle. It was clear from the beginning the woman would rather go to prison than let him get convicted.

I liked the ending of this book, with Mason getting to the truth while at the same time, going to great lengths to keep from embarrassing Lieutenant Tragg. It was one of those things that probably won't pay any dividends for the attorney later but did leave him looking classy, something I can't say about some of the other Mason mysteries I've read, ones that had him looking much more like a criminal than a hero.

Final Opinion: This was an interesting book I had a hard time putting down once I started reading it. I haven't enjoyed all the Perry Mason mysteries I've read but this is one I would recommend.

My Grade: A