Bonding with a Character

Is there a fictional character you feel like you’ve bonded with over the year and wish you could meet in real life?

If you’re like me there’s probably more than one or two. There is one character, however, I have followed since my childhood days even though he wasn’t created for children. That character is protagonist Perry Mason, the criminal defense lawyer/sleuth created by author Erle Stanley Gardner.

My first memories of Perry Mason are from books my mother read and collected. Then the character came to life through a television series featuring Raymond Burr and later in movies. I was hooked from the first book forward and became a forever fan. If you visit here from time to time you may recall that is where the Mason in Mason Canyon comes from.

Recently the American Bar Association decided to republish Gardner’s most famous and enduring novels featuring Mason in trade paperback editions with new covers. The novels have also been released in audio format. Gardner (1889-1970) wrote nearly 150 novels that have sold 300 million copies worldwide, according to Amazon.

Amazon also noted that Gardner’s Perry Mason novels sold twenty thousand copies a day in the mid-1950s. There have been six motion pictures based on his work and the hugely popular Perry Mason television series starring Raymond Burr, which aired for nine years.

I have four of the titles from the Perry Mason series I’d like to highlight here today. Rather than doing a review on each, I’m just shinning a spotlight on them.

THE CASE OF THE STUTTERING BISHOP

◊ The Case of the Stuttering Bishop by Erle Stanley Gardner

◊ Series: Perry Mason Series, Book #9

◊ Narrator: Alexander Cendese

◊ MP3 CD

◊ Listening Length: 5 hours and 36 minutes

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Brilliance Audio

◊ Release Date: December 6, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ASIN: BO1DOI6RGY

◊ ISBN-10: 1531827136

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1531827137

SYNOPSIS:

Julia Branner insists her marriage was sabotaged by her millionaire father-in-law, who forced her to give up her baby girl for adoption. Now, years later, a young woman appears, claiming to be Julia’s long-lost daughter. But Julia insists the heir-apparent is a fake—and vows to keep the family fortune from falling into the wrong hands.

Abetted by a bishop with questionable credentials, Julia plans to expose the imposter. But things take a devilish turn when the curious cleric vanishes and Julia’s father-in-law is murdered. Charged with the killing, Julia turns to Perry Mason. But with overwhelming odds against him, Perry may not have a prayer.…

THE CASE OF THE DANGEROUS DOWAGER

◊ The Case of the Dangerous Dowager by Erle Stanley Gardner

◊ Series: Perry Mason Series, Book #10

◊ Narrator: Alexander Cendese

◊ MP3 CD

◊ Listening Length: 6 hours and 4 minutes

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Brilliance Audio

◊ Release Date: December 6, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ASIN: BO1DOI6RGY

◊ ISBN-10: 1531827179

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1531827175

SYNOPSIS:

When Matilda Benson solicits the help of Perry Mason, her request seems simple enough: cruise to a gambling ship moored just beyond the twelve-mile limit and buy back the IOUs signed by Miss Benson's niece.

But after Mason reaches the floating casino, he discovers problems aplenty—most notably the ship's owner with a bullet hole through his head. Strangely enough, Matilda and her niece are also on board that night…when someone tosses a gun over the railing. Does Perry Mason's client have something to hide?

THE CASE OF THE LAME CANARY

◊ The Case of the Lame Canary by Erle Stanley Gardner

◊ Series: Perry Mason Series, Book #11

◊ Narrator: Alexander Cendese

◊ MP3 CD

◊ Listening Length: 5 hours and 24 minutes

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Brilliance Audio

◊ Release Date: December 6, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ASIN: BO1DOI6RGY

◊ ISBN-10: 1531827217

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1531827212

SYNOPSIS:

Do birds of a feather plot murder together?

The extraordinary Perry Mason never handles straightforward divorce cases, but this one is an especially strange bird. Rita Swaine is dating her sister’s ex-boyfriend. Her sister, Rosalind, is married to shady insurance adjuster Walter Prescott, who’s got dollar signs in his eyes and ice water in his veins. When Rita’s beau gallantly steps in to warn Rosalind about her heinous husband’s designs, Prescott hatches a plan to prey on them all…by suing for big profit.

For Mason, this case should be a lark. But when a murdered man is found in the Prescott home—and a nosy neighbor sings an incriminating song about illicit love and a hidden gun—legal eagle Mason suddenly finds himself defending a sitting duck.

THE CASE OF THE SUBSTITUTE FACE

◊ The Case of the Substitute Face by Erle Stanley Gardner

◊ Series: Perry Mason Series, Book #12

◊ Narrator: Alexander Cendese

◊ MP3 CD

◊ Listening Length: 6 hours and 50 minutes

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Brilliance Audio

◊ Release Date: December 27, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ASIN: BO1DOI6RGY

◊ ISBN-10: 153182725X

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1531827250

SYNOPSIS:

While enjoying a leisurely ocean cruise in the company of secretary Della Street, Perry Mason is approached by passenger who is worried about the wellbeing of her husband. Not long afterward, her husband is seen jumping off the ship, an apparent suicide—but when the body is recovered, it turns out that he was shot.

Accused of murder, the wife puts her fate in the hands of Perry, who in the course of piecing things together unearths the fact that the husband had once accepted a huge bribe while serving on a jury. The case takes many shocking twists and turns before revealing its surprising conclusion.

FTC Full Disclosure – Copies of these audio books were sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copies did not influence my feature of them. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

These novels represent an era in our history that can be understood through the characters’ actions and dialogue. The way the characters interact also relates to the time period. Listening to these audios takes listeners back to the 1950s and an era when life was a little slower pace and less tech controlled.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed to you give these audios a try. If not, perhaps a print or digital copy might be more to your liking. Is there a fictional character you’d love to meet?