Guest Post: Book Review: The Case of the Reluctant Model by Erle Stanley Gardener #1962Club

It’s the start of the #1962Club hosted by Karen at Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings and Simon at Stuck in a Book, a week long biannual event in which readers and bloggers read and share reviews of books published in a particular year (chosen by Karen and Simon for each even). This October it’s 1962. Today, to open up the week, I have my mother’s pick, The Case of the Reluctant Model by Erle Stanley Gardner, a Perry Mason mystery she didn’t find to be among the best ones but an entertaining one nonetheless.

Mason is at it once again! A seemingly open and shut case, all clues leading to his client, who is not really a client, not having paid a retainer, just a young woman whom he champions, her innocence evident to him alone. Will he be able to pull out the rabbit out of the hat once again?

Mason arrives at his office one morning to find an old acquaintance, Latimer Rankin, an art dealer of repute, impatiently pacing the waiting room. He has been accused by an upstart art dealer, Collin Durrant of passing on a forged painting to a wealthy collector and is furious―all set to sue for defamation. Mason convinces him that a case of defamation would do more harm than good in a business of this kind, as the public is likely to remember only the slur on his reputation, not the outcome, and his professional standing could be seriously harmed. Inquiring further into the matter he finds that the defamatory comment was made to an ex-model, Maxine, who quit her career of posing for artists, once her curves got out of hand, and has now turned to portrait painting. If she is willing to sign an affidavit to the effect, the tables could be turned on the culprit, quite simply leaving him without a leg to stand on. Maxine soon arrives at the office, signs a statement, and agrees to appear in court when needed, and the issue appears to be resolved.

As a follow up, Mason and his secretary Della Street are invited to a press conference on a yacht belonging to Otto Olney, the art connoisseur, who purchased the painting in question. Olney plans to invite a couple of art experts, who can verify its authenticity in front of the press and then respond to Durrant’s malicious allegations by suing him for defamation. The conference takes place, the exquisite painting is clicked with the elite gathering of connoisseurs, and Mason and Della head out for a relaxed evening, only to find Durrant trying to barge in on their dinner, which Mason adroitly avoids. Then Della contacts the office to find that Maxine has been trying to get in touch. When contacted she says that she is at the bus station and must leave town at once but will come back when called to testify. She agrees to meet them in front of Della’s apartment and also give Della the key to her own home with a request to look after her canary, while she is away. They meet, Della collects the key, and Maxine drives off. Now Mason is in a quandary. If Maxine reneges on her promise, Durrant can sue Rankin for defamation, as there will be no witness to prove otherwise. Not one to give up easily, Mason sets longtime friend and private detective Paul Drake on the job of following Maxine, no expenses spared.

Goring Gilbert, the Artist, Corliss Kenner, Art Expert and Della Street in the TV Series. vis the Internet Movie Database

Morning dawns and Mason and Della head to Maxine’s apartment to pick up the canary and search for any clue as to where she may be heading, only to find the door unlocked, no signs of a bird or cage, and a body in the bathtub, shot through the back. Maxine is on the run, the body is in her apartment, and all the clues point to her. Mason, however, is still unconvinced. All he has to go on is Maxine’s apparent genuineness, and as he puts it,

“I’m darned if I know” Mason said, “except that the kid was telling the truth and if she is, she has made quite a sacrifice for someone she loves. And if she’s that kind of girl I thought she was entitled to the breaks”.

Then begins a cross-country chase with Mason trying to reach his client before the police get to her. He succeeds, and in fact, hitches a ride for his client and himself on the official police aircraft and is ready for the preliminary examination. All the evidence is stacked against Maxine, including an eyewitness, who swears that she saw her leaving the apartment at the time of the murder. But Mason is not one to give up! Against the advice of the Judge, he puts his client on the stand, open to cross examination. There is now just one night left before the Judge will bind Maxine over for trial. Will Mason beat the odds?

Not one of the best Perry Masons that I’ve read but nonetheless, an intriguing and last minute solution to a cut and dried case. Additionally, a long cast of characters leaves the reader slightly confused. I, for one, had to go back more than once to check out who’s who. For diehard Mason fans, the hostile DA Hamilton Burger, and his more friendly assistant Lieutenant Tragg of the Los Angeles Police, need no introduction, but a few others like Phoebe Stiegler, the defendant’s married sister, whom we never meet, but who is an integral part of the story, as are Goring Gilbert an exceptionally talented  artist and a free spirit, and the young and attractive Corliss Kenner, an art expert, need to be noted.