The Case of the Lucky Legs

Perry Mason #3

by Erle Stanley Gardner

Here's a Perry Mason entry with 21st century overtones!

Frank Patton was a promoter. Tall and dignified, he was handsome and persuasive. But a con-man and crook. His racket of running contests for young women with beautiful legs was carefully planned. But, when Perry Mason finally caught up with him, he had a nine inch knife in his chest. It wasn't long before his client, Marjorie Clune, one of the many Patton fleeced, stood accused of the deed.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Legal, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

215 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Erle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories who also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J. Kenny, Les Tillray, and Robert Parr.

Innovative and restless in his nature, he was bored by the routine of legal practice, the only part of which he enjoyed was trial work and the development of trial strategy. In his spare time, he began to write for pulp magazines, which also fostered the early careers of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. He created many different series characters for the pulps, including the ingenious Lester Leith, a "gentleman thief" in the tradition of Raffles, and Ken Corning, a crusading lawyer who was the archetype of his most successful creation, the fictional lawyer and crime-solver Perry Mason, about whom he wrote more than eighty novels. With the success of Perry Mason, he gradually reduced his contributions to the pulp magazines, eventually withdrawing from the medium entirely, except for non-fiction articles on travel, Western history, and forensic science.

See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Sta...

Reviews

[Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5★

Perry Mason as a thug.

I really didn't like this one much, even making allowances for it only being number 3 in this series. ESG was still developing Perry's character & these books began their life as pulp fiction. ESG may not have ever thought we would still be reading his works over eighty years later!

The 1930's reading public would know all about sham competitions for the gullible and ambitious who thought there was an easy way to movie stardom.

Even knowing that, I felt that Perry came on waaay too strong and waaay too macho man from the get go. I didn't like any of the cast other than secondary character Mamie - and that includes Paul Drake and Perry himself! (Della Street I was neutral on.) All the characters motivations seemed weird and far fetched.

I have about half a dozen Perry Masons still to read from various stages of ESG's writing career. I know there is an improvement - I just hope it is soon!

I found ESG's biography on Wikipedia fascinating if anyone is interested about reading more about this complex man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_St...

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. What? A Perry Mason mystery with no courtroom drama? And no dramatic evidence to catch the real perpetrator under Mason's expert cross-examination? This is not how we learned to love Mason on TV with Raymond Burr in the starring role! Perry's client is a young woman with beautiful legs, Marjorie Clune, who was scammed in a small town beauty contest by a 'Movie Producer' promising a career in Hollywood. Of course the opportunity evaporated once the she got to Tinsel Town. Haven't we heard a version of this more recently in real life? We learn that Marjorie wasn't the only victim. This 1930s entry in the series is essentially a detective story rather than a courtroom drama. Perry finds the body of Frank Patton, the con-man, with a knife hole in his chest. You'll find that the early Mason is not above tampering with evidence, and parts of the TV formula of the 1950s are missing but others are front row centre, such as numerous confusing twists, Paul Drake's detective work, Della Street's devotion to her 'Chief,' and Mason's telling us missing details at the end to wrap-up the case. It's just as enjoyable as later entries. (Mar2017/Fe2024)

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marjorie Clune is one lucky lady. Or so she thinks. She’s won a contest that has judged her legs to be the “best in show” and now she’s set upon a fine modeling and movie career. Unfortunately, it doesn’t play out that way due to the shenanigans of movie promoter Frank Patton who turns out to be a con man. Famous lawyer Perry Mason is hired to defend Marjorie, a job which gets much more difficult when he decides to visit Patton in his apartment and discovers his dead body.

This is the fifth Perry Mason novel I’ve read so I am by no means an expert considering there were 82 novels and 4 short stories penned by Mr. Gardner. However, I’ve sampled them throughout the series and it now seems evident that Perry Mason evolved quite a bit throughout the run. This is only the third novel published and, like the first two (which I also read), it depicts a much harder Perry Mason than the character we usually think of. He is a forceful and direct man, given to barking orders to everybody around him and expecting instant compliance. Even his utterly loyal secretary, Della Street, isn’t immune to his commanding nature. Often, soon after issuing a curt command to an associate, he follows up with “And make it snappy!”

This behavior can be a little off-putting for those who come to these novels only after absorbing the TV series starring Raymond Burr. However, it is consistent with the times in which they were written and with other series characters being published. He absolutely matches his own description as described in the very first book, The Case of the Velvet Claws, “You'll find that I'm a lawyer who has specialized in trial work, and in a lot of criminal work...I'm a specialist on getting people out of trouble. They come to me when they're in all sorts of trouble, and I work them out.” In this novel he proves his mettle and even risks putting himself in severe legal peril. If his hunch is wrong he will be indicted for accessory after the fact…for murder.

But one thing does certainly remain consistent throughout the long run of the series: Perry Mason’s unerring ability to get to the heart of the crime, no matter how convoluted the scheme. These early books in the series don’t even include a courtroom scene. The case never gets that far. Perry acts more like a ferocious PI than a lawyer but his profound understanding of the law (thanks to the author’s extensive experience with more than 20 years as a practicing attorney) gives him a leg up on other PIs and police.

I enjoyed this one just fine, but I am hoping for the more traditional Perry Mason novels in my future reading. The best ones always include exposing the truth through piercing cross-examination on the witness stand after all seems lost. While this one didn’t include such a scene, the reveal of whodunnit at the end was expertly crafted and as fulfilling as I’d hoped for.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Lucky Legs has some unique features for a Perry Mason novel. Perry gets somewhat crosswise with Paul Drake (although they settle their differences very quickly), and Perry does not use Della Street in this matter to the extent that he usually does. Finally, Perry Mason does not go to trial to defend his client and to disclose the guilty party.

In this novel, Mason represents Margy, a young woman who won a “most beautiful legs” contest in her hometown. Part of Margy’s prize was a movie contract in Hollywood, but that contract was canceled shortly after she arrived in Los Angeles. Mason was approached by a businessman from Margy’s hometown to represent her in an action against the contest promoter, a man named Patton. Before Mason can gather enough evidence against Patton to present to the District Attorney, Patton is murdered, and Margy is the immediate suspect. Margy’s fiancé arrives in Los Angeles and it appears he may be a suspect. The businessman wants Mason to defend Margy’s fiancé as well as Margy.

Mason has to travel to several locations to find where his clients have absconded, and Della Street chides Mason for putting himself in jeopardy.

As with other Perry Mason novels, the reader knows Mason will clear his clients and expose the real culprit, but the fun in reading these books is the process.

[Gary Sundell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early Perry Mason is still better than most of what is issued these days. ESG hadn't introduced most of the usual supporting cast yet. Also no final courtroom scene. I do not think I had read this one previously, but my hunch as to the identity of the killer was correct. I will move along to book 4 at some time this year.

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You open that door without a search warrant," he said, "and I'll break your Jaw."

Perry Mason to two cops who want to search his office. Perry is still in his tough guy bag in the third book of the series. 1934 publication date on this one. No courtroom scenes, no Hamilton Burger, no Lieutenant Tragg. Perry doesn't need a courtroom. He cross examines everyone anyway. and solves the mystery doing it.

I love it.

[Victoria Mixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give pretty much any Gardner a solid three stars, even if I know the perpetrator from the beginning.

This is one of the really old Perry Masons---1930s era---complete with tension between him and Paul Drake (his right-hand man of later mysteries) and hiding stuff from Della (Della eventually comes to know more about Mason's cases than he does). And when Mason whips out a skeleton key not once but twice to make his way through the locked and unlocked doors of apartment buildings and hotels, I'm glad Gardner included the introduction to the 1950s edition saying, "Yeah, things were a little different in the old days."

Also, when young women are determined "beautiful" solely on the basis of their legs, it really illuminates just how far we've come since a peek at an ankle under a full-length skirt was some wild sort of hotcha-cha (not so much the distant past in the 1930s).

I love that Perry Mason knows he can lie to the cops so long as he doesn't do it on the witness stand or as accessory to a crime, and I love that he gets a young woman to pretend to chew gum to show she's easy. But more than anything I love that he repeatedly, consistently finds ways to endanger himself and his own livelihood by taking chances a lawyer really should know better than to take.

You know why he does it? Because he's Perry Mason.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Lucky Legs by Erle Stanley Gardner is the 3rd book in the Perry Mason Mystery series. Perry Mason is hired to represent the interests of Marjorie Clune who was promised film work for winning a Lucky Legs contest. Promoter Frank Patton had been thought to have been running the scam for some time and when he is murdered, Perry Mason gets caught up in the investigation. Another wonderful classic mystery and one of the few cases not involving a trial. Lots of twists and turns that we have come to expect.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty contests can be murder, and that's certainly true in The Case of the Lucky Legs, the third book in the long running Perry Mason series (originally published in 1934).

Perry Mason, the lawyer who dabbles in detective work not only has to contend with a missing beauty queen who may or may not be involved in murder, but his longtime friend and private detective, Paul Drake may not be as loyal as he was led to believe...it makes for a melting pot of sophisticated shadow play, half truths, and ill judgement.

The Case of the Lucky Legs is a lot of fun. That's to say, the popcorn pulp is in full effect, but there's an added layer of complexity that only Erle Stanley Gardner can pull off without making the book feel like a pure legal thriller.

One thing I've noticed about these earlier Mason books is that the courtroom antics aren't confined to the courtroom. Rather, the legal jargon and loopholes are cleverly incorporated into proceedings from the get-go and loosely applied throughout the book - of course that final element is critical to catching the criminal in the end - which Mason generally does.

The Case of the Lucky Legs is a must read for pulp enthusiasts and readers who like their legal thrills just that bit lighter.

[Dipanjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd novel down my "journey into time" (started in 2015) to discover old treasures like the Perry Mason Series, is a complete page-turner.

"The Case Of The Lucky Legs" continues to be a superb whodunnit which leave me ecstatic in this journey. Perry Mason, a character created in 1930s, can easily be a part of 2016 and the author would need to change NOTHING (not even a word) to adjust to the advanced world since 1930s. Now, THAT, for sure is what is evergreen. The story telling has the same intensity now as it did then. The characters in this book, as well, are well etched out, the plot quite complicated and extremely well thought out, the investigations pretty well crafted and with rewarding twists.

Perry Mason is referred in this story as a "Risk Taker", more a sleuth than a lawyer, who uses the fold of the legal system to hunt for the truth AND utilizes his devious mind to uncover pure evidence that would solve the case. Mr. Gardner continues to follow the KISS rule. 224 pages is all you get to race through this riveting story. Till the very end you will keep gasping "How is Perry Mason going to get out of this one?". You will, once again, let go of your sleep to get to the bottom of things. His adversary here is as cunning as himself, and this is clearly a battle of wits.

This episode continues to be a fine example of American Literature from the yesteryears. No wonder Gardner was one of the best selling writers of all times, and certainly one of the best-selling mystery authors ever.

This story is setup around a Beauty Contest scam, the likes of which are prevalent even in present times. Interestingly, there are no courtroom scenes. Perry Mason is more rough and gritty.

I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this 3rd book. There are a total of 82 novels (which I now fortunately own in my shelves). It's a treasure cove indeed!!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marjorie Clune is the girl with the lucky legs. She won the small town Cloverdake pageant and, with funding through the local chamber of commerce and local businesses, she was sent to Los Angeles to begin a fabulous career in motion pictures. “Frank Patton came to town. He was a promoter. He claimed to be representing a motion picture company that was searching for a young woman of personality and beauty, who could stand being advertised as ‘THE GIRL WITH THE LUCKY LEGS.’ They were going to insure her legs for two million dollars; release publicity about the most beautiful legs in the world.” Indeed, “Cloverdale was to be put on the map. It was to be the home of the biggest motion picture actress in the industry; the most beautiful girl in America. Patton had engaged a drawing-room on the night train. Margy was escorted to the drawing-room by more than fifteen hundred cheering citizens.”

When Marjorie came to Hollywood, she found no motion picture company and no contract. Embarrassed, she stayed instead of going back home and soon found she wasn’t the only girl with the most beautiful legs in the world. Indeed, Frank Patton had pulled the scam in many a small town.

J. R. Bradbury, President of the Cloverdale National Bank and the largest investor in the scam, who also wanted to marry Marjorie, arrived at Perry Mason’s office. Bradbury had just come from the District Attorney’s office and the DA didn’t think he could do anything. Bradbury wanted Mason to act by gathering information for Prosecution of Patton. Mason, who is often pictured as this scholarly lawyer, prepared to browbeat Patton into a confession using methods that law enforcement couldn’t use.

As often happens in Mason’s world, he is engaged by a client in an odd case, but quickly his client ends up at the scene of the murder of one of the principals and he has to spend the rest of the novel trying to figure out how to defend a client who couldn’t be other than guilty with the agents of the law breathing down his neck. Here, Mason arrives at Patton’s hotel, only to find a woman fitting Marjorie’s description rushing out and a quite dead Patton lying in his back in his hotel room with a knife stuck directly in his heart. Mason himself looks like the guilty party as he pretends to be knocking on Patton’s door just as a police officer arrives.

Mason explains himself: “I’m one of the biggest gamblers in the world. I gamble with human emotions instead of with cards.” He also describes himself as a “fighter.”

This novel lacks the courtroom scene which characterizes many Mason novels. Instead, Mason, nearly under arrest, with his client in handcuffs, makes a “confession” to the police in his office with Della taking shorthand and reveals who the real killer is in a powerful denouncement.

[Juanita Gaulton Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1934. I love these old mysteries.

[Jan C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how long I have been reading this, but it has been a while.

I know I have seen this one a number of times on the old TV show with Raymond Burr. But this must hold up because I was finishing it at 3 a.m. this morning.

Marjory wins a "lucky legs" contest and comes to L.A. to become a movie star. Doesn't quite live up to the promise. So she decides to stay on anyway. Runner of the contest turns up dead. And little Marjory is seen coming out of the dead man's apartment building by Mason, who has been hired to make sure get the guy running the contests. Whoops!

Anyway, I liked it. On to #4 - The Case of the Howling Dog.

I think I read a lot of these years ago. I've been reading Gardner off and on since the mid-'60s. But I'm going in order this time.

[Richa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Perry Mason happens to be the 3rd of the series. Maybe thats why it is so different than the others I have read. It is almost like its not the same Perry Mason at all!

I guess Gardner still hadn't found the rythm or the pattern that his later works reflect. The interpersonal relations between Mason and Della, Mason and Drake are so different here! Drake is more of an equal than an accessory and Della is more girlish and frightened in this case. There is no scent of that dashing, confident, sly, persistent side kick, that I have grown to love so much. I guess as in real life, the characters were still young and fresh in Gardner's mind during this book. Still trying to find themselves.

What were thankfully same here as in the other books of the series, were Mason's grit, determination and cunning, and his habit to stick his neck all out for his clients. They remain true all throughout the series.

I see that Gardner has attempted to try and give Mason many characteristic actions which he might have thought are a benchmark for a successful mystery. Too many words have gone in describing these gestures which are, to be frank, unnecessary. Thankfully, he abandoned these later.

Another place where this case differed majorly was, the entire arrangement of the case. There was too much running around and sleuthing happening here. For the 1st time (at least to my eyes), another private detective was hired to keep a watch on Drake! Two agencies hired by Mason here! Plus, all his detecting! Too much!

Another let down for me was, no courtroom scene. Not even a small brief one. There was really no need for Mason to be a lawyer in this case.

I felt something amiss initially and many times through this book, like, something very very wrong... But, once I consciously decided to keep all my idea of a typical Perry Mason mystery aside, and read this book as a stand alone, fresh book, I could, comparatively read it easier.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

So initially I was put off. I mean the guy was rude, constantly telling people including his client to, "shut up", and why a scene in a speak-easy? I mean Perry was a fifties type of guy ...right? And, to top it all off, this is my second Perry Mason mystery and I'm still waiting for the court room scene where he always solves the mystery ...right?

And then, I realize my expectations are driven by my memories of the TV drama that was supposedly based on the books? I started to relax. I was reading the real Perry Mason and although he was a new character for me and he didn't necessarily play by the rules, (unlike the Perry I had come to know), I liked the guy. Furthermore, I liked the story.

So maybe later on he changes into someone more like the Perry I knew from the show. And, while I can't say whether that will truly be the case? What I can say for sure, based on this read ...is I'm going to enjoy finding out.

[Renuka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Márta Péterffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Három és fél csillag amúgy, sajnos nem tetszett annyira, mint más Perry Mason-történetek.
Ez a korai Mason regények egyik darabja, kicsit túlbonyolított. A főhős itt nem remekel tárgyalóteremben, sokkal többet talpal és nyomoz, mint egy detektív.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading Gardner's Perry Mason books off and on for decades. Many years ago, I was an intense fan of the series, and read them all at least once. Now, after a lot of water over the dam, I'm looking at them again.

Those who are used to really fine mystery writers (in the literary sense), such as Ross Macdonald, may find Gardner's writing style off-putting. It can be stiff and mechanical. Nonetheless, I still love the general setting: the characters of Perry, Della, Paul, Lt. Tragg, and Hamilton Berger. That, and the ingenious plots, are why I read Perry Mason.

On the whole, the ones written by 1954 are the best. This one was written in 1935, from Gardner's early "hard boiled" period, and is very good. It opens with Mason greeting a new client named J. R. Bradbury. He is a wealthy 42 year old man from a small southern California city. He says that his town was victimized by one Frank Patton, who runs a clever, barely legal scam. He represents a movie company and goes to small cities and towns supposedly looking for the next Hollywood starlet. He runs a beauty contest for the girl with the best legs and figure, offers the winner a movie contract, and sends her off to Hollywood with much fanfare. However, the fine print says the studio can cancel the contract and picture at their discretion. It always seems to turn out the "starlet" can't act, so she is left high and dry in Hollywood, too embarrassed to return home. This just happened in his town to a young former employee of his, Marjorie Clune. Bradbury has more than a fatherly interest in her. He is furious at Patton and wants Mason to find some way to get at him, to build a legal case against him.

Mason takes the job. We meet some interesting characters in the DA's office and the police force. In this very early book, there is no Sgt. Holcomb, Lt. Tragg, or Hamilton Burger. Paul Drake starts to get the dope on Patton, alias Pollard. They find that Marjorie Clune is with another victim of Pollard's scam, Thelma Bell, and there seems to be a third young woman victim too. The plot thickens as we learn that a young dentist named Dr. Doray is in love with Marjorie Clune, and is also in LA trying to get even with Pollard. Before long Pollard is found murdered and suspicion quickly falls on Dr. Doray and Marjorie Clune. Mason is one of the first to find the body and takes a chance juggling some evidence.

A great deal of suspense results from tension between Bradbury and Mason. Bradbury is footing the bill, but is an unusal client: he is a strong, assertive, smart personality who says he will stop at nothing to clear Marjorie Clune. He clearly understands how Mason juggled the evidence and will throw Mason to the police if he thinks it's necessary!

This is a tightly written page-turner. There are good descriptions of locales and people. The "hard boiled" style of 1930s fiction is very strong here. We see a fighting intense Perry Mason far removed from the character that became so popular on television 20 years later. I love it!

There is no court room scene. The murderer is revealed during an interview with police where Mason is about to be arrested(!)

One small flaw: there aren't many suspects for us to think about.

Recurring themes: lots of action in a hotel room; flight in a small private plane; Mason taking chances and risking disbarment.

Highly Recommended.

Oh yes, we learn that Perry Mason's phone number is Broadway 39251!

[Rupesh Goenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this novel Perry Mason solves 'The Case of the Lucky Legs' without any courtroom histrionics. This novel being one of the earliest works by the author, the book is without the usual characters of Prosecuting Attorney Hamilton Burger & Lieutenant Tragg. Though I successfully predicted the villain, it is still fun to read how Perry Mason always takes risks to prove his client innocent. AMAZING.

[Andrew Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm ... tricky one to review. I absolutely loved the first two. This one I found slightly different. It was much more complicated for one thing – but ironically that made it easier to solve. By about half way through I had a very strong hunch as to the murder and it was often confirmed …

But it is a Perry Mason, and very enjoyable. I truly hope the next – when I get to it - is a return to form.

A fair 3.75

[4cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this Perry Mason, in this one Perry really steps over the line on multiple occasions. As always of the period, entertaining and will keep you turning the pages.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been giving out 5 stars to all the Perry Mason books I've been reading and I really liked this one too. Still, it's time for a 4 star rating. It took me a few chapters to get into it but once I was into it, I was all in. The end was fine too but I had a little trouble with the motive. It didn't seem to match the seriousness of the crime. Perhaps there were other factors that were unwritten. I can't say much more than that without spoilers so I will just leave it at that!

[B.R. Stateham · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is either number three or number four of the Perry Mason series. And I gotta say, it was a cluttered mess. Way too many characters and a plot that was simply impossible to follow and keep straight in one's head.

But there were some interesting revelations in it. Number one, Perry in these novels, can play with the law pretty damn loosely when he wants to. Not just stretch the interpretation of the law to its limits; but outright smash it to pieces with a sledge hammer if in protecting his client, he has to.

And Perry can be rough with both clients and witnesses. I mean in the bully-boy kinda tough. He can browbeat anyone down when it calls for it. I don't know if I like, or dislike, this trait in him. It's still an open question for me.

And lastly there is Paul Drake. Drake says he is loyal to Mason. But there are times in the book Mason seems to be having his doubts about Drake. And Drake sometimes acts like a weasel-in-waiting to turn on Mason.

Can't say I'd recommend this book to anyone. On the other hand, reading and interpreting Mason's personality might be just the ticket to read on. Your choice.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Perry Mason series, and a significant improvement over its predecessor. The plot is a lot more complicated, and there is a classic mystery puzzle here concerning the precise timing of the events surrounding the murder. Once again, the book is replete with young women who seem out of a Vargas calendar, but that is part of the era in which it was written. A fun read.

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never Mess with P. M.

I truly enjoyed this better than the TV show. No one ever FreeTime P. M. what to do and this he's going to do it. No matter what, P. M. it's a true fighter and knowing the law he's it quirks.

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good Perry Mason classic

[Freya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was a little boring and maybe that's why it took so long for me to finish it.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good one, Perry was given a run for his money.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.