The Case of the Borrowed Brunette

by Erle Stanley Gardner

Book Overview

When Perry Mason stumbles upon a classified ad for a brown haired woman with very specific physical attributes, he takes note of the seemingly suspicious circumstances surrounding the job posting.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345343743
• ISBN13: 9780345343741
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Fawcett Books
• Length: 45 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Too Many Brunettes

Erle Stanley Gardner's "The Case of the Borrowed Brunette" is Gardner at his clever best, which is the draw that entices readers back to this master series. Perry Mason cannot drive down the street with Della Street without recognizing a puzzle waiting on each corner of a slightly traveled avenue. A young actress is employed to impersonate another woman and to bring her own companion. Finding the body of the man who hires them in the bedroom is cause for concern, being arrested for his murder brings Perry Mason to aid his client. But who is telling the truth and why was the man murdered? Even Perry Mason is baffled by this one but he must protect his client who doesn't know how to tell the truth if a lie makes a better story. Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."

Complications from Impersonations

Perry Mason and Della Street are returning from a court case when they see an almost identical brunette standing on each street corner. They stop and question Cora Felton, who explains about the newspaper ad that hired them. The winner would get $50 a day plus her choice of chaperone. Cora's friend Eva Martell left a not saying she won the prize and has left with Adelle Winters, a practical nurse who can handle men. Days later Adelle Winters shows up at Perry's office and tells him about this strange job: Eva is to become "Helen Reedley", and avoid people. Adelle imagines a criminal conspiracy. Cora Felton calls and asks Perry to investigate (Chapter 2). In Chapter 3 Perry meets Robert Dover Hines and tries to get information. Later Perry advises Eva Martell and Adell Winters to leave that apartment. But two men follow them, so they don't return to their own apartment. Helen Reedley shows up at Perry's office and signs a letter to protect Perry's clients (Chapter 4). In Chapter 5 Perry gets a call from Eva - they found Robert Hines shot dead when they returned to that apartment! Paul Drake's men discover the man who hired private detectives to watch Eva and Adelle: it is Orville L. Reedley, the husband of Helen. Perry suggests a reasonable solution to these actions, then meets Orville Reedley (Chapter 6). Then Perry gets a call about red-hot news that implicates Adelle (Chapter 7). Perry meets Cora and Eva and gets the truth from them (Chapter 8). Perry learns that Eva will be charged with murder (Chapter 9). A new clue sends Perry and Della to interview a person connected with Robert Hines, and they learn the reason for the impersonation (Chapter 13). Chapter 14 tells about recorded serial numbers on big bills that banks hand out, and a loophole in that system. Perry visits Arthur Clovis and learns about his lunch with Helen Reedley (Chapter 16). The Preliminary Hearing begins in Chapter 17. Harry Gulling was personally present. Witnesses are questioned as to their location around the time of death. Thomas Folsom, the private investigator who followed Adelle, testifies about the garbage can in the alley. In Chapter 18 Perry draws out the time that garbage was placed in that can; which contradicts some of the testimony. In Chapter 19 Perry discovers a fact about that hotel, and who had worked there earlier. There are a lot of people who can't account for their time around 2 pm. Adelle tells a `stoolie' about her case, facts that contradict her sworn statement! In Chapter 20 Perry testifies before the Grand Jury. Carlotta Tipton appears and answers questions. Suddenly Perry gets an idea that resolves the discrepancies of timing, and can be checked by the unknown fingerprints. Perry tells what happened, and explains the differences between found property and abandoned property. It is not a crime to retain abandoned property. This story is set in Los Angeles after the War. People use the streetcars for transportation. It is about the people who co

Complications from Impersonations

Perry Mason and Della Street are returning from a court case when they see an almost identical brunette standing on each street corner. They stop and question Cora Felton, who explains about the newspaper ad that hired them. The winner would get $50 a day plus her choice of chaperone. Cora's friend Eva Martell left a not saying she won the prize and has left with Adelle Winters, a practical nurse who can handle men. Days later Adelle Winters shows up at Perry's office and tells him about this strange job: Eva is to become "Helen Reedley", and avoid people. Adelle imagines a criminal conspiracy. Cora Felton calls and asks Perry to investigate (Chapter 2). In Chapter 3 Perry meets Robert Dover Hines and tries to get information. Later Perry advises Eva Martell and Adell Winters to leave that apartment. But two men follow them, so they don't return to their own apartment. Helen Reedley shows up at Perry's office and signs a letter to protect Perry's clients (Chapter 4). In Chapter 5 Perry gets a call from Eva - they found Robert Hines shot dead when they returned to that apartment! Paul Drake's men discover the man who hired private detectives to watch Eva and Adelle: it is Orville L. Reedley, the husband of Helen. Perry suggests a reasonable solution to these actions, then meets Orville Reedley (Chapter 6). Then Perry gets a call about red-hot news that implicates Adelle (Chapter 7). Perry meets Cora and Eva and gets the truth from them (Chapter 8). Perry learns that Eva will be charged with murder (Chapter 9). A new clue sends Perry and Della to interview a person connected with Robert Hines, and they learn the reason for the impersonation (Chapter 13). Chapter 14 tells about recorded serial numbers on big bills that banks hand out, and a loophole in that system. Perry visits Arthur Clovis and learns about his lunch with Helen Reedley (Chapter 16). The Preliminary Hearing begins in Chapter 17. Harry Gulling was personally present. Witnesses are questioned as to their location around the time of death. Thomas Folsom, the private investigator who followed Adelle, testifies about the garbage can in the alley. In Chapter 18 Perry draws out the time that garbage was placed in that can; which contradicts some of the testimony. In Chapter 19 Perry discovers a fact about that hotel, and who had worked there earlier. There are a lot of people who can't account for their time around 2 pm. Adelle tells a `stoolie' about her case, facts that contradict her sworn statement! In Chapter 20 Perry testifies before the Grand Jury. Carlotta Tipton appears and answers questions. Suddenly Perry gets an idea that resolves the discrepancies of timing, and can be checked by the unknown fingerprints. Perry tells what happened, and explains the differences between found property and abandoned property. It is not a crime to retain abandoned property. This story is set in Los Angeles after the War. People use the streetcars for transportation. It is about the people who co