A Perry Mason Mystery — by Erle Stanley Gardner

Order	Book	Date	Rating
1	The Case of the Velvet Claws	1933	3
2	The Case of the Sulky Girl	1933	4
3	The Case of the Lucky Legs	1934	5
4	The Case of the Howling Dog	1934	4.5
5	The Case of the Curious Bride	1934	4
6	The Case of the Counterfeit Eye	1935	5
7	The Case of the Caretaker's Cat	1935	4
8	The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece	1936	3
9	The Case of the Stuttering Bishop	1936	3
10	The Case of the Dangerous Dowager	1937	0
11	The Case of the Lame Canary	1937	3
12	The Case of the Substitute Face	1938	4
13	The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe	1938	0
14	The Case of the Perjured Parrot	1939	5
15	The Case of the Rolling Bones	Jul-1939	3.5
16	The Case of the Baited Hook	1940	5
17	The Case of the Silent Partner	1940	4
18	The Case of the Haunted Husband	1941	3
19	The Case of the Empty Tin	1941	4
20	The Case of the Drowning Duck	1942	2.5
21	The Case of the Careless Kitten	1942	5
22	The Case of the Buried Clock	1943	3.5
23	The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito	1943	4
24	The Case of the Crooked Candle	1944	4
25	The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde	1944	0
26	The Case of the Golddigger's Purse	1945	2
27	The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife	1945	2
28	The Case of the Borrowed Brunette	1946	0
29	The Case of the Fan-Dancer's Horse	1947	4
30	The Case of the Crying Swallow	Aug-1971	4
31	The Case of the Lazy Lover	1947	2
32	The Case of the Lonely Heiress	1948	5
33	The Case of the Crimson Kiss	1971	0
34	The Case of the Vagabond Virgin	1948	4.5
35	The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom	1949	4
36	The Case of the Cautious Coquette	1949	4
37	The Case of the Negligent Nymph	1950	3.5
38	The Case of the One-Eyed Witness	1950	4.5
39	The Case of the Fiery Fingers	1951	4
40	The Case of the Angry Mourner	1951	4.5
41	The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink	1952	5
42	The Case of the Grinning Gorilla	1952	3
43	The Case of the Hesitant Hostess	1953	4
44	The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister	1953	3
45	The Case of the Fugitive Nurse	1954	3
46	The Case of the Runaway Corpse	1954	0
47	The Case of the Restless Redhead	1954	0
48	The Case of the Glamorous Ghost	1955	4
49	The Case of the Sunbathers Diary	1955	4
49	The Case of the Sun Bather's Diary	Jul-1955	4
50	The Case of the Nervous Accomplice	1955	0
51	The Case of the Terrified Typist	1956	4
52	The Case of the Gilded Lily	1956	3.5
53	The Case of the Demure Defendant	1956	3
54	The Case of the Lucky Loser	1957	0
55	The Case of the Screaming Woman	1957	4
56	The Case of the Daring Decoy	1957	3
57	The Case of the Long-Legged Models	1958	3.5
58	The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll	1958	3.5
59	The Case of the Calendar Girl	1958	3.5
60	The Case of the Deadly Toy	1959	5
61	The Case of the Mythical Monkeys	1959	0
62	The Case of the Singing Skirt	1959	0
63	The Case of the Waylaid Wolf	1960	4
64	The Case of the Duplicate Daughter	1960	3
65	The Case of the Shapely Shadow	1960	3.5
66	The Case of the Bigamous Spouse	1961	0
67	The Case of the Spurious Spinster	1961	3.5
68	The Case of the Reluctant Model	1962	0
69	The Case of the Blond Bonanza	1962	4
70	The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands	1962	0
71	The Case of the Mischievous Doll	1963	3
72	The Case of the Stepdaughter's Secret	1963	0
73	The Case of the Amorous Aunt	1963	4.5
74	The Case of the Daring Divorcee	1964	3
75	The Case of the Phantom Fortune	1964	3.5
76	The Case of the Horrified Heirs	1964	3.5
77	The Case of the Troubled Trustee	1965	3
78	The Case of the Beautiful Beggar	1965	4
79	The Case of the Worried Waitress	1966	0
80	The Case of the Queenly Contestant	1967	3
81	The Case of the Careless Cupid	1968	5
82	The Case of the Fabulous Fake	1969	0
83	The Case of the Fenced-In Woman	1972	4
84	The Case of the Irate Witness	Mar-1972	0
85	The Case of the Postponed Murder	Feb-1973	0
86	Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Irate Witness and Other Stories	Sep-1973	0

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Series Premise

The Perry Mason series centers on brilliant criminal defense attorney Perry Mason, who investigates crimes and defends clients in high-stakes murder trials. Each book presents a new case filled with twists, false accusations, and dramatic courtroom confrontations. Mason's unorthodox methods -- combining detective work with legal strategy -- drive the stories as he battles district attorneys and uncovers hidden motives.

The Perry Mason Series Reading Order

The Perry Mason series does not need to be read in order. Each book tells a complete story with its own mystery, investigation, and courtroom resolution. Continuity is limited to recurring characters and the consistent legal world of Los Angeles. Reading out of order does not cause confusion, as new readers quickly understand the core team dynamic and follow the self-contained case without missing key plot points.

Explanation of reading order types

The Perry Mason Series Characters

Perry Mason is the central figure, a sharp-witted defense attorney known for his courtroom brilliance and willingness to bend conventional rules. Della Street serves as his efficient and loyal secretary. Paul Drake runs the Drake Detective Agency and provides crucial investigative support. These three form the recurring team that appears in nearly every book.

Setting of the The Perry Mason Series

The series is set primarily in Los Angeles and surrounding California areas during the 1930s through 1950s. Courtrooms, law offices, and crime scenes form the main backdrops. The urban legal environment of the era -- complete with hard-boiled detectives, ambitious prosecutors, and dramatic trials --shapes the investigations and courtroom battles.

Tone & Themes of the The Perry Mason Series

The tone is fast-paced and suspenseful, with clever plotting and surprise revelations in the courtroom. Central themes include justice versus technicality, the importance of thorough investigation, and the drama of the American legal system. Erle Stanley Gardner, a former lawyer himself, emphasizes logical deduction and the skill of cross-examination.

Is the The Perry Mason Series Worth Reading?

The Perry Mason series appeals to readers who enjoy classic mystery novels focused on legal puzzles and courtroom drama. Its reliable formula offers satisfying resolutions and clever twists in each volume. Fans of traditional detective fiction or legal thrillers often find the consistent style engaging across many entries.

Content Warnings and Heat Level

The books contain depictions of murder, crime scene details, and courtroom tension typical of classic mysteries. Violence is described but not graphic by modern standards. Sexual content is minimal and discreet. As vintage adult mysteries, they suit readers comfortable with traditional genre conventions.

The Perry Mason series delivers classic legal mysteries built around a memorable defense attorney and his loyal team. Readers searching for Perry Mason series order or Perry Mason books in order can start with any title without losing enjoyment. Overall, the books provide self-contained courtroom dramas within a familiar and consistent world.