The Case of the Caretaker's Cat (A Perry Mason Mystery)

The caretaker of an estate comes to consult Perry Mason about his cat. Perry explains why something trivial could develop into something big - like rejecting a client whose suit would have destroyed a prosecuting witness' alibi (p.6). Perry cautions Mr. Charles Ashton about his situation, and the Peter Laxter will (made two days before he died in a fire). Perry writes a letter for Mr. Ashton, who the leaves. But Della Street looks down to the street, and sees Mr. Ashton is being followed. Perry likes trial law because it isn't routine, and involves human nature (Chapter II). The investigation takes them to the private nurse who was on duty the night of the fire. This conversation is instructive. Edith DeVoe witnesses a strange event a few hours before the fire, but can't be sure of the identity of the man in the garage. Why was a hose from the exhaust pipe of that car running into the heating system air vent? Would death by fire mask carbon monoxide poisoning (Chapter V)? Dr. Jason explains how he could make a determination based on the condition of the body. After they exhume the body, Dr. Jason says to go ahead with the investigation of murder. When District Attorney Hamilton Burger goes to the house to question Sam Laxter they find Charles Ashton murdered! Perry goes to see Winifred Laxter, and finds Ashton's cat. Her boyfriend Douglas Keene brought it to her for safekeeping. Mason and Drake go to visit Douglas Keene. To avoid notice, they park over a block away and walk there. The apartment is empty, as if the occupant hastily left. There are red spatters in the bathroom washbowl. Mason and Drake the find out when Edith DeVoe married Frank Oakley (the other heir of Peter Laxter). When they search for Douglas Keene at Winifred Laxter's shop they learn he has fled. They get information on Ashton's crutch, and a new suspect to consider. In Chapter XII Sergeant Holcomb summarizes the case against Douglas Keene, and tells Mason that they found the cat. (Is the cat a red herring to distract the reader?) Chapter XIII has a scene in Mason's office that is as funny as it is educational. Chapter XIV tells how Mason is able to bring in Douglas Keene to the police. In Chapter XVI perry uses an assumed name (Ashton's partner) and goes with Della to a hotel, posing as a just married couple. The purpose of this disguise is to track the new car bought by Watson Clammert. By reporting it stolen, the police will stop and question the real Watson Clammert (Chapter XVII)! It works. The Preliminary Hearing begins, and the witnesses are questioned. Mason explains the importance of holding and safeguarding the caretaker's cat, and what would have happened if another cat was brought to Ashton's room. Mason continues, and provides a shocking surprise ending (Chapter XVIII). Now all of his previous actions result in a solution to the mystery (Chapter XIX). This is an interesting story, but I found the ending too contrived. It might work in a film where the vie

Very well plotted mystery entangled with discord among heirs, missing property, suspicious death of the millionaire, two murders and the caretaker's cat. Mason often uses unconventional tricks to make a cat's-paw of authorities, and the trick he uses in this book is extremely superb.Della and Drake try to stop Mason from skating on thin ice. Mason retorts "What a hell can a man lose? He only has a lease on life. All that really counts is a man's ability to live, to get the most out of it as he goes through it, and he gets the most kick out of it by playing a no-limit game." Anyway, Perry Mason gets a lot out of life; he lives a full life and he really enjoys it. How I envy him!

Once again, the lawyer-detective solves the mystery. This is a classic with a slightly unusual ending for a Perry Mason novel. I cannot say more without ruining the mystery. David Stern