The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister

Begins when Perry Mason is hired by a beautiful green-eyed young widow, described by his secretary with the words "She'd cut your heart out for thirty-seven cents." The green eyed girl is one of a number of people who had been being blackmailed by the late J.J. Fritch, until one of the people from whom Mr Fritch had been extorting money paid their final instalment with an ice pick. The trail which Perry Mason follows initially seems to run cold - until it leads to a giant deep freeze. Those who love 1950's style Private Investigator thrillers will love this book.

Perry Mason lands the toughest case of his career when blackmail leads to murder and he is a suspect. With the police and DDA licking their lips at the prospect of freash-roasted Mason, and with a client who insists on making things worse, Perry must wade through reports that a rich family may have a fortune based on stolen money, a secret apparently worth killing for. His key witness: a private detective named Brogan with the moral fiber of Al Capone. Mason goes for broke with each witness that takes the stand, because with allegations of misconduct just beneath the surface, each question could well be his last. This is pure whodunnit entertainment. Gardner's prose may not be on par with Kipling, but he knows how to keep the story flowing, and this story will satify anyone looking for a quick read.

The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister The 'Foreword' dedicates this book to Ralph F. Turner, the Secretary of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the associate editor of the 'Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police Science', and an associate professor in the Police Administration Department of Michigan State College. The field of Forensic Science is an important as legal medicine. Turner's outstanding work should get public attention. Della Street tells Perry Mason that Sylvia Bain Atwood wants to see Perry (Della thinks she is cold and snooty). Mrs. Atwood is a widow. Her father Ned Bain has a hear condition and is confined to his room. Sylvia's sister Hattie stays home to care for the family. Sylvia's problem is with J. J. Fritch, a peculiar character who was a partner of Ned Bain in an oil deal that struck it rich. But J. J. may have acquired his funds from a bank robbery, and the bank may claim possession of Ned Bain's property! Perry says this looks like blackmail. The George Brogan who contacted Sylvia has a reputation; no one know how he makes his money. Perry gets his retainer and goes into action. Perry and Sylvia visit George Brogan to audit the tape recording. (Perry has a new compact wire recorder that looks like a hearing aid!). In Chapter 2 Perry arranges with Paul Drake to have George Brogan followed after the meeting. Perry spars with George Brogan over the legality of George's actions (Chapter 3). Perry shows his cleverness and devotion to his client. In Chapter 4 Perry explains a "synthetic recording" which is an edited version of a long conversion, and how it can be detected. Perry explains the tricky legal situation of an "involuntary trust" in Chapter 5. Sylvia tells Perry about the rest of the family. Then Perry learns more about J. J. Fritch. In Chapter 6 they return for a 9 am meeting with George Brogan. A note on the door tells Perry this is a trap. Brogan returns, apologizes for the delay, then calls the police to report a murder! Sergeant Holcomb arrives and questions them all, Perry last. Holcomb says Perry's story doesn't dovetail with the others (Chapter 7). Paul Drake tells Perry when the murder was committed, and that George Brogan has a perfect alibi. Perry gets a phone call that Ned Bain has died. Sylvia wants the funeral arrangements expedited. Then she tells Perry the shocking news about last night! In Chapter 9 Lt. Tragg shows up with a search warrant for the tape reel; Brogan's hidden recorder taped Perry, Della, and Sylvia. Perry asks Sylvia to tell him exactly what happened so it could be recorded (Chapter 10). Jarrett Bain, the brother, visits Perry and tells him what he observed during those early morning hours (Chapter 11). Then Sylvia visits Perry to tell him the police arrested Hattie for murder (Chapter 12). Perry visits Hattie in jail and learns what she told the police (Chapter 13). The preliminary hearing begins in Chapter 14. Conflict arises over the first prosecution witness, Geor

Perry Mason was retained to protect the interests of the Bain family, who were being blackmailed with an audio confession of a crime they didn't commit. Mason manages to erase the recording right out from under their nose, but then finds himself defending Hattie Bain on a murder charge.Mason's courtroom dramatics hit a high note when he produces a theory which changes the time of death, and puts an witness with an seemingly unshakeable alibi on the hot seat. Then the theory is collaborated with evidence overlooked by the police, and all hell is raised with the prosecutions theory of the case.