The Case of the Terrified Typist

This Perry Mason mystery has an unusual twist, in that one of the principal characters enters Mason's life in a very strange way. The work load at the Mason law office is overwhelming, so Della Street contacts a temporary agency asking for help. Shortly after the request is made, an attractive woman enters the office and she is put to work typing material. She is extremely efficient and Della gives her high praise to Mason. When the woman suddenly leaves and does not return, a phone call to the temp agency reveals that they sent no one over. Furthermore, Della discovers a wad of chewing gum stuck to the bottom of the desk with two large diamonds embedded inside it. The situation is even further complicated when an office of diamond merchants in the same building report that a woman illegally entered their office. This sets Mason, Street and detective Paul Drake on the path of a murder case where the accused seems to prefer conviction over revealing his relationship with a woman. When the man is found guilty of murder, Mason finally unravels the convoluted story of the murder and why the man had such a lack of interest in defending himself. The conspiracy involved several people, long-distance relationships and even some silly, childish messages. Hamilton Burger and Mason once again battle in the courtroom and in this case Mason loses. However, even in the loss, he emerges victorious, demonstrating once again his talents for ferreting out even the most convoluted of truths.

The Case of the Terrified Typist, by Erle Stanley Gardner The `Foreword' dedicated this book to the Honorable John Ben Sheppard, the Attorney General of Texas. Sheppard wrote the "Peace Officer's Handbook" which serves as a guide for the constable and sheriffs of Texas. Sheppard took on the "Duke of Duval" to end that reign of fear and corruption. Perry and Della are working on an important brief, and need a typist. They call an agency, who promise to send out a skilled typist. Later a woman walks in and is given the work; she is quick and efficient, then takes a break. She never returns. Then they are told of a burglary in the building; the suspect resembles the unknown typist. A partner from the burglarized firm hires Perry to defend the co-owner against a murder charge. Perry tries to find this typist by using a scheme that recalls A.C. Doyle's "The Red-Headed League". Perry also assigns detectives to follow this partner as he suspects he's hiding something. The accused co-owner also refuses to discuss certain things. Perry visits the partner's woman friend, only to later find she skipped town. Could the alleged murder victim (no body found) have absconded with the smuggled diamonds? Like the stories of Dashiell Hammett, this tells of the techniques used to follow a person, and how to avoid a tail. The jury returns a guilty verdict against Perry's client, no recommendation of mercy. But Paul Drake's investigators uncover the facts implied by the testimony of the witnesses. So who was the other man in the boat? This plot seems flawed in having one of the smugglers going to the police to file a murder charge.