Perry Mason is one of the most appealing characters in all of mystery fiction. He is a tall, lean man with the physical skill to be formidable in a fight. He is also clever; he thinks well on his feet and is hard to throw off balance, even when the prosecution surprises him in the courtroom. In addition, he is a superb researcher who is always up-to-date on the latest foensic discoveries and who has so thoroughly researched legal precedents that he is usually several steps ahead of his opponents. In many ways, Mason is an idealized version of Gardner himself, who was a professional boxer in his youth and who was an extraordinary researcher. In the novels, there is no mistaking Mason for anything but the champion of justice, the protector of the innocent, and the implacable enemy of evil.

The Case of the Grinning Gorilla turns...