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Book Review of Case of the Queenly Contestant

Case of the Queenly Contestant
perryfran avatar reviewed on + 1181 more book reviews


I really enjoyed this somewhat dated Perry Mason mystery. I've only read a couple of others in the series but have for the most part enjoyed them. In this one a woman named Ellen Adair approaches Mason because she wants to find out what her rights are regarding privacy. A hometown newspaper is publishing a piece on her because twenty years earlier she had won a beauty contest and had supposedly gone to Hollywood for a screen test. But Ellen doesn't want anything about her to be made public. After going to Hollywood, she disappeared from the public eye and she wants it to remain that way. But is that all there is to the story? Well no. Turns out she had dated a prominent young man who inherited a large company. The man went to Europe after Ellen supposedly became pregnant by him. And now her illegitimate son stands to inherit millions. But did she really have the baby? Or is she involved in a scam to try to get the money? And then someone from her past is murdered and Ellen is the prime suspect...

I thought this was a fun and enjoyable escapade involving the Perry Mason I remember from the old TV series starring Raymond Burr. Della Street and Paul Drake are both there along with Lt. Tragg for the prosecution. This one was published in 1967--before cell phones, microwave ovens, and even air conditioning in some cases. Overall, very nostalgic! I have a few other Mason mysteries on my shelves that I really should try to read sometime soon.