The Case of the Singing Skirt (Perry Mason) by Erle Stanley Gardner
Review by Matt B. (BuffaloSavage)
Ellen Robb doubles as the cigarette girl and chanteuse at The Big Barn, a cabaret and gambling joint that props up the sluggish economy of the burg of Rowena. Ellen’s employer, George Anclitas, has the chief of police and city attorney in his pocket. Used to getting his own way, Anclitas recklessly cans Ellen when she refuses to help him fleece the sucker Halman Ellis, who has not only lost heavily at poker but has the hots for Ellen. Both his gambling losses ($10K in 1959 is $75K now) and his infatuation with the young beauty have enraged his wife.
When Ellen brings her wrongful termination complaint to lawyer Perry Mason, his secretary Della Street smells a rat. But Perry follows his instinct to help a client who’s not getting any breaks. Later Ellen brings a gun to Perry’s office. She claims that Anclitas had the gun planted in her luggage. Perry switches Ellen’s piece with one he has in his office safe, just in case muddying the waters for the authorities may turn out a useful thing to do. When Ellen is accused of the inevitable murder, Perry ends up defending her.
Author Erle Stanley Gardner always kept up on developments in the law though he spent large parts of his work day dictating his mysteries. For example, when the Miranda decision came down, he was quick to incorporate in his novels the changes it ushered in. This novel revolves around two surprising points of law, one of which I won’t get into as it’s a spoiler. But the other involves Mrs. Ellis’ rage over her husband’s gambling debts. Perry tells her about new application of California divorce law in that certain debts, such as gambling debts, are the separate property of the acquiring spouse, even though they are incurred during the marriage. Thus, in case of a divorce, the gambling debt is not a part of community property, but an obligation to be the separate debt of the gambling spouse. This piece of divorce law still stands in the Golden State.
Anyway, this is a solid investigation and courtroom mystery. “The Case of the Singing Skirt,” wrote well-respected critic Anthony Boucher in The New York Times Book Review at the time, “is one of the most elaborate problems of Perry Mason’s career…This is as chastely classic a detective story as you’re apt to find in these degenerate days.”
