The Case of the Vagabond Virgin

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Platinum blonde Veronica Dale is arrested for vagrancy despite having a hotel reservation made by Addison, the head of a department store, who is now facing blackmail. Perry Mason finds himself entangled in a web of deception, leading to a murder case that presents one of his most challenging trial scenes. The author, Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970), is renowned for his intricate and twisting plots in American mystery fiction. A civil rights lawyer, he penned 146 books, with 85 featuring the iconic Perry Mason, who inspired numerous television adaptations. Gardner achieved remarkable sales, often selling 26,000 copies daily at his peak in the mid-1960s, surpassing even Agatha Christie and Barbara Cartland combined. Born in Massachusetts, Gardner briefly attended Law School in Indiana but left due to distractions. He moved to California, becoming a self-taught attorney before shifting to sales. He returned to law in 1921 but found his true passion in writing, setting an ambitious goal of 66,000 words per week. His prolific output included works under various pseudonyms and non-fiction, exploring early Mexican exploitation in California. In later life, Gardner co-founded 'The Court of Last Resort' to investigate miscarriages of justice. He aspired to create a hero who fights not through ruthlessness but with strategic patience, delivering a decisive blow when the moment is right.