| Plot Summary of Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Deadly Toy |
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"Norda Allison realises that she is marrying the wrong man, when she saw him slapping his son for interrupting their conversation. She is terrified and calls off the wedding, only to earn his wrath. She starts receiving anonymous clippings in her mail, of stories in which suitors killed their former fiancees.
A few days later, Mervin slaps Norda's boyfriend Nate Benedict, and claims it to be self defense. Mervin's previous wife, Lorraine Selkirk Jennings, tries to warn Norda against him and arranges for Norda to spend a night at her house. When Norda meets her, Lorraine tries to cover up the absence of her son. However, Norda hears a barking dog followed by a gun shot, while she is staying with Lorraine, and rushes to Perry Mason, the lawyer for help.
The next morning, Melvin Selkirk is found dead in his car, and the murder weapon is found below Norda's pillow at Lorraine's house. Norda is arrested and new facts surprise both parties in the Preliminary hearing. Perry Mason's investigation, surmises, and the courtroom scenes are the highlights of the novel.
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Ashwita, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Deadly Toy |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 70%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- 1960's-1970's
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Special suspect?
- lover
Murder of certain profession?
- "All in the family" murder
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- "All in the family" murder
- Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
- Big focus on autopsies
Kind of investigator
- hard boiled/private eye
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- West
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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