Perry Mason and the Case of the Howling Dog

By: Erle Stanley Gardner, M. J. Elliott

Narrated by: Jerry Robbins, The Colonial Radio Players

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Criminal lawyer and all-time number-one mystery author Erle Stanley Gardner wrote close to 150 novels that have sold 300 million copies worldwide. His most popular books starred the incomparable attorney-sleuth Perry Mason.

In The Case of the Howling Dog, Arthur Cartwright, an anxious man, goes to Perry Mason to have his neighbor arrested for his vindictive and noisy dog. He is under the belief that his howling is an indication that somebody has been murdered in the neighborhood. He demands that his will be written bequeathing the estate to the lady living at the neighbor's house. However, the will is mysteriously altered by an unknown person, and Cartwright goes missing, along with the lady.

©2011 Erle Stanley Gardner and M.J. Eliott (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Erle Stanley Gardner would be proud!!

This story is very true to the Gardner's novels. Love Perry-daring, dashing and cool. My family loves CRT's Perry Mason too. I listen to this often. the quality of this dramatization is excellent. Thanks for a great story!!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Brings back Memories

I have a stack of books/audiobooks on my desk all in the 800 plus pages/40 plus hours range. Before I started reading/listening I was looking for something a bit different to end the year with. I came across this radio dramatization of a Perry Mason Radio Show. I remember listening to Perry Mason on the radio when I was young. I thought this might be just the change I was seeking.

Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970) was an attorney. He passed the Bar in 1911. He practiced in Southern California for many years. He had a large Chinese clientele and he spoke fluent Chinese. Using information from his practice, he wrote magazine stories for pulp magazines in the 1920s and 30s. He primarily wrote mysteries and westerns. When the pulps declined he went on to write novels. He wrote about 150 Perry Mason novels.

This story was made into a movie in 1934. It starred Warren Williams and Mary Aster. Williams played Mason in four movies. In this story, Perry writes a Will for Arthur Cartwright. Arthur believed a howling dog in his neighborhood indicated that someone had been murdered. Cartwright’s next-door neighbor is found murdered and Cartwright is missing.

I sort of wished that this was a replay of the original radio show rather than a dramatization by the Colonial Radio Players. But I guess sound quality would be much better in the dramatization. It was great to listen to many people playing parts rather than a single narrator reading the story. This book does make for a nice change of pace. This brought back memories of listening to plays and programs on the radio.

The book is one hour and eighteen minutes long. The performers were Jerry Robbins and the Colonial Radio Players.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Fun to see the original!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you grew up watching the old b&w Perry Mason shows on tv, here is a chance to here what the original character was like, along with Della and that savvy detective. Perry Mason is a bit more edgy and considered a bit of a maverick in these. Worth checking out for the fun in it!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

What a Kick!

Any additional comments?

If you are a "middler" you may have watched the original TV series with Raymond Burr, as did I. Aesthetically, the blonde Paul Drake and dark Perry Mason, their matching IQs but differing though usually compatible approaches and personalities, balanced by the
smart and efficient, ahead-of-her-time, Della Street was very pleasing.

This radio show has different values, and may mimic those of the original E.S.Gardner
stories, as he wrote in the 30's. CRT has Perry much more aggressive, a high wire walker risk taker,more gruff and general-like, not as smooth and elegant as the TV series. Paul Drake is more assertive, but still willing to help Perry without subservience or compromising his independence, and the Della character seems a little weak to me,
but that may be how Mr. Gardener viewed women then - as servants.

Nevertheless, do not be fooled by the titles, the stories are full blown mysteries, and you
will be entertained to the end. As always CRT has excellent sound effects, excellent small part characters, and a good clip throughout.

They are a good bargain for the price and I will probably listen to more in their series!

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Pretty good to get through drive home! 😀

Pretty good to get through drive home! Good read, could have had a bit more background flavor to make it a richer more emersive feeling.