Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Paperback 336: The Case of the Daring Decoy / Erle Stanley Gardner (Pocket Books 6001)

Paperback 336: Pocket Books 6001 (1st ptg, 1960)

Title: The Case of the Daring Decoy
Author: Erle Stanley Gardner
Cover artist: Uncredited

Yours for: $9


Best things about this cover:
  • The bottom 1/2 inch is horribly soiled; otherwise, this copy is close to perfect, and words can't describe how much I love this cover painting.
  • Well, maybe they can. I think that if you look up "Hot Mess" in the dictionary, this picture is there. Sexy dissolution personified. All that orange, and the booze, and the smokes, and the stairway to nowhere, just add to the smoldering hotness of the whole scene. First rate cover art. Just wish I had an artist credit!


Best things about this back cover:
  • Perry Mason looks like somebody's grandma. Pancake make-up much, grandma?
  • Random orangeing of words. That's a new tactic.
  • "Hell's bells!" is a great way to lead off your back cover copy.

Page 123~

"You knew her rather intimately, I believe."
"Are you making an accusation?"
"I'm asking a question."

Technically, you were making an insinuating statement, Perry, but ... I'll allow it.

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter]

6 comments:

Brian Busby said...

I'm pretty sure that is not Raymond Burr's actual signature.

J. Kingston Pierce said...

That cover art has been credited elsewhere to the great James Avati.

Cheers,
Jeff

Deb said...

That is a fabulous cover...it's 50 years old, but it looks so modern.

JamiSings said...

Hell's Bells is also a pretty sweet Art Kassel song.

andys said...

This is a book I'd be tempted to buy just for the cover. You're right, it's amazingly gorgeous.

Tulse said...

DAY-um! That is one hot scene on the cover.