Shining fingers; Cold hands: Cold hands

Author: Earl Stanley Gardner
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-05-01
Features: You might have seen the TV show "Law & Order" or the movies "The Accused" or "The Untouchable," and been captivated by the intense debates between prosecutors and defense attorneys in court. In fact, the courtroom also holds a significant place in mystery novels. In traditional romantic mystery novels, the original and ingenious plots are certainly thrilling to read, but the strong game-like elements often give a sense of unreality, and the mysteries are mostly theoretical. In courtroom mysteries, the author not only emphasizes the criminal's methods but must also focus on the detective role of the prosecutor or lawyer in constructing the case theory and the process of gathering evidence—after all, convincing evidence is absolutely essential to convict a suspect or exonerate a defendant, not just by having a famous detective spout theories. However, the classic mystery genre has its own famous detectives, and courtroom mysteries naturally have equally famous prosecutors and lawyers. Here’s an introduction.
First and foremost is the famous lawyer Perry Mason. He was created by the American courtroom novel king, Stanley Gardner, and is categorized as a cool character. I’ve read about a dozen Mason mysteries, and most of the plots follow a similar pattern: a client comes to Mason for help, and Mason not only gathers favorable evidence but sometimes also has to clean up the mess made by an ignorant defendant who accidentally breaks the law, helping him out of a tight spot. In the end, he faces the prosecutor in court, presents astonishing evidence, and turns the tide—revealing that the murder case has another culprit, while the original defendant is merely a scapegoat, unable to speak the truth. While this plot is quite cliché, the most attractive charm of this series lies in the final courtroom showdown. We can see Mason demonstrate his excellent oratory skills and sharp questioning and answers in court, and the truth behind the reversal is often surprising, making us admire Mason’s meticulous reasoning process.
Another intriguing aspect is Mason’s quick-wittedness in navigating the edges of the law, leaving detectives speechless and unable to do anything about him. At the same time, although Mason is known as a cool character, he shows deep compassion when taking on cases, working tirelessly to fight for the defendant’s justice and uphold the truth. Later, the rights to the Perry Mason series were acquired by Thomas Chastain, who continued to write new Perry Mason mysteries.
Flash tells the story of Ben trying to bribe nurse Nellie to kill her wife, Elizabeth. After Elizabeth died from arsenic poisoning, her sister was accused of murder, while Nellie was charged with stealing jewelry. Through investigation and courtroom defense, Mason cleared the names of both women and found the real culprit.
The Cold Hand tells the story of a beautiful woman, Nancy, who hires Mason to collect the cash she won from a horse race lottery. When Mason receives the money, a man named Fremont claims it belongs to him and brings the police. Later, his body is found shot to death in Nancy’s shower, making Nancy the prime suspect. Due to Nancy’s constant lies, her lawyer Mason is initially helpless but eventually seizes an opportunity in court, turning the tide and winning the case.