Rating: 
Summary: Charming mystery with great L.A. feel
Review: Biographer Cece Caruso is stuck in her planned biography of Erle Stanley Gardner--the creator of Perry Mason. When she comes across a misfiled letter a prison inmate sent to Gardner, she thinks this might be a key to unlocking a part of his personality. But when she meets the convicted murderer, she wonders if Gardner made a mistake--because she can't believe that Joe Albacco really is guilty of the crime he's spent most of his life in jail for. On the urgings of the pison priest, Cece sets of to discover the truth--and finds herself pursued by a mysterious black SUV and confronting murder far more recent than the one that took place half a century ago. Cece flitters back and forth between the Los Angeles of today and the southern California of the early twentieth century when oil discoveries made some people billions, when Erle Stanley Gardner was writing his thrillers, and when Hollywood set the stage for fashion. Cece frequently wears vintage costumes, fitting herself more into the world of the past than that of the present. But in this case, the past is striking back with a vengence because someone still holds onto a secret--one that just may be worth one more murder. Author Susan Kandel creates a sympathetic and motivated heroine in Cece Caruso. While she's not investingating long-ago murders, she's delaying her writing by trying to save her daughter's wedding, trying to decide whether to pursue an interest in the glamorous Burnett or the sexy but practical Detective Gambino, or shopping for first edition Perry Mason or a Coco Channel outfit. Kandel brings in plenty of parallels to the Perry Mason style of investigation (including occasional disregard for the law in the hunt for the truth) and does it all with a sexy female-empowered attitude. There's a lot to like in this cute short mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Funny Original Mystery
Review: I highly recommend this book. The main character CeCe Caruso is a funny orginal character. Loved the way the author incorporated her love of vintage clothes, fashion, Hollywood, and the great California settings into the quintessential California novel. Looking forward to another by the same author.
Rating: 
Summary: Witty, Fun and Suspenseful
Review: Mystery buff Cece Caruso is busy digging around through research for her biography of the legendary Erle Stanley Gardner, creator of Perry Mason when she finds herself in the middle of her own mystery to solve. Running from creepy men that chase her, interviewing murderers and trying to salvage her daughter's collapsing marriage is more than Cece bargained for.
While doing research for her book, Cece comes across a letter written by Joseph Albaco who was accused and found guilty of murdering his wife. Looking over all of the details of the trial, Cece is not convinced that Joseph is guilty. An interview with Joseph and a brief chat with the prison chaplain intensify her belief that he may have been wrongly accused. Cece embarks on an adventurous journey of finding a killer, breaking into crime scenes, discovering dead bodies and attempting to finish her book all the while helping her daughter try to salvage her marriage. Can she keep up with all of these tasks AND manage to not get herself killed?
Rating:
Summary: preposterous but great
Review: The publisher must not have advertised this book AT ALL -- I found it purely by accident -- but it is a wonderful first mystery in the "screwball" mode. In fact, I read a great many of these, and this is one of the best -- entertaining without being too strained. As other reviewers have noted, the plot involves writer Cece Caruso, writing a biography of Erle Stanley Gardner and suffering writer's block. Reading old correspondence leads her to a convicted murderer who asked for Gardner's help decades ago and who is still in jail. Cece decides to solve the crime. Following this plot obviously involves considerable suspension of disbelief, but the story moves along at a good clip with entertaining episodes and all the right ingredients -- an old mystery, a locked box, wacky best friend, and so forth. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: off beat but totally delightful amateur sleuth
Review: Thirty nine year-old Cece Caruso makes a decent living writing biographies about mystery authors but her latest subject Erle Stanley Gardner is giving her a bit of trouble. She has all of the research done and much of the book is written but she doesn't have a sense of knowing the man. While trying to get over her writer's block, she comes across a letter written in 1958 by Joseph Albacco, Jr. from the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi to Mr. Gardner. Joe was found guilty of murdering his wife but he swears he didn't do it and Mr. Gardner once got the convict's grandfather cleared of an assault. Curious Cece visits Joe in jail to hear his story and ends up believing him. The prison chaplain hints that if Joe doesn't get paroled in a week, there's a chance he will commit suicide. Cece investigates Joe's case and discovers the prisoner's wife was blackmailing a lot of people they all have a strong motive to kill then and now. I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON is an off beat but totally delightful amateur sleuth novel. The heroine is a total original who wears vintage clothing, risks her own life for a man she doesn't know, and does her best not to interfere in her daughter's marital woes. Susan Kandel has a great writing style and a voice that will have readers wanting to read more mysteries by this talented storyteller. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: off beat but totally delightful amateur sleuth
Review: Thirty nine year-old Cece Caruso makes a decent living writing biographies about mystery authors but her latest subject Erle Stanley Gardner is giving her a bit of trouble. She has all of the research done and much of the book is written but she doesn't have a sense of knowing the man. While trying to get over her writer's block, she comes across a letter written in 1958 by Joseph Albacco, Jr. from the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi to Mr. Gardner. Joe was found guilty of murdering his wife but he swears he didn't do it and Mr. Gardner once got the convict's grandfather cleared of an assault. Curious Cece visits Joe in jail to hear his story and ends up believing him. The prison chaplain hints that if Joe doesn't get paroled in a week, there's a chance he will commit suicide. Cece investigates Joe's case and discovers the prisoner's wife was blackmailing a lot of people they all have a strong motive to kill then and now. I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON is an off beat but totally delightful amateur sleuth novel. The heroine is a total original who wears vintage clothing, risks her own life for a man she doesn't know, and does her best not to interfere in her daughter's marital woes. Susan Kandel has a great writing style and a voice that will have readers wanting to read more mysteries by this talented storyteller. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: The ghost of Perry Mason channeled through a modern writer
Review: This book deserves considerably more attention than it's received. The author needs to get going with some publicity! Her book is a natural for PR hooks.
Cece Caruso, writing about her hero Erle Stanley Gardner, stumbles across a case unsolved by the Court of Last Resort. A man has been accused of murder and it doesn't take look for Cece -- and we the readers -- to realize he's innocent. He's got the oldest alibi in the world and the oldest reason to keep it quiet.
Author Susan Kandel lovingly recreates contemporary as well as old Southern California. The heroine herself is a period piece, dressing in vintage clothing and balancing family obligations, crime-solving and deadlines.
Kandel sometimes slows down the action a little too much as she describes characters and sets scenes. I found myself skipping over some paragraphs. I wanted to say, "Let's get on with it," but I didn't want to put the book down and I genuinely cared how the ending would turn out. Along the way it was fun to read about Erle Stanley Gardner, and I might go back and read a few of his books.
Kandel, through her heroine, encourages us to think of Gardner's themes, such as the role of women in Gardner's books. Perry Mason attracted beautiful female clients. He had a magnificent super-secretary Della Street, who sometimes played a role in crime-solving herself. And I absolutely adored the economy-size Bertha Cool, created in an era when thin was the only way to be. In future volumes, I hope Kandel gives us more of this kind of background.
This book definitely deserves to be higher-ranking on amazon and I hope the publishers take heed! This is an author who could move to best-seller status, given the opportunity.
Rating:
Summary: A marvelous, stylish tale.
Review: This book had all the elements I look for in a light read. The main character has a style all her own (even though most of her vintage clothing is borrowed), the story is implausible but good, and the author has done some fascinating research to bring alive the ghost of Earle Stanley Gardner, author of the original "Perry Mason" series of books.
Ms. Kandel weaves the crazy story of a convicted murderer whose innocence she is forced (by guilt via the prison Priest) to prove around the details of Gardner's life and the well-described surroundings of West Hollywood and Northern California. A true sign of success...the book makes you want to visit the places described within...and also to pick up some old Perry Mason novels to find out just what was up between the famous detective and his loyal secretary, Della Street.
A superb first novel.
Rating:
Summary: The Case of The Wonderful Mystery
Review: This book is wonderful! I found in really hard to put down once I started reading it. Really different with a fresh new approach
and extremely well written. This is a book Erle Stanley Gardner would have liked. If you are a Gardner mystery fan, or a Perry Mason fan, this book is for you! Buy this book! Terrific work and a great new character in Cece Caruso! One thing for sure that is not a mystery: we will be hearing much more from Susan Kandel and Cece Caruso in the future. John Anthony Miller
phantom@phantoms.com Ventura, CA
"Birthplace of Perry Mason"
Rating:
Summary: a four and a half star treat...
Review: What a treat!
Quirky, amusing, refreshing, imaginative, I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON mirrors debut author Susan Kandel's lead character, biographer Cece Caruso.
I normally don't care for first person narrative, but Cece is the perfect vehicle for spinning this engaging romp through California's colorful past and present. Under Ms. Kandel's skillful pen, Cece deftly maneuvers readers through a maze of off-beat characters and adventures-or misadventures as is often the case with this character.
While researching a biography of Erle Stanley Gardner, Cece stumbles onto a past murder mystery and into a present day murder. These two murders may or may not be connected. Investigating the murders, Cece uncovers all sorts of unsavory secrets while juggling personal problems on the home front and rekindling a romance with police detective, Peter Gambino.
With a thing for vintage clothes and Perry Mason, Cece is an interesting blend of whimsy and brains. Ms. Kandel did a great job with Cece's character. The heart and soul of this story, even Cece's ramblings, are entertaining.
It's no mystery I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON is the first in a series of Cece Caruso mysteries. I can't wait to read more Cece escapades. I can't wait to learn more of Gambino.
If you like mysteries with a dash of romance, I highly recommend Cece's first adventure.
Debbie Jett, reviewer
romancereaderatheart.com
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