The Case of the Dangerous Dowager by Erle Stanley Gardner

“Perry Mason studied the white-haired woman with that interest which new clients always aroused. She returned the lawyer’s gaze with bright gray eyes in which a hard glitter gradually softened to a twinkle.

‘No,’ she said, ‘I haven’t killed anyone—not yet, I haven’t. But don’t think I’m a peaceful old lady who sits by the fire and knits, because I’m not. I’m a hardbitten old hellion.’”

©1937
Pocket Book edition published March, 1944
14th printing — July, 1953
Pocketbook #252

Traps by Friederich Duerrenmat

“THERE ARE CRIMES AND CRIMES … crimes of violence, crimes of treachery and intrigue, crimes of omission so cunningly calculated that they pass unperceived. Who is not guilty of one of them?”

©1956
First Ballantine Edition December, 1962
Second Printing — May 1965

Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman

“Harry Kemelman is best known for his short stories, particularly the popular Nicky Welt stories in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Mr. Kemelman lives in a Boston suburb, and, as he puts it, some of his best friends are rabbis. Following the instant success for the present novel, he was amused to learn that his publishers have received orders for FRIDAY, THE RABBIT SLEPT LATE; FREDDY, THE RABBI SLEPT LATE; AND FREDDY, THE RABBIT, SLEPT LATE. So please remember when you order extra copies of this delightful book for your friends, the title is FRIDAY THE RABBI SLEPT LATE.”

©1964
A Fawcett Crest Book T1381

Count Backwards to Zero by Brett Halliday

“NEVER TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. In blunt, brutal terms, Mike Shayne told Anne Blagden that he wouldn’t help her. He had just come off a bone-bruising case, and he was going to take a relaxing shipboard vacation, come hell or high water.

Shayne left Anne at the bar, pleased with himself for turning down all her offers. But late that night when Mike returned to his cabin, she was waiting for him. In his bunk. And naked, which was clearly the way nature had designed her to be.

Mike looked down at her and knew that this was a girl who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. And he had to admit, she certainly knew the right way to begin…”

(HAHHAHHAAAA)

©1971
First printing — February, 1971
Dell 1507

Mum’s the Word for Murder by Brett Halliday/Asa Baker

“I was completely washed up. Mentally bankrupt. Bereft of ideas. For two days the same sheet of white paper had stared at me from my typewriter. … The rest of the sheet of paper was damningly blank. And on my desk lay a telegram from my publisher plaintively asking for the script of my next bang-bang western novel.”

©1938
New Dell Edition
First Printing — July, 1964
Dell 5918

Pages 8 & 9 (via jlemmers)

Getting To Know Your New Frigidaire Upright Food Freezer

Published in 1954