A. A. Fair

  • 22

    Catalog books

  • 51

    Works

  • 1940 to 2000

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

A. A. Fair is the byline used for a series of tightly plotted courtroom mysteries featuring Perry Mason. The listed titles lean into procedural maneuvers, clever alibis and sharp cross-examinations, with each novella- to novel-length entry centering on a single puzzling case resolved through forensic detail and legal sleight of hand.

Across these Case of... books, familiar motifs recur: buried clues, misplaced timepieces, reluctant heirs and stage-managed romances. The stories favor brisk pacing and puzzle-driven setups, rewarding readers who enjoy methodical unraveling of motive and opportunity rather than melodrama or expansive backstory.

Best Place To Start

Case of the Careless Cupid

Ballantine Books • 1995 • quick commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Perry Mason tie-ins • Puzzle-driven legal mysteries • Compact mid-century crime tales

Genres and themes: Legal drama • Whodunit puzzles • Fast-paced plotting

Who this author is best for: Good for readers who like concise, courtroom-centered mysteries with clear plotting and quick resolution.

Start with any Perry Mason–labeled title or pick a short case for a single-sitting read.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Case of the Careless Cupid

    Ballantine Books • 1995 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1995 • 180 pages.

  2. The Case of the Horrified Heirs (Perry Mason Mystery)

    Ballantine Books • 1995 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1995 • 192 pages.

  3. case of the howling dog

    Thorndike Pr • 1999 • standard commitment

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  4. The Case of the Buried Clock

    Thorndike Pr • 1998 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1998 • 312 pages.

  5. The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll (G K Hall Nightingale Series Edition)

    Thorndike Pr • 1989 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1989 • 304 pages.

  6. The Case of the Postponed Murder

    Ballantine Books • 1995 • commitment varies by edition

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1995.

  7. The Case of the Drowning Duck (A Perry Mason Mystery)

    Ballantine Books • 1993 • commitment varies by edition

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1993.

  8. The Case of the Queenly Contesant (A Perry Mason Mystery)

    Ballantine Books • 1993 • commitment varies by edition

    You enjoy Perry Mason’s courtroom reveals and defense strategies | You appreciate 20th-century legal mysteries set aroun…

  9. Case of the Curious Bride

    Ballantine Books • 2000 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 185 pages.

  10. The Case of the Glamorous Ghost (Perry Mason Mystery)

    Ballantine Books • 2000 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 240 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • Case of the Careless Cupid is the easier short commitment, while The Case of the Horrified Heirs (Perry Mason Mystery) asks for more reading time up front.
  • case of the howling dog is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from Case of the Careless Cupid.

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