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Audio Drama Review: Perry Mason and the Case of the Howling Dog

In the Case of the Howling Dog, a man approaches Perry Mason with two seemingly unrelated requests. First, he has questions about the requirements for drafting a will including whether the will would be valid if he were executed for murder. Then he complains about his neighbor's howling dog which is keeping him up at night.

Mason takes action on the howling dog, contacting the district attorney's office. The neighbor insists there's no problem and that Perry's client is mentally unstable. Then Mason's client disappears with the neighbor's wife and later on, the neighbor himself is found murdered. Mason has to unravel the sordid affairs of the dead man, find the client he's supposed to represent, and unmask the real killer.

The Case of the Howling Dog is the best installment yet of the Colonial Radio Theatre's Perry Mason series. The mystery is incredibly complex and engaging with an amazing amount of twists and turns. At 78 minutes, this is  a fast paced thriller. Also, this is only the second of the four to feature actual courtroom scenes (The other being "The Case of the Sulky Girl.") CRT did a much better job with the courtroom drama than in The Case of the Sulky Girl as the court scenes in The Case of the Howling Dog were more vibrant and engaging. Fans of legal dramas will appreciate Mason's brilliant legal manuvering in the program's climax.

Throughout the episode, as has been the usual case in these shows, Mason walks a thin line ethically. When confronted over this by Paul Drake, he expresses contempt for lawyers who wouldn't skate on thin ice for a client. Certainly, the CRT's Perry Mason series wouldn't be nearly as entertaining if he didn't.'

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars

Note: If you are an Audible Member, the digital download of these programs are only $2.95 each which is a fantastic price for these great productions.

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