8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another fun to read Burglar Who...book, April 28, 1998
This is the second of eight novels in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series by author Lawrence Block who has written many other novels. I was first introduced to Bernie when I picked up a copy of "The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams," in a discount pile of books on the way down south on I-95. I have also read and reviewed "Burglars Can't Be Choosers," which introduces us to Bernie a burglar who lets himself into wherever he wants to go with his trusty set of burglar tools. Bernie gets himself into trouble, again. This time while burglarizing an apartment he is locked into a closet. He has already lifted the jewels he came for. His victim is Crystal Sheldrake the ex-wife of Bernie's dentist who puts him up to the crime. While locked in the closet Crystal is murdered by another intruder. The weapon just happens to be a dentist's scalpel. Once again this full-time cat burglar must turn part-time detective to save his own skin. "The Burglar in the Closet," is fun as are the other "The Burglar Who..." books I have read.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Block is the absolute master of the genre!, August 24, 1999
By A Customer
Lawrence Block is the mystery writer for the thinking person. His Bernie books are witty, humorous, well-written, and, most importantly, never take the reader for granted. These books are intelligent and are completely satisfying. This book, the second in the series, is a wonderful romp. I can't recommend this book enough!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Meet Bernie Rhodenbarr, October 10, 2004
This was the one that started it all - this series is outstanding.
Lawrence Block must have needed an outlet for his vast knowledge of the whole detective fiction genre. He has used this character, a New York burglar, as the means to roam over the whole territory of mystery fiction, from the "murder in a teacup" school of Agatha Chrstie, to hard-boiled detectives noir, through the "To Catch a Thief" cat-burglar dimension.
Bernie, for his part, is quite unassuming. He's a guy who is just trying to make a living. In fact, in a way he would tell you he's cursed with a compulsion to earn his living by breaking into other people's living spaces and stealing their stuff. It is the act itself that excites him, unfortunately.
If he ever took therapy, like his soulmate John Keller, goodness knows what would come out of it. What sort of analytic theory explains the thrill of a man deftly, gently nudging, poking, and twisting picks in a lock until, with the slightest movement, suddenly the lock yields to his gentle but insistent touch?
Beats the hell out of me.
Bernie's just a regular guy, and he gets sidetracked from his work by once in a while by homicides right in front of him, by his love/hate relationship with a parasitic and corrupt NYPD officer, and but his social obligations to his gay best friend. Their relationship alone sparkles and is well worth the price of admission.
I want to thank my sister for introducing me to Bernie, and for being patient with me while I adopted him slowly.
The richness of this writing is what puts Lawrence Block at the top of the game today. You'll enjoy this - guaranteed.
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