A republication of a long out-of-print mystery featuring sometime burglar and knock-about sleuth Bernie Rhodenbarr finds Bernie at the scene of the robbery and murder of his dentist's wife. Read by Lawrence Block.
The Burglar in the Closet (Bernie Rhodenbarr Mysteries)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Fast, Funny, Terrific" - Ed McBain "Wonderfully detailed and inspiring writing" - The London Guardian "An incorrigibly adorable thief" - New York Times "Excellent N.Y. background and unusual characters make Block a detective writer to savour" - London Daily Mirror "A homage to the golden age of murder mysteries" - Donna Leon, The Sunday Times"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Lawrence Block is one of the most widely recognized names in the mystery genre. He has been named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America and is a four-time winner of the prestigious Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as a recipient of prizes in France, Germany, and Japan. He received the Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers' Association—only the third American to be given this award. He is a prolific author, having written more than fifty books and numerous short stories, and is a devoted New Yorker and an enthusiastic global traveler.
--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
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More About the Author
Lawrence Block (b. 1938) is the recipient of a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and an internationally renowned bestselling author. His prolific career spans over one hundred books, including four bestselling series as well as dozens of short stories, articles, and books on writing. He has won four Edgar and Shamus Awards, two Falcon Awards from the Maltese Falcon Society of Japan, the Nero and Philip Marlowe Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers Association of the United Kingdom. In France, he has been awarded the title Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice received the Societe 813 trophy.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Block attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Leaving school before graduation, he moved to New York City, a locale that features prominently in most of his works. His earliest published writing appeared in the 1950s, frequently under pseudonyms, and many of these novels are now considered classics of the pulp fiction genre. During his early writing years, Block also worked in the mailroom of a publishing house and reviewed the submission slush pile for a literary agency. He has cited the latter experience as a valuable lesson for a beginning writer.
Block's first short story, "You Can't Lose," was published in 1957 in Manhunt, the first of dozens of short stories and articles that he would publish over the years in publications including American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and the New York Times. His short fiction has been featured and reprinted in over eleven collections including Enough Rope (2002), which is comprised of eighty-four of his short stories.
In 1966, Block introduced the insomniac protagonist Evan Tanner in the novel The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep. Block's diverse heroes also include the urbane and witty bookseller--and thief-on-the-side--Bernie Rhodenbarr; the gritty recovering alcoholic and private investigator Matthew Scudder; and Chip Harrison, the comical assistant to a private investigator with a Nero Wolfe fixation who appears in No Score, Chip Harrison Scores Again, Make Out with Murder, and The Topless Tulip Caper. Block has also written several short stories and novels featuring Keller, a professional hit man. Block's work is praised for his richly imagined and varied characters and frequent use of humor.
A father of three daughters, Block lives in New York City with his second wife, Lynne. When he isn't touring or attending mystery conventions, he and Lynne are frequent travelers, as members of the Travelers' Century Club for nearly a decade now, and have visited about 150 countries.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Block attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Leaving school before graduation, he moved to New York City, a locale that features prominently in most of his works. His earliest published writing appeared in the 1950s, frequently under pseudonyms, and many of these novels are now considered classics of the pulp fiction genre. During his early writing years, Block also worked in the mailroom of a publishing house and reviewed the submission slush pile for a literary agency. He has cited the latter experience as a valuable lesson for a beginning writer.
Block's first short story, "You Can't Lose," was published in 1957 in Manhunt, the first of dozens of short stories and articles that he would publish over the years in publications including American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and the New York Times. His short fiction has been featured and reprinted in over eleven collections including Enough Rope (2002), which is comprised of eighty-four of his short stories.
In 1966, Block introduced the insomniac protagonist Evan Tanner in the novel The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep. Block's diverse heroes also include the urbane and witty bookseller--and thief-on-the-side--Bernie Rhodenbarr; the gritty recovering alcoholic and private investigator Matthew Scudder; and Chip Harrison, the comical assistant to a private investigator with a Nero Wolfe fixation who appears in No Score, Chip Harrison Scores Again, Make Out with Murder, and The Topless Tulip Caper. Block has also written several short stories and novels featuring Keller, a professional hit man. Block's work is praised for his richly imagined and varied characters and frequent use of humor.
A father of three daughters, Block lives in New York City with his second wife, Lynne. When he isn't touring or attending mystery conventions, he and Lynne are frequent travelers, as members of the Travelers' Century Club for nearly a decade now, and have visited about 150 countries.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another fun to read Burglar Who...book,
This review is from: The Burglar in the Closet: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery (Paperback)
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Block is the absolute master of the genre!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Burglar in the Closet: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery (Paperback)
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!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Meet Bernie Rhodenbarr,
By
This review is from: The Burglar in the Closet: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery (Paperback)
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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