Customer Reviews

The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart (Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is certainly not the best book in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, but it is still entertaining in the way I expect from Block. Bernie is back with his wisecracking and his lockpicking, this time with a convoluted plot involving Humphrey Bogart movies and an attempted country called Anatruria. But it's all really unimportant, and the main clue, the word "caphob," turns out to be the key to the solution but in a really obscure way.

It's really too complicated for its own good, and Block has definitely done better, but I would read another Burglar book for the reason anyone reads a series novel, for the main character and the regular supporting cast: Carolyn, the lesbian dog groomer; and Ray, the ubiquitous policeman. Oh, yes, and Raffles, hard-working, toilet-using feline about town.

The Bogart references are fun, too, especially for a film fan.

Bernie Rhodenbarr, burglar extraordinaire is recruited by the friend of an old acquaintance to break into an apartment to steal some documents. Unfortunately, he is interrupted during the attempt and the documents disappear. When murdered bodies begin showing up along with mysterious visitors, both threatening and friendly, Bernie finds himself drawn into a mystery whose origins come from an unknown European country.

While it had its amusing moments, I thought the plot became very convoluted and was bogged down by a bewildering number of characters. I was also a little disappointed with the explanation for the murders and for the interest in the object that Bernie was meant to steal. All in all, it felt a bit anti-climactic.

Humorous references are made to Sue Graftons Kinsey Milhone series throughout the book with Block making up names for a new book that had supposedly just been released. I is for Claudius was my favourite title.

Set against the backdrop of Bernie's nightly attendance at a Bogart film festival, THE BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART is unusually moody and not quite up to par. This time out, Bernie tangles with international intrigue and high romance, just like his on-screen hero, Bogie; and while the mix is funny and sporadically engrossing, neither the comedy nor the mystery reach this exceptional series' normal high standards. Block is a master plotter -- so how could he have his characters puzzle over the meaning of the dying message "CAPHOB" without once connecting it with the character (conspicuously and implausibly) named "Captain Hoberman"? That the connection turns out to be a red herring makes it all the worse -- Block squanders a chance to lead readers merrily astray and frustrates them in the process. Much of the plot also feels like a reprise from earlier episodes: Bernie gets locked in a closet as in THE BURGLAR IN THE CLOSET, he repeatedly manages to enter an impregnable apartment building as in THE BURGLAR WHO PAINTED LIKE MONDRIAN, and so on. And, for opposite reasons, both knowledgable Bogart affionados and people who care nothing about Bogart are likely to feel the author spends a bit too much space on plot synopses of Bogart films. Make no mistake -- there is also plenty to enjoy here. But there is more to enjoy in any of the other books in the series. If you've read all the rest and are hungry for more, you shouldn't miss this one; but by all means start with one of the better ones (such as the two mentioned above).

Lawrence Block is one of our most talented mystery authors. In the Bernie Rhodenbarr series he explores how an ordinary, but intelligent, "honest" person might go about pursuing a life of crime as a fastidious and talented burglar who isn't proud of what he does, doesn't like to hang out with criminals, and really gets a big thrill out of breaking and entering . . . and removing valuables. As you can see, there's a sitcom set-up to provide lots of humor. But the humor works well in part because Mr. Block is able to put the reader in the Bernie's shoes while he breaks, enters and steals . . . and evades the long arm of the law. To balance the "honest" burglar is an array of "dishonest" and equally easy-money loving cops. As a result, you're in a funny moral never-never land while your stomach tightens and your arm muscles twitch as tension builds. To make matters even more topsy-turvy, Bernie at some point in every story turns into an investigator who must figure out "who-dun-it" for some crime that he personally didn't do. It's almost like one of those "mystery at home" games where the victim comes back as the police investigator, playing two roles. Very nice!

So much for explaining the concept of the series. The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart is the seventh book in the series. I strongly suggest that you begin the series by reading Burglars Can't Be Choosers and follow it up with The Burglar in the Closet, The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza, The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling, The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian and The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams. Each story in the series adds information and characters in a way that will reduce your pleasure of the others if read out of order. Although, I originally read them out of order and liked them well enough. I'm rereading them now in order, and like it much better this way. The Burglar in the Library comes next in the series.

The series, always comical and satirical, takes a new turn in The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart. The spoof expands to the detective/thriller genre in general. I found this change to be a welcome and charming one. Anyone who is a Bogart fan will appreciate the many references to Bogart movies and famous lines in them.

My fascination with Bogart began when I was a freshman in college, and a local theater offered a Bogart festival every semester . . . just when students were supposed to be catching up on their reading and getting ready for final exams. For eight semesters, I spent many happy hours seeing the same Bogart movies . . . over and over again. As Bernie spends three weeks at the movies in this book, I felt like I was back in college again watching him.

Hugo Candlemas comes to Bernie's Barnegat Books and mentions that they have a friend in common, Abel Crowe, a fence who appeared in The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza. They arrange to meet later at Hugo's apartment, where Bernie agrees to lift a portfolio from a desk in another apartment for a minimum of $5,000. The actual caper reprises with slight variations some of the highlights of earlier novels in the series like The Burglar in the Closet and The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian. The story is set against a backdrop of Bernie falling in love with the beautiful and mysterious Ilona, whom he meets every night to watch two Bogart films, share a tub of popcorn, hold hands and then part in separate cabs. The Ilona thread of the story builds off of Casablanca. After Bernie fails to get secure the portfolio, mysterious strangers begin appearing, making offers for the item. This part of the story builds from some of the base of The Maltese Falcon. Watch for Wilmer in a close reference. Throughout, Bernie finds himself drawn to living the role of the classic Bogart hero, uncaring on the surface . . . but with a heart of gold and the mind of an idealist.

You are not supposed to take this mystery and story too seriously, but it does have a nice "dying clue" element that will intrigue many hard core mystery buffs.

The theme of this book focuses on what is valuable and what is not. Mr. Block comes down soundly on the side of friends, loyalty and love over mere physical possessions. It's his best critique yet of our obsessions with material goods and so-called wealth. After you enjoy this wonderful book, ask yourself where you could have a richer life by putting people ahead of possessions.

Donald Mitchell
Co-author of The 2,000 Percent Solution, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage

Lawrence Block is one of the finest mystery writers, bar none. In particular the Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries are among the best in the genre. Block stumbles a bit in this installment, but still produces an entertaining story.

In attempting to pay homage to Bogart and throw some romance into Bernie's life, the plot becomes strained under the weight of extraneous plotlines and characters. Relationships, characters and plotlines seem contrived in places, lacking Block's usually laser-sharp writing and story development. The resolution of the mystery is also a bit unsatsifying and feels forced.

With that said, it's still an entertaining read. Bernie is as charming as ever and the dialogue is as crisp and realistic as you will find in any novel. While not the best book in the series, it's still a fun ride.

LAWRENCE BLOCK'S "THE BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART" HAS GREAT ROMANCE, BIG MYSTERY, GREAT CHARACTERS, A GREAT HOMAGE TO THE THING THAT IS BOGART, AND OF COURSE, THE GREAT BERNIE RHODENBARR. A MUST!

Bernie may be too generous for his own good in Lawrence Block's seventh Burglar Who..." series. There are many more characters in this fast paced novel, "The Burglar who Thought He Was Bogart." Bernie is over obsessed in attending a Bogart film festival. Night after night he goes to the movies. It is here he first meets Ilona who is a principal player in this novel. Lawrence Block must be a Bogart fan as well. This is evident with the dialog, which is reminiscent of Bogart films such as "Casablanca," New characters are crisp, colorful and convincing. Max Fiddler; a New York can driver appears to pick Bernie up on more than one occasion. (I wonder what the odds are of this happening in NY?) I hope Fiddler returns in a future book. Old characters from pervious novels are mentioned. Carolyn Kaiser, his best friend who runs the Poodle Parlor, a dog grooming place and Ray Kirschmann the best cop money can buy also play important roles as they have in the past. Once again Bernie the burglar turns sleuth to solve the murders. After all what would a " Burglar Who" book be without a murder or two. I am looking forward to the eighth book, "The Burglar in the Library." When I do the review will appear here along with the other Bernie Rhodenbarr books.

Meet Bernie Rhodenbarr, burglar extra-ordinary. This isn't your
ordinary burglar, however. He is a man who steals only the best:
jewelry, coin collections, works of art and-if it's lying around
in large enough bills-money. But don't worry; he won't bother
most of us. He steals only from the rich, for, "the poor, God
love `em, have nothing worth taking."

But burglary is only a sideline for Bernie; he also owns a
bookstore, and in there he meets the most interesting people.
Thus one morning he sells a book to Hugh Candlemas, who then asks
him to enter an expensive East Side apartment (after hours, of
course), and "borrow" a stock portfolio, which the two of them
would then split.

Normally Bernie doesn't like partners, but he agrees. But then
events take a rather sinister turn. While he is casing the joint,
he is interrupted by the owner and his girlfriend and is forced
to hide in a closet. When they leave, the portfolio is gone, too.
And when he tries to call Hugh to tell him what had happened, a
stranger answers the phone!

Bernie might just chalk it all off as a bad day, but a couple of
weeks later he is approached by detective Ray Kirshmann. It seems
that Mr. Candlemas has turned up dead-and that the police have
found an empty briefcase in the apartment with his prints!

Bernie's troubles are just beginning, though. He soon realizes
that he is merely a pawn in an international game, and the stakes
are much greater than the money he had thought to gain. In fact,
if he's not careful, his life may be part of the game.

But Lawrence Block's The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart is
more than an entertaining mystery. You'll also enjoy the
fascinating characters that popular the novel. In addition to
Bernie himself, you'll meet Max Fiddler, the taxi driver he seems
to encounter with amazing frequency. You'll enjoy knowing Ilona,
the mysterious woman who suddenly shares Bernie's enhancement
with Humphry Bogart, only to disappear one night when he waits
for her at the movies. And, of course, there's Carolyn, the woman
he can confide in, certain that their friendship will never get
too complicated.

This book, along with others in the series, is a quick,
entertaining read.

"The Burglar Who Thought He was Bogart" is the seventh Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery by Lawrence Block. In this novel, Bernie is hired to steal a portfolio from an apartment in a high rise building. He finds it, but before he can leave with it, he is interrupted by 2 lovers who finally leave. When Bernie goes back to get the portfolio it is gone. There are 2 murders including the man who hired Bernie to steal the portfolio. Bernie also meets an attractive Eastern European woman Ilona who shares his passion for Humphrey Bogart movies and they attend several of the movies in which Bogie acted. As always the character of Bernie Rhodenbarr is endearing, and the reader learns quite a bit about the movies of Bogart, but for me the plot was too convoluted and hard to follow. This novel is not nearly as good as the earlier 'Burglar' novels. Only hard core fans of this series will enjoy this one and I would not recommend anyone beginning the series with this one. Start with "The Burglar in the Closet" and "Burglars Can't Be Choosers". They are excellent and very entertaining.

This is one of the best of Lawrence Block's gentleman burglar series. A delightful read