Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Burglars Can't Be Choosers (Onyx Mystery) by Lawrence Block ISBN: 0-451-18073-9 Publisher: Onyx Books Pub. Date: December, 1995 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (10 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A Good Start To An Intriguing Series
Comment: This is an intriguing concept that I've only just stumbled across: A protagonist of a mystery book who's a professional burglar. Bernie Rhodenbarr is hard at work one night knocking over a house in which, he's assured, he'll find a leather-bound box. Problem 1, the box isn't there. Problem 2, the police catch him in the act. Problem 3, there's a dead body in the house, which is found by the police. Was he set up or was his luck just really bad on this job? In order to prove his innocence Bernie has to find out who committed the murder while staying ahead of the law.
This is a great idea for a different slant on mystery protagonists. It's not every story that you find yourself on the side of the burglar, so I found this book very refreshing indeed. Bernie commits crimes as a living does essentially a reprehensible job, but you can't help but like the guy. And as an investigator he's not too bad either. This is a very good mystery that has certainly prompted me to read other books in the series.
Rating: 4
Summary: A cute little mystery novel
Comment: This is the first of the Bernie Rhodenbarr books (and where on earth did Block get the name Rhodenbarr from?). Bernie is a professional burglar who seems to get into more trouble than a cat at a dog show, if this series is to be believed. But if this book is any indication, the series is well worth your time.
Yes, the characters (except for Bernie) are pretty much from the list of typical "B-movie" roles, some of the clues are so obvious you could just cry, and the solution to the murder is really straight out of left field - but surprisingly, it doesn't really matter. Despite all these flaws I actually had a good time with this book, and I will get the next book in the series for my shelves the next time I go on a book-buying binge.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Satirical Look at Cops and Robbers
Comment: Lawrence Block is one of our most talented mystery authors. In the Bernie Rhodenbarr series he explores out 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 arranges to evade 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. Burglars Can't Be Choosers is the first book in the series. I strongly suggest that you begin the series by reading this one. 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.
As Stephen King likes to point out, a great way to start a book is to put a character in an unusual situation and then let things happen from there. Burglars Can't Be Choosers certainly follows that route in a successful manner with what reads and feels like a very realistic burglary experience.
The characterizations, plot development, and dialogue are wonderful in the book. The only flaw from my perspective relates to the solution to the mystery. I thought it wasn't nearly interesting enough while it was being finally unraveled. As a result, the book is at its best in the beginning and middle, and weakens towards the end. Otherwise, I would have awarded five stars.
It would be a mistake to leave even a mystery "page turner" without thinking through the moral implications of the book. How many times do "honest" people self-justify what they do because it's easy money and they can pull it off? Certainly, the current rash of corporate fraud seems to suggest that it's pretty common. Maybe part of the appeal of this book and the series is that Mr. Block is exposing our own foibles to ourselves a little as we walk in Bernie's shoes.
Do what's right, not what's irresistible.
Donald Mitchell
Co-author of The 2,000 Percent Solution, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage
 |
Title: The Burglar in the Closet by Lawrence Block ISBN: 0451180747 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: February, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery (Burglar Series) by Lawrence Block ISBN: 0451194888 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: December, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: The Burglar in the Library: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block ISBN: 0451407830 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: June, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block ISBN: 0451180755 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: November, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: The Burglar in the Rye: A Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery by Lawrence Block ISBN: 0451198476 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: May, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
