Rating: 
Summary: A Resoundingly Well-Written Novel
Review: There was a point last year where people who knew me would cross the street when they saw me coming because they were afraid I would start talking about SMALL TOWN by Lawrence Block yet again. I accordingly viewed Block's follow-up, THE BURGLAR ON THE PROWL, with at least some mild trepidation. How was he going to follow SMALL TOWN? How could he? Actually, I wasn't all too worried about the latter issue. Block has been writing, and writing well, for decades now, with no appreciable hint of a slowdown. It is a tribute to his literary prolificacy and a sad comment upon our general literacy to note that Block has by himself written more novels, total, than most people own, regardless of who wrote them. So does THE BURGLAR ON THE PROWL on the prowl match, or even perhaps surpass, SMALL TOWN? No. Is it, on its own terms, a resoundingly well-written novel, worth losing a night's sleep over? Yes, most resoundingly, yes.THE BURGLAR ON THE PROWL marks the return of Bernie Rhodenbarr. Rhodenbarr is the owner, proprietor, and sole employee of a used bookstore in Manhattan --- as Bernie would put it, a whole lot smaller than The Strand. That's his day job. He is, on occasion, a burglar by night. He is a good bookstore proprietor, and a master burglar. The voice of THE BURGLAR ON THE PROWL is Rhodenbarr's, and while the story is not lighthearted, it has a light touch. One gets the feeling that everything will turn out okay; you're just not sure how. THE BURGLAR ON THE PROWL explores some of the themes that Block explored in SMALL TOWN, the primary one being that New York City, or at least the Manhattan portion, is a small town, with the degrees of separation between individuals being very few if not nonexistent. It begins with Rhodenbarr's friend Marty Gilmartin asking Rhodenbarr to perform a burglary not for lucre, but for malice. Crandall Mapes has aroused Gilmartin's ire, and Gilmartin wants the cad taken down a peg or two. Rhodenbarr agrees, checks the place out, and begins making arrangements to do the job the following Friday. In the meantime, Rhodenbarr has the jones and can't resist pulling off another job in the interim. Before that night is over, he has been present during a rape --- an attack which he is powerless to prevent --- and is accused of being involved in another burglary and a double murder in the same neighborhood. Rhodenbarr has a hard time establishing an alibi. He can't say that he didn't commit the burglary/murder because he was busy committing another burglary elsewhere, and besides, his image has been captured on a number of surveillance cameras in the area (note to Bernie: there is no right to privacy in a public place). Now Rhodenbarr has attracted the attention of the police; he has also attracted the attention of the real burglars, who think that he has somehow acquired what they were after. In fact, Rhodenbarr has multiple problems. He needs to dodge the real burglars/murderers and the police; he feels very motivated to do something, anything, to the rapist who committed the dastardly act right in front of him; he'd like to help the victim out; and, oh yeah, there's that burglary for Gilmartin that he has to commit on Friday. Now...would you believe me if I told you that it all ties in together, and that the common denominator is not Bernie Rhodenbarr? And that it ties together plausibly? I wouldn't believe it either, but it does. And all in one setting. Block has been at this for awhile, and he goes after the readers who say to themselves, "I'm going to read just one more chapter and then stop." No, Block's chapters are like literary M & Ms. You start with one, and then have another, then another, and you're not going to stop until the bowl is empty and the book is done. Is THE BURGLAR ON THE PROWL perfect? No. Block made the ending just a little more complicated than it really needed to be --- I really didn't need three hypotheses when just the actual solution would have been fine --- but the first 314 pages, and the last four, of this 320 page book were so superbly written that it seems like a pissant's quibble to even bring it up. So I won't. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Rating:
Summary: Pardon my Latvian
Review: This was my first `Burglar' book - and I hope to chase up and read all the others. The Burglar is Bernie Rhodenbarr, second hand book dealer by day, burglar at night. He doesn't need to be a burglar - he just seems to do it for the adrenaline rush, and because he takes pride in a job well done. Even though he is participating in a criminal activity, he mostly steals from bad guys, and if he steals from someone good by accident, then he breaks in just to put it back. Oh, and he tidies up after himself as well. In this book, Bernie is asked by an old friend to steal cash from a doctor, because the doctor has stolen Marty's mistress. Before the `big' night, Bernie goes out on the prowl and breaks into the apartment of a woman who returns while Bernie is present. While he is hiding under her bed, a crime is committed, and so he returns everything he has stolen before he leaves as he feels she has suffered enough. Unfortunately, Bernie is spotted on a surveillance camera, and is accused of committing a totally different crime in the area. The long arm of coincidence is a phrase used by Bernie throughout the book as Latvia, date rape drugs, mobsters and cops are drawn into a wacky, improbable and utterly enjoyable romp. As he deals with three separate criminal activities and incredibly draws them together near the end.
Bernie is a very witty, literate and eloquent. He is ably supported in his adventure by Caroline the dog groomer, Ray the donut munching cop. Block gives us the solution but not before we learn a little European history, a little New York architecture and perfect glimpse into New York life. Block has a wonderful command of the English language, full of humour and very, very clever with what he does with words.
Rating:
Summary: Good To See Bernie Again
Review: Yes, it is good to see Bernie again, as well as his unofficial side-kick Carolyn, on another misadventure. As usual, the writing is superb, and this book adds to the ongoing and fascinating character studies of Bernie and Carolyn, which I enjoy more and more with each installment of the series.
Plotwise, this book does strain suspension of disbelief somewhat. One coincidence is usually acceptable in any plot, but in order for everything to come out even in the end of this book, we have to have our imaginations struggle with the two or three coincidences that occur. If you're a Bernie fan, this is merely a minor inconvenience, however. No more inconvenient than, say, one or two extra locks on a door Bernie wants to get through.
As a big fan of John Sandford's: Prey series, I got quite a chuckle from Mr. Block's invented addition to the series referred to in this book.
There is one small error in the book. I've already e-mail Mr. Block about it, and I received a really nice reply which, among other things, informed me that I was the 27th person to report the error! If you're wondering what it is: on page 100, Bernie paraphrases the title of the song: When I'm Not Near The Girl I Love, I Love The Girl I'm Near, and remarks that it is from My Fair Lady. It is not, of course. The song is from Finian's Rainbow. A small point, but some of us just love to pick nits.
Buy the book! Enjoy it! And if this is your first Burglar book, why are you sitting here reading this? For heaven's (and your own) sake, run out and get the rest of them now!
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