The Burglar in the Closet

Rating:
Summary: Not His Best
Review: This book really rates about 2 1/2 stars. The book was enjoyable to read and the character is likeable, however I thought you could see the ending coming for way too long. Lawrence Block is too good an author for the generally weak story. I read the Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams and thought that it was better. I have read all three of his short story collections and think those are well worth the purchase, so give him a shot but if you aren't an avid fan, take a pass on this one.

Rating:
Summary: Another fun to read Burglar Who...book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Another fun to read Burglar Who...book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Meet Bernie Rhodenbarr
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: How do you go about hiring a burglar?
Review: When Bernie's dentist, Dr. Sheldrake, asks him to burgle his ex-wife apartment, what a guy to do? Supposedly, Crystal has a stash of jewels that her husband wants back. Unfortunately, while Bernie is searching the apartment, Crystal comes home early. Bernie ends up getting locked in the closet and once he manages to get out, finds Crystal dead on the floor with a dental instrument stuck in her chest. Now Bernie must find out what happened to the jewels while trying to avoid being accused of murder himself when his dentist, Dr. Sheldrake, points the finger at him to take suspcision away from himself. An amusing read that reqires some thought since there are several other key players in the mix.

Rating:
Summary: How do you go about hiring a burglar?
Review: When Bernie's dentist, Dr. Sheldrake, asks him to burgle his ex-wife apartment, what a guy to do? Supposedly, Crystal has a stash of jewels that her husband wants back. Unfortunately, while Bernie is searching the apartment, Crystal comes home early. Bernie ends up getting locked in the closet and once he manages to get out, finds Crystal dead on the floor with a dental instrument stuck in her chest. Now Bernie must find out what happened to the jewels while trying to avoid being accused of murder himself when his dentist, Dr. Sheldrake, points the finger at him to take suspcision away from himself. An amusing read that reqires some thought since there are several other key players in the mix.

Rating:
Summary: A bit dissapointed
Review: While I do love Lawrence Block and his Bernie Rhodenbarr series, I found this piece to be not one of his best works. The plot was a bit jumpy, and his other books are on the bit more realistic side.