Burglars Can't Be Choosers

Rating:
Summary: A Lot Of Fun!
Review: I read this in two afternoons. Bernie's a great character, and there are some very funny lines.

If you're looking for an entertaining book to read on a plane, or at the beach, you've found it.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Start To An Intriguing Series
Review: 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:
Summary: A cute little mystery novel
Review: 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.