Rating: 
Summary: Two Crooked Policemen
Review: Bernie Rhodenbarr is a burglar and a sleuth. He is almost 35 years old, but opening locks and stealing things is the only trade he knows. The book has a light-hearted tone, mainly because Bernie doesn't take life too seriously. Amidst a cast of clownish characters, two crooked policemen manage to stand out.
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 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 Satirical Look at Cops and Robbers
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Bernie Rhodenbarr makes a memorable debut
Review: The first of Block's "Burglar" books and in many ways the freshest, BURGLARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS set the pattern for the rest of the series: a charming, basically honest burglar accidentally stumbles upon a murder and has to solve the mystery in order to clear his own name. Bernie is not yet a fully formed character here (readers whose first exposure to Bernie came from the more recent books will miss Bernie's bookstore and his best friend, Carolyn), but the plot is irresistable (the solution is truly memorable) and the comedy is first-rate. A zany, silly, frenetic virtuoso performance, and one of the few comic mysteries that stands up to repeated re-reading.
Rating: 
Summary: ...but the author can choose any ending he wants
Review: This book is admirable from the standpoint that Mr Block invented a new mystery genre - the lighthearted murder mystery solved by the friendly cat burglar. I probably would have enjoyed it more had it been my first "burglar" book, but I was spoiled by the excellent "Ted Williams" edition. I found this book annoying in how the author leads us down two endings - one for the police, and then the real story as explained by our burglar. I was tired of... this is what happened -- no this is what happened -- no, I was right in the first place -- no, I was right the second time, etc.
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.
Rating:
Summary: A Long line of great books
Review: This one is a page turner. Block has some of the best dialogue in the business. Very funny with unforgettable characters. If you are wondering if you should buy this book. Buy It!!!
Rating:
Summary: Burglar-Sleuth Introduced in new Series from Block
Review: While traveling down I-95 to Florida I found a more recent Lawrence Block book, "The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams." I found Block's style of mystery-humor very interesting and couldn't wait until I could seek and find the other books in the series. "Burglars Can't Be Choosers," the first in the series of seven other books featuring Bernie Rhodenbarr introduces us to a burglar who is caught in act by Ray Kirchmann, one of the city's finest in blue. Bernie is a loveable cat burglar who has to turn detective to save his own skin after stumbling over a murder. If you read a more recent "Burglar who..." you soon realize Bernie's friend Carolyn is introduced in a later work. His second occupation, that of a Greenwich Village used bookstore owner doesn't take place until later. I generally advocate reading books in a series in sequence to see how reoccurring characters develop. This is certainly true of this series. "Burglars Can't Be Choosers," is a good start for a delightful series.
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