The Good Thief's Guide to Venice

Good Thief's Guide #4

by Chris Ewan, Simon Vance (Narrator)

After a particularly bad streak of luck in Vegas, Charlie has retreated to Venice, having vowed to give up a life of crime to write crime fiction full time. But inspiration has yet to strike. And to make matters worse, Charlie's agent Victoria shows up at his door just as his prized first edition of The Maltese Falcon flies out the window with a femme fatale burglar. Blackmailed into committing a dastardly crime in order to get his book back, Charlie is catapulted into yet another adventure, this one even more explosive than the last.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Italy, Thriller, Humor

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Writing as C.M. Ewan, my latest thriller is A WINDOW BREAKS.

I'm also the author of the popular GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... series of mysteries about globetrotting crime writer and thief-for-hire, Charlie Howard. The series has been praised as "crime writing at its best" (Sydney Morning Herald) and a "delightful series" (The Seattle Times) and comprises THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO AMSTERDAM (winner of the Long Barn Books First Novel Award), THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS, THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO VEGAS, THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO VENICE and THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO BERLIN.

To download your FREE copy of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO MURDER, simply visit my website www.chrisewan.com and enter your email details.

I love to hear from readers and always respond to every email I receive.
You can contact me via:
my website www.chrisewan.com
on Twitter @chrisewan
or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chrisewanauthor

My critically acclaimed standalone thrillers include the major bestseller SAFE HOUSE (which has sold more than 500,000 copies in the UK and was shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award), DEAD LINE, DARK TIDES (an Observer "Thriller of the Month") and LONG TIME LOST (a "masterful thriller" The Independent). I'm also the author of the Kindle Single story SCARLETT POINT which, like many of my thrillers, is set on the Isle of Man.

I was born in Taunton in 1976 and graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Canadian Literature, then later trained as a lawyer. After an eleven-year spell living on the Isle of Man, I now live in Somerset, England with my wife and two children, where I write full time.

Reviews

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll confess to having pulled Chris Ewan's The Good Thief's Guide to Venice off the new fiction shelf because I liked the looks of its cover. Having finished it, and thoroughly enjoyed it, I'll now definitely locate and read its three predecessors. While not quite the equivalent of Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr, Ewan's Charlie Howard is a mystery/suspense writer whose protagonist engages in enough legerdemain to suggest his author is not unfamiliar with the fine art of burglary. The interesting wrinkle, of course, is that as part of his writing ritual Charlie sets up house in a new city for each novel he undertakes. Partway through a check-in visit from his editor, Charlie is nine-months "clean" (i.e., without a robbery to his credit) when his lucky talisman of an autographed first edition of The Maltese Falcon is stolen. He is promised its safe return if he will simply engage in a robbery. The story then spins off into a delightful series of escapades.

What this reader found most enjoyable was the sort of "play within the play within the play" in which Charlie breaks plane and speaks directly to his readers. This is done in a cleverly readerly fashion in which both the plot (i.e., the action) and the very words in the paragraphs assume the form of the critique Charlie the writer is providing his readers. It's done three times (yes, I counted) to very good effect.

As an avid reader, I'm always intrigued when characters in books are readers, too. While that wasn't the case in this novel, an interesting variant on this theme was the fashion in which Ewan answered the question of how anyone came to know that Charlie even possessed a first-edition--let alone a signed copy. Well-played, Mr. Ewan, as this would have truly been a vexing question had it gone unanswered.

The pacing of this book was great! It was evenly paced with plausible additions and fun double-crosses. (I lost count, perhaps there was even a triple-cross in there?) I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and am pleased to be able to say that as the somewhat pedantic spelling of oesophagus on p. 3 was a bit off-putting. In retrospect, one sees that the novel follows the very same writerly advice Charlie gives himself--as well as the bits his editor, Victoria, bestows from time to time. All told, this was a cleverly complete story and one that is delightfully tongue in cheek. I'm more of a hard-boiled detective fan, but I can well imagine fans of cozies enjoying this one as well.

[Deanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve tried others in this series, and this will be my last. The promising ideas present as action-centric books that lack the depth of plot or character that might hold my interest better. I want to be but am not the right reader for these.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this and as usual Simon Vance's narration was of an excellent standard. I enjoy listening to him and his accents and m/f voices are always spot on. There is no need to read the books in order and there is always a bit of a recap in the book as to what has happened up to date but without the author spoiling previous books for you if you haven't read them. This book opens with Charlie and Victoria in Venice and Charlie has gone straight. Then a twist of fate and a change is on the cards ..... I have read all the books in the series and for me, I'm getting a bit fed up of Victoria. The story works better for me when Victoria is absent. Charlie's situations and internal thoughts are always funnier when he is interacting with others. However, I'm still loving the series and will be sad when I'm completely up to date and waiting for Mr Ewan to write the next installment!

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine that Agatha Christie and Lawrence Block (or maybe Donald Westlake)had a love child who wrote books about a thief turned crime fiction writer who writes each of his books in a different city and manages to get into a fix in each. In Venice, a curvy blonde cat burglar abseils into his apartment and makes off with his talismanic signed first edition of The Maltese Falcon. She blackmails him to commit crimes for her if he wants to get it back. Silly but harmless.

[Karine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid entry in an excellent mystery series that will especially appeal to book lovers. The writer/thief protagonist is debonair a la 007 and comments on how to write an exciting novel.

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining read in this series.

[Wing Kee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steady same old same old.

World: The world building is solid, it's one of Ewan's better strengths. The city of Venice is alive and a lot of it is described and told through Charlie's eyes making it real and not info dumped. The books have been good with the globe hopping.

Story: Fairly standard caper fare and fairly standard for this series. If you liked what happened before you'll like this one. I like the personal turn thus book took and also Victoria being much more present made the story a little bit more that the sum of it's parts. The ending was kinda a surprise which is good for capers.

Characters: Charlie is a wry and dry character that is a cool steady hand for guiding readers through his world. His struggle this arc was good and his awkward relationship stuff with Vicky was nicely done. Victoria real came into her own and her package really made me smile, she's great. The new characters this time around was solid and fit the setting of the story. Good stuff.

Fairly standard and safe for the series, which was exactly what I was looking for.

Onward to the next book!

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fluffy beach read. Kind of lame. I didn't mind that I got sand in it and water on it.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charlie is a retired thief turned crime novelist who is forced by a mysterious blonde to return to his nefarious ways, only this time he will be breaking into a Venetian mansion to return an item, rather than steal one. Complications ensue.

Like one of the earlier reviewers, I picked up this book primarily because of the cover. I'm not sure that's the best way to pick books. Someone else called it unputdownable. Well, whilst I was reading it, I had no problem putting it down. I put it down many, many times. I just wish I'd put the book down in the shop instead of walking to the till.

Where to start? For a crime / caper story set in Venice it was surprisingly dull. I recall one particularly tedious scene where the villainess of the piece is trying to convince Charlie to cooperate by holding a book over a balcony, while he in turn hold a suitcase over a different balcony. I swear this tedious scene went on for 20 or 30 chapters. Maybe more!

But there real problem I had with the book was the apparent stupidity of the narrator. He's supposed to be some kind of criminal genius and yet he keeps making the most obvious mistakes. This is plot driven by the his failure to ask the most obvious questions or to do the most obvious things. At one point he is talked out of following through on the first remotely sensible idea he has had so far in favour of an absurd kidnapping lark.

Oh and don't get me started on the plot holes! Plot holes so big you could drive a truck through them.

The whole thing is just so frustrating, because Ewan can obviously write, he just needs someone to help him with plotting. Perhaps he'd be better off concentrating on the romantic comedy side of the equation and leaving the thriller part out all together.

[Ronna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie is a good thief but a bad experience in Vegas has sent him to Venice to write his detective stories. He's promised his agent, Victoria, to stay on the straight and narrow. Then he gets a visit by a beautiful burglar who has taken his first edition MALTESE FALCON. To get his book back, she sends him on a strange mission. Then all the troubles really begin.

The book is just plain fun to read. The writing is excellent, with the best descriptions of people, places and things that I've read in a while. The mystery intrigues with humor galore. This is the first one I've read in this series, though it is the fourth book. Will go back and read them all now. Listened to this in Audible, which added a lot to my enjoyment.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series I've read, bought mostly for its setting. I'm not sure I'll go on to read more as I'd best describe it as mediocre. I was waiting for a surprise to keep me interested, but any twists seemed to be so implausible that I stopped caring. The characters were underdeveloped (possibly expected to read others in the series first, so fair enough).
It's alright for a book in the car but not exactly exciting.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a diversionary murder mystery, with a protagonist who is a glib thief, as well as an author. he switches between teh two professions throughout the book, and that certainly makes this a different sort of mystery as a result. I liked it, my husband liked it more--it is a quick read, to be sure. I would certainly read another.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, fun read. I particularly enjoy how the story mirrors the book the lead character's is writing.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can get past the ridiculous plot and characters, this book is quite entertaining.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember why I picked up the first book in this series, but I enjoyed it, and every subsequent book in the series as well. I like that each book is set in a different city, and that several of the supporting characters appear in each book. Charlie, an author, moves to the city in which his next book is set, so the descriptions of the people and places are parsed out as he encounters them, not as one big info dump, making it feel more natural and comfortable.

Some reviewers have compared Charlie to Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr. I haven't read many of the Rhodenbarr books, but I prefer Charlie, despite his faults and mishaps. The mishaps play a large part in my enjoyment of the books, and it's fun watching Charlie get out of the scrapes and sticky situations that pop up.

The story starts with a relatively simple job presented to Charlie by a local thief, but of course, with Charlie involved, nothing stays simple for long. At each step, more questions and puzzles were presented, and I gave up trying to figure out what was going on. It was more fun just to read and enjoy, and I'm glad I did - I never would have worked it out on my own.

There is only one book left in this series, and while I look forward to Charlie's next adventure, I won't be in a hurry to read it, as I don't want the series to end.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One slinky cat burglar
A suspiciously heavy briefcase
No end of trouble for Charlie Howard

I liked the humour, style & the main character from the off. Charlie is an ex-thief turned crime writer & finds himself the victim of a burglary when his Venetian apartment is broken into by a beautiful Italian named Graziella.
Graziella has stolen Charlie's copy of "The Maltese Falcon" & is holding it to ransom. If he wants it back he has to break into a safe & "return" a briefcase.

The amusing characters kept me entertained as Charlie, along with his literary agent Victoria, try to track down Graziella & recover his beloved book. Initially, Victoria struck me as a rather staid character but the introduction of her father left me thinking that there is more to her than first meets the eye.
Sad to say, I did find my interest waning once or twice but luckily never for long & the dark corridors & alleyways of Venice were well portrayed (although I watched "Don't Look Now" a few days ago so that might have helped evoke the atmosphere too!)

The ending leads me to think that Charlie might meet up with Graziella again or that might just be wishful thinking on my part....anyway I'll be more than happy to read more in this series :o)

[Emma Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wastes no time to get started. Charlie’s prized possession is robbed on page one, and the action only builds up from there. Blackmail, stalkers, mysterious government officials – this book has a fast pace, a winding plot, and is a definite improvement to the previous book.

Charlie himself faces a new conflict to. He’s trying to become more focused on writing his book, to very little success. His dual nature starts to get the best of him. Not only does this make the character more engaging to read, but also demonstrates the effects of the previous books. There’s the internal conflict, of Charlie trying to stop his thievery, and the external conflict of being strong armed into stealing. Both make for a fantastically gripping story.

Ironically, I was not absorbed into the setting so much this time. Perhaps it’s because I have personally visited Venice before. While the setting is definitely well done, and serves as the backdrop to the mystery, I feel like there could have been more sensory description.

But either way, Venice is a solid entry in The Good Thief’s Guide series.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable cozy mystery. Main character is wry Brit whose "world vision" reminded me of George Saunders in All About Eve. Nothing surprises him. Even bombs are treated as minor inconveniences, partly because all human life is slightly (or more than slightly) ridiculous.

Plot: Thief, who is also an author, has his signed copy of Maltese Falcon stolen. To get it back, he needs to perform a break-in, putting a briefcase into a safe. Naturally all goes wrong, ending in a casino knock-out blackjack tournament with a table that is not on the up and up.
Characters: Sardonic author; beautiful agent who is visiting him and becomes a sort of love interest; Italian thief--another curvy gorgeous female--who masterminds the complicated theft-to-produce-another theft; Italian count who is the target of the murder plot and is generally thought to be deserving of murder.
Setting: Venice, and Ewan uses the geography to good purpose.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome, Charlie Howard, a suspense writer, and discrete thief. Charlie had retreated to Venice to work on his next novel. In the middle of the night, Charlie woke to a noise in his apartment. Investigating, Charlie discovered a blond-haired burglar making her way out of the window. Checking his apartment, Charlie found his first edition The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett missing. In its place, a red card advertising a local book-binding shop, obviously an invitation, and then a phone call from the thief. At a clandestine meeting, the thief coerced Charlie to do something for her in return for his book. It’s unbelievable how ignorant Charlie was at times. His interaction with the thief, Graziella got him into more trouble than he imagined. This episode was better than books one or two, but still less than book three in my opinion.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to give this 3 stars because I'm quite sure I'd have liked this more if I'd read it. Don't get me wrong, the audiobook narrator is very good, but for me it was far too slow for this type of humour. The slowness made me annoyed with certain things. I'm going to try another in this series and read it all on paper instead of just skipping the last CD.

Ideally I'd have read this one after the three previous ones, but it wouldn't have made the book better. However, this is the sort of series where reading it in order is preferred. Charlie, a retired gentleman thief, is busy hosting his editor while trying to get his prized (stolen) first edition book back. There is a lot of mayhem in this book; as to whether or not there is any murder, that's best left to find out for yourself since this isn't a murder mystery per se. I found the smoking annoying.

[Ramya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably my fault for beginning at the 4th book in the series, but this is only an ok book. Plot is decent, the setting is interesting and it's fairly readable - but not good, if you know what I mean. Some of the descriptions and content had me rolling my eyes, especially in the way female characters were described. The characters (male and female) just about straddle the line between acceptable and insipid, and the writer really needs to stop describing every lip bite and pout. Too much pouting took place in this book. Funny in parts, with a plot adequately involving enough for you to finish the book. 3 stars is probably generous but 2 is too stingy. Maybe the earlier books in the series are better.

[Book Jester · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to be back in the crazy, implausible world of Charlie Howard again. After capers in Amsterdam, Paris and Las Vegas in the first three books in the series, the fourth adventure is set around the canals and casinos of Venice. I could totally understand someone not liking these books because they are utterly ridiculous but that is perhaps why I enjoy them so much - pure escapism which makes me feel glad that I am not in the sort of situations Charlie gets himself into. Something else I like about this series is that it always feels as if the locations the author sets his books in are really well researched - despite Charlie's mad capers it was nice to spend the last few days in Venice.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy this series and am a little sad because the next one (which I have already read a while ago) looks like the last. Book #4 is what I expected from this author and series: an entertaining read; an interesting setting; an admirable (if I can say that) anti-hero protagonist; a trusty and intelligent sidekick, who also happens to be a kickass woman; a good supporting cast; a plot that has enough twists and snags to be interesting but not so much as to bog down the story; and again, an entertaining read.

I liked book 4 better than 3, and am planning to re-read 5 just so I can feel 'finished' if, indeed the series is also finished.

[Jay Tate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fits poorly with the rest of the series, which I have enjoyed. Too much unnecessary detail, too little theft. Charlie is generally bright, but he plays the fool for almost the entire book. A convenient twist involving Victoria is entirely too convenient. And the foil is a little too perfect - hot, European but bilingual, an expert thief and an expert card cheat.

I blazed through this because I don't think I read more than 50% of the back half. It was too silly.

But, I'm already into book 5, and Ewan is back on his game!

[Richard Gullickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light hearted and almost comedic mystery story about a lapsed reformed burglar who writes mystery novels to take legal advantage of his experience. By setting the novel in Venice, one of everyone’s favorite mystical cities, he charms the reader with familiar crime locations in his far-fetched plot of an evil Italian count and a scheme to defraud the local casino. Jane and I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed it all the more because of its delivery in a posh British accent.

[Sandra Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

We listened to the Good Thief’s Guide to Paris during our supper, and it was a fun book to listen to, so now we are on to Venice. I love the language, and the smooth transition from writer of mystery novels to thief. His use of language is great, and though the stories are unbelievable we don’t seem to care. I have to say after this book I have no desire to visit Venice. His version is cold, wet, and expensive.!!!

[Trey Layes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read these books in order after the first book (The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam) was on sale on audible. This series sucked me in from the start, I find the story compelling and find burglary, the background subject these books are built off of being what draws me in. I plan on going directly into the next book; The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin now.

[Alida · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a local book sale for $1 just because it took place in Venice. Several years ago, we were so blessed to spend several days there and it was AMAZING. I have a map of Venice and had fun figuring out where Charlie roamed throughout the city. I did enjoy the book but subtracted a 1/2 star because of the occasional misuse of Christ's name.

[Geoff Horry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie is becoming a comforting character to read about. Another of his scrapes where your hoping he doesn’t get beaten up or worse and just hope he can get away with the crimes he commits. Roll on Berlin