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Good Thief's Guide #1
Пътеводител на добрия крадец (за) Амстердам
Чарли Хауърд не е обикновен автор на криминални романи за ловки крадци и дръзки обири. Самият той е изпечен крадец и нито една ключалка или сейф не може да му се опре.
Докато се подвизава в Амстердам, с него се свързва тайнствен непознат, известен само като Американеца. Опитва се да наеме Чарли, като му поръчва кражбата на незначителни на пръв поглед фигурки на маймунки. Те трябва да бъдат откраднати от различни места в една и съща нощ. Чарли първо отказва. После размисля. Едва след като открива Американеца полумъртъв, озовава се в затвора, а накрая е отвлечен и пребит, Чарли осъзнава колко скъпо може да му струва грешката, която е направил. А опасни хора си търсят откраднатите маймунки...
Докато се подвизава в Амстердам, с него се свързва тайнствен непознат, известен само като Американеца. Опитва се да наеме Чарли, като му поръчва кражбата на незначителни на пръв поглед фигурки на маймунки. Те трябва да бъдат откраднати от различни места в една и съща нощ. Чарли първо отказва. После размисля. Едва след като открива Американеца полумъртъв, озовава се в затвора, а накрая е отвлечен и пребит, Чарли осъзнава колко скъпо може да му струва грешката, която е направил. А опасни хора си търсят откраднатите маймунки...
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
84 people are currently reading
1667 people want to read
About the author
Chris Ewan
26 books288 followersWriting 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 605 reviews
July 23, 2017
Μπορεί να μην έμαθα να ληστεύω τράπεζα!
Μπορεί να μην έμαθα ούτε μια κλειδαριά της προκοπής να παραβιάζω!
Αλλά τουλάχιστον το βιβλίο αυτό το βρήκα διασκεδαστικότατο!
Έξυπνη πλοκή,απολαυστικοί διάλογοι, γρήγορη δράση και μια ομάδα απίθανων χαρακτήρων απαρτίζουν το αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα του Chris Ewan, το οποίο διαβάζεται ταχύτατα.
Πραγματικά το απόλαυσα!
Μπορεί να μην έμαθα ούτε μια κλειδαριά της προκοπής να παραβιάζω!
Αλλά τουλάχιστον το βιβλίο αυτό το βρήκα διασκεδαστικότατο!
Έξυπνη πλοκή,απολαυστικοί διάλογοι, γρήγορη δράση και μια ομάδα απίθανων χαρακτήρων απαρτίζουν το αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα του Chris Ewan, το οποίο διαβάζεται ταχύτατα.
Πραγματικά το απόλαυσα!
February 18, 2013
A decent story, with a great setting (I love the Netherlands), all totally obscured by the absolute worst copy editing/proofreading I have ever seen. Weird constructions, flat-out grammatical errors, and the homonyms, oh, the homonyms. St. Martin's should be ashamed.
- First page, fifth sentence: "If I was a lesser writer,..." This should read, "If I were a lesser writer..." (an example of the otherwise rare subjunctive in English). This isn't a typo; it's consistently wrong, throughout the book. My first thought was, "Uh-oh. I sure hope this guy's a better burglar than writer."
- p.14: "...the manuscript that was sat on my writing desk..." Again, this odd construction appears throughout. Nothing sits directly on anything, it's always passive; the monkey was sat on the table, etc. Bizarre, and distracting.
-p.19: Similarly, no one stands properly. "First off was a crumpled photograph of two men stood in front of a muddy river,..." No, it should be "two men standing" in front of the river.
- p.55: "...one with a grizzly secret...." Sadly no, he's not talking about bears; he means grisly. It's used correctly later, strangely enough.
- An old warehouse has "palettes" everywhere, instead of pallets. Another consistent error.
- A pillowcase with bloodstains on it is described as a "right off" (instead of a write-off). While it's mildly amusing to be reminded of a joke from Better Off Dead, it's another distraction. Instead of thinking about the hero's dangerous plight, I'm now thinking of an old John Cusack comedy.
- p. 197: "He'd teemed the jumper with a woollen sports jacket..." Arrrgh! He means teamed, of course.
There are more, but you get the idea. Gadzooks. Honestly, I've seen high-school newspapers with fewer errors.
- First page, fifth sentence: "If I was a lesser writer,..." This should read, "If I were a lesser writer..." (an example of the otherwise rare subjunctive in English). This isn't a typo; it's consistently wrong, throughout the book. My first thought was, "Uh-oh. I sure hope this guy's a better burglar than writer."
- p.14: "...the manuscript that was sat on my writing desk..." Again, this odd construction appears throughout. Nothing sits directly on anything, it's always passive; the monkey was sat on the table, etc. Bizarre, and distracting.
-p.19: Similarly, no one stands properly. "First off was a crumpled photograph of two men stood in front of a muddy river,..." No, it should be "two men standing" in front of the river.
- p.55: "...one with a grizzly secret...." Sadly no, he's not talking about bears; he means grisly. It's used correctly later, strangely enough.
- An old warehouse has "palettes" everywhere, instead of pallets. Another consistent error.
- A pillowcase with bloodstains on it is described as a "right off" (instead of a write-off). While it's mildly amusing to be reminded of a joke from Better Off Dead, it's another distraction. Instead of thinking about the hero's dangerous plight, I'm now thinking of an old John Cusack comedy.
- p. 197: "He'd teemed the jumper with a woollen sports jacket..." Arrrgh! He means teamed, of course.
There are more, but you get the idea. Gadzooks. Honestly, I've seen high-school newspapers with fewer errors.
February 8, 2023
Based on other reviews, I thought this would be better. 5 of 10 stars
February 2, 2017
Ενδιαφέρον, χαλαρό, ιντρικαδόρικο, χιουμοριστικό! Πρωταγωνιστούν: ένας χομπίστας - κλέφτης (a.k.a. κλέβει από χόμπι, εννοείται ότι είναι πολύ προσεκτικός, έξυπνος, μελετημένος και αποτελεσματικός), ένας μεγαλόσωμος και ένας μικρόσωμος με IQ ραδικιού (και οι δυο μαζί), δυο αστυνομικοί (για το θεαθήναι - ή μήπως όχι?), ένας άλλος κλέφτης (εντελώς για το θεαθήναι (μάλλον), μια γοητευτική ξανθιά που δεν είναι σίγουρο ποια ακριβώς είναι, ένας χοντρός δικηγόρος (που δεν είναι σίγουρα δικηγόρος), τρία πιθηκάκια που εξαφανίζονται και εμφανίζονται διαρκώς και πολλά πολλά διαμάντια που τα αφήνουμε να εμφανιστούν στο τέλος για το εφέ (σαν το επιδόρπιο σοκολάτας ένα πράγμα!)
Ποιος θα πρωτοπάρει τα διαμάντια; Πού βρίσκονται κρυμμένα; Ποιος τα δικαιούται περισσότερο και γιατί; Ποιος είναι ποιος και τι σκοπό έχει;
Ποιος θα πρωτοπάρει τα διαμάντια; Πού βρίσκονται κρυμμένα; Ποιος τα δικαιούται περισσότερο και γιατί; Ποιος είναι ποιος και τι σκοπό έχει;
October 6, 2025
Добра кримка, хареса ми!
Чарли е английски писател, довършващ поредния си криминален роман настанен удобно в Амстердам. Но освен писател, той е и професионален крадец и в качеството си на такъв се забърква в местна криминална история.
Моята оценка - 3,5*.
P.S. Естествено, от издателство "Бард" не са си направили труда да издадат следващите книги от тази приятна серия.
Чарли е английски писател, довършващ поредния си криминален роман настанен удобно в Амстердам. Но освен писател, той е и професионален крадец и в качеството си на такъв се забърква в местна криминална история.
Моята оценка - 3,5*.
P.S. Естествено, от издателство "Бард" не са си направили труда да издадат следващите книги от тази приятна серия.
November 30, 2017
Whodunits (or howdunits) headlined by criminals present a reader with a whole spectrum of bad behavior to choose from. Do you like gentleman burglars, like Bernie Rhodenbarr? Thugs like Parker? Charming rogues like Jack Foley? Psychopaths like Dexter, Ripley, or Serge Storms? They're all out there, ready to take you for a walk on the dark side.
Charlie Howard, Chris Ewan's burglar-protagonist in this book, is just a degree or two removed from Bernie but not quite as hard a case as, say, Tim Hallinan's Junior Bender. Charlie has the requisite personality quirk, and it's a doozie: he's also a writer of mysteries starring, natch, a gentleman thief. Talk about "write what you know"...
Charlie's in Amsterdam, trying unsuccessfully to work out plot holes in his work-in-progress, when a shadowy American hires him to steal what appear to be worthless monkey figurines from a couple of friends. The American naturally ends up dead, Charlie ends up embroiled in a police investigation, and as he pokes into the deal, he discovers that -- can you believe it? -- nothing is as it seems.
As the narrator as well as the star, Charlie's pretty okay company throughout this shortish (238 pages) story. His voice is more writerly than you might expect for someone of his ilk, but it goes with his day job. He's by turns wry, lyrical and self-deprecating, detail-oriented where it's wanted (you'll always know what kinds of locks are around), reportorial where it's needed. As you might expect of a burglar-protagonist, Charlie gets to go burglaring during his quest to unravel all the knots. This isn't always a given, as I've learned from some books in this genre.
The author uses Amsterdam to good advantage, salting in details that suggest he's spent some time there. There's a lot of dialog; it usually gets us where the author wants us to go, although there's not always enough distinction between the voices to easily keep track of who's saying what. You'll guess the broad outlines of the conspiracy early on, but not the particulars.
So far, so good, right? So, what's with the three stars?
The supporting characters can be thin. After only a few days, I can remember just a couple; the others seem like chess pieces being moved around. The two significant female characters -- the only women who say anything of any note -- are especially weak. Marieke, the pretty blonde who works at the American's favorite bar, has an interesting backstory but no discernible personality; Victoria, Charlie's agent, is 100% plot device, a voice on the phone that Charlie can tell all his sins to so he doesn't have to find an original way to tell them to us.
What else? If you like fair-play mysteries, you won't like this -- you'll never be able to figure out the conspiracy yourself because Charlie hides all the connective tissue from you. The ending is ripped straight from an Agatha Christie sendup, doesn't work from a dramatic or character perspective, and goes on forever. Finally: I don't usually comment on this, but Minotaur's editors did not cover themselves with glory on this book. The copy-editing is, to be kind, deficient, making this book a great counter-argument to all those people who shun indie books because of bad proofreading.
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam has a good setup, a personable protagonist, and a decent story pulled down by what I hope are freshman writing problems. If you can get past that, there are four more episodes in the series. I may give Charlie another whirl sometime down the line when I feel the need to see if the author learned from this experience. In the meantime, I've got other literary criminals waiting to show me a better time.
Charlie Howard, Chris Ewan's burglar-protagonist in this book, is just a degree or two removed from Bernie but not quite as hard a case as, say, Tim Hallinan's Junior Bender. Charlie has the requisite personality quirk, and it's a doozie: he's also a writer of mysteries starring, natch, a gentleman thief. Talk about "write what you know"...
Charlie's in Amsterdam, trying unsuccessfully to work out plot holes in his work-in-progress, when a shadowy American hires him to steal what appear to be worthless monkey figurines from a couple of friends. The American naturally ends up dead, Charlie ends up embroiled in a police investigation, and as he pokes into the deal, he discovers that -- can you believe it? -- nothing is as it seems.
As the narrator as well as the star, Charlie's pretty okay company throughout this shortish (238 pages) story. His voice is more writerly than you might expect for someone of his ilk, but it goes with his day job. He's by turns wry, lyrical and self-deprecating, detail-oriented where it's wanted (you'll always know what kinds of locks are around), reportorial where it's needed. As you might expect of a burglar-protagonist, Charlie gets to go burglaring during his quest to unravel all the knots. This isn't always a given, as I've learned from some books in this genre.
The author uses Amsterdam to good advantage, salting in details that suggest he's spent some time there. There's a lot of dialog; it usually gets us where the author wants us to go, although there's not always enough distinction between the voices to easily keep track of who's saying what. You'll guess the broad outlines of the conspiracy early on, but not the particulars.
So far, so good, right? So, what's with the three stars?
The supporting characters can be thin. After only a few days, I can remember just a couple; the others seem like chess pieces being moved around. The two significant female characters -- the only women who say anything of any note -- are especially weak. Marieke, the pretty blonde who works at the American's favorite bar, has an interesting backstory but no discernible personality; Victoria, Charlie's agent, is 100% plot device, a voice on the phone that Charlie can tell all his sins to so he doesn't have to find an original way to tell them to us.
What else? If you like fair-play mysteries, you won't like this -- you'll never be able to figure out the conspiracy yourself because Charlie hides all the connective tissue from you. The ending is ripped straight from an Agatha Christie sendup, doesn't work from a dramatic or character perspective, and goes on forever. Finally: I don't usually comment on this, but Minotaur's editors did not cover themselves with glory on this book. The copy-editing is, to be kind, deficient, making this book a great counter-argument to all those people who shun indie books because of bad proofreading.
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam has a good setup, a personable protagonist, and a decent story pulled down by what I hope are freshman writing problems. If you can get past that, there are four more episodes in the series. I may give Charlie another whirl sometime down the line when I feel the need to see if the author learned from this experience. In the meantime, I've got other literary criminals waiting to show me a better time.
November 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2011
One of those books that I would have not finished if I had actually been reading it instead of listening to the audio. The premise of a mystery writer who moonlights as a burglar sounded great but the characters were kind of flat and the plot was not all that engaging. The narration by Simon Vance was the highlight of the whole enterprise.
October 16, 2015
Πριν λίγες μέρες κυκλοφόρησε στα ελληνικά από τις εκδόσεις mamaya, όντας μια από τις ευχάριστες εκπλήξεις της χρονιάς, μιας και κάνω σαν τρελός για τέτοιου είδους βιβλία, από συγγραφείς μάλιστα που δεν έχουμε ξαναδεί στα ελληνικά. Έτσι ήταν λογικό να το αγοράσω άμεσα και να το διαβάσω μονορούφι. Το καλό είναι ότι έμεινα ευχαριστημένος και ότι άξιζε η όλη αναμονή.
Λοιπόν, πρόκειται για το πρώτο βιβλίο μιας σειράς, όπου πρωταγωνιστεί ένας Εγγλέζος, ο Τσάρλι Χάουαρντ, που είναι σχετικά καλός συγγραφέας αστυνομικών μυθιστορημάτων και, παράλληλα, ένας καλός και συμπαθητικός διαρρήκτης. Βρίσκεται στο Άμστερνταμ για την συγγραφή ενός βιβλίου, ώσπου ένας Αμερικάνος τον βρίσκει και του ζητάει να κλέψει για λογαριασμό του δυο αγαλματίδια-πιθηκάκια, όμοια με αυτό που έχει. Αρχικά αρνείται, τελικά όμως δέχεται. Το θέμα είναι ότι θα μπλέξει, γιατί ο Αμερικανός βρίσκεται νεκρός λίγες μέρες μετά και ο Τσάρλι είναι ο μοναδικός ύποπτος. Γιατί τόση φασαρία για δυο φαινομενικά άχρηστα αγαλματίδια και ποιος σκότωσε τον Αμερικάνο; Η συνέχεια μυστηριώδης και ενδιαφέρουσα...
Λοιπόν, ο Κρις Γιούαν σίγουρα διάβασε και απόλαυσε τα βιβλία του Λόρενς Μπλοκ με ήρωα τον διαρρήκτη Μπέρνι Ρόντενμπαρ, και θέλησε ο ίδιος να φτιάξει έναν δικό του ήρωα. Έχοντας διαβάσει πέντε βιβλία της σειράς του Μπλοκ, μπορώ να πω ότι συνάντησα πολλές ομοιότητες στον πρωταγωνιστικό χαρακτήρα, το ύφος της γραφής και την εξέλιξη της πλοκής. Φυσικά ο Γιούαν έβαλε και δικά του πράγματα στο μείγμα, και το τελικό αποτέλεσμα είναι άκρως ενδιαφέρον και απολαυστικό. Το βιβλίο διαβάζεται πολύ γρήγορα, εύκολα και ξεκούραστα χάρη στην ανάλαφρη και ευχάριστη γραφή, η πλοκή είναι αρκετά καλοδουλεμένη, με μυστήριο, δράση και ανατροπές, οι χαρακτήρες με όλα τα ωραία κλισέ, και η ατμόσφαιρα ��ξαιρετική.
Σαν λάτρης του είδους έμεινα ιδιαίτερα ευχαριστημένος, μάλιστα δεν κατάλαβα πότε το άρχισα και πότε το τελείωσα. Τόσο με απορρόφησε η ιστορία του βιβλίου, τόσο ευκολοδιάβαστο ήταν. Σίγουρα υπάρχουν κάποιες υπερβολές, κάποιες ευκολίες και από μηχανής Θεοί, ίσως η γραφή να μην είναι για όλα τα γούστα, όμως σαν σύνολο μου φάνηκε άκρως ικανοποιητικό για το είδος του.
Υ.Γ. Η ελληνική έκδοση πολύ ωραία, με όμορφο εξώφυλλο και προσεγμένη μετάφραση. Επίσης εντύπωση μου κάνει που το βιβλίο έχει ολόκληρη ιστοσελίδα για πάρτη του! Ελπίζω να κυκλοφορήσουν και άλλα βιβλία της σειράς από τις ίδιες εκδόσεις.
Λοιπόν, πρόκειται για το πρώτο βιβλίο μιας σειράς, όπου πρωταγωνιστεί ένας Εγγλέζος, ο Τσάρλι Χάουαρντ, που είναι σχετικά καλός συγγραφέας αστυνομικών μυθιστορημάτων και, παράλληλα, ένας καλός και συμπαθητικός διαρρήκτης. Βρίσκεται στο Άμστερνταμ για την συγγραφή ενός βιβλίου, ώσπου ένας Αμερικάνος τον βρίσκει και του ζητάει να κλέψει για λογαριασμό του δυο αγαλματίδια-πιθηκάκια, όμοια με αυτό που έχει. Αρχικά αρνείται, τελικά όμως δέχεται. Το θέμα είναι ότι θα μπλέξει, γιατί ο Αμερικανός βρίσκεται νεκρός λίγες μέρες μετά και ο Τσάρλι είναι ο μοναδικός ύποπτος. Γιατί τόση φασαρία για δυο φαινομενικά άχρηστα αγαλματίδια και ποιος σκότωσε τον Αμερικάνο; Η συνέχεια μυστηριώδης και ενδιαφέρουσα...
Λοιπόν, ο Κρις Γιούαν σίγουρα διάβασε και απόλαυσε τα βιβλία του Λόρενς Μπλοκ με ήρωα τον διαρρήκτη Μπέρνι Ρόντενμπαρ, και θέλησε ο ίδιος να φτιάξει έναν δικό του ήρωα. Έχοντας διαβάσει πέντε βιβλία της σειράς του Μπλοκ, μπορώ να πω ότι συνάντησα πολλές ομοιότητες στον πρωταγωνιστικό χαρακτήρα, το ύφος της γραφής και την εξέλιξη της πλοκής. Φυσικά ο Γιούαν έβαλε και δικά του πράγματα στο μείγμα, και το τελικό αποτέλεσμα είναι άκρως ενδιαφέρον και απολαυστικό. Το βιβλίο διαβάζεται πολύ γρήγορα, εύκολα και ξεκούραστα χάρη στην ανάλαφρη και ευχάριστη γραφή, η πλοκή είναι αρκετά καλοδουλεμένη, με μυστήριο, δράση και ανατροπές, οι χαρακτήρες με όλα τα ωραία κλισέ, και η ατμόσφαιρα ��ξαιρετική.
Σαν λάτρης του είδους έμεινα ιδιαίτερα ευχαριστημένος, μάλιστα δεν κατάλαβα πότε το άρχισα και πότε το τελείωσα. Τόσο με απορρόφησε η ιστορία του βιβλίου, τόσο ευκολοδιάβαστο ήταν. Σίγουρα υπάρχουν κάποιες υπερβολές, κάποιες ευκολίες και από μηχανής Θεοί, ίσως η γραφή να μην είναι για όλα τα γούστα, όμως σαν σύνολο μου φάνηκε άκρως ικανοποιητικό για το είδος του.
Υ.Γ. Η ελληνική έκδοση πολύ ωραία, με όμορφο εξώφυλλο και προσεγμένη μετάφραση. Επίσης εντύπωση μου κάνει που το βιβλίο έχει ολόκληρη ιστοσελίδα για πάρτη του! Ελπίζω να κυκλοφορήσουν και άλλα βιβλία της σειράς από τις ίδιες εκδόσεις.
August 15, 2019
Charlie Howard is a successful mystery author, writing a series that features a professional burglar, Faulks. As a sideline – and I guess you could call it research – he also occasionally accepts a commission to steal certain items. When a stranger offers him an unusually high fee to steal a couple of seemingly worthless monkey figurines, his instincts tell him to decline while his curiosity urges him to comply. Before long he’s embroiled in a major intrigue, and a suspect in a murder.
This was a highly entertaining mystery. I couldn’t help but think of Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, but the comparison is a good one. The pace is quick, the characters interesting, and the charms of Amsterdam (a city I have visited) evident. I didn’t really like the way he revealed the culprit; bringing everyone together and having a long speech to lay out the crime and point out the responsible party (or parties) seems a bit tedious. Still, I was charmed by Charlie and want to read more of this series.
UPDATE / SECOND reading: 12Aug2019
I listened to the audio, capably narrated by Simon Vance. I enjoyed it just as much, but then I'd listen to Simon Vance read his grocery list.
This was a highly entertaining mystery. I couldn’t help but think of Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, but the comparison is a good one. The pace is quick, the characters interesting, and the charms of Amsterdam (a city I have visited) evident. I didn’t really like the way he revealed the culprit; bringing everyone together and having a long speech to lay out the crime and point out the responsible party (or parties) seems a bit tedious. Still, I was charmed by Charlie and want to read more of this series.
UPDATE / SECOND reading: 12Aug2019
I listened to the audio, capably narrated by Simon Vance. I enjoyed it just as much, but then I'd listen to Simon Vance read his grocery list.
Read
July 30, 2018☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️
Η υποθεση τραβηξε το ενδιαφερον μου αμεσως. Ενας συγγραφεας που γραφει για εναν κλεφτη αλλα ειναι κλεφτης και ο ιδιος!!!! Και ξεκινησα να το διαβαζω.
Αχ, ποσο με κουρασε η (όποια) εξελιξη της ιστοριας! Πολυυυυ! Ο βασικος ηρωας ηταν πολυ βαρετος και δεν τον συμπαθησα με τιποτα, αγανακτησα με αυτα τα ερημα τα πιθηκακια που ηταν μπροστα στα ματια του και αναρωτιοταν για την υπαρξη τους! Ελεος!!!! Ειπα άι στο καλο, λιγο πριν φτασω στη μεση του βιβλιου και το παρατησα!! Κι αυτον και τα πιθηκακια του στο Αμστερνταμ!!!!
Χαχαχα! Το καλυτερο το αφησα για το τελος!!! Ημουν τοσο ενθουσιασμενη με την περιληψη στο οπισθοφυλλο που πηρα μαζι με αυτο και το δευτερο βιβλιο του!!!! Στο αλλο ραφι κι αυτο, με τα dnf!!!! Βεβαιως, βεβαιως!!!!
Η υποθεση τραβηξε το ενδιαφερον μου αμεσως. Ενας συγγραφεας που γραφει για εναν κλεφτη αλλα ειναι κλεφτης και ο ιδιος!!!! Και ξεκινησα να το διαβαζω.
Αχ, ποσο με κουρασε η (όποια) εξελιξη της ιστοριας! Πολυυυυ! Ο βασικος ηρωας ηταν πολυ βαρετος και δεν τον συμπαθησα με τιποτα, αγανακτησα με αυτα τα ερημα τα πιθηκακια που ηταν μπροστα στα ματια του και αναρωτιοταν για την υπαρξη τους! Ελεος!!!! Ειπα άι στο καλο, λιγο πριν φτασω στη μεση του βιβλιου και το παρατησα!! Κι αυτον και τα πιθηκακια του στο Αμστερνταμ!!!!
Χαχαχα! Το καλυτερο το αφησα για το τελος!!! Ημουν τοσο ενθουσιασμενη με την περιληψη στο οπισθοφυλλο που πηρα μαζι με αυτο και το δευτερο βιβλιο του!!!! Στο αλλο ραφι κι αυτο, με τα dnf!!!! Βεβαιως, βεβαιως!!!!
May 1, 2010
Arg. This book started relatively well and then went quickly downhill.
I've realized that I have a thing for reading upper-class, Brit detectives-for-pleasure stories as a way of sort of detoxing between heavier reads or a spate of a certain type of book (i.e. 32 YA vampire novels). They are generally straightforward and pleasurably formulaic (I mean that in a good way), while being replete with wit and charm and colloquial phrases that make me giggle. A recent example of a book in this vein that I had success with was Charles Finch's A Beautiful Blue Death. I read that over a few rainy days in Maine and it was perfectly suited for that sort of moment.
I was hoping for the same sort of experience with Chris Ewan's A Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam, particularly because the book's setting is that of my next big vacation. But alas, while this tale of a dashing thief who writes novels about a dashing thief started with the wit and charm and scenery detail that I was really hoping for, it kind of imploded at the end.
(For reference, there will be spoilers.)
I'll start with the positives:
-Ewan's narrator, Charlie Howard, is, as mentioned before, witty and charming. He also is the type of scallywag that you can enjoy without any major qualms. He's a thief who hides or disposes of guns when he finds them in people's houses because he thinks they are dangerous, and practices picking complicated locks for fun. When the book started, I imagined Carey Grant in Charade. Sure he's a thief, but who cares? He's so dashing and bemused!
-There is a lot of talk about specific places in Amsterdam--bars, streets, etc--and that's really what armchair travel is all about, isn't it? Actually getting a sense of that place that the book takes place in. Charlie robs a man who lives on a houseboat, struggles up five flights of precariously steep Dutch apartment building stairs, wanders through Vondelpark, and meanders over canals on his way to brown bars. I'll have to confirm the verisimilitude of all this when I get back from my trip, but at least comparing these descriptions with my travel guides, they seemed pretty accurate.
Where It Went Wrong:
-The whole plot hinges on Super Thief Charlie stealing three plaster monkey figurines (See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil). He spends an inordinate amount of the book trying to figure out why anyone would want to steal these figures, let alone kill for them. Audience: why would anyone possibly want these cheap monkey figures so badly? What's so special about these breakable, plaster figures? Did you guess nothing? Did you guess that there is something inside of these figures within ten pages? Of course you did. So why didn't the Super Thief? (The thing-in-plaster-figure scenario is, I'm told, a classic Sherlock Holmes plot. This only makes it worse. Yes, I need to catch up on my Holmes. But more importantly, in addition to it just being really obvious, anyone who had read that story would know immediately that there was something in those monkeys. So why do we spend half of the book working that out?)
-In a fit of colonial-era exoticism, Charlie wanders into a secret Chinese safe deposit facility. In itself, okay--this could work. Amsterdam does apparently have a Chinatown. But then the woman at the desk is dressed as a geisha, bows in the "oriental style," and is flanked by two "sumos" who could fold Charlie like "origami paper." But all of the writing in the building is in Chinese characters, he says. So apparently, China is mostly Japan, and both are "Oriental" (like carpet or ramen, yes). This is only one scene, I know, but it was awful. This is why you're supposed to have editors. So you don't conflate separate Asian cultures and then use horrible cliched indicators amounting to the entirety of your knowledge about them. The only thing that could have made it more cookie-cutter would be if the geisha had been eating sushi when Charlie came in.
-As the book progresses, Charlie will find things, tell you that they change everything, but not tell you what he's found until an "Ah-Ha!" moment several chapters later. This is obnoxious and serves no other purpose than to make for shocking reveal later on. Except they aren't shocking--they're annoying.
-You know how in Hercule Poirot novels, our favorite intrepid Belgian gets everybody together in the sitting room or the dining car and tells them whodunit? And characters gasp and deny and then are faced with some physical form of irrefutable proof and then crumble immediately? It's fun, right? You know how that passage is usually about five pages--ten pages max? Imagine if that passage were expanded to several chapters. Imagine if part of the reason that passage was so long was because the character/author was "rewriting" the scenario multiple times in a Clue-styled "It Could Have Happened Like This, But Really It Happened Like This" manner. Imagine how annoyed you'd be. Imagine that you'd fall asleep on several different trains trying to finish this awful passage.
Again...arg.
I've realized that I have a thing for reading upper-class, Brit detectives-for-pleasure stories as a way of sort of detoxing between heavier reads or a spate of a certain type of book (i.e. 32 YA vampire novels). They are generally straightforward and pleasurably formulaic (I mean that in a good way), while being replete with wit and charm and colloquial phrases that make me giggle. A recent example of a book in this vein that I had success with was Charles Finch's A Beautiful Blue Death. I read that over a few rainy days in Maine and it was perfectly suited for that sort of moment.
I was hoping for the same sort of experience with Chris Ewan's A Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam, particularly because the book's setting is that of my next big vacation. But alas, while this tale of a dashing thief who writes novels about a dashing thief started with the wit and charm and scenery detail that I was really hoping for, it kind of imploded at the end.
(For reference, there will be spoilers.)
I'll start with the positives:
-Ewan's narrator, Charlie Howard, is, as mentioned before, witty and charming. He also is the type of scallywag that you can enjoy without any major qualms. He's a thief who hides or disposes of guns when he finds them in people's houses because he thinks they are dangerous, and practices picking complicated locks for fun. When the book started, I imagined Carey Grant in Charade. Sure he's a thief, but who cares? He's so dashing and bemused!
-There is a lot of talk about specific places in Amsterdam--bars, streets, etc--and that's really what armchair travel is all about, isn't it? Actually getting a sense of that place that the book takes place in. Charlie robs a man who lives on a houseboat, struggles up five flights of precariously steep Dutch apartment building stairs, wanders through Vondelpark, and meanders over canals on his way to brown bars. I'll have to confirm the verisimilitude of all this when I get back from my trip, but at least comparing these descriptions with my travel guides, they seemed pretty accurate.
Where It Went Wrong:
-The whole plot hinges on Super Thief Charlie stealing three plaster monkey figurines (See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil). He spends an inordinate amount of the book trying to figure out why anyone would want to steal these figures, let alone kill for them. Audience: why would anyone possibly want these cheap monkey figures so badly? What's so special about these breakable, plaster figures? Did you guess nothing? Did you guess that there is something inside of these figures within ten pages? Of course you did. So why didn't the Super Thief? (The thing-in-plaster-figure scenario is, I'm told, a classic Sherlock Holmes plot. This only makes it worse. Yes, I need to catch up on my Holmes. But more importantly, in addition to it just being really obvious, anyone who had read that story would know immediately that there was something in those monkeys. So why do we spend half of the book working that out?)
-In a fit of colonial-era exoticism, Charlie wanders into a secret Chinese safe deposit facility. In itself, okay--this could work. Amsterdam does apparently have a Chinatown. But then the woman at the desk is dressed as a geisha, bows in the "oriental style," and is flanked by two "sumos" who could fold Charlie like "origami paper." But all of the writing in the building is in Chinese characters, he says. So apparently, China is mostly Japan, and both are "Oriental" (like carpet or ramen, yes). This is only one scene, I know, but it was awful. This is why you're supposed to have editors. So you don't conflate separate Asian cultures and then use horrible cliched indicators amounting to the entirety of your knowledge about them. The only thing that could have made it more cookie-cutter would be if the geisha had been eating sushi when Charlie came in.
-As the book progresses, Charlie will find things, tell you that they change everything, but not tell you what he's found until an "Ah-Ha!" moment several chapters later. This is obnoxious and serves no other purpose than to make for shocking reveal later on. Except they aren't shocking--they're annoying.
-You know how in Hercule Poirot novels, our favorite intrepid Belgian gets everybody together in the sitting room or the dining car and tells them whodunit? And characters gasp and deny and then are faced with some physical form of irrefutable proof and then crumble immediately? It's fun, right? You know how that passage is usually about five pages--ten pages max? Imagine if that passage were expanded to several chapters. Imagine if part of the reason that passage was so long was because the character/author was "rewriting" the scenario multiple times in a Clue-styled "It Could Have Happened Like This, But Really It Happened Like This" manner. Imagine how annoyed you'd be. Imagine that you'd fall asleep on several different trains trying to finish this awful passage.
Again...arg.
January 25, 2022
Много интересна история с безброй динамични развръзки и почти неочакван край,разказана от първо лице. Отнемам една звезда от това,което заслужава, защото не усетих Амстердам, липсваше ми втора линия,която да утвърди първата, а развръзките в миналото са доста претупани и дори леко неубедителни, но като цяло- добър криминален роман.
December 25, 2014
As a first novel, I was prepared to give this a chance. It's a crime novel that seems to have spawned a franchise, and I must say that having read this I'm inclined to read the rest of the series. Not in a desperate "log on to Amazon and buy them right now" sort of way, but a "if I happen to be in an airport bookshop and am thinking about what to buy" sort of way.
However, I didn't actually think too much of this, the first instalment. It's a crime novel that never really generated any pace or suspense or tension. Things happen, they are told in a very matter of fact style, and the story rattles along at a fairly healthy pace to the conclusion.
The end itself is a bit of a disappointment and cliched. Too many elements of the crime are 'revealed' at the end, and even then are really only the main character's suspicions rather than anything concrete. There is also a clear moment of serendipity about halfway through when the main character works out why the monkeys are so important which left me feeling a bit cheated ... I equate it to the moment in the first series of '24' when Teri suffers amnesia.
So not great, but I've read worse (or actually half-read worse).
However, I didn't actually think too much of this, the first instalment. It's a crime novel that never really generated any pace or suspense or tension. Things happen, they are told in a very matter of fact style, and the story rattles along at a fairly healthy pace to the conclusion.
The end itself is a bit of a disappointment and cliched. Too many elements of the crime are 'revealed' at the end, and even then are really only the main character's suspicions rather than anything concrete. There is also a clear moment of serendipity about halfway through when the main character works out why the monkeys are so important which left me feeling a bit cheated ... I equate it to the moment in the first series of '24' when Teri suffers amnesia.
So not great, but I've read worse (or actually half-read worse).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2021
I wish there was an option for 2 1/2 stars, but since I had to choose, I went with 2 stars rather than 3. I thought the book ended stronger than it started. I was annoyed by what felt like a superiority complex on the part of the author; especially because I thought the main character was an idiot for not figuring out right off the bat that something was hidden inside the monkeys. (Of course I thought it was the diamonds until I realized that they were still uncut. But still!) The solving of the mystery at the end was pretty good, but I felt like I had to wade through some crap to get there. I would not choose to read any more of this author's books. I only read this one because of the really sad turnout at our church book group. There tend to be only 2 or 3 of us there, so we have been invited to join in with a book group of a friend of a gal in our congregation, and this was the book they chose for tonight's meeting. I'm not sure why this one was nominated as a "reader's choice" at the library. Agatha Christie and Tony Hillerman both do mysteries FAR better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2014
This was a book I meant to read two months ago for my mystery discussion group, but never got around to it until now. "The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam" by Chris Ewan is about a man who not only writes caper novels featuring a career thief; he also happens to be one. Charlie Howard is writing his latest book while on an extended stay in Amsterdam when he’s contacted via his website to meet with an American who knows about his other, less legal profession and offers him 20,000 euros to steal what appear to be worthless monkey figurines in private residences. Though at first he declines, he changes his mind and then wishes he hadn’t, when later the American is beaten to death and Charlie is suspected of the crime. He soon finds himself pursued by an assortment of criminals, police and a former lover of the American for the stolen monkeys. He has to stay one step ahead of the cops and crooks, use his burglar skills to solve the murder, and solve the problem of the plot hole in his latest book.
Naturally, there are similarities to the “Burglar” series by Lawrence Block, which also feature a clever thief who just can't resist breaking into places where he's not invited. You can almost feel another criminal's eyes roll when Charlie insists that he's a writer first and foremost and that thieving is just something he does now and then for extra income. But having heard his story of how, as a teenager, he became addicted to the thrill of letting himself into other people's homes (not unlike Bernie Rhodenbarr), you know Charlie's just kidding himself. I think it's fair to say that Block does it better. Nevertheless, I found it to be a good read, as the characters are well-defined and the book moved at a brisk pace, so I’ll likely check out the next book where Charlie moves on to Paris. My choice for the part of Charlie Howard in a Good Thief movie? Hugh Grant. Charlie was described as having a "posh" accent, after all.
Naturally, there are similarities to the “Burglar” series by Lawrence Block, which also feature a clever thief who just can't resist breaking into places where he's not invited. You can almost feel another criminal's eyes roll when Charlie insists that he's a writer first and foremost and that thieving is just something he does now and then for extra income. But having heard his story of how, as a teenager, he became addicted to the thrill of letting himself into other people's homes (not unlike Bernie Rhodenbarr), you know Charlie's just kidding himself. I think it's fair to say that Block does it better. Nevertheless, I found it to be a good read, as the characters are well-defined and the book moved at a brisk pace, so I’ll likely check out the next book where Charlie moves on to Paris. My choice for the part of Charlie Howard in a Good Thief movie? Hugh Grant. Charlie was described as having a "posh" accent, after all.
February 27, 2016
The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam - Chris Ewan
audio performance by Simon Vance
3 stars
Charlie Howard is a mystery novelist who freelances as a burglar, or maybe he is a thief who writes on the side. His books aren’t selling as well as he would like. He takes a suspicious, ‘too good to be true’ burglary commission to help support his lifestyle. Naturally, his life becomes a bit complicated.
Charlie has a nice sense of humor and this mystery had some satisfying twists and turns. Also, I could be happy listening to Simon Vance read a stock report. I’m sure I’ll go to other cities with Charlie Howard when I need an undemanding book to pass the time.
audio performance by Simon Vance
3 stars
Charlie Howard is a mystery novelist who freelances as a burglar, or maybe he is a thief who writes on the side. His books aren’t selling as well as he would like. He takes a suspicious, ‘too good to be true’ burglary commission to help support his lifestyle. Naturally, his life becomes a bit complicated.
Charlie has a nice sense of humor and this mystery had some satisfying twists and turns. Also, I could be happy listening to Simon Vance read a stock report. I’m sure I’ll go to other cities with Charlie Howard when I need an undemanding book to pass the time.
May 8, 2023
Setting/Worldbuilding: 5/10
Main characters: 4/10
Side characters: 2/10
Dialogue: 4/10
Plot: 7/10
Technique: 5/10
Prose: 5/10
Romance: 4/10
Ending: 3/10
Overall enjoyment: 3/10
Total: 42/100 (2.1)
I don't know what it is about this one. It had all of the ingredients that would have almost assuredly guaranteed a good read for me - a wry, humorous undertone, quirky feels, a murder mystery plot, the meta-feel of a book about a writer writing abook ... but it all fell short somewhere. Nothing clicked and I found that neither the characters nor the plot managed to hold my interest throughout.
Main characters: 4/10
Side characters: 2/10
Dialogue: 4/10
Plot: 7/10
Technique: 5/10
Prose: 5/10
Romance: 4/10
Ending: 3/10
Overall enjoyment: 3/10
Total: 42/100 (2.1)
I don't know what it is about this one. It had all of the ingredients that would have almost assuredly guaranteed a good read for me - a wry, humorous undertone, quirky feels, a murder mystery plot, the meta-feel of a book about a writer writing abook ... but it all fell short somewhere. Nothing clicked and I found that neither the characters nor the plot managed to hold my interest throughout.
September 6, 2019
An excellent mystery - smart and entertaining. Hopefully the rest of the series is just as much fun to read. This is why it pays to "window shop" at the library!
August 8, 2013
Cheeky, clever, & with a semblance of Dashiell Hammett & Raymond Chandler, this mystery novel entertained me through and through. This is the first in a series of "Good Thief" stories which I'd heard of and finally decided to try. Very pleased I did; the book itself is not particularly long, but the story was solid. I particularly liked that what seems simple on the surface is actually a little more complex as you peel back the layers. And, while this has some humorous elements to it, it had a hard-boiled noir feel as well, which I enjoyed.
The characters in the story are stylized to the point of making them very identifiable. Even the police, which I have to say is something I find to be at fault in some detective/mystery-type novels; the cops all seem generic, doing cop things, unless they are not doing cop things. That's just my opinion. The protagonist, Charlie Howard, is kind of debonair in his crafts of burglarly as well as being a published author. His interaction with the assorted players in this story make them stand out more, because he has unique dealings with basically every one of them, individually.
There are little flourishes here that stood out for me, that I appreciated and took note of. Here we have a story involving robbery, and thus, we have a robber (or more than one). We know the lead character is a criminal himself. Many books would leave it at that and move on to other aspects of the plot; this novel took the time to explain what makes Charlie who he is. Well done, Chris Ewan.
Very little doubt that I will relish reading future instalments of this series.
The characters in the story are stylized to the point of making them very identifiable. Even the police, which I have to say is something I find to be at fault in some detective/mystery-type novels; the cops all seem generic, doing cop things, unless they are not doing cop things. That's just my opinion. The protagonist, Charlie Howard, is kind of debonair in his crafts of burglarly as well as being a published author. His interaction with the assorted players in this story make them stand out more, because he has unique dealings with basically every one of them, individually.
There are little flourishes here that stood out for me, that I appreciated and took note of. Here we have a story involving robbery, and thus, we have a robber (or more than one). We know the lead character is a criminal himself. Many books would leave it at that and move on to other aspects of the plot; this novel took the time to explain what makes Charlie who he is. Well done, Chris Ewan.
Very little doubt that I will relish reading future instalments of this series.
July 12, 2014
Meh. Found myself skimming over uninteresting descriptions. He uses the trope of having the hero do things such as search an apartment and find a clue, without telling the reader whose apartment it is. That's a cheap way to manufacture suspense.
.
.
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-- spoilers! --
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.
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He even does the old-fashioned "get everyone together for dramatic finale where the investigator describes the crime and the bad guy is revealed". As if thieves and the police are going to show up together and sit quietly. He also supposedly hands the police all the information, including one of the keys so that the bad guy gets arrested--but in the last scene he has the diamonds himself. Doesn't make much sense.
I was also irritated that the women that he meets in person whom he describes most thoroughly are:
1. Tall blond bombshell, who has sex with him, of course.
2. Exotic Chinese beauty, flanked by men who look like Sumo wrestlers.
3. Prostitutes.
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.
.
-- spoilers! --
.
.
.
He even does the old-fashioned "get everyone together for dramatic finale where the investigator describes the crime and the bad guy is revealed". As if thieves and the police are going to show up together and sit quietly. He also supposedly hands the police all the information, including one of the keys so that the bad guy gets arrested--but in the last scene he has the diamonds himself. Doesn't make much sense.
I was also irritated that the women that he meets in person whom he describes most thoroughly are:
1. Tall blond bombshell, who has sex with him, of course.
2. Exotic Chinese beauty, flanked by men who look like Sumo wrestlers.
3. Prostitutes.
June 21, 2012
Ewan's first of a series starts well with plenty of Amsterdam atmosphere. Our investigator is Charlie Howard, most times a mystery writer and some times a thief. Ewan hits us with this from the first sentence: "I want you to steal something for me."
The book could be titled, "The Three Monkeys." You know the trio: Hear no evil; see no evil; speak no evil. That is what Charlie is asked to steal. Things get complicated with a strange blonde, a decade old diamond caper and series of burglaries that go wrong.
This tale moves quickly and the ending was a neat surprise.
The book could be titled, "The Three Monkeys." You know the trio: Hear no evil; see no evil; speak no evil. That is what Charlie is asked to steal. Things get complicated with a strange blonde, a decade old diamond caper and series of burglaries that go wrong.
This tale moves quickly and the ending was a neat surprise.
November 30, 2022
Charlie Howard has quite the combination of skills. And he demonstrates them all in this slightly madcap caper/mystery. The mystery was not so difficult to figure out, but the finale in which Charlie assembles all the suspects to reveal all the details is at once audacious, and a wonderful parody of Hercule Poirot.
March 14, 2013
I really, really enjoyed this. The narrator was wonderful and the storytelling was great! I will definitely read more of the series.
December 7, 2017
Light and enjoyable entertainment.
July 23, 2018
Πολύ δροσερό και χαλαρωτικό,δεν ειναι δηλαδή το αστυνομικό που σε εχει συνέχεια στην τσίτα.Ότι πρέπει για παραλία το καλοκαίρι.
November 10, 2025
Set in Amsterdam. 243 pp. I found this a fun read! It's witty, fast-paced, and full of clever twists. I enjoyed the unique setup of having an author who’s also a thief. Some of the characters—particularly the women—were one-dimensional; the plot was the real strong point of this book. The interactions with Victoria were some of my favorite parts—smart, funny, and full of spark. Looking forward to more of this series.
Also used audiobook Simon Vance's narration added so much dimension!
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (Good Thief's Guide, #1) by Chris Ewan
Also used audiobook Simon Vance's narration added so much dimension!
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (Good Thief's Guide, #1) by Chris Ewan
October 2, 2023
I wanted to read a novel set in Amsterdam, so I picked this up. Ewan’s descriptions of Amsterdam are, in fact, very nondescript: “He walked past the Van Gogh Museum,” approximately that exciting.
The protagonist writes mystery novels and is a thief on the side. He keeps a copy of Dashiel Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon on display as he writes. His relationship with his book agent – casual superiority on his side, snappy repartee on her side – is reminiscent of Hammett. One character even reminded me of Sydney Greenstreet in the 1941 film version of The Maltese Falcon. But the ending of the book – in which our hero rather smugly explains what happened to a room full of the book’s major characters over multiple chapters – is pure Agatha Christie, possibly with a little Scooby-Doo thrown in. The overall tone of the book, despite mild allusions to the American hardboiled tradition, is very British.
The protagonist writes mystery novels and is a thief on the side. He keeps a copy of Dashiel Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon on display as he writes. His relationship with his book agent – casual superiority on his side, snappy repartee on her side – is reminiscent of Hammett. One character even reminded me of Sydney Greenstreet in the 1941 film version of The Maltese Falcon. But the ending of the book – in which our hero rather smugly explains what happened to a room full of the book’s major characters over multiple chapters – is pure Agatha Christie, possibly with a little Scooby-Doo thrown in. The overall tone of the book, despite mild allusions to the American hardboiled tradition, is very British.
September 9, 2017
I can tell it was an enjoyable read because I was certainly pleased to find out when I finished this book that there were more books in the series. I engaged with the characters and the style of the story telling in this crime story. It is not a taxing read plus it is a relatively quick read ... think cosy crime with an international twist in the setting.
This is a twist on the Raffles-style mystery book for the modern generation with a crime writer burglar as our lead; as a side story he is even suffering with a little bit of writer's block about a briefcase problem!! It is fun and although some aspects seemed obvious [thus not a 5* rating] there were enough reveals and twists to make for some interesting puzzle solving. Charlie is obviously a flawed gentleman with his criminal tendencies yet there is a likeable side to him. I think I'd have liked a few more rounded creations in the cast as some are very 2D like the 'femme fatale. Overall the plot skips along at pace and I will certainly read more and find out what adventures are to be had in places like Paris and Venice!!
This is a twist on the Raffles-style mystery book for the modern generation with a crime writer burglar as our lead; as a side story he is even suffering with a little bit of writer's block about a briefcase problem!! It is fun and although some aspects seemed obvious [thus not a 5* rating] there were enough reveals and twists to make for some interesting puzzle solving. Charlie is obviously a flawed gentleman with his criminal tendencies yet there is a likeable side to him. I think I'd have liked a few more rounded creations in the cast as some are very 2D like the 'femme fatale. Overall the plot skips along at pace and I will certainly read more and find out what adventures are to be had in places like Paris and Venice!!
September 9, 2017
The good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan.
Charlie Howard doesn't just write books about a career thief, he also happens to be one.In Amsterdam working on his latest novel, Charlie is approached by a mysterious American who asks him to steal two apparently worthless monkey figurines from two separate addresses on the same night. At first he says no. Then he changes his mind. Only later, kidnapped and bound to a chair, the American very dead and a spell in police custody behind him, does Charlie begin to realise how costly a mistake he might have made.The police think he killed the American. Others think he knows the whereabouts of the elusive third monkey. But for Charlie only three things matter: Can he clear his name? Can he get away with the haul of a lifetime? And can he solve the briefcase-shaped plot-hole in his latest novel?
A fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved charlie. Really had me thinking. A great who done it thriller which will have you guessing all the way through. 5*. Tbc on fb.
Charlie Howard doesn't just write books about a career thief, he also happens to be one.In Amsterdam working on his latest novel, Charlie is approached by a mysterious American who asks him to steal two apparently worthless monkey figurines from two separate addresses on the same night. At first he says no. Then he changes his mind. Only later, kidnapped and bound to a chair, the American very dead and a spell in police custody behind him, does Charlie begin to realise how costly a mistake he might have made.The police think he killed the American. Others think he knows the whereabouts of the elusive third monkey. But for Charlie only three things matter: Can he clear his name? Can he get away with the haul of a lifetime? And can he solve the briefcase-shaped plot-hole in his latest novel?
A fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved charlie. Really had me thinking. A great who done it thriller which will have you guessing all the way through. 5*. Tbc on fb.
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