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Bernie Rhodenbarr #3
The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling
Pub 2005-03-01 304 English HarperCollins US Bernie Rhodenbarr has gone legit - almost - as the new owner of a used bookstore in New Yorks Greenwich Village Of course. dusty old tomes dont always turn a profit. so to make ends meet. Bernies forced. on occasion. to indulge in his previous burglary Besides which. he likes it Now a collector is offering Bernie an opportunity to combine his twin passions by stealing a very rare and very. bad book-length poem from a rich mans library. The heist goes off without a hitch. The delivery of the ill-gotten volume. however. is a different story. Drugged by the clients female go-between. Bernie wakes up in her apartment to find the book gone. the lady dead. a smoking gun in his hand. and the cops at the door And suddenly hes got to extricate himself from a rather sticky real-life murder myst...
286 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
90 people are currently reading
967 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
767 books2,980 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
October 29, 2016
Professional thief Bernie Rhodenbarr is trying to go legit by buying a book store, but that’s a tough way to make the rent even back in the days before Amazon. So when Bernie gets an offer to swipe a rare volume of Kipling verses for a hefty payday he’s more than willing to start picking locks again.
However, what should be a simple exchange of the book for the cash goes sideways, and Bernie finds himself on the run from the cops after being framed for murder. He’ll need all of his criminal skills and some help from his best friend Carolyn to get out of this one.
As I’ve stated on other reviews I’m a huge fan of Lawrence Block, but this series wasn’t my favorite thing he’s done although I quite enjoyed The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons. I think it’s because while Bernie is a thief the books generally revolve around him playing amateur sleuth rather than actually being about his profession. Still, there’s a charming low-key quality to these, and I always enjoy Block’s casual dialogue where characters often ramble and make amusing observations about life’s quirks.
I liked this the most of the early ones I’ve read because it introduced Carolyn, the lesbian dog groomer who is the person that Bernie can count on most and vice versa. Their friendship is one of the things I’ve most enjoyed about the series.
Overall, it’s a solid mystery with a good sense of humor, and Block always makes a character just trying to navigate the treacherous waters of daily life in New York City a treat to read.
However, what should be a simple exchange of the book for the cash goes sideways, and Bernie finds himself on the run from the cops after being framed for murder. He’ll need all of his criminal skills and some help from his best friend Carolyn to get out of this one.
As I’ve stated on other reviews I’m a huge fan of Lawrence Block, but this series wasn’t my favorite thing he’s done although I quite enjoyed The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons. I think it’s because while Bernie is a thief the books generally revolve around him playing amateur sleuth rather than actually being about his profession. Still, there’s a charming low-key quality to these, and I always enjoy Block’s casual dialogue where characters often ramble and make amusing observations about life’s quirks.
I liked this the most of the early ones I’ve read because it introduced Carolyn, the lesbian dog groomer who is the person that Bernie can count on most and vice versa. Their friendship is one of the things I’ve most enjoyed about the series.
Overall, it’s a solid mystery with a good sense of humor, and Block always makes a character just trying to navigate the treacherous waters of daily life in New York City a treat to read.
August 18, 2019
This is my first mystery review for Goodreads, and I am glad I chose this book. What a barrel of fun! You know, they say you should write about what you know. That being the case, I sure hope Lawrence Block stays the hell away from my neighborhood.
The story is about a burglar who runs a bookstore (Yea!) who gets framed for murder in a quest for an extremely rare book. This book has a copywrite of 1979, and the story shows its age. That doesn't detract from it one bit. Maybe I am old, because I can relate to what he writes about, though all the young'ons out there will probably think this is historical fiction. Still, if you come across a copy of this book, I recommend taking the time to read it. The dialog between the burglar and his female friend who helps him is hilarious at times. They are two peas in a pod and would make a great couple except for the fact she has a girlfriend.
The story is about a burglar who runs a bookstore (Yea!) who gets framed for murder in a quest for an extremely rare book. This book has a copywrite of 1979, and the story shows its age. That doesn't detract from it one bit. Maybe I am old, because I can relate to what he writes about, though all the young'ons out there will probably think this is historical fiction. Still, if you come across a copy of this book, I recommend taking the time to read it. The dialog between the burglar and his female friend who helps him is hilarious at times. They are two peas in a pod and would make a great couple except for the fact she has a girlfriend.
December 30, 2020
The third entry in Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr series is another light and entertaining mystery. As the book opens, Bernie, formerly (or maybe not so formerly) a gentleman burglar, has bought a used bookstore and has now gone straight. At least that's what he's telling anyone who will listen, most notably his old adversary, Ray Kirschmann, of the N.Y.P.D. Kirschmann is sorry to hear the news because he had high hopes that Bernie might steal a fur coat that Kirschmann's wife would dearly love to have. But that's another story altogether.
The reader who enjoys Bernie's nocturnal adventures is also sorry to hear that he has given up a life of crime to become a responsible citizen, but of course the reader doesn't believe it for a moment. And sure enough, that very night Bernie gathers up the tools of his profession, hot-wires a car, and heads off to a very exclusive neighborhood where he will break into someone's house. In this case, Bernie has been hired to steal a very, very rare book by Rudyard Kipling--so rare in fact, that it's allegedly the only copy in existence.
Skillful as he is, Bernie will complete the mission without any problem. But then, as always happens in these books, everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Bernie will be double-, or even triple-crossed; someone will wind up dead, and the cops will be hot on Bernie's trail. And, as always happens, Bernie will be forced to prove his innocence to a police force and a public that automatically assumes he is guilty of multiple crimes. In this case, however, Bernie will have the assistance of his close friend, Carolyn Kaiser, a lesbian dog groomer who has a shop near Bernie's bookstore. Carolyn makes her first appearance here and from now on will be a very welcome addition to the series.
No one would ever be expected to take these novels seriously. The plots never make much sense, but no veteran reader of the series really cares about this. The enjoyment lies in watching Bernie at work and particularly in the banter between Bernie and Caroline who become a great duo as the series progresses. This is a relatively quick read and a very enjoyable way to while away an evening.
The reader who enjoys Bernie's nocturnal adventures is also sorry to hear that he has given up a life of crime to become a responsible citizen, but of course the reader doesn't believe it for a moment. And sure enough, that very night Bernie gathers up the tools of his profession, hot-wires a car, and heads off to a very exclusive neighborhood where he will break into someone's house. In this case, Bernie has been hired to steal a very, very rare book by Rudyard Kipling--so rare in fact, that it's allegedly the only copy in existence.
Skillful as he is, Bernie will complete the mission without any problem. But then, as always happens in these books, everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Bernie will be double-, or even triple-crossed; someone will wind up dead, and the cops will be hot on Bernie's trail. And, as always happens, Bernie will be forced to prove his innocence to a police force and a public that automatically assumes he is guilty of multiple crimes. In this case, however, Bernie will have the assistance of his close friend, Carolyn Kaiser, a lesbian dog groomer who has a shop near Bernie's bookstore. Carolyn makes her first appearance here and from now on will be a very welcome addition to the series.
No one would ever be expected to take these novels seriously. The plots never make much sense, but no veteran reader of the series really cares about this. The enjoyment lies in watching Bernie at work and particularly in the banter between Bernie and Caroline who become a great duo as the series progresses. This is a relatively quick read and a very enjoyable way to while away an evening.
October 16, 2015
This is an enjoyable fun read. A mystery about the book world is usually always fun and is quite enjoyable if done correctly. Larry Block, I call him Larry as that is the way he signed this book, can do the job better than some.
The writing is fast and humorous about a New York bookseller who also happens to be a burglar, his best friend, a self proclaimed lesbian who runs a dog grooming shop a few doors from his book shop is cleaver and well written. Beside the plot, of a stolen book, that may or may not be rare, Mr. Block drops references to other books his protagonist has in his shop and authors he enjoys, the customers who come into his shop to either buy or steal his offerings.
The book was written in 1979 so some of the prices of books are quite a bit dated, but Mr. Block's humor still stands up, especially humorous is the ongoing gag about a Pontiac the burglar steals to drive around the city.
This is the third book in the series and can be read out of sequence without any major difficulty.
This copy is signed by Lawrence Block.
The writing is fast and humorous about a New York bookseller who also happens to be a burglar, his best friend, a self proclaimed lesbian who runs a dog grooming shop a few doors from his book shop is cleaver and well written. Beside the plot, of a stolen book, that may or may not be rare, Mr. Block drops references to other books his protagonist has in his shop and authors he enjoys, the customers who come into his shop to either buy or steal his offerings.
The book was written in 1979 so some of the prices of books are quite a bit dated, but Mr. Block's humor still stands up, especially humorous is the ongoing gag about a Pontiac the burglar steals to drive around the city.
This is the third book in the series and can be read out of sequence without any major difficulty.
This copy is signed by Lawrence Block.
February 13, 2017
The Bernie Rhodenbarr series remains an unusual series since the main character is an unapologetic burglar who doesn't lose sleep over swiping some valuables. This time Bernie is behind the front of a used bookstore he wants to succeed with, but he's drawn into a shady deal against his better judgement when conned into a valuable book deal of all things.
Outside the same police detective that Bernie bribes occasionally, there continues to be no continuing cast. All new people yet again, dependable and non-judgemental women. It does grow old in the series that, by continuously recycling out any regular characters, there is no need for Bernie to have a continued, developing or layered relationship.
I do find it refreshing how matter of factly the lesbian relationship was treated, especially considered it was the 70s and published, but I suppose it's about a burglar being okay with breaking and entering and robbing people of their possessions, so why have any hang ups about what people do in the bedroom?
The detective is a returner, as I said, and he's amusing. I always liked him. He speaks in the classic noir type - chopped and figuratively, much like Bernie and those he interacts with. Like a lot of crime novels, each character's dialogue rings as too similar to be wholly believable.
The story just wasn't that interesting, despite it's bonuses. I was bored in a few sections and kind of ready for it to be over by the time I was halfway through.
Outside the same police detective that Bernie bribes occasionally, there continues to be no continuing cast. All new people yet again, dependable and non-judgemental women. It does grow old in the series that, by continuously recycling out any regular characters, there is no need for Bernie to have a continued, developing or layered relationship.
I do find it refreshing how matter of factly the lesbian relationship was treated, especially considered it was the 70s and published, but I suppose it's about a burglar being okay with breaking and entering and robbing people of their possessions, so why have any hang ups about what people do in the bedroom?
The detective is a returner, as I said, and he's amusing. I always liked him. He speaks in the classic noir type - chopped and figuratively, much like Bernie and those he interacts with. Like a lot of crime novels, each character's dialogue rings as too similar to be wholly believable.
The story just wasn't that interesting, despite it's bonuses. I was bored in a few sections and kind of ready for it to be over by the time I was halfway through.
August 4, 2025
Бърни вече е пенсиониран обирджия и горд собственик на антикварна книжарница в Ню Йорк.
Но когато получава предложение да отмъкне срещу прилична сума уникална книга на Киплинг, нищо не може да го спре.
Следва ново щуро приключение, с неочакван край. :)
Но когато получава предложение да отмъкне срещу прилична сума уникална книга на Киплинг, нищо не може да го спре.
Следва ново щуро приключение, с неочакван край. :)
March 12, 2018
Number 3 in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series.
What a breath of fresh air this was.
Bernie Rhodenbarr is a master burglar with a good heart. He's a bit of a modern day Robin Hood, takes from the rich and maybe gives some back to the not so rich.
The offbeat humour is infectious, and there's lot's of it.
This book is nearly 40 years old and it's interesting to note that Bernie's sidekick, Carolyn Kaiser, is a devout lesbian. I'd say that put's Block well ahead of public opinion at the time.
Bernie is a full time second hand bookstore owner but as part time burglar is contracted to purloin a very rare Kipling book from a personal library. Bernie compleats the contract but before he can hand over the book and get his money he is held up at gunpoint in his shop and asked to hand over the book. Not long after that Bernie is drugged and set up for a murder that he didn't commit. Bernie is now in one hell of a fix. With the help of Carolyn, Bernie sets about trying to figure out who is doing what and why.
This is a good old fashioned whodunit mystery, light on the violence and not a naked body in sight.
There are lots of red herrings to keep you guessing and the humour lasts right to the last page.
If you are looking for a good read without the gore, blood and sex this will be right up your ally.
An entertaining read with a 4 star recommendation.
What a breath of fresh air this was.
Bernie Rhodenbarr is a master burglar with a good heart. He's a bit of a modern day Robin Hood, takes from the rich and maybe gives some back to the not so rich.
The offbeat humour is infectious, and there's lot's of it.
This book is nearly 40 years old and it's interesting to note that Bernie's sidekick, Carolyn Kaiser, is a devout lesbian. I'd say that put's Block well ahead of public opinion at the time.
Bernie is a full time second hand bookstore owner but as part time burglar is contracted to purloin a very rare Kipling book from a personal library. Bernie compleats the contract but before he can hand over the book and get his money he is held up at gunpoint in his shop and asked to hand over the book. Not long after that Bernie is drugged and set up for a murder that he didn't commit. Bernie is now in one hell of a fix. With the help of Carolyn, Bernie sets about trying to figure out who is doing what and why.
This is a good old fashioned whodunit mystery, light on the violence and not a naked body in sight.
There are lots of red herrings to keep you guessing and the humour lasts right to the last page.
If you are looking for a good read without the gore, blood and sex this will be right up your ally.
An entertaining read with a 4 star recommendation.
July 8, 2015
Very enjoyable and entertaining. Easy to see why Lawrence Block is such a popular author!
September 10, 2018
fun reading. delightful
February 9, 2015
Comprising a gentle dose of humor deftly mixed in the world of professional thievery, Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr series is a lighter shade of crime fiction which also caters to those readers who like tension and a constant threat of violence on the horizon.
Bernie owns a bookstore and has seemingly given up the life of crime. However, when presented with a nice payday to retrieve a valuable book from a semi-serious collector, he can't refuse.
From that point forward, THE BURGLAR WHO LIKED TO QUOTE KIPLING is very much a classic whodunit as suspects fall and others emerge. It's a buyers market for death, little alone the item in question.
I've been reading some heavy crime fiction and some rather bleak non-fiction and found this book to be a light read, just at the time when I was needing one.
Additionally, THE BURGLAR WHO LIKED TO QUOTE KIPLING is the third book in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series and is new-reader-friendly, another tick in my book.
Review first appeared on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Bernie owns a bookstore and has seemingly given up the life of crime. However, when presented with a nice payday to retrieve a valuable book from a semi-serious collector, he can't refuse.
From that point forward, THE BURGLAR WHO LIKED TO QUOTE KIPLING is very much a classic whodunit as suspects fall and others emerge. It's a buyers market for death, little alone the item in question.
I've been reading some heavy crime fiction and some rather bleak non-fiction and found this book to be a light read, just at the time when I was needing one.
Additionally, THE BURGLAR WHO LIKED TO QUOTE KIPLING is the third book in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series and is new-reader-friendly, another tick in my book.
Review first appeared on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
June 22, 2025
[4.4~4.5] Reading these like cozy mysteries to cope with these dire times.
I absolutely love Bernie’s friendship with Carolyn!
I absolutely love Bernie’s friendship with Carolyn!
November 14, 2013
Bernie the Burglar has retired. He's now selling antiquarian books. Don't we all dream of that kind of retirement? Only Bernie isn't pushing the business as much as he might, Bernie is still keeping his fingers gloved and on the look out for something fun to burgle. Enter a Rudyard Kipling enthusiast with a decidedly juicy proposition and Bernie's burglar tools are packed and ready to go, breathing holes cut in the palms of his rubber gloves.
The format is much as previous (and almost certainly future) instalments, Bernie finds himself in a jam, on the run from the police with only his wits able to save him from clink and a even worse, not getting paid for his work. It's light hearted but not absurd and as with all other Block novels incredibly well written.
I'm loving the Bernie books almost as much as the Scudder books. Almost.
The format is much as previous (and almost certainly future) instalments, Bernie finds himself in a jam, on the run from the police with only his wits able to save him from clink and a even worse, not getting paid for his work. It's light hearted but not absurd and as with all other Block novels incredibly well written.
I'm loving the Bernie books almost as much as the Scudder books. Almost.
February 12, 2016
Another great entry in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series.
A big Kipling fan persuades Bernie to steal a precious and rare book by Rudyard Kipling. The only one of its kind. Bernie manages to steal it, but of course, he gets involved in a murder, too.
Very entertaining.
A big Kipling fan persuades Bernie to steal a precious and rare book by Rudyard Kipling. The only one of its kind. Bernie manages to steal it, but of course, he gets involved in a murder, too.
Very entertaining.
March 1, 2019
This was one of the better books in this series. I really enjoyed learning more about Carolyn, as I've not been reading this series in order and had skipped this one completely.
The man who narrated this series on audiobook, Richard Ferrone, is a pretty talented guy, and the perfect voice for Bernie. If you're looking for a mystery series with humor and likeable characters, with little violence, this is a good one.
The man who narrated this series on audiobook, Richard Ferrone, is a pretty talented guy, and the perfect voice for Bernie. If you're looking for a mystery series with humor and likeable characters, with little violence, this is a good one.
April 14, 2018
Reasons this book was boring:
1. The police doesn't use Bernie Rhodenbarr as a murder-detector yet - despite his tendency to stumble onto fresh or about-to-happen murder scenes.
2. All characters we already know (except Bernie and the cop) are discarded for a new cast, so Bernie can continue to have no developing relationships whatsoever.
3. The murder clues can be deciphered by nobody but Bernie while I give a damn, then the solutions are thrown at me when I no longer care.
4. I'm not sure what the fourth reason is, it's already been a day since I read it and it's such a memorable novel that the details are starting to fade...
1. The police doesn't use Bernie Rhodenbarr as a murder-detector yet - despite his tendency to stumble onto fresh or about-to-happen murder scenes.
2. All characters we already know (except Bernie and the cop) are discarded for a new cast, so Bernie can continue to have no developing relationships whatsoever.
3. The murder clues can be deciphered by nobody but Bernie while I give a damn, then the solutions are thrown at me when I no longer care.
4. I'm not sure what the fourth reason is, it's already been a day since I read it and it's such a memorable novel that the details are starting to fade...
September 29, 2015
Over the weekend I was mock-pouting at my husband for "abandoning" me to go and run a marathon (seriously: why do folks in their 30s insist on this weird phenomenon?) and for the fact that I was up way too early on a Sunday morning because of his sudden need to sports. I then jokingly grumpy-yelled at him that he needed to go and find me a book to read and that he should be aware that the state of our relationship depended on his choice.
This is the book he brought me. I imagine it is because it was one of about 3 that he has read in my entire library.
So this book has a copyright date of 1976. Now honestly I find that quite impressive because often when I read older books, I find them filled with cliches. This is not necessarily the fault of the authors themselves, because maybe they weren't cliches back then but they are today. Anyway - this book is quite low on the cliches and I love that becauseI personally suck at steering clear of cliches in my own writing, but am quite adept at spotting them in the work of others.
This is a fast-paced read and it's heavy on the dialogue. Somehow it's easy to read without being annoying, in fact sometimes it's even quite charming with a hint of humour that doesn't try too hard to be funny. It's not meant to be a grand masterpiece and that's fine. Just something easy to read over a couple of days before moving onto something a little more taxing, perhaps?
I loved the relationship between the protagonist and his sidekick. She is a lesbian, which is a subject barely tackled in the novel. I love how flippantly it is treated, like it was no biggie for those days. Then again, I suppose he is also treated as if his burglaring is no biggie, just an extension of himself. (I mean no offense in comparing homosexuality to burglaring - of course I don't think they are the same. I am merely pointing out that these two characters were beautifully accepting of each other while never making any sort of big deal about the acceptance. It was nice. Especially out of a time when such things were far more taboo than they are now.)
This is the book he brought me. I imagine it is because it was one of about 3 that he has read in my entire library.
So this book has a copyright date of 1976. Now honestly I find that quite impressive because often when I read older books, I find them filled with cliches. This is not necessarily the fault of the authors themselves, because maybe they weren't cliches back then but they are today. Anyway - this book is quite low on the cliches and I love that becauseI personally suck at steering clear of cliches in my own writing, but am quite adept at spotting them in the work of others.
This is a fast-paced read and it's heavy on the dialogue. Somehow it's easy to read without being annoying, in fact sometimes it's even quite charming with a hint of humour that doesn't try too hard to be funny. It's not meant to be a grand masterpiece and that's fine. Just something easy to read over a couple of days before moving onto something a little more taxing, perhaps?
I loved the relationship between the protagonist and his sidekick. She is a lesbian, which is a subject barely tackled in the novel. I love how flippantly it is treated, like it was no biggie for those days. Then again, I suppose he is also treated as if his burglaring is no biggie, just an extension of himself. (I mean no offense in comparing homosexuality to burglaring - of course I don't think they are the same. I am merely pointing out that these two characters were beautifully accepting of each other while never making any sort of big deal about the acceptance. It was nice. Especially out of a time when such things were far more taboo than they are now.)
March 9, 2018
The plot got so convoluted that even the suspects were expressing confusion -- Block's puckish nod that his own story had gotten away from him? Regardless, still a fun read that succeeds more on Rhodenbarr's character than suspenseful plot, though there us enough of that to keep you guessing.
The dialogue, especially that with gay, dog-groomer pal, echoes wittier side of Block's Matthew Scudder. Carolyn was a delightful and substantial side-kick who added much to story.
A must-read for Kipling completists? Sure, why not. Block had me going about the alleged long-lost Kipling book.
The dialogue, especially that with gay, dog-groomer pal, echoes wittier side of Block's Matthew Scudder. Carolyn was a delightful and substantial side-kick who added much to story.
A must-read for Kipling completists? Sure, why not. Block had me going about the alleged long-lost Kipling book.
December 7, 2017
I’ve just about read all the books in this series (this one is only #3 but I haven’t been reading them in order) and I can say that they are uniformly entertaining. Block employs his gifts for dialogue and humor to excellent effect in every one of the Burglar novels. It may not, on a fundamental level, make any sense for a burglar to be put into situations where he has to solve murders on a regular basis, but these books are so much fun I don’t care.
November 17, 2022
I gave this book a 4 because it was such a pleasant surprise: unfamiliar author/series, etc. A 3.5 would probably best express my rating. But the surprise part made me nudge it over to a 4
I first discovered Lawrence Block via his memoir on walking/race walking/jogging called Step By Step. I thought it would be more like those books on walking the Appalachian Trail but it turned out to be different. I learned Block was a prolific mystery writer and for some reason I’d never heard of him. This led me to his listing on Wikipedia and then his website where I discovered that he liked authors/books that I liked - Pete Hamill, Bill Bryson, etc. He enjoys a wide variety of authors and I think I’ll be looking towards his site for new this to read.
Now back to this book, which is a witty, enjoyable, quick read from a talented author. Bernie is a semi-retired burglar (he can be coaxed to do a job occasionally apparently) that is now running a bookstore (no paperbacks please) who is requested to steal a book (of which there is only one copy) from a wealthy man. Things go haywire, as things usually do in a book of this sort which makes for an interesting take. Bernie takes his friend Carolyn along for the ride at times and you can imagine she will join him on new adventures. The book was very enjoyable. I liked the premise, characters, dialogue, descriptions, etc.
The books are dated (this one was published in 1979) so no cell phones, computers etc allowed. Some younger people might find that annoying but those of a certain age will simply go back with Bernie to that simpler time. I couldn’t help wanting to read a version of this same story in digital times to see how it would differ, like being in a parallel universe. I see that Block has created a memoir for another of his lead characters and perhaps he has included some of that thinking in that book. I’ll have to see when I get there. I will be reading more books by Block as well as suggestions from books he liked on his website. Bye for now, I need to sign up for his posts via his website or fb page.
I first discovered Lawrence Block via his memoir on walking/race walking/jogging called Step By Step. I thought it would be more like those books on walking the Appalachian Trail but it turned out to be different. I learned Block was a prolific mystery writer and for some reason I’d never heard of him. This led me to his listing on Wikipedia and then his website where I discovered that he liked authors/books that I liked - Pete Hamill, Bill Bryson, etc. He enjoys a wide variety of authors and I think I’ll be looking towards his site for new this to read.
Now back to this book, which is a witty, enjoyable, quick read from a talented author. Bernie is a semi-retired burglar (he can be coaxed to do a job occasionally apparently) that is now running a bookstore (no paperbacks please) who is requested to steal a book (of which there is only one copy) from a wealthy man. Things go haywire, as things usually do in a book of this sort which makes for an interesting take. Bernie takes his friend Carolyn along for the ride at times and you can imagine she will join him on new adventures. The book was very enjoyable. I liked the premise, characters, dialogue, descriptions, etc.
The books are dated (this one was published in 1979) so no cell phones, computers etc allowed. Some younger people might find that annoying but those of a certain age will simply go back with Bernie to that simpler time. I couldn’t help wanting to read a version of this same story in digital times to see how it would differ, like being in a parallel universe. I see that Block has created a memoir for another of his lead characters and perhaps he has included some of that thinking in that book. I’ll have to see when I get there. I will be reading more books by Block as well as suggestions from books he liked on his website. Bye for now, I need to sign up for his posts via his website or fb page.
March 10, 2022
I think I've only read one or two of Lawrence Block's works, but I picked "The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling" when I saw it. Thought that would be a fun one to read. I seem to like stories that involve a book store. I also have a couple Goodreads friends that are big Lawrence Block fans, so here I go.
Apparently this is the third book in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Bernie is a burglar, but in this book, he is operating a used bookstore. In this book, he is accused of a crime he did not commit, and it becomes necessary to prove his innocence. The dialog was quite enjoyable. Carolyn, his new best friend, is a lesbian dog groomer whose shop is near Bernie's. I find that as a sidekick, her character is better than letting us meet her as a new love interest. She has really good rapport with Bernie. He said, "I know this is like life and death, but I'm having a good time. I just wanted to tell you that."
So, in the "Burglar who Liked to Quote Kipling." is made an offer he is unable to refuse, $15,000 to steal a volume of Kipling, the only remaining of what might be the worst volume Kipling ever wrote. Even Kipling thought so. Apparently even Kipling thought it was so awful he had all copies destroyed before his death, all but one. This is the copy Bernie is hired to steal. All goes just fine until the Seik, he even had his turban, arrives at Bernie's Bookstore and relieves Bernie of the not-so-good Kipling. Things head down from there. Don't want to be a spoiler, but have fun and enjoy it. Recommend. Good Read!!!
Apparently this is the third book in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Bernie is a burglar, but in this book, he is operating a used bookstore. In this book, he is accused of a crime he did not commit, and it becomes necessary to prove his innocence. The dialog was quite enjoyable. Carolyn, his new best friend, is a lesbian dog groomer whose shop is near Bernie's. I find that as a sidekick, her character is better than letting us meet her as a new love interest. She has really good rapport with Bernie. He said, "I know this is like life and death, but I'm having a good time. I just wanted to tell you that."
So, in the "Burglar who Liked to Quote Kipling." is made an offer he is unable to refuse, $15,000 to steal a volume of Kipling, the only remaining of what might be the worst volume Kipling ever wrote. Even Kipling thought so. Apparently even Kipling thought it was so awful he had all copies destroyed before his death, all but one. This is the copy Bernie is hired to steal. All goes just fine until the Seik, he even had his turban, arrives at Bernie's Bookstore and relieves Bernie of the not-so-good Kipling. Things head down from there. Don't want to be a spoiler, but have fun and enjoy it. Recommend. Good Read!!!
April 16, 2009
Book 3 in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Mind-candy reads. This is the second in series I have read. Despite the main character's on-again/off-again profession as a talented burglar, Block is able to make Bernie likable and sympathetic. The tone of Block's books are humorous and lighthearted. Bernie finds himself in serious scrapes resulting from his life of crime - such as becoming a murder suspect (more than once). A bright and literate burglar, he manages with the help of friends he develops along the way (including cops), to solve the crime and keep himself from going to prison for the crime of which he is innocent (murder) while not being arrested for the crime he did commit (burglary).
June 22, 2017
I'm on a "The Burgler Who..." binge. Bernie is a fun protagonist, the books are just fun to read. If you have a problem with moral ambiguity (he IS a burglar), you might have a problem with these books, but the adept burglar who keeps stumbling over bodies, his lesbian best friend Carolyn, and "the best cop money can buy" are just fun to hang out with.
February 20, 2011
Like eating a box of Dove bars while you're supposed to be on a diet. Not much nutritional value but sure is fun.
February 8, 2020
PROTAGONIST: Bernie Rhodenbarr, burglar and bookstore owner
SETTING: New York City
SERIES: #3
RATING: 4.0
WHY: Bernie Rhodenbarr is a very talented burglar who has given up the game and now owns a bookstore in Greenwich Village. He is offered a tempting opportunity when a man comes into the store and is willing to pay a very high price for a book by Kipling where only one copy exists. Bernie would just need to steal it from a millionaire’s mansion. Well, the game is afoot and there are cons coming out of the corners. Aided by his wonderful friend, Carolyn, he exhibits his trademark cleverness in outsmarting the nefarious ones. I didn’t care for the cliché of a character going into an elaborate explanation of everything that happened in the conclusion, but I loved the teasing and loving relationship between Carolyn and Bernie.
SETTING: New York City
SERIES: #3
RATING: 4.0
WHY: Bernie Rhodenbarr is a very talented burglar who has given up the game and now owns a bookstore in Greenwich Village. He is offered a tempting opportunity when a man comes into the store and is willing to pay a very high price for a book by Kipling where only one copy exists. Bernie would just need to steal it from a millionaire’s mansion. Well, the game is afoot and there are cons coming out of the corners. Aided by his wonderful friend, Carolyn, he exhibits his trademark cleverness in outsmarting the nefarious ones. I didn’t care for the cliché of a character going into an elaborate explanation of everything that happened in the conclusion, but I loved the teasing and loving relationship between Carolyn and Bernie.
July 4, 2024
Serinin üçüncü kitabında Bernie bir sahaf sahibi olarak çıkıyor okurun karşısına. Tahmin edileceği gibi sahaflıktan çok para kazanamamaktadır. Ama işlerini idare edebildiğini söyler. Sahafa gelen müşteri aklını çelene dek tabii. Whelkin adından bir adam Kipling’in nadir bulunan bir kitabını ister. Kimin evinde bulacağını da detaylıca anlatır ve işte anlaşırlar. Bernie hırsızlıktan büyük zevk alıyor. Okurken hırsızlığı meslek gibi görmesi, eğilimini açıklayışı beni çok eğlendiriyor. Fakat yine girdiği evde başına istemediği işler geliyor. Bu macerada Bernie bir dostluk da geliştiriyor. Köpek kuaförü olan komşu dükkanın sahibi Caroline da olaylara dahil oluyor. Sevdiğim bir ikili oldu umarım Caroline seride daha fazla yer alıyordur. Kitapta nadir kitap tutkusu da iyi işlenmişti. Yalnızca şaşırtıcı son için emek veren kitaplardan değil. Block elementleri gittikçe daha da iyi bulduğum şekilde kullanıyor. Diğer kitaplara göre daha karmaşık bir polisiye kurgusu vardı. Bir hırsızla arkadaşlık etmek isteyenler seriye başlamalı.
August 29, 2016
Our dear gentleman burglar tries to go straight in this book (well sort of) as he sets up shop as the owner of an antiquarian bookstore. You see, Bernie Rhondenbarr, cat burglar though he may be, also loves to read and has had a life long passion for good literature.
Unfortunately, he couldn't resist stealing a rare Kipling edition and equally unfortunately, in doing so, he was once again framed for murder. However, he is a greater detective than any of the NYPD and was able to solve the murder and clear his name yet again.
I really enjoyed Bernie's philosophizing about the moral decline of the nation in this book. I agree with everything he says but it's just ironic coming from a burglar Hahaha!
Oh one other note about Bernie's character: in this book he had to steal a car for a burglary but on his way to put the car back, he filled it with gas and got the oil changed. Nice burglar!
Unfortunately, he couldn't resist stealing a rare Kipling edition and equally unfortunately, in doing so, he was once again framed for murder. However, he is a greater detective than any of the NYPD and was able to solve the murder and clear his name yet again.
I really enjoyed Bernie's philosophizing about the moral decline of the nation in this book. I agree with everything he says but it's just ironic coming from a burglar Hahaha!
Oh one other note about Bernie's character: in this book he had to steal a car for a burglary but on his way to put the car back, he filled it with gas and got the oil changed. Nice burglar!
February 5, 2012
This was my favorite book of the series so far,funnier then ever with lines like
“Wonderful. I can play it safe by sitting in a stolen car parked at a bus stop. Why don’t I just wait in the subway? I could cling to the third rail for security.”
Fictional Kipling poems " The Deliverance of Fort Bucklow" drives the story but it's all Bernie and Carolyn thatdrive the fun with excellent dialogue and a complicated mystery just perfect for a book lover.
“Wonderful. I can play it safe by sitting in a stolen car parked at a bus stop. Why don’t I just wait in the subway? I could cling to the third rail for security.”
Fictional Kipling poems " The Deliverance of Fort Bucklow" drives the story but it's all Bernie and Carolyn thatdrive the fun with excellent dialogue and a complicated mystery just perfect for a book lover.
February 4, 2013
I love a quick read, and I love good crime that demonstrates an author's grasp of history. Block puts enough real or potentially real stuff in to create interest in an unsurprising conclusion. I feel the Block template has periods where you know he is withholding information because disclosing it would mess with the summing up. The ending is very Agatha, but why not, the formula works. I like Blocks descriptions and the effortless pace. Romance for men.
April 24, 2018
I think bernie Rhodenbarr is my favorite criminal.
February 22, 2020
"I'd prefer to live as a honest man among honest men, but I haven't yet found an honest pursuit that lets me feel this way. I wish there were a moral equivalent of larceny, but there isn't. I'm a born thief and I love it."
Unfortunately, Lawrence Block's third entry in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling (1979), does not reach the same level of literary quality as its two predecessors ( Burglars Can't Be Choosers and The Burglar in the Closet ). It gets a marginal recommendation from me, though, because of the clever setup, some humor, and many passages of Mr. Block's witty, stylish prose.
In quite an amusing beginning chapter, Bernie, the owner of a used bookstore, catches a book thief and tells him that he "is too dumb to steal." Bernie will regret this quip later. Early on we meet the supporting characters in the series - Carolyn, the lesbian dog groomer, and Ray Kirschmann, "the best cop money can buy." We also accompany Bernie on his real job, that is burglary.
It soon becomes obvious that the two threads - Bernie's burglary and the attempted theft - are connected: the author unveils a tremendously complicated plot. Way too complicated for this reviewer: I have lost track of (and interest in) what's going on pretty early and continued reading only to look for occasional pearls of Mr. Block's prose and humor. The bit about the "little Dutch boy," the patron of lesbians, is funny. As is the somewhat meta-literary passage about Bernie's erstwhile fellow inmate who enjoyed a particular bit in a crime story
I much dislike the setting of the denouement in the Nero Wolfe style. True, there are some similarities between Bernie R. and Archie G. (I wish someone could write a story that would allow them to meet), but I do not think that the setting fits Mr. Block's style. Also, the appearance of the name of a certain Adolf H. seems to be a miss.
Quite readable at the beginning, then much less so.
Two-and-a-quarter stars.
Unfortunately, Lawrence Block's third entry in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling (1979), does not reach the same level of literary quality as its two predecessors ( Burglars Can't Be Choosers and The Burglar in the Closet ). It gets a marginal recommendation from me, though, because of the clever setup, some humor, and many passages of Mr. Block's witty, stylish prose.
In quite an amusing beginning chapter, Bernie, the owner of a used bookstore, catches a book thief and tells him that he "is too dumb to steal." Bernie will regret this quip later. Early on we meet the supporting characters in the series - Carolyn, the lesbian dog groomer, and Ray Kirschmann, "the best cop money can buy." We also accompany Bernie on his real job, that is burglary.
It soon becomes obvious that the two threads - Bernie's burglary and the attempted theft - are connected: the author unveils a tremendously complicated plot. Way too complicated for this reviewer: I have lost track of (and interest in) what's going on pretty early and continued reading only to look for occasional pearls of Mr. Block's prose and humor. The bit about the "little Dutch boy," the patron of lesbians, is funny. As is the somewhat meta-literary passage about Bernie's erstwhile fellow inmate who enjoyed a particular bit in a crime story
"[...] where Parker settled the score with an unworthy fellow laborer by breaking three important bones [...] It was the adjective that did it for him, the idea of deliberately breaking important bones."Bernie is drugged, some characters are left "with more than the traditional number of holes in [...] head," Carolyn is helping the bookselling burglar in his pursuits, yet the latter part of the novel is markedly weaker than the first 70 or so pages. Too much happens, there is too much dialogue and the author does not give enough attention to what he is best at - the witty prose.
I much dislike the setting of the denouement in the Nero Wolfe style. True, there are some similarities between Bernie R. and Archie G. (I wish someone could write a story that would allow them to meet), but I do not think that the setting fits Mr. Block's style. Also, the appearance of the name of a certain Adolf H. seems to be a miss.
Quite readable at the beginning, then much less so.
Two-and-a-quarter stars.
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