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ogreart's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the twists and turns. I also liked that Bernie solved a murder he wasn't really involved with, just to help Ray. I do feel that Block overuses coincidence, but it is for comedic effect so, okay.
littletaiko's review against another edition
3.0
Finally, another entry in the Burglar series. Okay, I've had this book for two years so maybe finally is too strong of a word, but I did enjoy catching up on Bernie's antics. Bernie is having to balance his normal job as a bookseller, his after hours job of burgling, as well as help the police with a suspicious death. Lots of fun as usual.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
When the mysterious Mr. Smith hires Bernie Rhodenbarr to steal an early draft of Benjamin Button from a museum, Bernie pulls off the heist and winds up agreeing to steal a silver spoon depicting Button Gwinnett, one of the lesser known signees of the Declaration of Independence. But what does any of that have to do with Helen Osterheimer, a wealthy woman found dead in her apartment?
When your favorite living crime writer needs something done, be it driving a getaway car, hacksawing the limbs off of corpse, or reviewing a soon to be released book, you drop what you're doing and get to it. Thankfully, there was a minimal amount of sawing involved in reading this ARC.
First off, Bernie Rhodenbarr is not my favorite of Lawrence Block's series characters, running a distant third behind Keller and the big dog, Matthew Scudder. However, when this ARC fell into my lap, I decided to give Bernie another shot and was glad I did. I was hooked from the opening scene and devoured the book in two sittings.
The Burglar novels are lighter than the Scudder or Keller books, more like Dorothy Sayers or Rex Stout. This one, the Burglar Who Counted the Spoons, had me out in the snow for a great portion of it. Bernie managed to stay a few steps of everyone, including me. Lawrence Block is some kind of literary magician. When you think you've figured out where he's got the rabbit hidden, you turn around to find he's made the Statue of Liberty disappear while you weren't looking.
Bernie's profession is that of a burglar but he's often called upon to do his share of detecting. As he unravels Smith's identity and who killed Helen Osterheimer, I couldn't help but feel a little like Bernie and Block were taking me to school.
While it's a very entertaining mystery, Block also manages to throw down some serious historical trivia and hold my interest for pages at a time, much like he does in the Keller books when Keller goes off on tangents about stamps. I had no idea who Button Gwinnett was before I started reading and now I'm a little curious to learn more.
The supporting cast of Carolyn and Ray were like visiting old friends I hadn't realized I missed. I thought the various heists were believably done and weren't bogged down with unnecessary details. Like I said earlier, I was in the dark for most of the book, which is what I look for in a mystery.
I guess that's all I have to say. Bernie Rhodenbarr has moved up a few notches in my esteem and I guess I'll be filling in the gaps in my Burglar reading pretty soon. Four easy stars!
When your favorite living crime writer needs something done, be it driving a getaway car, hacksawing the limbs off of corpse, or reviewing a soon to be released book, you drop what you're doing and get to it. Thankfully, there was a minimal amount of sawing involved in reading this ARC.
First off, Bernie Rhodenbarr is not my favorite of Lawrence Block's series characters, running a distant third behind Keller and the big dog, Matthew Scudder. However, when this ARC fell into my lap, I decided to give Bernie another shot and was glad I did. I was hooked from the opening scene and devoured the book in two sittings.
The Burglar novels are lighter than the Scudder or Keller books, more like Dorothy Sayers or Rex Stout. This one, the Burglar Who Counted the Spoons, had me out in the snow for a great portion of it. Bernie managed to stay a few steps of everyone, including me. Lawrence Block is some kind of literary magician. When you think you've figured out where he's got the rabbit hidden, you turn around to find he's made the Statue of Liberty disappear while you weren't looking.
Bernie's profession is that of a burglar but he's often called upon to do his share of detecting. As he unravels Smith's identity and who killed Helen Osterheimer, I couldn't help but feel a little like Bernie and Block were taking me to school.
While it's a very entertaining mystery, Block also manages to throw down some serious historical trivia and hold my interest for pages at a time, much like he does in the Keller books when Keller goes off on tangents about stamps. I had no idea who Button Gwinnett was before I started reading and now I'm a little curious to learn more.
The supporting cast of Carolyn and Ray were like visiting old friends I hadn't realized I missed. I thought the various heists were believably done and weren't bogged down with unnecessary details. Like I said earlier, I was in the dark for most of the book, which is what I look for in a mystery.
I guess that's all I have to say. Bernie Rhodenbarr has moved up a few notches in my esteem and I guess I'll be filling in the gaps in my Burglar reading pretty soon. Four easy stars!
ericbuscemi's review against another edition
4.0
This book sauntered along at its own leisurely pace, despite a plot that had Bernie performing multiple jobs in succession while puzzling out the truth of a curious death. But things did eventually accelerate and come together, and the ending was punctuated by an excellent, if not original, summation gathering.
There was a bit of burgling at the beginning, with Carolyn assisting no less, but that was followed by a lull in the middle of the book filled with a number of meandering conversations between Bernie and a number of people -- including an invitation for assistance from police officer and former nemesis Ray Kirschman, a flirtation with the hostess at an Asian restaurant Bernie and Carolyn order from, a historical lesson on early American silver from a wealthy shut-in who has an item Bernie fancies, and a fascinating look at collecting from Bernie's button-hoarding client. There were also nods to other crime authors and a few sexual interludes. While this may not sound like the meatiest content for a book about a part-time burglar and accidental amateur sleuth, these languid moments in between the jobs and the reveals are what humanizes Bernie, making him so tangible and real, despite how stylized the New York City he lives in is.
As with most things Lawrence Block, I highly recommend this quick, light read. Also, note that Amazon Prime members can borrow this from the Kindle Lending Library for free, making it just that much more compelling.
There was a bit of burgling at the beginning, with Carolyn assisting no less, but that was followed by a lull in the middle of the book filled with a number of meandering conversations between Bernie and a number of people -- including an invitation for assistance from police officer and former nemesis Ray Kirschman, a flirtation with the hostess at an Asian restaurant Bernie and Carolyn order from, a historical lesson on early American silver from a wealthy shut-in who has an item Bernie fancies, and a fascinating look at collecting from Bernie's button-hoarding client. There were also nods to other crime authors and a few sexual interludes. While this may not sound like the meatiest content for a book about a part-time burglar and accidental amateur sleuth, these languid moments in between the jobs and the reveals are what humanizes Bernie, making him so tangible and real, despite how stylized the New York City he lives in is.
As with most things Lawrence Block, I highly recommend this quick, light read. Also, note that Amazon Prime members can borrow this from the Kindle Lending Library for free, making it just that much more compelling.
schopflin's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
I really enjoyed this although it's really not about the mystery, much more about literature and obscure facts. I realise that Block has chosen to keep Bernie the same age (or he would be about 75 now) while New York ages and changes, but I am still uncomfortable with the number of college-age women he shags.
lucasm12333's review against another edition
5.0
Marvelous
Another wonderful Rhodenbarr book by the master. At this point, you either love Bernie, or you don't. I obviously do and really enjoyed this one. Mr. Block is such an enjoyable writer to read and this book is no different. Within, you'll find witty dialogue, memorable characters, and interesting cultural references. While not the best in the series, it is a wonderful return to a much beloved character. HIGHLY recommended.
Another wonderful Rhodenbarr book by the master. At this point, you either love Bernie, or you don't. I obviously do and really enjoyed this one. Mr. Block is such an enjoyable writer to read and this book is no different. Within, you'll find witty dialogue, memorable characters, and interesting cultural references. While not the best in the series, it is a wonderful return to a much beloved character. HIGHLY recommended.
usbsticky's review against another edition
3.0
This is my last Bernie book and after all this time, I just realized I like the books for the characters. The mystery or crime aspect isn't very good. Mostly they follow a formula where Bernie is tasked with stealing something, a dead body turns up and he is framed for it. Then he does a bunch of mysterious things without context, and finally summons everyone for a complex reveal with a few twists at the end.
It doesn't make for a very good mystery, just Block trying to amaze people with a complex plot that is unengaging because he made no attempt to engage the readers in it. Worse are the long stretched dialogs (mostly) between Bernie and Carolyn where a couple of sentences are stretched into 5-10 pages. But I've learned to live with those and am pretty glad to get to the end of this series. I probably won't read any more Block novels after I finish the last Bernie book which is a collection of short stories.
Spoilers:
This has a slightly different format, with two storylines that kinda come together. In story line 1 Bernie is tasked with stealing a book from a museum. With this book he gets into the apartment of an agoraphobic collector where he tries to steal a spoon. All of this for a button collector who in the end tries to scam Bernie without paying him.
In storyline 2, an elderly widow is found dead in her large brownstone after coming home from the opera. Her house appears to have been burgled. Ray (the cop) knows Bernie didn't do it but brings him in anyway to try to solve the case.
At the end, Bernie pays back the button collector and brings everyone into his bookstore to reveal the true story behind the case of the dead widow.
I enjoyed Bernie. He's a likeable character and I enjoyed his escapades plus some of the historical context behind some of them. Block sometimes includes real life events or items in this series. For example, he introduced me to Mondrian in one book. In this one, he introduced me to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. So anyway, 3 stars for the series.
It doesn't make for a very good mystery, just Block trying to amaze people with a complex plot that is unengaging because he made no attempt to engage the readers in it. Worse are the long stretched dialogs (mostly) between Bernie and Carolyn where a couple of sentences are stretched into 5-10 pages. But I've learned to live with those and am pretty glad to get to the end of this series. I probably won't read any more Block novels after I finish the last Bernie book which is a collection of short stories.
Spoilers:
This has a slightly different format, with two storylines that kinda come together. In story line 1 Bernie is tasked with stealing a book from a museum. With this book he gets into the apartment of an agoraphobic collector where he tries to steal a spoon. All of this for a button collector who in the end tries to scam Bernie without paying him.
In storyline 2, an elderly widow is found dead in her large brownstone after coming home from the opera. Her house appears to have been burgled. Ray (the cop) knows Bernie didn't do it but brings him in anyway to try to solve the case.
At the end, Bernie pays back the button collector and brings everyone into his bookstore to reveal the true story behind the case of the dead widow.
I enjoyed Bernie. He's a likeable character and I enjoyed his escapades plus some of the historical context behind some of them. Block sometimes includes real life events or items in this series. For example, he introduced me to Mondrian in one book. In this one, he introduced me to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. So anyway, 3 stars for the series.
randyrasa's review against another edition
4.0
It's such a pleasure to return to the world of Bernie Rhodenbarr as told by the reliable professional Lawrence Block, and narrated by the wonderful Richard Ferrone. The story here is not the most amazing, and there is definitely a great deal of chattiness and meandering, but whatever, I still enjoyed this a great deal. It's a comfort read for me. If you're read previous "Burglar" books, you'll enjoy this one, too.
bundy23's review against another edition
4.0
The final novel in the series and, despite being basically the same as the other 10, it's definitely one of the more enjoyable ones. A nice way to end the series.
blacksentai's review against another edition
2.0
This is emphatically not my jam. Thought it would be, but the main character is super annoying to me and, I dunno, feels like everyone is a little too smart and talks way too much?