Scan barcode
book_concierge's review
3.0
Book two in the Good Thief’s Guide mystery series, has author and thief Charlie Howard in the City of Lights. He agrees to a reading at a bookstore and following the event joins a few people for drinks. Under the influence he agrees to show one of the patrons how to break into a building. Of course, they are breaking into the man’s own apartment. The next day, Charlie is contacted by his usual fence with a new “commission” to steal a painting … at the same apartment. And then things get complicated.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one fell flat for me. Oh, I still like Charlie and I like the way he thinks. He’s fiercely independent but possibly not so good at truly hiding his identity as he has always thought. I enjoyed the introduction of Victoria, his agent; she really added a lot to this episode.
But this plot went all over the place. I never did really figure out the role of a few of the players. One thing I expect of mysteries is that the conclusion answers all my questions, and this one did not. Though he did set up the next in the series rather nicely, so I’ll probably read more.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one fell flat for me. Oh, I still like Charlie and I like the way he thinks. He’s fiercely independent but possibly not so good at truly hiding his identity as he has always thought. I enjoyed the introduction of Victoria, his agent; she really added a lot to this episode.
But this plot went all over the place. I never did really figure out the role of a few of the players. One thing I expect of mysteries is that the conclusion answers all my questions, and this one did not. Though he did set up the next in the series rather nicely, so I’ll probably read more.
rusty_spurs's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This book was really cute. It's the second in a series and I haven't read the first so I'm sure some references were lost on me but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The main character, Charlie Howard, has a great sense of humor and the book had me chuckling in some places.
I enjoyed the platonic relationship between Charlie and Victoria. I wish more authors would write friendships like this.
The mystery itself was a bit confusing and I found it difficult to keep track of everything. I'm not sure whether this is my own intellectual shortcomings or the author's writing.
Though difficult to follow along plot wise, it was an easy and light read. There were a lot of places referenced throughout the book that I'm not familiar with but it didn't take away from the story.
The main character, Charlie Howard, has a great sense of humor and the book had me chuckling in some places.
The mystery itself was a bit confusing and I found it difficult to keep track of everything. I'm not sure whether this is my own intellectual shortcomings or the author's writing.
Though difficult to follow along plot wise, it was an easy and light read. There were a lot of places referenced throughout the book that I'm not familiar with but it didn't take away from the story.
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
3.0
Second in the Good Thief Series (after Amsterdam), THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS sees the return of Charlie Howard, author and professional thief along with his agent Victoria and fence Pierre. Although in this book Victoria gets to be more than just a voice at the end of the phone.
You're going to get the idea of the plot of this book from the blurb, although what you aren't going to get is an idea of the elaborate twisting and turning, leaping and posturing that goes on to get to the nub of the problem. Although all of that carry on is fairly normal in Charlie's world. These books are an pleasing combination of light-hearted humour, a hefty dose of self-deprecation (including some plot elements where the reader seems nowhere near as confused as Charlie is) carried off with considerable aplomb. To be fair though, there are also a number of positively ridiculous scenarios carried off with more than a bit of ham-fisted reverse explaining.
There is a particularly nice sense of place about these books, and I will confess to a sneaking suspicion about research versus tourism and tax dodges = a book to justify the jaunt, which is part of the fun. You don't want to read these books too seriously and in this one in particular, definitely not for the destination. In fact I suspect that some readers of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS are going to be chewing the edges of the book at some elements of the resolution, even though the journey there was seriously good fun.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/good-thiefs-guide-paris-chris-ewan
You're going to get the idea of the plot of this book from the blurb, although what you aren't going to get is an idea of the elaborate twisting and turning, leaping and posturing that goes on to get to the nub of the problem. Although all of that carry on is fairly normal in Charlie's world. These books are an pleasing combination of light-hearted humour, a hefty dose of self-deprecation (including some plot elements where the reader seems nowhere near as confused as Charlie is) carried off with considerable aplomb. To be fair though, there are also a number of positively ridiculous scenarios carried off with more than a bit of ham-fisted reverse explaining.
There is a particularly nice sense of place about these books, and I will confess to a sneaking suspicion about research versus tourism and tax dodges = a book to justify the jaunt, which is part of the fun. You don't want to read these books too seriously and in this one in particular, definitely not for the destination. In fact I suspect that some readers of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS are going to be chewing the edges of the book at some elements of the resolution, even though the journey there was seriously good fun.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/good-thiefs-guide-paris-chris-ewan
bookslucyking's review
4.0
In the begining I wasnt sure I will like it but later on it turned into pretty crazy story with burglars and art and it was cool :) looking forward to read the next book with Charlie.
carrieliza's review
2.0
Wow, I don't like mystery books. Especially ones in which characters are constantly saying "oh, but that's now how it works in a mystery book!"
Meh. I still give it 2 stars because it wasn't the worst thing ever. Just...sort of.
Meh. I still give it 2 stars because it wasn't the worst thing ever. Just...sort of.
shanviolinlove's review
Engaging novel; I almost didn't realize, at first, that I was engaged in a murder mystery. It reads like a fun contemporary novel. Props to the French phrases at the end of the novel, and the creative notion to have a thief write "fictitious" memoirs of his career as a thief, and get caught up in the Million Dollar Heist.
However, the actual narration reminds me of something I myself would have written as a juvenile; the characters are extremely overdramatic, all a bit unrealistically eager to get themselves involved in this story (in reality, a publisher would not be so personally drawn to help a thief out of a murder investigation). Lighthearted novel, but nothing more to it.
However, the actual narration reminds me of something I myself would have written as a juvenile; the characters are extremely overdramatic, all a bit unrealistically eager to get themselves involved in this story (in reality, a publisher would not be so personally drawn to help a thief out of a murder investigation). Lighthearted novel, but nothing more to it.
thelaurasaurus's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not sure why I chose to buy this book rather than Amsterdam which was the first one but it didn’t really matter, everything was explained.
Charlie is hired to teach someone to break into an apartment and then hired by someone else to steal a painting from the same apartment the next day. Then a dead body appears in his living room. The rest of the book is the classic whodunit but with humour injected which really made a change from the usual depressing crime dramas that I go for.
I was pleased that I really enjoyed this book as I seem to spend so much time complaining about things in my one woman book club. The writing has a light tone and it is very funny which makes it so much more readable.
Of course I couldn’t get through a review without pointing out a problem and there’s a spelling mistake on page 193. Never mind though, it didn’t stop me enjoying the book so the rest must have been really good!
Charlie is hired to teach someone to break into an apartment and then hired by someone else to steal a painting from the same apartment the next day. Then a dead body appears in his living room. The rest of the book is the classic whodunit but with humour injected which really made a change from the usual depressing crime dramas that I go for.
I was pleased that I really enjoyed this book as I seem to spend so much time complaining about things in my one woman book club. The writing has a light tone and it is very funny which makes it so much more readable.
Of course I couldn’t get through a review without pointing out a problem and there’s a spelling mistake on page 193. Never mind though, it didn’t stop me enjoying the book so the rest must have been really good!
skconaghan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just good—fast to read, twisty-plot, clean-criminal fun.
zogg's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5