The latest in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series by multiple-award winner Block has Bernie underestimating the difficulty of breaking into a posh East Side apartment to steal a blue leather-covered box. No box, dead body, bum murder rap. Not so easy. The New York Times Book Review has called the Rhodenbarr books, "A witty series. Bernie is incorrigibly adorable. Between his inquiring mind and his sticky fingers, Bernie is the ideal sleuth."


From AudioFile
Reader Mike Jarmus sounds as spoiled and resourceful as Block's famous burglar in this addition to the Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Jarmus does the other voices well, too, catching the cold greed of a landlord who has just upped the rent tenfold; the street-wise accent of Bernie's cop friend, always ready to line his pockets as long as no one gets hurt; and the self-mocking tone of his lesbian friend, Carolyn. Block's sober Matthew Scudder books are wonderfully offset by the humorous Rhodenbarr romps, and Jarmus captures their flavor, cadence, ambiance--and New York itself. D.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Midwest Book Review
Bernie is a burglar who likes to work alone, facing a work-for-hire job which involves stealing a mysterious box and delivering it. The simple operation turns complicated when the box vanishes and his capers attract the police. Fans of Block’s prior burglar titles will find this engrossing.


Book Description

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a personable chap, a good neighbor, a passable poker player. His chosen profession, however, might not sit well with some. Bernie is a burglar, a good one, effortlessly lifting valuables from the not-so-well-protected abodes of well-to-do New Yorkers like a modern-day Robin Hood. (The poor, as Bernie would be the first to tell you, alas, have nothing worth stealing.)

He's not perfect, however; he occasionally makes mistakes. Like accepting a paid assignment from a total stranger to retrieve a particular item from a rich man's apartment. Like still being there when the cops arrive. Like having a freshly slain corpse lying in the next room, and no proof that Bernie isn't the killer.

Now he's really got his hands full, having to locate the true perpetrator while somehow eluding the police -- a dirty job indeed, but if Bernie doesn't do it, who will?


About the Author
A Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, Lawrence Block is a four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe and Shamus Awards, as well as a recipient of prizes in France, Germany, and Japan. The author of more than fifty books and numerous short stories, he is a devout New Yorker who spends much of his time traveling.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Bernie-the-burglar Rhondenbarr takes on a simple apartment break-in, only to find a dead body in the bedroom. Now he's on the run with his old nemesis, Detective Kirschmann, nipping at his heels.

ANNOTATION

Fans of Lawrence Block's saucy series burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr (who was revived after a long absence in the recent The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams) will be delighted to learn that Dutton is bringing back the book that launched Bernie about 16 years ago. Burglars Can't Be Choosers shows an insouciant Bernie before he acquired the antiquarian bookstore he now runs when not burgling. As in Ted Williams, there turns out to be a corpse in the apartment where Bernie is doing his job; otherwise the two books are much different: Ted Williams is much funnier, but there's always pleasure to be had in seeing the birth of an enduring hero.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Now, we all know Bernie's the type of guy who likes to work alone. He finds the profits are higher and the risks a lot lower. But in Burglars Can't Be Choosers, Bernie finds that while he's no beggar, he's not above taking on a rare work-for-hire. It's simple, really. All he has to do is break into a posh East Side apartment, grab a blue leather-covered box, deliver it to his mysterious employer, and pocket a nice, easy fee. Well, nothing's ever that easy. No sooner is Bernie inside the apartment when things start to go wrong. Things like...no blue box. Things like...the police, led by his old nemesis, detective Ray Kirschmann. Things like...the dead body in the bedroom. Things like...being accused of murder. Bernie, suddenly on the run, couldn't ask for a better place to hide than the anonymous streets of New York City - except for the fact his face is now in every tabloid newspaper and on every television newscast. Holing up at an out-of-town friend's apartment, he meets up with a lovely young lady ready with aid and comfort...and other resources. At last Bernie's got some time to figure out what's going on, and who set him up. And why.

FROM THE CRITICS

AudioFile - Don Wismer

Reader Mike Jarmus sounds as spoiled and resourceful as Block￯﾿ﾽs famous burglar in this addition to the Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Jarmus does the other voices well, too, catching the cold greed of a landlord who has just upped the rent tenfold; the street-wise accent of Bernie￯﾿ﾽs cop friend, always ready to line his pockets as long as no one gets hurt; and the self-mocking tone of his lesbian friend, Carolyn. Block￯﾿ﾽs sober Matthew Scudder books are wonderfully offset by the humorous Rhodenbarr romps, and Jarmus captures their flavor, cadence, ambiance and New York itself. D.W. ￯﾿ﾽAudioFile, Portland, Maine

Mike Lupica

If Lawrence Block writes it, I read it. -- New York Newsday

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Lawrence Block is addictive. — David Morrell