By Kate Hsieh
In the darkness a burglar had snuck into an apartment intending to rob a woman, but she unexpectedly came home. So the burglar had no choice but to hide himself in the closet and leave the jewelry where he found it. Then someone rang the bell. The burglar, still inside the closet, knew something was happening outside but had no idea what. When he finally emerged he found the woman lying dead on the floor and the murderer long gone with the jewelry. As he left the building he wondered why he always got stuck in situations like this. What kind of burglar would be so unlucky? Let me introduce you to Bernie Rhodenbarr, a second-hand bookstore owner in New York who also happens to be a professional burglar. But unfortunately Bernie has a habit of finding corpses in the apartments he breaks into. So he must turn himself into a detective and find out the real murderer in order to prove his own innocence. Carolyn Kaiser, his lesbian best friend, who runs a dog-grooming parlor called the Poodle Factory, is his trusty sidekick. Bernie is the main character of a series of detective novels written by Lawrence Block. Some people consider him the master of the detective novel today. His erudite novels are popular around the world. Bernie is not just a burglar but a graceful and tasteful one who steals with style. His targets are always rare and significant, such as a priceless coin, a painting by Dutch artist Mondrian, or a valuable first edition of a famous detective novel with the author’s inscription to a fellow author. Block’s novels also often pay homage to previous great writers like Argatha Christie and J.D. Salinger. His novels contain a marvelously different kind of mystery protagonist. This time you find yourself on the side of a “bad guy” and it makes the stories very refreshing. In order to make a contrast with the honest burglar, Block creates a dishonest cop, Ray, the best cop money can buy. Ray is always ready to give Bernie a hand if Bernie will fill it with cash. The so-called “good guy” is dishonest and greedy, while Bernie, the “bad guy,” is trying to solve the crime and restore justice. It is true that he commits crimes, but you can’t help but like this guy, and you secretly hope that he never gets caught. The stories are packed with wit, wonderful plots, and great dialogue–perfect for curling up in bed with. They are pure joy. If you enjoy reading detective novels then you will love these. This cat burglar will definitely steal your heart! a
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May 2024
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