The Burglar in the Rye
The 10 books featuring full-time burglar and part-time used bookseller Bernie Rhodenbarr should really be on every mystery lover’s bookshelf. Lawrence Block is a master – a first-ballot Hall of Famer if you will – at writing the entertaining mystery novel, whether it’s the calm, reflective, insightful but violent world of the professional hitman Keller, or the knockdown slapstick THIN MAN-style witty repartee of the Rhodenbarr series.
In THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE, Rhodenbarr is commissioned to steal a horde of letters written by one Gulliver Fairborn, a famous but reclusive author who is very desirous of his privacy. His spurned literary agent has threatened to make the letters available by selling them through the Sotheby’s auction house, and this will discomfit Fairborn severely.
Of course, Fairborn doesn’t proposition Rhodenbarr directly; that is carried out by a wonderfully sexy young woman named Alice Cottrell, who quickly charms Rhodenbarr and involves him in the adventure.
Oh, you know this is going to turn out badly, don’t you? It usually does for Bernie, and this case is no exception. When Bernie visits the agent’s hotel room to steal the letters, he finds that someone has been there before him, and the agent is no longer alive. From here, complications – as they tend to do – set in.
As usual, Block keeps the light and frothy atmosphere rolling along. Rhodenbarr has a suitable self-deprecating humor and he’s quick to make fun of the situations in which he gets involved. And Block is very good at throwing the unexpected twist into the mix. Sometimes you can see the twist coming, and it’s almost as much fun to see Rhodenbarr tumble to the new development long after you have already done so. If you like your mysteries fast-moving and with a strong humorous lilt, then give these books a try, and this particular title is a fine place to start. –Mark Rose
• THE BURGLAR IN THE LIBRARY by Lawrence Block
• THE BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART by Lawrence Block
• A DANCE AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE by Lawrence Block
• THE GIRL WITH THE LONG GREEN HEART by Lawrence Block
• HIT PARADE by Lawrence Block
• LUCKY AT CARDS by Lawrence Block
• THE SCORELESS THAI by Lawrence Block
• TANNER’S TWELVE SWINGERS by Lawrence Block
This is a great Block book. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever read a Block book I disliked. This one is as good as any to start in on the series. All of his titles are perfect to start in on. I think I’m somewhere between my 10th and 15th Block novels. I’ll read anything of his I can get my hands on! I just hope he writes more Keller(the lovable assasin)titles in the future.
Bookgasm rules! This is the best book blog I’ve ever found. I’m starting to add your recommendations to a spreadsheet that I can print out and take with me whenever I go to the bookstore. Keep up the great work!