Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 0394510658, Hardcover)

Lawrence Block's classic Bernie Rhodenbarr capers continue with this long-unavailable adventure for the Greenwich Village bookseller who can't resist a little breaking-and-entering now and then. Serendipity is a curious thing. It's just good luck that Bernie knows that Hank and Wanda Colcannon's Chelsea apartment is empty while they're out of town. But it's lousy luck that somebody beats him to the job and ransacks the place before he arrives. But then again, it's great luck that Bernie turns up a rare 1913 V-nickel. He knows that it's valuable, but when he takes it to Abel Crowe, his local fence, and finds out that the five-cent piece is worth a cool half a mil, well that's just stupefying. Abel has a soft spot for Bernie, who's always bringing him rare books on philosophy, including the writings of Baruch Spinoza, so he agrees to handle the hot coin. But the next day the cops come looking for Bernie. It seems the Colcannons came home early and surprised an intruder. Hank is badly beaten, and Wanda, unfortunately is dead. So, it turns out, is Abel. And the coin is missing. The whole thing stinks of a set-up. All the cops care about is how easy it will be to pin the whole thing on Bernie. All Bernie can do is turn for help from his brand new friend, name of Spinoza.