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Bernie Rhodenbarr has gone legit -- almost -- as the new owner of a used bookstore in New York's Greenwich Village. Of course, dusty old tomes don't always turn a profit, so to make ends meet, Bernie's forced, on occasion, to indulge in his previous occupation: burglary. Besides which, he likes it. Now a collector is offering Bernie an opportunity to combine his twin passions by stealing a very rare and very bad book-length poem from a rich man's library. The heist goes off without a hitch. show more The delivery of the ill-gotten volume, however, is a different story. Drugged by the client's female go-between, Bernie wakes up in her apartment to find the book gone, the lady dead, a smoking gun in his hand, and the cops at the door. And suddenly he's got to extricate himself from a rather sticky real-life murder mystery and find a killer -- before he's booked for Murder One. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Haven't read these in years, but they hold up. Just enjoyable nonsense, but smart and funny nonsense rather than the drivel I see sometimes masquerading as light mystery. This one introduces Barnegat Books and his new bestie Carolyn. Bernie steals a rare work by Kipling for a client, but then things go sideways and he ends up accused of murder. Naturally, Mrs. Rhodenbarr's son Bernie sorts through the crowd of suspects (and motives) and comes out mostly unscathed in the end. Don't think too hard. Just go with it for a fun time and a quick read.
The Bernie Rhodenbarr series remains an unusual series since the main character is an unapologetic burglar who doesn't lose sleep over swiping some valuables. This time Bernie is behind the front of a used bookstore he wants to succeed with, but he's drawn into a shady deal against his better judgement when conned into a valuable book deal of all things.
Outside the same police detective that Bernie bribes occasionally, there continues to be no continuing cast. All new people yet again, dependable and non-judgemental women. It does grow old in the series that, by continuously recycling out any regular characters, there is no need for Bernie to have a continued, developing or layered relationship.
I do find it refreshing how matter of show more factly the lesbian relationship was treated, especially considered it was the 70s and published, but I suppose it's about a burglar being okay with breaking and entering and robbing people of their possessions, so why have any hang ups about what people do in the bedroom?
The detective is a returner, as I said, and he's amusing. I always liked him. He speaks in the classic noir type - chopped and figuratively, much like Bernie and those he interacts with. Like a lot of crime novels, each character's dialogue rings as too similar to be wholly believable.
The story just wasn't that interesting, despite it's bonuses. I was bored in a few sections and kind of ready for it to be over by the time I was halfway through. show less
Outside the same police detective that Bernie bribes occasionally, there continues to be no continuing cast. All new people yet again, dependable and non-judgemental women. It does grow old in the series that, by continuously recycling out any regular characters, there is no need for Bernie to have a continued, developing or layered relationship.
I do find it refreshing how matter of show more factly the lesbian relationship was treated, especially considered it was the 70s and published, but I suppose it's about a burglar being okay with breaking and entering and robbing people of their possessions, so why have any hang ups about what people do in the bedroom?
The detective is a returner, as I said, and he's amusing. I always liked him. He speaks in the classic noir type - chopped and figuratively, much like Bernie and those he interacts with. Like a lot of crime novels, each character's dialogue rings as too similar to be wholly believable.
The story just wasn't that interesting, despite it's bonuses. I was bored in a few sections and kind of ready for it to be over by the time I was halfway through. show less
Bernie Rhodenbarr (bookseller/thief) is back!
This time his focus is on a long lost poem by Rudyard Kipling…in a book, in a millionaire’s private library.
Procuring the book is no problem for Bernie, but when he goes to make the delivery, a big problem arises. The lady at the apartment, who first greets him, is dead with a bullet in her head, when he awakens from the Mickey Finn she gave him. The pounding on the door, by someone shouting, “Open up! Police!” and the murder weapon in Bernie’s hand make Bernie Suspect #1!
Thanks to a fire escape, Bernie is able to make is exit before the cops get in. This is just the start to Bernie’s solving the case of the missing book — did I mention it was stolen while he was passed out? show more There are also the multiple people interested in the book and dealing with Ray Kirschmann, “the best cop money could buy, and money could buy him seven days a week.”
A fun read with a cast of entertaining characters, a great pace and humour. Written by Lawrence Block, the Bernie Rhodenbarr series doesn’t disappoint. show less
This time his focus is on a long lost poem by Rudyard Kipling…in a book, in a millionaire’s private library.
Procuring the book is no problem for Bernie, but when he goes to make the delivery, a big problem arises. The lady at the apartment, who first greets him, is dead with a bullet in her head, when he awakens from the Mickey Finn she gave him. The pounding on the door, by someone shouting, “Open up! Police!” and the murder weapon in Bernie’s hand make Bernie Suspect #1!
Thanks to a fire escape, Bernie is able to make is exit before the cops get in. This is just the start to Bernie’s solving the case of the missing book — did I mention it was stolen while he was passed out? show more There are also the multiple people interested in the book and dealing with Ray Kirschmann, “the best cop money could buy, and money could buy him seven days a week.”
A fun read with a cast of entertaining characters, a great pace and humour. Written by Lawrence Block, the Bernie Rhodenbarr series doesn’t disappoint. show less
This was my favorite book of the series so far,funnier then ever with lines like
“Wonderful. I can play it safe by sitting in a stolen car parked at a bus stop. Why don’t I just wait in the subway? I could cling to the third rail for security.”
Fictional Kipling poems " The Deliverance of Fort Bucklow" drives the story but it's all Bernie and Carolyn thatdrive the fun with excellent dialogue and a complicated mystery just perfect for a book lover.
“Wonderful. I can play it safe by sitting in a stolen car parked at a bus stop. Why don’t I just wait in the subway? I could cling to the third rail for security.”
Fictional Kipling poems " The Deliverance of Fort Bucklow" drives the story but it's all Bernie and Carolyn thatdrive the fun with excellent dialogue and a complicated mystery just perfect for a book lover.
Block, Lawrence. The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling. 1979. Bernie Rhodenbarr No. 3. HarperTorch, 2005.
In this third volume of the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, Lawrence Block reaches his stride. He has given Bernie a bookstore, which he can use to launder some of his ill-gotten gains, and he has given him a permanent sidekick, Carolyn Kaiser, a witty lesbian dog groomer. Of course, Ray Kirschmann, “the best cop money can buy” is back for his piece of the action. The series can now run like a stable sitcom with a familiar cast and setting. The plot in this one involves purloining a rare volume of antisemitic poetry by Rudyard Kipling. As usual, the plot is satisfyingly twisty. 4 stars.
In this third volume of the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, Lawrence Block reaches his stride. He has given Bernie a bookstore, which he can use to launder some of his ill-gotten gains, and he has given him a permanent sidekick, Carolyn Kaiser, a witty lesbian dog groomer. Of course, Ray Kirschmann, “the best cop money can buy” is back for his piece of the action. The series can now run like a stable sitcom with a familiar cast and setting. The plot in this one involves purloining a rare volume of antisemitic poetry by Rudyard Kipling. As usual, the plot is satisfyingly twisty. 4 stars.
It's been a while since I read anything by Lawrence Block and I had forgotten what a good writer he was, the words flow and you really don't realized you're reading (if that makes any sense to anyone other than me). The plot was great with the only drawback being the ending with so many characters, got a little confusing.
In the third book in the “Burglar” series, Block provides the reader with a short, satisfying, humorous read. Bernie Rhodenbarr is a bookseller by day and a burglar by night and he is often quite a burglar. In many ways, this series is a “Yin” to the “Yang” of the dark, brooding Scudder series. Although it is crime fiction in that Bernie is a burglar and he is often accused of murder and placed in dangerous situations, including often being on the run from the law, the series tends to be light and humorous rather than dark and gritty.
Plot-wise, most of the Burglar books tend to follow a similar pattern. If you’ve read one, then you probably have an idea of how the others will go. Bernie is approached to burgle an item of show more value and somehow, in the course of burgling or fencing the item, a dead body appears and the police and the media think that Bernie is the killer, although he has never turned to violence before. Bernie is generally on the run from the law and out to unmask the real killer. This volume follows this basic plot.
Here, Bernie for the first time operates a bookshop, an antiquarian bookshop, which means valuable used or old books, which are things that people physically bought in stores before the advent of E-books. Quite old-fashioned of them. Bernie is approached by a seemingly well-to-do gentleman who is after a book of Kipling’s prose, a book that was part of a private printing and, of which, there is only one remaining anywhere and it isn’t for sale. There are, of course, others who want this book and Bernie is held up at gunpoint, framed for murder, drugged, hunted by the police, and generally put in some awkward positions. The story moves along at a quick and humorous pace until Bernie finally solves the murder in a scene with all suspects gathered and the police ready to spring out.
It is an enjoyable quick read, filled with light banter and other stuff. show less
Plot-wise, most of the Burglar books tend to follow a similar pattern. If you’ve read one, then you probably have an idea of how the others will go. Bernie is approached to burgle an item of show more value and somehow, in the course of burgling or fencing the item, a dead body appears and the police and the media think that Bernie is the killer, although he has never turned to violence before. Bernie is generally on the run from the law and out to unmask the real killer. This volume follows this basic plot.
Here, Bernie for the first time operates a bookshop, an antiquarian bookshop, which means valuable used or old books, which are things that people physically bought in stores before the advent of E-books. Quite old-fashioned of them. Bernie is approached by a seemingly well-to-do gentleman who is after a book of Kipling’s prose, a book that was part of a private printing and, of which, there is only one remaining anywhere and it isn’t for sale. There are, of course, others who want this book and Bernie is held up at gunpoint, framed for murder, drugged, hunted by the police, and generally put in some awkward positions. The story moves along at a quick and humorous pace until Bernie finally solves the murder in a scene with all suspects gathered and the police ready to spring out.
It is an enjoyable quick read, filled with light banter and other stuff. show less
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Author Information
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Lawrence Block is the author of the popular series' featuring Bernie Rhodenbarr, Matthew Scudder, and Chip Harrison. Over 2 million copies of Lawrence Block's books are in print. He has published articles and short fiction in American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, GQ, and The New York Times, and has published several collections of short fiction in show more book form, most recently Collected Mystery Stories. Block is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times, the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe award. In France, he was proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has been awarded the Societe 813 trophy twice. Block was presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana, and is a past president of the Private Eye Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America. (Bowker Author Biography) Lawrence Block is the author of the popular series featuring Bernie Rhodenbarr, Matthew Scudder, and Chip Harrison. Over 2 million copies of Lawrence Block's books are in print. Lawrence Block has won the Edgar Award three times, the Shamus Award four times, the Maltese Falcon Award twice, and was named Grandmaster by the Mystery Writers of America. (Publisher Provided) show less
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Awards
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Scherz Krimi (888)
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling
- Original title
- The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling
- Original publication date
- 1979
- People/Characters
- Bernie Rhodenbarr; Rudyard Whelkin; Madeline Porlock; Carolyn Kaiser; Jesse Awkwright
- Important places
- Greenwich Village, New York, New York, USA; New York, New York, USA
- Epigraph
- When from 'ouse to 'ouse you're 'untin' you must always work in pairs--
It 'alves the gain, but safer you will find--
For a single man gets bottled on them twisty-wisty stairs.
An' a woman comes and clobs 'im from be... (show all)'ind.
When you've turned 'em inside out, an' it seems beyond a doubt
As if there weren't enough to dust a flute
(Cornet: Toot! toot!)--
Before you sling your 'ook, at the 'ouse-tops take a look,
For it's underneath the tiles they 'ide the loot.
(Chorus.) 'Ow the loot!
Bloomin' loot!
That's the thing to make the boys git up an' shoot!
It's the same with dogs an' men,
If you'd make 'em come again
Clap 'em forward with a Loo! loo! Lulu! Loot!
Whoopee! Tear 'im, puppy! Loo! loo! Lulu! Loot! loot! Loot!
--Rudyard Kipling
"Loot" - Dedication
- for Cheryl Morrison
- First words
- I suppose he must have been in his early twenties
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"You might be useful to have around."
- Blurbers
- McBain, Ed; Hillerman, Tony; Ludlum, Robert; Kellerman, Jonathan; Friedman, Philip
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Statistics
- Members
- 922
- Popularity
- 28,905
- Reviews
- 17
- Rating
- (3.76)
- Languages
- 7 — English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, Turkish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 34
- ASINs
- 12
