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Burglar on the Prowl
by Lawrence Block
Lawrence Block has another winner with this funny and intricate mystery.
Devotees of Lawrence Block's "Burglar" series have reason to rejoice. After a five-year hiatus, that witty and ever resourceful thief, Bernie Rhodenbarr, returns for a 10th go round in "The Burglar on the Prowl." Although he robs for the money—no Robin Hood is Bernie—he also admits to getting a thrill every time he illegally enters someone's abode.
After returning from a sober night of casing a house in preparation for a heist, Bernie is restless. Despite his better judgment, he decides he just has to break in somewhere. Readers of previous novels in this series will not be surprised at what happens next. The woman into whose apartment he has trespassed comes home with a man she has met in a bar. Unfortunately for her, this guy has slipped her some Rohypnol, a date rape drug, and she is soon unconscious. Bernie, unable to make an escape, hides under the bed while the cad has his way with the woman. When the guy finally leaves, Bernie proceeds to neaten the apartment and put back much of what he had planned to steal. He also determines to find the rapist and make sure he does not continue with these crimes.
This is just the opening and really only a small part of a story which involves: a plastic surgeon who fixes the faces of shady characters, Italian and Russian gangsters, Latvian patriots, aspiring actresses, IRS agents, a Joseph Conrad novel, a Lesbian dating service and a handful of killings. We also have regulars such as Bernie's friend Carolyn Kaiser and Ray Kirschmann, “the best cop money can buy.” Throughout, we get puns, lots of coincidences and, as Bernie is also a secondhand book dealer, talk about books.
The plot here is so intricate that Bernie has to come up with three explanations. He has an official story for the police. Then he explains what might have happened for Carolyn and, finally, after some gentle prodding from her, he relates what really happened.
Among his other books, Lawrence Block also writes the Matthew Scudder and Evan Tanner series. He has another winner with “Burglar on the Prowl.”
Title: Burglar on the Prowl
Author: Lawrence Block
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 0060198303
Review written by: William Keogan
Reviewer's Rating:8.5
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
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