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. ( )

3.5* for this audiobook edition ( )

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? 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. ( )

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. ( )

Los bibliófilos han enloquecido. Corre la voz de que existe un ejemplar, un único ejemplar de una rara y casi desconocida obra que, además, está dedicada a Hitler y es ferozmente antisemita. Y un bibliófilo enloquecido por una pieza única es un sujeto muy peligroso. Eso lo sabe bien Bern Rhodenbarr, el más hábil y el más honrado de los ladrones, que acaba teniendo el libro en su poder y se encuentra rodeado por una manada de hombres ávidos por conseguir el preciado volumen. Tan ávidos que, por supuesto, no repararán en medios para obtenerlo.