The Burglar in the Library

Professional burglar and bookseller Bernie Rhodenbarr plans a weekend getaway to Cuttleford House, an English-style country house hotel in the Berkshires. His mission is to steal a rare first edition of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep that he believes contains a valuable inscription from Dashiell Hammett. A severe snowstorm traps Bernie and the other guests at Cuttleford House, creating a classic locked-room mystery scenario. When a body is discovered in the library, Bernie must switch roles from would-be thief to amateur detective to clear his name and uncover the truth. The story combines elements of traditional English manor house mysteries with Bernie's signature wit and criminal expertise. Block's narrative pays homage to Golden Age detective fiction while maintaining the established tone of his Burglar series. The novel explores themes of authenticity and deception, both in rare books and human nature, while questioning the boundaries between collecting and theft, justice and crime.

Readers rate this Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery as entertaining but not Block's strongest work. The book holds a 3.9/5 on Goodreads and 4.1/5 on Amazon from over 1,500 combined ratings. Readers appreciated: - The locked-room mystery setup in a snowbound English manor - References to Raymond Chandler and classic detective fiction - Block's trademark humor and witty dialogue - Complex plotting with multiple storylines Common criticisms: - Takes too long to reach the main crime - Less action than other books in the series - Some find the literary references pretentious - Resolution feels rushed "A fun tribute to classic mysteries but drags in places," notes one Amazon reviewer. Goodreads readers frequently mention enjoying the cozy setting but wanting more of Bernie's typical burglary adventures. Library Journal praised the "clever plot twists" while Publishers Weekly called it "middling Block." Most recommend it for existing fans of the series rather than as an entry point.

The Drawing Game by Linda French A small-town librarian investigates murders connected to rare books while navigating the politics of a New England library.

The Rare Book Murders by Theodore Pratt A book dealer tracks stolen first editions through Boston's antiquarian bookshops as bodies pile up.

Death of a Literary Widow by E.X. Ferrars A mystery unfolds at a writer's estate when manuscripts disappear and guests turn up dead during a literary gathering.

The Dewey Decimal Murder by Charles Goodrum A reference librarian uses his knowledge of library systems to solve murders happening within the stacks of the Library of Congress.

The Paper Detective by Elizabeth Peters A rare manuscripts expert follows clues through historic libraries to catch a killer targeting book collectors in London.

🔍 Author Lawrence Block wrote this Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery while deliberately paying homage to classic locked-room mysteries and Agatha Christie's storytelling style. 📚 The plot revolves around a valuable first edition of Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep," signed and inscribed to Dashiell Hammett - a fictional artifact that would be worth a fortune if it existed. 🏰 The setting, Cuttleford House, is a classic English-style country house in the Berkshires that Block invented as a perfect location for a traditional mystery, complete with a snowstorm that isolates the guests. ✍️ This is the 8th book in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, which features a protagonist who is both a professional burglar and a legitimate bookstore owner in New York City. 🗓️ Published in 1997, the book cleverly bridges the gap between classic Golden Age detective fiction and modern mystery novels by incorporating elements of both styles.