Burglars Can't Be Choosers

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a professional burglar in New York City who takes on what appears to be a straightforward job - stealing a blue leather box from an Upper East Side apartment. The assignment comes from a mysterious client who provides detailed instructions and a generous payment. When Bernie enters the apartment, he finds no box but does discover a dead body. He quickly becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, forcing him to evade both the police and whoever set him up. Bernie must use his skills as a burglar and amateur detective to clear his name. His investigation leads him through Manhattan's social circles as he tries to uncover the truth about his client and the murder victim. The novel examines themes of identity and deception while playing with classic noir detective tropes. Through its criminal protagonist, it raises questions about conventional morality and justice.

Readers describe this as a light, quick-paced mystery that doesn't take itself too seriously. Many note it serves as an accessible entry point to Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Readers highlighted: - The witty first-person narration and Bernie's self-deprecating humor - Fast pace and short chapters that maintain momentum - Clean writing style without graphic content - New York City setting details Common criticisms: - Plot relies on coincidences - Secondary characters lack depth - Mystery solution feels rushed - Some dated 1970s references and attitudes Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Several reader reviews note this isn't Block's strongest work but praise it as "entertaining brain candy" (Goodreads reviewer) and "comfort reading" (Amazon reviewer). Multiple readers mentioned returning to reread the series multiple times, with one calling it their "go-to palette cleanser between heavier books."

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🔍 The book's protagonist, Bernie Rhodenbarr, went on to star in 10 more books in Block's "Burglar" series, becoming one of the author's most beloved characters. 💎 Lawrence Block wrote this first Bernie Rhodenbarr novel in 1977, but initially used the pen name Paul Kavanagh because he wasn't sure how readers would react to a burglar as a hero. 🏆 The author, Lawrence Block, has won multiple prestigious awards including four Edgar Awards, four Shamus Awards, and the Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement from the Crime Writers' Association. 🔑 The concept of a "gentleman thief" featured in this book has a rich literary history, including famous characters like A.J. Raffles and Arsène Lupin, who helped establish this unique crime fiction subgenre. 📺 Despite the popularity of the series, only one Bernie Rhodenbarr novel has been adapted for the screen: "Burglar" (1987), starring Whoopi Goldberg in a gender-swapped version of Bernie.