Mystery author Lawrence Block has made an announcement recently that is sure to make a lot of his long time fans very happy: Bernie Rhodenbarr is returning in an all new book!
This one will be the 11th in the series, and it definitely comes as a big surpise. I remember Block mentioning once in his newsletter something like ‘If I had a nickel for every time someone asked if there will be another Burglar book….’, and now there is one. No news on the nickels, though I am guessing after this one is released he’ll have a couple more to rub together.
…a handwritten manuscript, a collection of American Colonial silver, steamer trunks overflowing with buttons, a girl with a gecko tattoo, and a whole lot of breaking and entering.“
For those unfamiliar with the series, the books star Bernie Rhodenbarr, New York City bookstore owner by day, cat burglar extraordinaire by night. His best friend, Carolyn Kaiser, is a lesbian dog groomer who owns a shop named The Poodle Factory and his contact on the other side of the law is Ray Kirschmann, an honest cop.
Meaning of course, that if he gets bought, he stays bought…and that is about as honest as can be, no?
Bernie has this little inconvenient habit of going into a place he shouldn’t be, to burgle it or such, and finding a body or something. This usually leads to Ray showing up and asking ‘Why did you kill the guy, Bernie?’
Don’t worry, he didn’t do it; he is a genuinely nice guy. But of course this sort of thing usually leads to Mrs. Rhodenbarr’s son Bernard having to solve the murder himself. You know, to clear his own name and avoid an extended stay in the pokey.
The books are great because they are lighthearted and the plot is really secondary to the characters. I for one am very happy to hear they will be back.
You can read more at lawrenceblock.com/look-whos-back/. The book is being published by Mr. Block himself in partnership with Amazon, and is schedule to ship on Christmas Day 2013.
You can read the opening chapter right now:
THE BURGLAR WHO COUNTED THE SPOONS: CHAPTER ONE
And his latest late night appearance:
[…] have enjoyed the work of Lawrence Block for many years. From his lighter Burglar mysteries to the hard boiled stuff, to the older works just now being made available once again for new fans. […]