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Bernie Rhodenbarr #5
The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian
It's not that used bookstore owner and part-time burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr believes the less legal of his two professions is particularly ethical. (It is, however, a rush, and he is very good at it.) He just thinks it's unfair to face a prison term for his legitimate activities. After appraising the worth of a rich man's library -- conveniently leaving his fingerprints everywhere in the process -- Bernie finds he's the cops' prime suspect when his client is murdered.
Someone has framed Bernie Rhodenbarr better than they do it at the Whitney. And if he wants to get out of this corner he's been masterfully painted into, he'll have to get to the bottom of a rather artful -- if multiply murderous -- scam.
Someone has framed Bernie Rhodenbarr better than they do it at the Whitney. And if he wants to get out of this corner he's been masterfully painted into, he'll have to get to the bottom of a rather artful -- if multiply murderous -- scam.
311 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Lawrence Block
744 books3,025 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
July 9, 2020
Book 5 in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series published 1983.
Once again our burglar with a heart has his back to the wall.
To be honest, if I were Bernie Rhodenbarr I would sell the antiquarian bookshop and do some real thieving. That bookshop is nothing but trouble.
Bernie’s not a man with big ambitions, all he wants to do is sit in his book shop during the day and do a bit of honest burglary at night but some really nefarious people seem to want to put him in harms way.
For once Bernie is working this night honestly, well mostly honestly. He has been asked to do an inventory of a private library and to value said library. All has gone well, he’s been paid for his endeavours and everyone seems happy. But before leaving the building Bernie has one more call to make. The apartment he goes to is empty; this is no surprise to Bernie as he was counting on it. After relieving the owner of the apartment of his, very valuable, stamp collection Bernie heads for home.
Not long after the police are knocking on Bernie’s door with an arrest warrant for, of all things, murder.
The man with the private library was found dead inside his bedroom closet and of course Bernie’s prints are all over the place.
Luckily for Bernie he knows people, who know people, who know people in high places and is soon out on bail.
As you would have guest, this book is all about the theft of a work of art created by Mr. Mondrian. Some people have paid top dollar for what they believed to be an original Mondrian but not all works of art are originals and guess who was selling the fakes. You got it, the dead man in the closet.
This is great easy reading, rib tricklingly funny and without any overt violence. Sure there are a couple of dead bodies but what’s a mystery without a few dead bodies?
The dialogue is great and the mystery is mysterious right up to the end.
Highly recommended 4 star read
Once again our burglar with a heart has his back to the wall.
To be honest, if I were Bernie Rhodenbarr I would sell the antiquarian bookshop and do some real thieving. That bookshop is nothing but trouble.
Bernie’s not a man with big ambitions, all he wants to do is sit in his book shop during the day and do a bit of honest burglary at night but some really nefarious people seem to want to put him in harms way.
For once Bernie is working this night honestly, well mostly honestly. He has been asked to do an inventory of a private library and to value said library. All has gone well, he’s been paid for his endeavours and everyone seems happy. But before leaving the building Bernie has one more call to make. The apartment he goes to is empty; this is no surprise to Bernie as he was counting on it. After relieving the owner of the apartment of his, very valuable, stamp collection Bernie heads for home.
Not long after the police are knocking on Bernie’s door with an arrest warrant for, of all things, murder.
The man with the private library was found dead inside his bedroom closet and of course Bernie’s prints are all over the place.
Luckily for Bernie he knows people, who know people, who know people in high places and is soon out on bail.
As you would have guest, this book is all about the theft of a work of art created by Mr. Mondrian. Some people have paid top dollar for what they believed to be an original Mondrian but not all works of art are originals and guess who was selling the fakes. You got it, the dead man in the closet.
This is great easy reading, rib tricklingly funny and without any overt violence. Sure there are a couple of dead bodies but what’s a mystery without a few dead bodies?
The dialogue is great and the mystery is mysterious right up to the end.
Highly recommended 4 star read
March 18, 2021
This is another very enjoyable entry in Lawrence Block's series about Bernie Rhodenbarr, the gentleman burglar and used-book dealer. As the story begins, Bernie is retained in the latter capacity to appraise the book collection of a very wealthy man named Gordon Onerdonk. Not only will this allow Bernie to pick up a bit of loose change for doing the appraisal, but as a bonus, it gets him legitimately into a building with some of the tightest security in New York City.
Bernie completes the appraisal, noting that Oderdonk has a very nice painting by Mondrian hanging over his fireplace. (This begs the question of why anyone would ever hang a valuable painting over a fireplace where it could be damaged by smoke should the chimney get blocked, but I digress.) On his way out of the building, Bernie takes advantage of the opportunity to burgle another apartment and steal some very valuable stamps. So far, so good.
Almost immediately thereafter, though, someone kidnaps a cat belonging to Bernie's best friend, Carolyn Kaiser. In order to ensure the cat's safe return, the kidnapper wants Bernie to steal another painting by Mondrian that's hanging in a local gallery.
As is always the case with these books, someone will be murdered along the way and Bernie will become the prime suspect, forced to save himself by finding the real killer. And, as is always the case in these books, the plot makes no real sense and requires the reader to suspend disbelief to a significant degree. But you don't read the Rhodenbarr series for the plots; the joy of these books is watching Bernie at work and listening in to the interactions between Bernie and the other characters, especially Carolyn. The solution to all this business seemed a bit convoluted even for this series, but still it was a fun read and a good way to lose a couple of hours out of an evening.
Bernie completes the appraisal, noting that Oderdonk has a very nice painting by Mondrian hanging over his fireplace. (This begs the question of why anyone would ever hang a valuable painting over a fireplace where it could be damaged by smoke should the chimney get blocked, but I digress.) On his way out of the building, Bernie takes advantage of the opportunity to burgle another apartment and steal some very valuable stamps. So far, so good.
Almost immediately thereafter, though, someone kidnaps a cat belonging to Bernie's best friend, Carolyn Kaiser. In order to ensure the cat's safe return, the kidnapper wants Bernie to steal another painting by Mondrian that's hanging in a local gallery.
As is always the case with these books, someone will be murdered along the way and Bernie will become the prime suspect, forced to save himself by finding the real killer. And, as is always the case in these books, the plot makes no real sense and requires the reader to suspend disbelief to a significant degree. But you don't read the Rhodenbarr series for the plots; the joy of these books is watching Bernie at work and listening in to the interactions between Bernie and the other characters, especially Carolyn. The solution to all this business seemed a bit convoluted even for this series, but still it was a fun read and a good way to lose a couple of hours out of an evening.
March 6, 2020
Bookstore owner/professional burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr returns home from a successful night of stealing on to find his best friend Carolyn in a desperate state in his apartment. Someone has taken Carolyn’s pet cat from her apartment and is now demanding a ridiculous amount of money to return the feline. It quickly becomes clear that the catnapper was trying to get Bernie to pull a job by going through Carolyn, but stealing a Mondrian painting from a museum is a bit much for a humble burglar. However, Bernie has the bright idea to steal another Mondrian from an apartment he was just in. What could possibly go wrong?
There’s all the usual things to like in this series with witty conversations and clever schemes to break into places. However, the plot gets incredibly complex and even after Bernie has laid it all out at the end I’m not sure I fully understand what happened which feels like too much in a book that features a kidnapped cat. It also seems like a cheat that a lot of the explanation brings in characters we haven’t even seen in the novel until that point.
Still, it’s Lawrence Block doing his thing with Bernie and Carolyn so there’s a lot to like. Block fans will also probably notice that this involves art, stamp collecting, and jogging which are all subjects he’s interested in that have come up in other books.
There’s all the usual things to like in this series with witty conversations and clever schemes to break into places. However, the plot gets incredibly complex and even after Bernie has laid it all out at the end I’m not sure I fully understand what happened which feels like too much in a book that features a kidnapped cat. It also seems like a cheat that a lot of the explanation brings in characters we haven’t even seen in the novel until that point.
Still, it’s Lawrence Block doing his thing with Bernie and Carolyn so there’s a lot to like. Block fans will also probably notice that this involves art, stamp collecting, and jogging which are all subjects he’s interested in that have come up in other books.
September 10, 2018
A fine entry in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Bernie is a pleasant fellow, but I wouldn't want him to drop in when I wasn't home. He might take my '54 Topps Willie Mays home with home, by accident, of course. In this one Bernie must ransom a cat and try to steal a valuable painting and solve a couple of murders. Highly enjoyable. Recommended.
May 23, 2021
The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian
(Bernie Rhodenbarr #5)
by Lawrence Block (Goodreads Author)
Well, not being an art collector and having taken my fine art elective YEARS ago... I had to go and see who Mondrian was… or if he was. Guess what … he was …… a Dutch painter, regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century according to Wikipedia. And of course, when I saw his work, I was aware of his work…
So, onto the book… This is nothing less than a cozy murder mystery that made the rainy day here so much more bearable. Fun, zany, full of dry humor, and reeks of a Drag Net and Robert Parker-ish style that I just ADORE! I liked the language, the lack of descriptions of grisly violence… it was just a straightforward read that was …. Well, straightforward!
I loved this quote… it is so telling… “He looked like a banker who foreclosed on what turned out to be swampland….” And “YOU CAD, YOU BOUNDER!! “
I enjoyed professional gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, who uses his burglar talents for good…. Almost like a superhero, he uses his unusual powers for good! Well maybe not completely good ... but he isn’t greedy… he only takes bits that he doesn’t think will be missed right away. This is unlike the client, who plotted a scam that outsmarted the IRS in a smart and unique way.
So here is what you get…
Rhodenbarr has to help his friend Caroline, whose cat has been kidnapped. The ransom is a Mondrian hanging in a museum… But Rhodenbarr knows where another one is…. So why not get it from there? I mean, Caroline’s cat is worth 250,000., isn’t it? So, there are a couple of burglaries (Rhodenbarr is a professional at this for sure), and of course, there are a couple of dead guys... one of which is blamed on Rhodenbarr.
You get a lesson in fine art, fine jewels, and things that are worth a second look from a professional thief…
4 stars
Happy Reading!
(Bernie Rhodenbarr #5)
by Lawrence Block (Goodreads Author)
Well, not being an art collector and having taken my fine art elective YEARS ago... I had to go and see who Mondrian was… or if he was. Guess what … he was …… a Dutch painter, regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century according to Wikipedia. And of course, when I saw his work, I was aware of his work…
So, onto the book… This is nothing less than a cozy murder mystery that made the rainy day here so much more bearable. Fun, zany, full of dry humor, and reeks of a Drag Net and Robert Parker-ish style that I just ADORE! I liked the language, the lack of descriptions of grisly violence… it was just a straightforward read that was …. Well, straightforward!
I loved this quote… it is so telling… “He looked like a banker who foreclosed on what turned out to be swampland….” And “YOU CAD, YOU BOUNDER!! “
I enjoyed professional gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, who uses his burglar talents for good…. Almost like a superhero, he uses his unusual powers for good! Well maybe not completely good ... but he isn’t greedy… he only takes bits that he doesn’t think will be missed right away. This is unlike the client, who plotted a scam that outsmarted the IRS in a smart and unique way.
So here is what you get…
Rhodenbarr has to help his friend Caroline, whose cat has been kidnapped. The ransom is a Mondrian hanging in a museum… But Rhodenbarr knows where another one is…. So why not get it from there? I mean, Caroline’s cat is worth 250,000., isn’t it? So, there are a couple of burglaries (Rhodenbarr is a professional at this for sure), and of course, there are a couple of dead guys... one of which is blamed on Rhodenbarr.
You get a lesson in fine art, fine jewels, and things that are worth a second look from a professional thief…
4 stars
Happy Reading!
August 31, 2015
Another very entertaining and enjoyable book in the Bernie Rhodenbarr series! Kept me interested from start to the end.
July 19, 2015
The fifth Burglar book is, as we've come to expect from Block, an absolute pleasure to read from start to finish. The series is very much a by the numbers affair with your basic plot reused from one book to the next - namely the burglar must prove that he didn't murder somebody whilst keeping the fact that he was stealing something very valuable out of the equation - but it's all of the surrounding detail that our supreme storyteller adds to things that make it the delight that it is. Bernie is a charming rogue, full of witty repartee and useless information trotted out to demonstrate Block's love of research in to a particular field - in this instance primarily the work of the artists in the De Stijl movement - whilst he manages to draw a handful of interesting and deftly painted characters in to his orbit, several of whom reappear from book to book almost as frequently as Bernie himself, whilst some even manage to resist framing him, hiring him or sleeping with him. In true whodunnit style we are once more treated to the roundup as Bernie reveals which of the major players did the deed (although I'm unsure whether Poirot would have planted evidence, with the help of Japp, in order to draw a confession) and in true Block in Burglar Bernie mode half of the suspects haven't even been featured in the novel to this point. I love the arrogant, tongue in cheek nature of such a move, it's thoroughly in keeping with the tone of the book and the attitude of his protagonist to casually deconstruct genre expectations.
November 1, 2019
When I started this book, I didn't know it wasn't my first novel by this author. I read The Girl with the Long Green Heart quite recently and I really liked it. But I like this book even more.
Let's be honest it's not an overly complicated crime story. It's rather a simple one, written in a straightforward, almost harsh language. There are no long descriptions or unnecessary words here. Dialogues are short and frequent. There are no long fragments that would slow down the action or flashback. There are only some shortcuts, because there is no omniscient narrator. It is in this simplicity that all the charm of this book lies. Which undoubtedly provides great entertainment.
In simplicity and in a very interesting main character. I admit that I have a great weakness for all kinds of fictional thieves and con men. That's why I liked Bernie from the very beginning. After all, he is something like a gentleman thief. But not only because of that. Bernie is simply a character that is easy to like. He is nice, a bit cynical and has his own moral code. He is also undoubtedly clever and has a kind of charm that makes him pretty charming.
I also truly enjoy the plot, it provides great entertainment. It is full of action and twists and turns. I really like books about heist and I regret that there are so few of them. This book is like watching a great movie. Theft of paintings, murders, taking identity, attempting to frame Bernie. The book is suspenseful and all the time I couldn’t wait to see what will happen next.
This is my first book in this series but certainly not the last. I liked Bernie, and if the other books in this series are equally good, then I will have a great time enjoying them.
April 28, 2015
This particular story was a little hard to follow, but funny and informative as usual. And talking about "as usual", just about every Bernie Rhodenbarr book I've read so far can be summed up in a few sentences...
Bernie: *burgles some unlucky bastard*
Some unlucky bastard: *turns up dead*
Ray: Darn it, Bernie, you've never been a violent man, why start now?
Bernie: I'M AN INNOCENT BOOKSHOP OWNER.
Ray: Just confess already. Oh, and I want half of what's in your wallet, your shoes and your puppy. Just kidding, you don't have a puppy.
Random women: *throw themselves at Bernie*
Carolyn: I need a drink. Also, do you think the waitress might be gay?
Bernie: What I think is I need to find the real killer. So I'm gonna make several vaguely described phone calls and break into some vaguely described places to do mysterious things.
Random women: *throw themselves at Bernie*
Bernie: Well, I'm done with the phone calls and the random women. Time to throw some light on this!
Everyone: *gathers in one place*
Bernie: So I'm an innocent bookshop owner who's been framed for murder, right? But I've managed to figure out the real murderer using my mad deduction skills and a little breaking-and-entering. And the murderer is sitting right over there!
Murderer: HOW DARE YOU.
Bernie: Look, here is some false evidence that I planted in your appartment, but it doesn't matter that it's false because my bluffing made you confess anyway. I'm awesome. Also, still just a bookshop owner. What's a burglar?
Carolyn: Bernie, you child of a dog, I really need that drink.
That's it, every single book summed up. You're welcome.
That said, I'm still going to read all of them. Interesting mysteries, witty narration and a great example of male/female friendship - what else do you need? Oh, and Bernie is definitely up there in the top 5 of my favorite literary characters, even with all the women hanging off him. He's a darling.
Bernie: *burgles some unlucky bastard*
Some unlucky bastard: *turns up dead*
Ray: Darn it, Bernie, you've never been a violent man, why start now?
Bernie: I'M AN INNOCENT BOOKSHOP OWNER.
Ray: Just confess already. Oh, and I want half of what's in your wallet, your shoes and your puppy. Just kidding, you don't have a puppy.
Random women: *throw themselves at Bernie*
Carolyn: I need a drink. Also, do you think the waitress might be gay?
Bernie: What I think is I need to find the real killer. So I'm gonna make several vaguely described phone calls and break into some vaguely described places to do mysterious things.
Random women: *throw themselves at Bernie*
Bernie: Well, I'm done with the phone calls and the random women. Time to throw some light on this!
Everyone: *gathers in one place*
Bernie: So I'm an innocent bookshop owner who's been framed for murder, right? But I've managed to figure out the real murderer using my mad deduction skills and a little breaking-and-entering. And the murderer is sitting right over there!
Murderer: HOW DARE YOU.
Bernie: Look, here is some false evidence that I planted in your appartment, but it doesn't matter that it's false because my bluffing made you confess anyway. I'm awesome. Also, still just a bookshop owner. What's a burglar?
Carolyn: Bernie, you child of a dog, I really need that drink.
That's it, every single book summed up. You're welcome.
That said, I'm still going to read all of them. Interesting mysteries, witty narration and a great example of male/female friendship - what else do you need? Oh, and Bernie is definitely up there in the top 5 of my favorite literary characters, even with all the women hanging off him. He's a darling.
February 3, 2014
Little by little, I'm chipping away at this series featuring New York bookstore owner and occasional burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr - and every one has been a treat. The ending of this one, the fifth, I believe, had my head in a bit of a spin trying to keep all the lines in the Mondrian paintings straight (pun intended), but it was one of the most enjoyable so far.
Bernie is approached by a wealthy gentlemen who wants an appraisal of the old books in the library of his swanky apartment. While he's there, Bernie notices a Mondrian painting on the wall. As is customary in these books, at least one person ends up dead (in this case, the wealthy gentleman) and the painting is missing, and because Bernie's fingerprints are all over the man's apartment - legitimately - Bernie gets accused of the murder. Complicating matters is that Bernie's friend and sometime burglaring cohort Carolyn becomes a victim herself; one of her two beloved kitties is catnapped, and the ransom is a Mondrian painting that's hanging in a local museum. Coincidence? I think not.
Bernie is approached by a wealthy gentlemen who wants an appraisal of the old books in the library of his swanky apartment. While he's there, Bernie notices a Mondrian painting on the wall. As is customary in these books, at least one person ends up dead (in this case, the wealthy gentleman) and the painting is missing, and because Bernie's fingerprints are all over the man's apartment - legitimately - Bernie gets accused of the murder. Complicating matters is that Bernie's friend and sometime burglaring cohort Carolyn becomes a victim herself; one of her two beloved kitties is catnapped, and the ransom is a Mondrian painting that's hanging in a local museum. Coincidence? I think not.
May 19, 2014
I love the story of The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian, but the denouement leaves much to be desired. Most of the Burglar-Who books end with a drawing-room-style reveal, but this is the only one I can think of where the reader knows practically no one in the drawing room. As it is explained, it's all perfectly logical, but the fact that we haven't met six or seven of the major players until the end makes the ending fairly weak. In fact, this was at least the second or third time I've read this one, and I still can barely remember whodunnit.
It's a pity, because the action of The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian is interesting, the cast of characters we do know (none of whom, except Bernie are really important in the last act) appealing, the rushing around avoiding dead bodies and Mondrians all very fun.
It's just too bad it falls apart at the end. Lawrence Block can and has done better than this. It feels rushed and haphazard.
It's a pity, because the action of The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian is interesting, the cast of characters we do know (none of whom, except Bernie are really important in the last act) appealing, the rushing around avoiding dead bodies and Mondrians all very fun.
It's just too bad it falls apart at the end. Lawrence Block can and has done better than this. It feels rushed and haphazard.
June 14, 2010
I love the humor in this series, featuring antiquarian-bookseller-by-day, burglar-by-night Bernie Rhodenbarr. The humor was definitely intact here, but I had trouble keeping track of the Mondrians, the various apartments, and some of the characters, in this one. Perhaps all of this is attributable to me, reading quickly and lazily, and not to the book. But, a major plot thread was rather poorly resolved, IMHO, and that earned it 3, rather than 4, stars. Still, I read Bernie for the humor more than the mystery, and for that, I recommend this one.
March 29, 2019
Bernie Rhodenbarr No. 5. Still loving this series.
* * * * *
Good grief, I entirely forgot reading this book 7/1-7/1/18! It is good, but the denouement was rather complicated and confusing. This is not my favorite Bernie Rhodenbarr book.
* * * * *
Good grief, I entirely forgot reading this book 7/1-7/1/18! It is good, but the denouement was rather complicated and confusing. This is not my favorite Bernie Rhodenbarr book.
May 21, 2023
A fun mystery involving a murder, a kidnapped cat and a Mondrian painting. Great characters and funny dialogue. A clever story and very entertaining.
March 27, 2025
Bernie once again finds himself on the hock for a murder he did not commit. These are really entertaining stories whereI find myself laughing out loud.
March 2, 2009
Okay, I’ve avoided these books because I thought they were a low-rent version of Westlake’s Dortmunder series. I was wrong. They are a high-rent version of Dortmunder. At least, in this one, the protagonist has a higher grade of “clients.” And, at least in this one, the conclusion works out better than in the average Dortmunder novel. To be sure, I feel like the zany antics of Westlake’s crew and the sense that their elaborate schemes are going to get somehow twisted are actually more fun than Bernie’s in this novel. Yet, the two characters are so different and their approaches to the crimes so different that I think both stand on their own.
Bernie Rhodenbarr is essentially an upper-storey man, a “To Catch a Thief” or “Saint” style high-society burglar—only he doesn’t work for the government or the authorities (at least, directly) and, at least in this novel, he doesn’t climb walls or descend from the roof cat burglar-style to reach his prey. His approach is rather more sophisticated and plausible than the usual upscale jewel heist type of burglary.
Of course, just because I claim that the methods of entry and the tradecraft for breaking and entering is more plausible than the usual fare doesn’t mean that the entire plot is plausible. There is an interesting encounter between Bernie and a female inside one of his targets that strains credulity in the most delightful way. There is a mistaken identity bit with siblings that seemed like a throwaway, but then proved significant. There is a bit of subterfuge used to uncover subterfuge in which the subterfuge covers new subterfuge which enables a most improbable resolution to the subterfuge. Yes, the title of the novel pretty well gives it away, but you won’t know how until you reach the denouement. Yet, as I was reading, I heard Dana Carvey’s “Church Lady” in my head saying, “How, very, very … convenient!” At least, we knew it wasn’t “Satan!”
It isn’t easy being Bernie. I’m not even sure why I find myself rooting for Bernie, but I guess I admired his creativity and competence. I’d like to be that good at what I do. On the other hand, I hope there aren’t any real people out there like him. I’d like to think that the Mondrians I’ve seen in the museums were authentic. I hope he doesn’t paint like Warhol in the next book.
Bernie Rhodenbarr is essentially an upper-storey man, a “To Catch a Thief” or “Saint” style high-society burglar—only he doesn’t work for the government or the authorities (at least, directly) and, at least in this novel, he doesn’t climb walls or descend from the roof cat burglar-style to reach his prey. His approach is rather more sophisticated and plausible than the usual upscale jewel heist type of burglary.
Of course, just because I claim that the methods of entry and the tradecraft for breaking and entering is more plausible than the usual fare doesn’t mean that the entire plot is plausible. There is an interesting encounter between Bernie and a female inside one of his targets that strains credulity in the most delightful way. There is a mistaken identity bit with siblings that seemed like a throwaway, but then proved significant. There is a bit of subterfuge used to uncover subterfuge in which the subterfuge covers new subterfuge which enables a most improbable resolution to the subterfuge. Yes, the title of the novel pretty well gives it away, but you won’t know how until you reach the denouement. Yet, as I was reading, I heard Dana Carvey’s “Church Lady” in my head saying, “How, very, very … convenient!” At least, we knew it wasn’t “Satan!”
It isn’t easy being Bernie. I’m not even sure why I find myself rooting for Bernie, but I guess I admired his creativity and competence. I’d like to be that good at what I do. On the other hand, I hope there aren’t any real people out there like him. I’d like to think that the Mondrians I’ve seen in the museums were authentic. I hope he doesn’t paint like Warhol in the next book.
May 12, 2018
This was my 2nd book by Block. It was needlessly padded with detailed descriptions of people and places who played no part in the plot. It wasn't until chapter 5 that a plot presented itself. And for all the description he gives, he never tells what the protagonist himself looks like. His name was Bernie so I pictured him looking like Tony Curtis. Not that it helped. Book could easily have been cut in half without suffering. It reads like he made it up as he went along. Maybe he had a deadline. Whatever the case, not recommended.
July 12, 2018
Bernie Rhodenbarr is a burglar, a careful burglar, a skilled burglar. In this strange series, Bernie is the good guy. In The Burglar who Painted like Mondrian by Lawrence Block, his theft of valuable stamps is minor compared to two murders, the theft of Mondrian masterpieces, and the kidnapping of his friend’s Carolyn Kaiser’s cat.
If you’re in the market for a cozy mystery with many twists and turns all building to an Agatha Christie-like conclusion with everyone sitting in the living room quietly while Bernie explains what happened and identifies the murders. This is just the book for you.
For my detailed report: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20... for book recommendations.
If you’re in the market for a cozy mystery with many twists and turns all building to an Agatha Christie-like conclusion with everyone sitting in the living room quietly while Bernie explains what happened and identifies the murders. This is just the book for you.
For my detailed report: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20... for book recommendations.
January 8, 2021
I like this series a lot. This one is mighty confusing--I think artfully so, if you'll pardon the pun--but I love the denouement.
December 9, 2015
Είναι το πέμπτο βιβλίο με ήρωα τον συμπαθητικό παλαιοβιβλιοπώλη και διαρρήκτη Μπέρνι Ρόντενμπαρ που διαβάζω, μου φάνηκε το ίδιο καλό και ευχάριστο με τα προηγούμενα τέσσερα.
Η δουλειά του παλαιοβιβλιοπώλη, αν και ευχάριστη για κάποιον που λατρεύει τα βιβλία, σίγουρα δεν είναι ιδιαίτερα επικερδής. Γι'αυτό και ο Μπέρνι δεν έκοψε το συνήθειο να κάνει καμιά διάρρηξη που και που. Εδώ που τα λέμε, και να έβγαζε πολλά λεφτά από το παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο, δεν πιστεύω ότι θα σταματούσε τις διαρρήξεις. Αυτές είναι που τον εξιτάρουν, που τον κάνουν να νιώθει νέος και υγιής. Ας πούμε ότι είναι το χόμπι του, ότι εξασκεί ένα ταλέντο.
Στην ιστορία μας τώρα, ο Μπέρνι κατάφερε και μπήκε στο καλά φρουρούμενο κτίριο Καρλομάγνος, με την δικαιολογία ότι είχε ένα ραντεβού με έναν ένοικο του κτιρίου για να αποτιμήσει την συλλογή βιβλίων του. Κύριος σκοπός του, βέβαια, ήταν να διαρρήξει ένα άλλο διαμέρισμα και να κλέψει μια πολύτιμη συλλογή γραμματοσήμων. Έλα όμως που θα πέσει θύμα μιας καλοστημένης παγίδας, που θα τον εμπλέξει σε δύο φόνους και κάποιες παράνομες αγοραπωλησίες και δωρεές πλαστών ή/και αυθεντικών έργων του Μοντριάν. Στην μέση υπάρχει και η απαγωγή του αγαπημένου βιρμανέζου γάτου της λεσβίας φίλης του Μπέρνι, της Κάρολαϊν, μιας και απ'ότι φαίνεται σχετίζεται με έναν πίνακα του Μοντριάν.
Κλασικά η γραφή είναι ευχάριστη και με χιούμορ, οι διάλογοι στο ίδιο μοτίβο, αν και μερικοί μου φάνηκαν μη ρεαλιστικοί. Η πλοκή σε κρατούσε και το μυστήριο δεν ήταν λίγο ή αδιάφορο, αλλά σίγουρα δεν υπήρχε αγωνία ή σασπένς. Τα βιβλία της σειράς με ήρωα τον Μπέρνι Ρόντενμπαρ είναι ό,τι πρέπει για μια γρήγορη και ευχάριστη ανάγνωση, νιώθοντας παράλληλα ότι διαβάζεις κάτι κλασικό στην χιουμοριστική αστυνομική λογοτεχνία.
Έχουν μεταφραστεί και τα επόμενα δυο βιβλία της σειράς, το έκτο και το έβδομο, ελπίζω κάποια στιγμή να τα βρω και αυτά. Επίσης στα ελληνικά έχουν μεταφραστεί δυο βιβλία με ήρωα τον Ματ Σκάντερ, πρόκειται για το "Ακόμα και οι αχρείοι" και το "Οκτώ εκατομμύρια τρόποι να πεθάνεις", τα οποία ευτυχώς έχω.
Η δουλειά του παλαιοβιβλιοπώλη, αν και ευχάριστη για κάποιον που λατρεύει τα βιβλία, σίγουρα δεν είναι ιδιαίτερα επικερδής. Γι'αυτό και ο Μπέρνι δεν έκοψε το συνήθειο να κάνει καμιά διάρρηξη που και που. Εδώ που τα λέμε, και να έβγαζε πολλά λεφτά από το παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο, δεν πιστεύω ότι θα σταματούσε τις διαρρήξεις. Αυτές είναι που τον εξιτάρουν, που τον κάνουν να νιώθει νέος και υγιής. Ας πούμε ότι είναι το χόμπι του, ότι εξασκεί ένα ταλέντο.
Στην ιστορία μας τώρα, ο Μπέρνι κατάφερε και μπήκε στο καλά φρουρούμενο κτίριο Καρλομάγνος, με την δικαιολογία ότι είχε ένα ραντεβού με έναν ένοικο του κτιρίου για να αποτιμήσει την συλλογή βιβλίων του. Κύριος σκοπός του, βέβαια, ήταν να διαρρήξει ένα άλλο διαμέρισμα και να κλέψει μια πολύτιμη συλλογή γραμματοσήμων. Έλα όμως που θα πέσει θύμα μιας καλοστημένης παγίδας, που θα τον εμπλέξει σε δύο φόνους και κάποιες παράνομες αγοραπωλησίες και δωρεές πλαστών ή/και αυθεντικών έργων του Μοντριάν. Στην μέση υπάρχει και η απαγωγή του αγαπημένου βιρμανέζου γάτου της λεσβίας φίλης του Μπέρνι, της Κάρολαϊν, μιας και απ'ότι φαίνεται σχετίζεται με έναν πίνακα του Μοντριάν.
Κλασικά η γραφή είναι ευχάριστη και με χιούμορ, οι διάλογοι στο ίδιο μοτίβο, αν και μερικοί μου φάνηκαν μη ρεαλιστικοί. Η πλοκή σε κρατούσε και το μυστήριο δεν ήταν λίγο ή αδιάφορο, αλλά σίγουρα δεν υπήρχε αγωνία ή σασπένς. Τα βιβλία της σειράς με ήρωα τον Μπέρνι Ρόντενμπαρ είναι ό,τι πρέπει για μια γρήγορη και ευχάριστη ανάγνωση, νιώθοντας παράλληλα ότι διαβάζεις κάτι κλασικό στην χιουμοριστική αστυνομική λογοτεχνία.
Έχουν μεταφραστεί και τα επόμενα δυο βιβλία της σειράς, το έκτο και το έβδομο, ελπίζω κάποια στιγμή να τα βρω και αυτά. Επίσης στα ελληνικά έχουν μεταφραστεί δυο βιβλία με ήρωα τον Ματ Σκάντερ, πρόκειται για το "Ακόμα και οι αχρείοι" και το "Οκτώ εκατομμύρια τρόποι να πεθάνεις", τα οποία ευτυχώς έχω.
June 2, 2012
Argh. I erased everything I wrote. So, the second try is going to be briefer.
This entry in the series is worth a full "4". No reverse points-shaving to get a "3.7" or similar up to the next whole star. Good plot, good character interactions, good writing. Bernie robs, thinks he is in the clear and then life gets very, very complicated.
Multiple homicides, a cat-napping, and a few close body doubles make this a very good book. We get a few secondary characters back into the series and some fine antics all around.
But today I wish to talk about the "nugget" of facts that the author weaves into each tale. Some (like Bogart and Ted Williams) were already personal favorites. Others are familiar but less closely know (Kipling). Here, the subject is Piet Mondrain and his paintings.
I knew next to nothing about the man and his works when starting this volume. Now, I know more and am intrigued by the descriptions of his art. He was like Edvard Munch in that he painted several variations on the same theme. although part of a "school" at the start of the 20th Century, he set himself apart by his methods and his works.
As I've written before, I enjoy these integrations of history and culture into the books. In this case very much so. Enough to plant a full "4" ranking on a book in which it was easy to predict some of the side plot resolutions. Clean, fun, and well-written: the hallmark of this series in print (and living color!)
This entry in the series is worth a full "4". No reverse points-shaving to get a "3.7" or similar up to the next whole star. Good plot, good character interactions, good writing. Bernie robs, thinks he is in the clear and then life gets very, very complicated.
Multiple homicides, a cat-napping, and a few close body doubles make this a very good book. We get a few secondary characters back into the series and some fine antics all around.
But today I wish to talk about the "nugget" of facts that the author weaves into each tale. Some (like Bogart and Ted Williams) were already personal favorites. Others are familiar but less closely know (Kipling). Here, the subject is Piet Mondrain and his paintings.
I knew next to nothing about the man and his works when starting this volume. Now, I know more and am intrigued by the descriptions of his art. He was like Edvard Munch in that he painted several variations on the same theme. although part of a "school" at the start of the 20th Century, he set himself apart by his methods and his works.
As I've written before, I enjoy these integrations of history and culture into the books. In this case very much so. Enough to plant a full "4" ranking on a book in which it was easy to predict some of the side plot resolutions. Clean, fun, and well-written: the hallmark of this series in print (and living color!)
July 21, 2017
The "burglar" series is a funny, at times hilarious, series by Lawrence Block. Bernie, the star of the books, is a burglar by night and bookseller by day. He abhors violence and doesn't kill. Nevertheless, in the course of burglarizing, he often either stumbles across a body or one is found left behind a place he just burgled or else he can't prove an alibi for where he was because he was busy burglarizing someone else's home. The books are filled with humor, coincidences, and often Bernie being hunted across town while trying to solve a murder that he allegedly didn't commit.
In this particular caper, a cat is kidnapped or is it catnapped and the price for the pussycat's freedom is a Mondrian painting. Luckily, Bernie has just come upon one. Unluckily for him, once he slips through the building's defenses, he walks in only to find someone home. Naturally, he has to hide out when a body turns up and somehow he is the prime suspect.
This story is a lot of fun to read. But, you need to know from the start, it is not dark, gritty, or hardboiled. In short, this is not Matthew Scudder or even his cousin. It is more like Block's nod to Agatha Christie and the like, including a scene (typical of the burglar books) where he has all the suspects rounded up and then purports to reveal who the real killer is and why.
In this particular caper, a cat is kidnapped or is it catnapped and the price for the pussycat's freedom is a Mondrian painting. Luckily, Bernie has just come upon one. Unluckily for him, once he slips through the building's defenses, he walks in only to find someone home. Naturally, he has to hide out when a body turns up and somehow he is the prime suspect.
This story is a lot of fun to read. But, you need to know from the start, it is not dark, gritty, or hardboiled. In short, this is not Matthew Scudder or even his cousin. It is more like Block's nod to Agatha Christie and the like, including a scene (typical of the burglar books) where he has all the suspects rounded up and then purports to reveal who the real killer is and why.
July 15, 2016
Block is a prolific writer; Rhodenbarr one of his more amusing creations. In this outing, Bernie is initially roped into going after a cat burglar (as opposed to being one.) However, he gets up to usual activities quickly enough, and then finds himself accused of not one, but two murders. Hi-jinks ensue as he tries to clear his name whilst not admitting to having been in various places he should not have been. You will need a program guide to keep track of who did what to whom in the denouement.
March 2, 2015
I will freely admit to being as confused as Bernie's right hand Carolyn Kaiser by his every-which-way explanation of the various interconnecting crimes and misdirections, but the use of youth protesters as a diversionary tactic made me laugh rather heartily.
December 8, 2017
Delightful turn of phrases. Mastery of language like Wodehouse.
January 5, 2020
Το πρώτο βιβλίο του 2020! Και, με πολλή χαρά και ενθουσιασμό, δηλώνω ότι πρόκειται περί μίας εξαιρετικής επιλογής για την έναρξη μιας ακόμη αναγνωστικής χρονιάς: διότι το βιβλίο αυτό ήταν ευκολοδιάβαστο και με πολύ χιούμορ, κάτι που αναζωογονεί πνεύμα και διάθεση στον αναγνώστη και αποτελεί ένα κίνητρο για να χαμογελά αναλογιζόμενος τους πρωταγωνιστές και τις περιπέτειές τους.
Το μυθιστόρημα, όμως, ΔΕΝ είναι μόνον ένα χιουμοριστικό ανάγνωσμα. Κάτω από την επίφαση των αστείων συμβάντων, η ουσία είναι δραματική! Κλοπές έργων τέχνης, παραχαράξεις, φόνοι και μοναξιά, αγωνία για διαφυγή από τους διώκτες-αστυνομικούς, διεκδίκηση της ελευθερίας και της δικαιοσύνης.
Με φόντο την πόλη της Νέας Υόρκης, ο πρωταγωνιστής, ένας ικανότατος διαρρήκτης που έχει ζήσει στη φυλακή για κάποιο χρονικό διάστημα, θα κάνει τα πάντα για να αποδείξει ότι δεν δολοφόνησε δύο ανθρώπους. Ο συγγραφέας κατορθώνει να μην αφήσει κανένα κενό στην αφήγηση και καμία απορία περί του ρόλου του κάθε προσώπου στην εξέλιξη της ιστορίας.
Ξεκινώντας από ένα παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο -του οποίου ο ιδιοκτήτης είναι ο πρωταγωνιστής, ένας επιδέξιος κλέφτης, με ιδιαίτερη λογοτεχνική παιδεία και ευρύτερη καλλιέργεια- θα μας καλέσει να κινηθούμε μαζί με τον ήρωά του -μέσω της πρωτοπρόσωπης αφήγησης- σε μουσεία σύγχρονης τέχνης, σε ακριβά διαμερίσματα πλουσίων, σε δρόμους της πόλης, σε ατελιέ ζωγράφων. Ταυτόχρονα, ο Λόρενς Μπλοκ θα στηλιτεύσει τη διαφθορά των αστυνομικών, τις εμμονές κάποιων και το κυνήγι του κέρδους πάση θυσία. Θα υμνήσει, όμως, και τη δύναμη της φιλίας, την αγάπη για τα ζώα και την αφοσίωση στην Τέχνη, ενώ θα τολμήσει να παρουσιάσει και μία σχέση ομοφυλοφίλων. Αν λάβει κανείς υπόψη του ότι το έργο αυτό κυκλοφόρησε το 1983, εκπλήσσεται με το γεγονός ότι η καλύτερη φίλη του ήρωα και η σύμμαχός του σε πολλά επεισόδια του έργου, είναι μία λεσβία κοπέλα, η οποία αναζητά τον έρωτα και ο συγγραφέας αντιμετωπίζει την ηρωίδα του χωρίς κανένα ταμπού, -για την εποχή εκείνη.
Εκτός από τον πρωταγωνιστή που με γοήτευσε με το χιούμορ του, την παιδεία του και την ψυχραιμία του μπροστά στα λογής προβλήματα που είχε να αντιμετωπίσει, μου κίνησε το ενδιαφέρον και ένας δευτερεύων χαρακτήρας που συναντά τον ήρωα στο μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης και απογοητευμένος από τις κακοτεχνίες που φιλοξενούνται εκεί μέσα δηλώνει: "Το μουσείο αυτό είναι το καλάθι των αχρήστων της Ιστορίας της Τέχνης... κάποια έργα ξεχωρίζουν...αλλά τα υπόλοιπα είναι χειρότερα από σκουπίδια... απόβλητα... Στον αιώνα μας υπάρχουν ελάχιστοι καλοί καλλιτέχνες... Η καταστροφή της κακοτεχνίας είναι από μόνη της μια αριστοτεχνική πράξη. Ο Μπακούνιν είχε πει πως η ώθηση να καταστρέψεις είναι μια δημιουργική ώθηση. Όταν ξεσκίζεις μερικούς από αυτούς τους καμβάδες...".
Άραγε, ο ίδιος προχωρά στο να καταστρέψει κάποια από τα κακόγουστα έργα του Μουσείου ή τα πράγματα εξελίσσονται εντελώς απρόσμενα; Σε κάθε περίπτωση, ο Μπλοκ κάνει χρήση στους διαλόγους του, αποφθεγμάτων και λόγων διάσημων διανοητών, προσκαλώντας μας να διερευνήσουμε τη σημασία των βιβλίων και των πνευματικών ανθρώπων στην πορεία του καθενός μας, ανεξαρτήτως του επαγγέλματος που ασκούμε ή της κοινωνικής μας θέσης. Κι όλα αυτά, ενώ ένας γάτος έχει απαχθεί και ένας πίνακας του Μοντριάν έχει τοποθετηθεί στο στόχαστρο της αναζήτησης διαφορετικών ανθρώπων με διαφορετικά κίνητρα, που θα τους οδηγήσουν ακόμη και στο έγκλημα!
Αλήθεια, πόσο ισχυρό και, ενίοτε, και επικίνδυνο είναι το "Χρηματιστήριο της Τέχνης";;;
Το μυθιστόρημα, όμως, ΔΕΝ είναι μόνον ένα χιουμοριστικό ανάγνωσμα. Κάτω από την επίφαση των αστείων συμβάντων, η ουσία είναι δραματική! Κλοπές έργων τέχνης, παραχαράξεις, φόνοι και μοναξιά, αγωνία για διαφυγή από τους διώκτες-αστυνομικούς, διεκδίκηση της ελευθερίας και της δικαιοσύνης.
Με φόντο την πόλη της Νέας Υόρκης, ο πρωταγωνιστής, ένας ικανότατος διαρρήκτης που έχει ζήσει στη φυλακή για κάποιο χρονικό διάστημα, θα κάνει τα πάντα για να αποδείξει ότι δεν δολοφόνησε δύο ανθρώπους. Ο συγγραφέας κατορθώνει να μην αφήσει κανένα κενό στην αφήγηση και καμία απορία περί του ρόλου του κάθε προσώπου στην εξέλιξη της ιστορίας.
Ξεκινώντας από ένα παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο -του οποίου ο ιδιοκτήτης είναι ο πρωταγωνιστής, ένας επιδέξιος κλέφτης, με ιδιαίτερη λογοτεχνική παιδεία και ευρύτερη καλλιέργεια- θα μας καλέσει να κινηθούμε μαζί με τον ήρωά του -μέσω της πρωτοπρόσωπης αφήγησης- σε μουσεία σύγχρονης τέχνης, σε ακριβά διαμερίσματα πλουσίων, σε δρόμους της πόλης, σε ατελιέ ζωγράφων. Ταυτόχρονα, ο Λόρενς Μπλοκ θα στηλιτεύσει τη διαφθορά των αστυνομικών, τις εμμονές κάποιων και το κυνήγι του κέρδους πάση θυσία. Θα υμνήσει, όμως, και τη δύναμη της φιλίας, την αγάπη για τα ζώα και την αφοσίωση στην Τέχνη, ενώ θα τολμήσει να παρουσιάσει και μία σχέση ομοφυλοφίλων. Αν λάβει κανείς υπόψη του ότι το έργο αυτό κυκλοφόρησε το 1983, εκπλήσσεται με το γεγονός ότι η καλύτερη φίλη του ήρωα και η σύμμαχός του σε πολλά επεισόδια του έργου, είναι μία λεσβία κοπέλα, η οποία αναζητά τον έρωτα και ο συγγραφέας αντιμετωπίζει την ηρωίδα του χωρίς κανένα ταμπού, -για την εποχή εκείνη.
Εκτός από τον πρωταγωνιστή που με γοήτευσε με το χιούμορ του, την παιδεία του και την ψυχραιμία του μπροστά στα λογής προβλήματα που είχε να αντιμετωπίσει, μου κίνησε το ενδιαφέρον και ένας δευτερεύων χαρακτήρας που συναντά τον ήρωα στο μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης και απογοητευμένος από τις κακοτεχνίες που φιλοξενούνται εκεί μέσα δηλώνει: "Το μουσείο αυτό είναι το καλάθι των αχρήστων της Ιστορίας της Τέχνης... κάποια έργα ξεχωρίζουν...αλλά τα υπόλοιπα είναι χειρότερα από σκουπίδια... απόβλητα... Στον αιώνα μας υπάρχουν ελάχιστοι καλοί καλλιτέχνες... Η καταστροφή της κακοτεχνίας είναι από μόνη της μια αριστοτεχνική πράξη. Ο Μπακούνιν είχε πει πως η ώθηση να καταστρέψεις είναι μια δημιουργική ώθηση. Όταν ξεσκίζεις μερικούς από αυτούς τους καμβάδες...".
Άραγε, ο ίδιος προχωρά στο να καταστρέψει κάποια από τα κακόγουστα έργα του Μουσείου ή τα πράγματα εξελίσσονται εντελώς απρόσμενα; Σε κάθε περίπτωση, ο Μπλοκ κάνει χρήση στους διαλόγους του, αποφθεγμάτων και λόγων διάσημων διανοητών, προσκαλώντας μας να διερευνήσουμε τη σημασία των βιβλίων και των πνευματικών ανθρώπων στην πορεία του καθενός μας, ανεξαρτήτως του επαγγέλματος που ασκούμε ή της κοινωνικής μας θέσης. Κι όλα αυτά, ενώ ένας γάτος έχει απαχθεί και ένας πίνακας του Μοντριάν έχει τοποθετηθεί στο στόχαστρο της αναζήτησης διαφορετικών ανθρώπων με διαφορετικά κίνητρα, που θα τους οδηγήσουν ακόμη και στο έγκλημα!
Αλήθεια, πόσο ισχυρό και, ενίοτε, και επικίνδυνο είναι το "Χρηματιστήριο της Τέχνης";;;
May 22, 2020
"[...] black ribbons uncurled and stretched themselves across the white expanse, extending from top to bottom, from left to right, forming a random rectangular grid. Then one of the enclosed spaces of white blushed and reddened, and another spontaneously took on a faint sky tint that deepened all the way to a rich cobalt blue, and another red square began to bleed in on the lower right, and --
By God, my mind was painting me a Mondrian."
Three months ago I reviewed here The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block, and in the review I wrote:
Anyway, about the plot. Archie Goodwin is not really the Archie Goodwin but still, the current installment of the Burglar series starts strongly: Bernie has an interesting day in his used book shop. A customer tries to sell a book that belongs to a library while another customer reads poetry aloud from a tome she is buying. Later Bernie visits the apartment of another customer who hired him to appraise his book collection. Yet... Bernie has his set of burglar tools with him! Then a lot happens: kidnapping, murder, and more. Piet Mondrian's paintings provide anchors to fix the narrative axis of the plot. Mondrian's paintings disappear, reappear, and get stolen to order.
Wonderful, light, delightful prose! Bernie and his friend, Wally, run in Central Park and do 9:20 miles. Well, at their age, I could do a 7:15 mile! The account of a brief affair between Bernie and Andrea is totally charming. As are further passages dedicated to sexual attraction:
Three-and-a-half stars.
By God, my mind was painting me a Mondrian."
Three months ago I reviewed here The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block, and in the review I wrote:
"[...] there are some similarities between Bernie R[hodenbarr]. and Archie G[oodwin]. (I wish someone could write a story that would allow them to meet)."and look what happens! On page 38 of my hardcopy edition of The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian (1983), we read
"'Archie,' she said. 'They've kidnapped Archie Goodwin.'"I feel prescient! Also, what a contrast: I did not much care about the Kipling book while I very much like the Mondrian one!
Anyway, about the plot. Archie Goodwin is not really the Archie Goodwin but still, the current installment of the Burglar series starts strongly: Bernie has an interesting day in his used book shop. A customer tries to sell a book that belongs to a library while another customer reads poetry aloud from a tome she is buying. Later Bernie visits the apartment of another customer who hired him to appraise his book collection. Yet... Bernie has his set of burglar tools with him! Then a lot happens: kidnapping, murder, and more. Piet Mondrian's paintings provide anchors to fix the narrative axis of the plot. Mondrian's paintings disappear, reappear, and get stolen to order.
Wonderful, light, delightful prose! Bernie and his friend, Wally, run in Central Park and do 9:20 miles. Well, at their age, I could do a 7:15 mile! The account of a brief affair between Bernie and Andrea is totally charming. As are further passages dedicated to sexual attraction:
"'Especially since you'd like to verb her again.'(By the way, I have just found out that these cute phrases are now a part of the contemporary Urban Dictionary. Did the Dictionary take it from Mr. Block? Or the other way around?) And what about the following hilarious fragment:
'Well ---'
'And why not? She's got a nifty pair of nouns.'"
"'Performance art,' Denise was saying. 'First you paint a picture and then you destroy it. Now all we need is Christo to wrap it in aluminum foil. Shall I wrap it up or will you eat it here?'Mondrian is a very funny book, in altogether higher class than the Kipling installment. If not for the extremely lame denouement setting, where all suspects are gathered in one place, and the murderer is exposed, I would've give the novel a four-star rating. Even with the lame ending it is a great read!
'Neither,' I said, and began removing my clothes."
Three-and-a-half stars.
April 9, 2022
Six-word Review - Very punny, typical Rhodenbarr thieving caper.
Bernie and Carolyn Kaiser work together to free Bernie from two murder raps both revolving around a Mondrian masterpiece. Longer than usual story and at times a little confusing but always entertaining.
It's always fun to be taken back to the NYC of 20+ years ago, especially recalling the Village, how the cops behaved and what Times Square was like. It's also nice to recall when paper and ink books were valued and someone could "pretend" to make a living selling used and antiquarian books.
The humorous pun-laden dialogue, the twists in the plot, and Bernie and Carlyn's diverse love lives make for a fun time. I can only wish there were such people in the world today. I gobble the volumes in this series up, whenever I can find one.
Bernie and Carolyn Kaiser work together to free Bernie from two murder raps both revolving around a Mondrian masterpiece. Longer than usual story and at times a little confusing but always entertaining.
It's always fun to be taken back to the NYC of 20+ years ago, especially recalling the Village, how the cops behaved and what Times Square was like. It's also nice to recall when paper and ink books were valued and someone could "pretend" to make a living selling used and antiquarian books.
The humorous pun-laden dialogue, the twists in the plot, and Bernie and Carlyn's diverse love lives make for a fun time. I can only wish there were such people in the world today. I gobble the volumes in this series up, whenever I can find one.
December 14, 2025
Bernie the bookseller appraises a nice collection of books for an upper-class New Yorker who also happens to have an original painting by the Dutch master Piet Mondrian. Bernie then uses this legitimate access to the building so he can sneak into a neighboring apartment and rob it.
Then Bernie's friend Carolyn enlists his help because her cat has been kidnapped and is being held for a hefty ransom that only Bernie can help her meet, with the theft of a Mondrian painting in mind to pay it off.
Then a lot more pieces move around the board and Bernie meets some new interesting people of loose morals and, like usually happens in these Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries, he's accused of murder and has to solve it for the police if he wants to stay out of jail.
Verdict: "The Burglar who Painted Like Mondrian" (1983) is another short, light episode of the Bernie the Burglar series.
Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
Then Bernie's friend Carolyn enlists his help because her cat has been kidnapped and is being held for a hefty ransom that only Bernie can help her meet, with the theft of a Mondrian painting in mind to pay it off.
Then a lot more pieces move around the board and Bernie meets some new interesting people of loose morals and, like usually happens in these Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries, he's accused of murder and has to solve it for the police if he wants to stay out of jail.
Verdict: "The Burglar who Painted Like Mondrian" (1983) is another short, light episode of the Bernie the Burglar series.
Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
August 28, 2020
Probably 3.5. It was as much fun as ever - light, racy, funny - but didn't quite pull it off. There comes a point when Block's withholding of plot machinations becomes a little bit irksome (Bernie's going to put into effect a plan, but he won't tell you what it was until the Agatha Christie explanation scene, here dragged out/rattled through in /2/ chapters). Similarly, the very obvious reliance on what the reader can't see because it isn't described also begins to feel surprisingly leaden. Bernie remains irresistible, however, and it was peppy enough for purpose.
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