Book Review: The Burglar in the Library

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

The Burglar in the Library     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Lawrence Block
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Bernie Rhodenbarr # 8
Harper, 1997, 382 pps.

Anybody up for a good game of Clue? The Burglar in the Library brings to mind the old board game Clue.

Bernie Rhodenbarr, owner of a Manhattan bookstore and sometimes burglar, makes plans for a romantic weekend at Cuttleford House along with his current love Lettice. But Lettice drops a bomb on Bernie that she will be unavailable for the trip due to a previous commitment. Bernie is amazed when he finds out that the day he planned on leaving for Cuttleford House is the same day that Lettice plans on marrying someone else.

Bernie is a guy that can roll with the punches so he invites his friend Carolyn to go with him. Carolyn is a great friend but not much interested in men. Bernie decides they can have a great weekend anyway. Bernie feels sure that he is going to find a book that has been autographed by a famous author to another famous author stuck away in the library at Cuttleford House. Carolyn and Bernie pack up Raffles the cat and head out for the train. They are able to get a ride by taxi to Cuttleford House but then find they must carry Raffles and their luggage across a swinging bridge in a snow storm.

Once settled they meet some of the other guests including Millicent, a ten year old girl, who is very curious and interested in everything everyone is doing.

Before Bernie can begin his search for the book a corpse turns up. Before the first mystery can be solved another corpse shows up. The whole group is stuck in Cuttleford House and unable to get out due to the snow and the condition of the bridge. The telephone lines seem to be cut as well.

Thus the game of Clue begins with Bernie as the leader. A great book full of humor and a lot of detecting.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM