I'm going back and reading the Bernie Rhodenbarr books that are in the Books I've Read database. This is the first of the series. He hasn't met Carolyn yet, and he doesn't have a cat. In fact, there is no book store yet! Good story!
Published in 1958 under a pseudonym, this little piece of soft-core porn has some good stuff, but I really don't like the main characters. I closed my eyes during the dirty parts.
Matthew Scudder and "Mick" Ballou are the targets of someone. Seems like everybody around them is getting murdered!
QUOTE:
Years ago an old cop name Vince Mahaffey tol me what to do when someone gives me money. "Take it," he said. "and put it away and say thank you. You could even touch your cap if you're wearing one."
QUOTE:
"So that he grew up hating me. Well, don't they grow up in Belfast hating the English? And don't the Proddy kids grow up hating the Holy Father? 'F[***] the Queen!' 'Nah, nah, f[***] the Pope!' F[***] 'em both, I say, or let 'em f[***] each other." He drew out his pocket flask and sweetended his coffee. "They grow into good haters if you teach them early enough."
Various people in New York interact in various ways, including murder. I felt a lot of pity for the murderer. Takes place after 9/11. Some rather pornographic sex scenes.
A collection of stories, excerpts, and essays about Bernie Rhodenbarr, mostly. Very nice!
Quote:
"If I didn't play chess," he said, "You wouldn't have shot me, would you?" "It's a question that occupies the mind, isn't it?" "It is," said the burglar.
Quote:
The Poulard is a terrific lock, no question about it. But I don't know where they get off calling it pickproof.
Craig, The World's Greatest Dentist, wants to relieve his ex-wife of her jewelry. He gets Bernie to do the job. Things go very very wrong.
Quote:
If I have to eat rhubarb preserves I can damn well eat them on warm toast.
Quote:
I ate more toast, sipped some coffee. I seemed to be developing a definite taste for the rhubarb jam. I wasn't positive I'd go running out for another jar when this one was finally finished, but I was beginning to like it.
Bernie Rhodenbarr goes to an English-style country inn in New England to steal a book.
QUOTE:
"And she's a Cobbett, which means there's probably not a whole lot she hasn't done. The only thing that makes me exotic is that I'm not a blood relative."
BONUS QUOTE:
Don't ask me what kind of gun it was. Guns make me nervous-- people keep them in drawers so that they can shoot burglars with them, and I'm opposed to that--...
Bernie Rodenbarr tries to steal some letters from a famous author, but they're gone and somebody is dead. EDIT 2023: I guess I DID read this before! Still excellent!