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Publisher: No Exit Press |
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"The Burglar in the Library" is one part Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" (a.k.a. "The Ten Little Indians"), one part Christie's "The Body in the Library" and one part Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man," with Bernie and Carolyn Kaiser pairing up as a platonic Nick and Nora Charles. All of the Rhodenbarr books are pretty funny, but this one is also a loving take on the English house murders that Dame Agatha Christie made famous.
Usually, these near-parodies aren't as kind to their inspiration. But "The Burglar in the Library" makes you want to rush out and re-read a Miss Marple mystery.
This book is such a departure from the Rhodenbarr books, which are as brash and hip as their New York City setting.
It's an excellent book. The true test of a mystery is if you enjoy it when you reread, when you already know "who done it." This book passes the test with flying colors and stands up to multiple reads.
As with all the Rhodenbarr books, Block fills it with tons of book and other trivia. Hammett or Chandler fans will love it too!
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