The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian (Bernie Rhodenbarr Mysteries)

"I hurried uptown and changed into chinos and a short-sleeved shirt that would have been an Alligator except that the embroidered device on the breast was not that reptile but a bird in flight. I guess it was supposed to be a swallow, either winging its way back to Capistrano or not quite making a summer, because the brand name was Swallowtail. It had never quite caught on and I can understand why." That's Bernie Rhodenbarr, used book dealer and gentleman burglar, making a literary fashion statement in this latest return to print of one of Block's best books about him.

As with the other entries in this admirable series--The Burglar in the Closet, The Burglar in the Library, The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling, The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza, The Burglar Who Thought He Was Bogart, The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams, Burglars Can't Be Choosers--Block manages to be very amusing, moderately suspenseful, and impressively erudite all at the same time. The plot is a complicated tangle of double-cross and deceit surrounding the theft of a valuable painting and two murders. Mondrian isn't the only artist being framed here: Bernie has to use all of his skills--as burglar, lover, and art expert--to prove his (relative) innocence. --Dick Adler

Product Description

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.

Bernie's close friend Carolyn Kaiser informs Bernie that someone has abducted her cat. For ransom, they want the Piet Mondrian painting hanging in a museum where it is virtually impossible to steal anything. Bernie, knowing that Gordon has a fake on his wall, returns to the wealthy man's home to steal the painting. Instead, he finds a corpse and no painting. Of course, the police turn to Bernie as the prime suspect. Now he has to rescue the feline and prove his own innocence.

This is a reprint of a classy Bernie Rhodenbarr novel, which may be the best of this highly regarded series. Bernie and friends remain interesting and fun, while New York City comes to life in a way rarely seen in a novel. The crisp story line keeps reader attention throughout the book. Bottom line is the entire eight-novel collection is worth reading because no one does Manhattan any better than Lawrence Block does with these incredible tales.

Harriet Klausner


Like always, funny, interesting read.   October 25, 2001
T (NYC)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

While Bernie seems to be in a similar predicament time after time, it never gets dull. And while all of the books I've read so far in the Bernie series are funny, this one seemed to be exceptionally so.


Great fun, Bernie's the man   January 19, 1999
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

My first Lawrence Block book and I'm sold. Bernie Rhodenbarr is the kind of person we like to befriend in the real world.

Unique. Risk taking. Confident. Colorful. Funny.

So because I liked him, I wanted to go along on his adventures. And for my efforts, I was rewarded with an exciting read. Now, I'm off to find my next Block book. And no, I'm not a relative.


I Love Bernie Rhodenbarr   December 6, 2005
Wilma J. Kahn
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I just LOVE Bernie (the burglar) Rhodenbarr. He is so rodent-like -- an aptly named character. His dialogue with gay gal-pal, Caroline, is inspiring to all who appreciate sustained wit. I also adore the oafish policeman who insists on pronouncing Mondrian "Moon-drain." I laughed all through this goofy mystery.

I give any and all of Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries my highest recommendation.


Block and Bernie do it again!   June 3, 1998
Harold L. Laroff (Pembroke Pines, FL)
Somewhere in cyberspace by review of "The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian" got lost. Once again Bernie the bookseller/burglar/sleuth has to solve the crime. Our favorite characters, Carolyn Kaiser, who runs a dig grooming parlor and Ray Kirschmann, the best cop money can buy, are there. The story which deals with a kidnapped cat, or should I say a catnapped cat, and a forged and genuine Mondrian paintings mixed with murder makes this another well written "The Burglar who entry."