THE BURGLAR WHO TRADED TED WILLIAMS

Puckishness is the primary characteristic of Block’s series of books featuring Bernie Rhodenbarr, the not-quite-reformed burglar and crime-solver. Happily, Morgan is up to the tone of self-satisfied mischievousness that is so distinctively Bernie. Whether you find Bernie charming or merely smug, Morgan splendidly captures his unceasingly wry take on life. In this outing Bernie finds himself the chief suspect in the theft of a baseball card collection, which, incidentally, he didn’t steal. Of course, Bernie does find a way to indulge his own proclivities for breaking and entering--leading to his encounter with a body…Bernie--and Morgan--find much to be droll about. M.O. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]