BURGLARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS

Reader Mike Jarmus sounds as spoiled and resourceful as Block's famous burglar in this addition to the Bernie Rhodenbarr series. Jarmus does the other voices well, too, catching the cold greed of a landlord who has just upped the rent tenfold; the street-wise accent of Bernie's cop friend, always ready to line his pockets as long as no one gets hurt; and the self-mocking tone of his lesbian friend, Carolyn. Block's sober Matthew Scudder books are wonderfully offset by the humorous Rhodenbarr romps, and Jarmus captures their flavor, cadence, ambiance--and New York itself. D.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPT 97]