The Good Thief's Guide to Paris

Ewan's Charlie Howard series is unusual because the protagonist both writes crime novels about a burglar and is one himself. Each tale is set in a different city. In this second outing, Howard, in Paris to publicize his latest work, is finagled into stealing a painting of no obvious value. Soon, he discovers that nothing is as it seems and finds himself suspected of murder. Howard is a delightful creation—smart, clever, and a bit naïve. Simon Vance, an excellent reader of thrillers, ably conveys the character's mixture of duplicity, bumbling innocence, and charm. Ewan provides light entertainment with a bit of an edge while capturing the glamour and magic of the setting. This program should appeal to fans of thieves, exotic locales, and, especially, Lawrence Block's similar Bernie Rhodenbarr novels.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr. Lib.