The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (Good Thief's Guide, 1)

by Chris Ewan

Book Overview

"An impressive, very funny debut novel . . . featuring Charlie Howard, who is the very model of a modern master criminal." -The Raleigh News & ObserverCharlie Howard travels the globe writing suspense... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312570821
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A Fun & Different Whodunit

Charlie Howard is both a thief & a writer. No, it's not ridiculous. It's different & very well done. The little caper has Charlie, an Englishman, in Amsterdam trying to tie up a loose end on his book. While there he surprisingly gets contacted by an American unknown to him. He's asked to steal something & the story takes flight. It's light, it doesn't bog down. It's descriptive without using a ton of unnecessary dialogue. Charlie becomes the chief suspect in the caper & is driven to find the truth. Charlie does make a much better thief & sleuth than a writer. The end is reminiscent of many of the old whodunits where Charlie has eight suspects gathered around in the ruins of a building. While he has his audience he explains the solution to the caper & who the murderer is. The ending is laid out & unfolds very well. The author has all his bases covered. After a very good ending, you come across the last chapter, which is more or less an epilogue. Charlie is now in Paris where a few more surprises await the reader. It's well worth your time.

Light-Hearted Caper Novel

The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam (2007) introduces Charlie Howard, a professional thief who writes a mystery series about a professional thief. While in Amsterdam trying to wrap up the loose ends of his latest mystery (he can't figure out how to get a briefcase containing a severed hand to the right place), Charlie is hired by a mysterious American to steal two small monkey figurines. Then the American is killed, and Charlie is a suspect. This light-hearted caper novel is full of classic elements: a beautiful girl in distress, menacing thugs, stolen diamonds, and a group unveiling of the solution to the mystery. http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/E_Authors/Ewan_Chris.html

Not your typical whodunit.

Literally the second I finished this book I thought to myself, "This would make a great movie!" I've never thought like that before. Come to find out this book was written by an entertainment lawyer so that may have just been what he had in mind. This is not an orthodox whodunit. The main character is not your typical leading man in any way. But he is really fun and interesting. I found all of the characters and the story itself to be unique and intriquing. The only issue I had at first was some of the British wording and the spellings of certain words are slightly different than we use here in the US. But don't for a second let that put you off. You can't go wrong with this one in any way. The only way you could not enjoy this book is if you are dead inside.

smart and fun

A great mystery for people who normally don't like mysteries. Amateur thief/writer Charles Howard is asked to steal two plaster monkeys for an acquaintance. The acquaintances dies, Howard is pegged for the murder, and goes on an invesigative hunt and thieving spree for the third monkey and the real killer. It's eloquent like a good '50s movie. Laughs throughout.

humorous crime caper

Charles Howard is the successful author of a suspense series starring a suave courageous cat burglar detective, Faulks. However, fiction imitates real life as Charles supplements his income and creative juices by being a successful burglar just like his Faulks is. Howard is currently completing his latest Faulks thriller in Amsterdam when on his web site he receives an enigmatic summons that peaks his interest. He meets with an American who knows the truth about Howard's moonlighting extravaganza; the American offers him 20,000 Euros to steal two monkey figurines. Reluctantly, as he wonders how his client knows the truth about his nocturnal activities, he carries out the assignment. However, when he returns to deliver the items, he finds his client almost dead from a vicious assault and the matching third figurine missing. As the Dutch police investigate the beating with Howard as a suspect, he makes inquiries that link back to a diamond robbery over ten years ago while his London based editor suggests plot changes, not realizing her recommendations might be tested in real life not a novel. THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO AMSTERDAM is a humorous crime caper that pays homage to the classic To Catch a Thief, but does so in a lighthearted satirical tongue in cheek way. Charles is a unique impish rogue who finds himself in a dangerous encounter with a killer. The subplot involving his editor is creative and amusing as she offers advice to make his latest story line seem plausible and genuine, but not understanding that the escapade is real. Readers will enjoy this fine look at Amsterdam through the eyes of a cat burglarizing author struggling to keep his nine lives in tact. Harriet Klausner