I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. Elle is a burglar - and she is good at it. She discovers a homicide while "on the job" and then discovers that she has become a target. She races to solve the mystery before she becomes another victim.

Thomas Perry always delivers solid entertainment, and complex characters. Elle is a delight, and I hope she comes back in future books like Jane Whitfield. While there were scenes and instances that stretch believability, the novel is an excellent escape from the daily grind, and in fact, I think it would make a terrific movie or series.

I loved the premise - a female burgler, who makes her living breaking into houses, sees too much on one job. I really liked the fast pace of the first half. Unfortunately, the second half slowed down a lot. The last part of the book involves a conversation tying the pieces together. The fact that this conversation took multiple pages shows that the rest of the book seemed to be missing a lot. There is no way you could have figured out what was going on without that explanation. One other thing, the main character had no personality. She was a professional but I never really got to know her. 4 stars because of the plot and attention to the burgling details,

(3). What an unusual book, a veritable roller coaster ride. The first half is high speed, petal to the metal all the way. The next quarter is snoozy, try to stay engaged. The last quarter, pretty strong, some good, some not so good. I expected more after the wonderful start but I always enjoy Perry, he has been on my must read list for a couple of years now. Luckily, this one is short enough that the overall experience is enjoyable.

Enjoyable book. Complicated plot. It was tough to figure out what was going on. Some exciting moments. Toward end of book it slowed somewhat while it was explained what was going on. However, it ok ked back up again. It is a case of a small burglar vs a number of killers. Some close calls for her. Recommended. This father's Jane Whitefields books are excellent too. They are all highly recommended.

Thomas Perry is the accomplished author of some 25 fictional suspense novels and winner of many awards for his work. After reading “The Burglar,” I join those who sing his praises. The most common trait he gets credit for is his plotting but his other writing skills are commendable and on full display in this intricate novel.

Elle Stowell, a young woman in her twenties, has a stimulating occupation that she intends to continue. She’s a burglar; a very accomplished burglar who knows all the tricks. In “The Burglar,” she takes the reader along as she gets involved in an art fraud scheme that turns into a murderous blowup that catches her in the middle. She applies her meticulous thought process into attempting to solve the murders, intent on getting the information to the police, while never revealing her existence in the dim fringes of a wealthy and politically powerful society. The shadows are the secret to her success and she intends to stay there.

Her efforts, however, put her in line to be included among the murders when the murderous thugs discovers her presence. She is accumulating evidence against them that will end their scheme if she is allowed to disclose it. So, while skulking among the killers, she has to spend a lot of time running from them. Her nefarious career, along with her life, is threatened if she doesn’t display the same inventiveness in her investigation as she does breaking into expensive houses.

Perry is as painstaking in the construction of his tale as a watchmaker. No detail goes unexplained or seems unbelievable. No pathway remains unconnected. Every spring is wound tight.

I gained much information about breaking into houses and it sounds like an exciting enterprise. There’s lots of peeking at houses, mechanical skill in operating lock picks and slitting window screens, lots of scampering around steep, slick roofs, and learning to shake dogs off your leg who have taken umbrage at your appearance. You probably won’t want to take up this particular task but Perry, at least, is the place to start a nefarious attraction.

Definately kept me guessing. I couldn't imagine have to solve a strong of murders in my 20s. First time I read this author. I really enjoyed this book and definately want more from this author.

I have read Thomas Perry before and really enjoy his books. This began with a great plot and a lot of excitement. It did become somewhat convoluted during the last half but all in all a good read.

Elle Stowell is a burglar. And she’s very good at it. She loves it. Nothing small-time for her. She targets only high-dollar neighborhoods, the homes of the very wealthy and Hollywood elite. Her criminal life is good, all is going according to plan, right up until it isn’t. While pilfering from the home of a well-known art dealer, she comes face to face with a triple murder, a fact that puts a target on her back. But who is after her? Why were the three victims killed? These are questions Elle must answer before she becomes the next victim. To do so, she employs all her stealthy skills, knowing she must find the killer before he finds her. A great story, well-written, and filled with twists and turns. And a protagonist readers will love. Highly recommended.


DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly thriller series

Elle is a young career burglar, who ekes out a living stealing from rich so-cal residents. On one job, she stumbles upon a triple murder scene. She is followed, and in trying to hide, her best friend becomes a victim. She tries to avenge this murder, by solving it and the others. Well written and suspenseful. Elle is a great character who should be seen again. Highly recommended.

“The Burglar,” by Thomas Perry, is a thriller about a young woman named Elle who makes her living as a burglar of the wealthy in Beverly Hills. During one of her robberies, Elle stumbles upon a horrific murder scene and is caught on video. She then proceeds to run from the police and the unknown assassins while simultaneously trying to solve the crime

I am usually a huge fan of Thomas Perry. I read and enjoyed all of the Jane Whitefield series and last years stand alone, “The Old Man” was excellent.
But “The Burglar” missed the mark. The protagonist, Elle, was not well developed or even likeable and the plot preposterous. I had to force myself to finish it.

First book I have read by this author & really enjoyed it. It was fast paced & well written although a couple of the characters were a bit out of place for me. I plan on reading more by this author!

Elle has had a hard and leads a hard life. As a burglar, she lives on the other side, but that has made her pretty wily. After finding dead people at the house she was robbing, she makes a dumb decision by taking the security camera that could possibly reveal the killers. If killing 3 people doesn't phase anyone, cleaning up by killing one more is not a problem. Unless you are Elle.

Kind of interesting in the details of theft, and the story moves along pretty well. A bit more detail and wording that is necessary. Its ok, some of it is fun, some not so great.

When burglar Elle stumbles over three murder victims on one of her break-ins she has to solve the murder before the killer finds her and shuts her up. Why she needs to be shut up? We'll never find out but that is just a minor flaw.

Elle is a burglar, a very good burglar. She only works in wealthy neighborhoods and she always does her homework before a job. But what she discovers in one of the homes she enters to rob one night will cost her more than money or jewels can buy, and maybe even her life.

The Burglar failed to steal my attention. I struggled just to read it and finally gave up about a quarter way through. The story is not horrible and the premise held promise but I felt like I was reading a clinical account of something. The main characters personality never came through for me and I could really care less how her story ended or that she was in danger. A burglar by trade, she needs quick cash and comes across a murder scene in the commission of a burglary. From then (until I stopped reading), mysterious cars seem to be following her and danger is supposed to be lurking. I am sure the story would appeal to some but I prefer to like the lead characters I read and feel somewhat emotionally attached. This book did not provide that for me. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview The Burglar by Thomas Perry. It is an honor to read any of Mr. Perry's novels. I have been a fan for a long time - The Burglar is his new installment to his stand alone collection. A young woman with a shady background has integrated herself in the LA area. She appears quite normal - small, pretty, and "normal". But she's all but normal - she's a thief. She makes her living robbing rich houses and she does this with flair and ability. One day, she finds three people dead - bullet shots to the head. She is thrown for a loop and then finds that the three people were being taped by a camera. She takes the camera and gets out of the house. She is scared and watches the tape and decides to go back to the house and put it back so the police will find it and help solve this murder. This is where she makes her first mistake - a group of SUV's come up on her before she can get out of the house and follow her. She avoids them, but knows that something is amiss and there are some that will go to no uncertain ends to keep things quiet. She knows she's got to leave LA, and decides to go with her friend. But before she can get out of LA, her friend is murdered - the same way the three people were killed. She knows now that the police can't solve this murder mystery and if she wants to live, she's got to find out what's behind this crime - that's if she lives to solve it...
Fast paced and well written. Recommend.

Elle Stowell is a young woman with an interesting occupation; she’s a residential burglar. For a living, she breaks into the homes of rich people and steals stuff. However, one day she breaks into the wrong house and sees something she was not meant to see. It will change her life in drastic ways.

This novel is well-written and exciting. Readers will enjoy the various plot twists in this one. I love how the author doles out the clues slowly and builds up the tension until the very end. Who are the mysterious people in the black SUVs that seem to be following Elle? How can she catch them without getting caught herself?

The character of Elle is described in detail. The reader learns a lot about her background and how she gained her skills. She’s a very astute observer of human nature and behavior. In her profession, she has to be. But, her background also contributes to her knowledge of people. You find yourself wondering why such a smart and skilled woman doesn’t get into a safer field? She seems to enjoy the challenges that she encounters though.

The supporting characters are all perfectly suited to their roles. The mystery man who says he’s from Canada is well-done. Elle’s friend Sharon also helps move the plot along in her own way. The other characters are mostly peripheral ones. The conflict in the story builds up gradually and was done at a steady pace. I didn’t feel like the narrative had any slow or dragging parts to it. The pacing was pretty even.

The ending was interesting and creative. I liked how things resolved at the end, but don’t want to give spoilers.

The story seemed quite believable and so did the characters. The author did a great job on this novel. It’s suspenseful and nail-biting at times. The story is really original and the main character is not someone whose perspective we usually see. Although Elle makes her living as a criminal, she is a sympathetic character and you find yourself rooting for her to come out on top in the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and found it to be an engaging and suspenseful story that held my interest throughout the book. As a reader, I was drawn into this world the author created and was able to suspend reality for a time to get into the world of Elle and her friends and acquaintances. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys suspense, mysteries, or just a really good read.

The book was interesting, It chronicled the life of a female burglar, who inadvertently, during one of her jobs stumbled upon a murder scene. She was then on the run.
I found that the story provided too many details in some areas that were really of no interest to the reader. I also thought that the ending was a little flat, as one minute she's running, and the next minute, the book sort of just ended. There were also characters who seemed out of place, and didn't go anywhere in the book (her cousin and aunt). I'd like to see a little more development there if they are going to appear in the story.

However, it was a good effort, and I would consider reading more by this author.

I was given an ARC through NetGalley for providing an honest review.

Elle has spent most of her life surviving through her wits and what she could steal. She now makes her living burglarizing expensive homes in Bel Air and Beverley Hills. Skillful and smart, she's never been arrested or noticed, and few people know her profession. But one morning, she broke into the wrong house. Instead of finding cash, guns, and jewelry, she found three dead bodies, naked in a pile on the bed. What's more, a video camera had been recording and captured her entering the room. Elle stole the camera, thinking she was protecting herself. Instead, she became a target--but she didn't know if she was being chased by the police or a more sinister organization. To save herself, she has to solve the murders before she becomes the next victim.

Having the burglar as a protagonist in a murder mystery is interesting and offers some new and exciting approaches to crime solving. However, at times, the descriptions of Elle's process are a little too detailed. The book is very fast-paced and got my heart rate pumping, especially in the first third of the book. I could hardly put it down last night to go to sleep. It was like reading an action movie, and one tense moment led to another, complete with car chases, double-crosses, secret cameras, and near-misses with the police. 

With all the details of casing a house, entering, and finding valuables, not to mention surveillance of characters, I feel thoroughly paranoid now!

Elle is an interesting character. Raised by her grandmother who seems like she was a manipulative sort, Elle was forced to go out on her own when she was fourteen, and she has few family ties left. She's extremely self-reliant, hyper-aware, physically fit, and an expert burglar. Sometimes, she takes unnecessary risks that seem out of character. In the first chapter, she describes walking a friend's dog in the neighborhoods she's targeting so she will know where the dogs live and then avoid breaking into those houses. Yet, she runs to danger several times after she begins her investigation into the murders. Though she clearly is an accomplished thief, she has so many other abilities, it stretches the imagination. She is able to use a welding torch and do simple electrical wiring. Though she does at one point admit that her overconfidence put her best friend into harm's way, she doesn't become more reflective of her limitations or the wisdom of her actions. 

At times, I didn't like the writing style. Too many paragraphs had sentences that began with "She..." instead of offering variety in the language. When Elle listed items, she ended with "or something..." more than ten times. There isn't much dialogue--Elle works alone--but the dialogue in the book is a little clunky, as are some of the sentences. "She would never have considered going where she was going in any other circumstances," for example, could have been written more clearly. While much of the book is told in the third-person from Elle's point of view, in explaining the crime and wrapping up the narrative, the author shifts to omniscient point of view which I found slightly jarring.

For a quick read that approaches mysteries in a different way, though, this book is entertaining. A perfect pool-side novel.