I didn't realise at the outset that this was the fifth book in the series so I felt a bit at a disadvantage. I also wasnt aware that it was a mid-grade book so I found it quite childish until I realised.
Even allowing for that, the main character was a little lacking. The criminal element was great and funny and I genuinely enjoyed those bits but JB really needed to be fleshed out.

Meet Junior Bender, cool name, right? Well, he is in the middle of a heist, stealing a very rare stamp. Okay, not bad. Who is he stealing this from? A professional killer! Enter the twist. One burglary leads to another, and another! Should he just stop and surrender to the killer? Read this to find out!

Hallinan's Junior Bender is one of the best comedic mystery characters ever imagined. This episode twists and turns in ways that keep Bender off balance, but never out of the game. Much fun!

"A burgler with morals", is that an oxymoron. If so Junior Bender is definitely an oxymoron. He is a burgler, but he dosn't just steal from anyone. In this, the fifth book in the series, he's stealing a stamp from a professional killer. Filled with characters who amost feel as if they've stepped from a Dr. Suess book, this was a fun, escape book.

I've only read one other "Junior Bender Mystery" (see my review of <a href="http://lookingforagoodbook.com/2017/12/19/fields-where-they-lay-timothy-hallinan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fields Where They Lay</a>) and to be honest, both times I had requested the book from the publisher based on descriptions of the story - I was not aware that either was a part of an ongoing series.

Junior Bender is a criminal. He is a professional burglar and he's pretty good at his job. As this book begins, Junior is in the process of stealing a very rare stamp from a well-fortified residence. Such burglaries are always highly risky, but this one seems to have an additional complication... the residence belongs to a professional killer. That fact alone would rattle the nerves of most, but Bender is a professional - he doesn't get too worried about it. Until the owner returns home with the express intent to kill the burglar currently in his home. So begins a frantic tale of crime, blackmail, and murderous intent.

The idea of a burglar leading a crime/mystery series is wonderful. I don't know the mystery genre well enough, but I suspect this isn't the first such character device.

One of the things I really like about Junior Bender is how 'down-to-earth' and 'real' he is. Author Timothy Hallinan creates a character that could very easily be the guy next door - a criminal, sure, but what do you <em>really</em> know about the guy next door anyway? And the plotting is really nice. The story is involved. It is deep and earnest and as with any good dramatic story, there's plenty of conflict - simply staying alive is great motivational conflict.

And yet.... Everything here seems like such a great fit and yet I never really bought in. I don't really care about my next door neighbor beyond a "hello, how are you, your yard is looking good" and I don't really care about Junior Bender. I think it has a lot to do with his profession. He's chosen to be among the criminal element and that comes with some inherent risks.

Still, I'm sure there have been literary characters that I've liked and cared about despite their past or profession, so it is something deeper. There's a lack of connection between me and this character. I read his story from a distance instead of being pulled into the story and a story from a distance just doesn't have the same excitement.

Looking for a good book? <em>King Maybe</em> by Timothy Hallinan is a Junior Bender Mystery adventure that includes a well-defined character and strong story but you read it as a distant observer.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley,in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, I was unable to really get into it. I will not post a negative review on Goodreads.

An intriguing tale that mostly held my attention.... felt there was “something” missing maybe? Not “have to read again”, more of a “ok, & that was about....?” Will watch out for this author though & keep an open mind. But thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read

Sadly, I liked the start and then after putting it down for a few weeks, I couldn't get back into it.Not finished.

I did start this book but have found it very hard to "get into" and so have largely given up. I think this is a reflection of the number of books of a similar type I have read recently and must bear this in mind when requesting titles in the future.

Good I'm going to buy it for my library. I enjoyed it.

What one reader finds funny another may not, so humorous mysteries have always been an acquired taste. For my tastes, Hallinan is both a funny writer and a great crafter of light, snarky, fast-moving mysteries. Recommended. Unlike some series, this one need not be read in strict order, but if you like this title, hunt down the earlier ones.