The Burglar Who Smelled Smoke

“The Burglar Who Smelled Smoke” features Bernie Rhodenbarr, the lighthearted and lightfingered hero of ten mystery novels. When Bernie's not burgling he's running a secondhand bookstore, so there's a bibiophilic element to the story as well, and the body is found in perhaps the ultimate dream library.

You’ll note that this story bears a joint byline. Lynne Wood Block, my frequent companion, came up with the basic idea and did the requisite research. Then I sat down and wrote the story, which...