Bernie Rhodenbarr is the tide character in the Burglar series, one who has attempted to go straight by buying a used book store in Manhattan and by spending quiet days with his cat Raffles, who has no tail. (Raffles is named for a famous rogue in stories by E. W. Hornung.) Like Bernie, the original Raffles was a thief and an accomplished safe-cracker. Every day Bernie and his friend Carolyn eat lunch together and talk over the events of their lives. Carolyn is a lesbian, and she recounts to Bernie her triumphs and frustrations in the dating scene. Bernie tells Carolyn about his romantic adventures and about his sales in the shop or his burglaries. Raffles chases crumpled paper thrown for him, and he catches mice to earn his keep at the book store.

In the series, either someone who is venial forces Bernie to commit another robbery...