You can't keep a good thief down . . . Charlie Howard is back and robbing the city of Berlin blind, until he witnesses a murder being committed right before his eyes Charlie Howard, part-time writer, part-time thief, has been engaged in a veritable spree of larceny and misappropriation since moving to Berlin, Germany. He's supposed to be working on his next novel. But high rent and a love for thrill-seeking has been hard on his word count. But Charlie's larcenous binge is interrupted by the call to duty―on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. Four embassy employees are suspected of stealing a sensitive item. Charlie is to break into their homes, find the culprit and recover the stolen property. But there's a catch. The item is so sensitive, Charlie isn't told what he's looking for. Not its size, not its weight, nothing. He's only told that he'll recognize it when he sees it. Charlie has been a successful thief because he follows his own rules, the first being "Don't get caught." Well, after he enters the first suspect's home, he has to add a new rule: "Don't admire the view." As Charlie stares across the street, he sees something he really wishes he hadn't―a woman being murdered. And that's just for starters. What follows is a wild adventure in the former cauldron of spies. With The Good Thief's Guide to Berlin , Chris Ewan shows why he was voted as one of America's favorite British authors by a Huffington Post poll. Clever and wildly entertaining, this is a mystery series that is "big fun" ( The Seattle Times ). "Outstanding...Ewan perfectly blends tension and humor in a neatly constructed plot." --"Publishers Weekly "(starred) "Hilarious yet suspenseful, Ewan can turn a Wodehousian phrase on occasion, and his taut plotting adds substance to his considerable style." --"Publishers Weekly "(starred) on "The Good Thief's Guide to Venice ""Ewan's fourth Charlie Howard romp moves briskly, relying once more on the boyish charm of its roguish narrator-hero." --"Kirkus Reviews "on "The Good Thief's Guide to Venice ""Engaging characterizations, suspenseful stories, and sharp writing." --"Booklist" on "The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas" "Ewan masterfully merges the comic with the thrilling in this fresh, captivating book." --"RT Books Reviews "on" The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas" "Hilarious yet suspenseful, Ewan can turn a Wodehousian phrase on occasion, and his taut plotting adds substance to his considerable style." --"Publishers Weekly "(starred) on "The Good Thief's Guide to Venice ""Ewan's fourth Charlie Howard romp moves briskly, relying once more on the boyish charm of its roguish narrator-hero." --"Kirkus Reviews "on "The Good Thief's Guide to Venice ""Engaging characterizations, suspenseful stories, and sharp writing." --"Booklist" on "The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas" "Ewan masterfully merges the comic with the thrilling in this fresh, captivating book." --"RT Books Reviews "on" The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas" Chris Ewan , who lives on the Isle of Man, began his crime-writing career with The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam , which was called one the "best books for grownups" by Publishers Weekly and AARP The Magazine , and one of the best thrillers of the year by the London Times . The Huffington Post also named Ewan one of America's favorite British authors in a readers' poll. He is the author of the Good Thief novels and the stand-alone thriller, Safe House . Good Thief's Guide to Berlin By Chris Ewan St. Martin's Press Copyright © 2014 Chris Ewan All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-250-04931-5 ONE     Rules. They can be a tricky proposition for a thief like me. It’s not often I find myself on the right side of the law, and the truth is, I enjoy breaking most rules almost as much as I relish breaking into a stranger’s home. But there are certain rules I try very hard to obey. Naturally, the rules I’m talking about are ones I’ve devised for myself. Over the years, the list has grown pretty long, though it all developed from one simple principle: Don’t get caught. Want to hear a selection? Well, let’s see. I never break into a property that’s occupied, unless I absolutely have to. I use my picks wherever possible, because I don’t enjoy destroying somebody’s door. I don’t ransack or leave a mess. If I’m working for myself, I target folks who can afford it, and I rarely steal anything of sentimental value. If I’m hired on commission, I only work for people I can trust or individuals who pay me enough to overcome my concerns. I always wear gloves. I always knock before I enter. I always lock up before I leave. And, as of right now, I have a new rule to add to my list. Don’t admire the view. The view was of a rain-drenched street in the Tiergarten. The Tiergarten was in Berlin. And so, for the time being, was I. To be precise, I was in the third-floor apartment of one of my compatriots, an Englishman by the name of Daniel Wood. Now, I’d never met Mr. Wood, and I didn’t pl