The Burglar in the Closet
The Burglar in the Closet is the second Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery by Lawrence Block, first published by Random House in New York in 1978, with a UK edition from Hale in London in 1980. It was the basis of the 1987 film Burglar, starring Whoopi Goldberg as a female Bernie.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Random House, 1978
- First published
- Random House, New York, 1978
- First UK edition
- Hale, 1980
- Series
- Bernie Rhodenbarr
The first edition of The Burglar in the Closet by Lawrence Block was published in New York by Random House in 1978. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Random House1978 Hardback · Bernie Rhodenbarr 2 I own The Burglar in the Closet, Random House 1978 Log in to want this
Later and other editions
- Hale1980 Hardback · Bernie Rhodenbarr 2 I own The Burglar in the Closet, Hale 1980 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 22 on Open Library, 20 in English
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Lawrence Block
- The Sins of the Fathers1976 · 2 editions
- Time to Murder and Create1976 · 2 editions
- Burglars Can't Be Choosers1977 · 2 editions
- In the Midst of Death1979 · 1 edition
- The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling1979 · 2 editions
- A Stab in the Dark1981 · 2 editions
- Eight Million Ways to Die1982 · 2 editions
- When the Sacred Ginmill Closes1986 · 2 editions
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Burglar in the Closet?
The first edition of The Burglar in the Closet by Lawrence Block was published in New York by Random House in 1978.
How many editions of The Burglar in the Closet are there?
We track 2 editions of The Burglar in the Closet, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Where these facts come from
- Bernie Rhodenbarr, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Burglar (film), Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The burglar in the closet (Random House, 1978), Open Library (openlibrary.org)
- The burglar in the closet (Hale, 1980), Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 3 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.