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To Catch a Thief (novel)

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287:, including his old comrades Coco and Le Borgne. If they catch the thief and recover the jewels, they can share Paige's reward. Robie sets Coco and two men to watch the Souzas' cottage, and Le Borgne with two men to watch the Sanfords' chateau. He himself will watch in Mrs. Stevens' hotel. He has determined that the thief must strike by night. 188:. Their previous sentences were not remitted, but as long as they refrained from new crimes they would be left alone. Some returned to underworld occupations, but Robie retired. He had saved some of the proceeds of his thefts, and did not need to steal. He bought his villa, tended his garden, and played 342:
Paul, who is in love with Danielle, asks her to marry him. He can pay what is required to save her freedom. But Robie has a better idea – since she still has the stolen jewels, Danielle and Bellini take the jewels to Paige, who tells Oriol and Lepic that the jewels have been returned and "Burns"
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The target will be the Sanfords. The next weekend is their gala house party, and the guests will bring fabulous jewels. Francie wangles an invitation for "Burns". But Count Paul is also a guest. Paul demands that Robie leave, and won't listen to his explanation. Lepic and Oriol also arrive to protect
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Robie abandons his disguise and lies in wait for the thief on the roof of the chateau. Late that night, he pursues the thief over the roof. The police are aroused, and Oriol demands Robie's surrender. Robie catches up with the thief, who is Danielle. Reflexively, he joins her in evading the police.
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That night, Mrs. Stevens goes out for an all-night gambling session, wearing most of her jewels. Francie (wearing the rest) has Robie take her out for the night. He complies, since there is nothing for the thief to steal. But Mrs. Stevens loses her stake quickly and comes home early. After she goes
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Bellini provides Robie with Danielle, a pretty girl to escort "Burns" in the casinos. This annoys Claude, Danielle's muscular would-be boyfriend, but keeps Mrs. Stevens away. "Burns" has also attracted the attention of Francie Stevens, who is suspicious of men who may want to exploit her trusting
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sends senior detective Lepic and additional agents. Mr. Paige announces an offer to buy back the jewels for 20% of their value – no questions asked. Then Robie encounters Count Paul in Cannes. Paul doesn't recognize him, but Robie has to stop his scouting. He dismisses Danielle.
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Francie thinks Robie's gang stole the jewels. She demands the return of the diamond dog, threatening to expose him. Robie plays for time. Robie thinks that perhaps Danielle, who is clever, and Claude, who is athletic, are behind the thefts. Bellini investigates, and clears Claude.
34: 168: 280:. She is excited to meet a master thief, and suggests that he rob her mother, whose jewelry is insured, except the diamond dog, which must not be taken – even though this would be an obvious giveaway. 224:. The police are cracking down, threatening to send all the old ex-prisoners back to prison. The thief is using Robie's methods, so Robie can help them catch the thief, and get the police off their backs. 294:
Count Paul is among the crowd attracted by the alarm over the theft, and recognizes Robie. Paul won't expose him, but he wants an introduction to Danielle. She reminds him of his beloved Lisa, and he
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They slip through the window of Paul's room. Paul hides them from Oriol, and now listens to Robie's story. Danielle too was a hungry young orphan acrobat. She deliberately mimicked the famous
239:-style plans for burgling their residences. Unfortunately, Mrs. Stevens becomes attached to "Burns". He stands next to her in a casino (to study her jewelry), making small, cautious bets at 327:, but the stolen jewels are still missing. Robie is certain that the Romani was not athletic enough to be the hotel thief. The thief is still at large, and will strike again. 346:
Robie can now return safely to Vence, where he has everything he wants – except, he now realizes, Francie Stevens. He finds her packing to leave for America.
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Two nights later, Robie spots a figure sneaking away from the Souza cottage. Then Detective Lepic shoots the man dead. It is the Romani, who tried to use Robie's
671: 493:(December 11, 2014), "The 200 in the 10th", is a free adaptation of the novel, with the show characters appearing as in a movie set in the 1950s. 227:
Jean-Pierre disguises Robie as a pudgy, middle-aged man. As "Jack Burns", vacationing American businessman, Robie scouts Riviera nightclubs and
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eyes. She decides that "Lucky" Burns is her personal good-luck charm, buys him drinks, and copies his bets, attracting unwanted attention.
578: 666: 545: 535: 309:, and Robie joins him on watch. The next day, at the beach, he introduces Paul to Danielle. Later, Robie tells her about Lisa. 355:
John Robie, an American living in Vence near the French Riviera; once a famous jewel thief, and then a Resistance fighter (
316:. His parents were circus acrobats, as was he. Orphaned when young, he came to Europe, was stranded, and took to burglary. 213:
was dead – killed in the Resistance. But after more thefts, Oriol's suspicion returned, and he tried to arrest Robie.
676: 661: 171:, the Germans released many convicts from French prisons, including Robie. He and many other released convicts joined the 681: 479: 646: 312:
Francie again pressures Robie for the diamond dog, and he tells her the whole story; also, how he came to be
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In 1963, the premise of a jewel thief who must come out of retirement was adapted in the caper-comedy,
152:. He escapes, leaping over the garden wall. In the late 1930s, Robie was a daring, supremely athletic 601:. Pleasantville, N.Y.: Reader's Digest Association, 1959 (Reader's Digest Book Club), p. 224-315 567:
Book publication was preceded by a version of the novel that appeared in the December 1951 issue of
629: 276:. She mistakenly thinks that he is the leader of a gang, which staged all the apparent feats of 551: 541: 531: 487: 243:. Mrs. Stevens copies him with big bets, wins two million francs, and uses the money to buy a 172: 149: 463: 459: 20: 343:
was his company's agent. With the jewels restored and the Romani dead, the case is closed.
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meet her. Robie tells him who she is, but deliberately rejects Paul's offer to help him.
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After the war, there was an unofficial amnesty for those released convicts who had been
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Count Paul du Pré de la Tour, Robie's wealthy, widowed neighbor and friend, living in
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Oriol and Count Paul. He comforted Paul during the tragic death of his wife Lisa from
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Mr. Paige, representative of the British company which insured most of the jewels.
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Then in 1951, there were new jewel thefts on the Riviera, exactly in the style of
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In August 1951, French police come to arrest American John Robie at his villa in
501: 471: 467: 387: 160:("the cat"), who specialized in jewel thefts from hotels and villas on the 33: 220:. Robie wants to leave France, but Bellini asks him to help catch the new 583:. Pleasantville, N.Y.: Reader's Digest Association, 1952, p. 397-503 240: 153: 527:
Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1955 (Penguin 1053). 215, pp.
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At the Souzas' cottage, Coco dismisses one of his crew, a quarrelsome
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London; Melbourne: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1988 (Mastercrime). 200 pp.
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A David Dodge Companion, via the Wayback Machine, Internet Archive
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comrade of Robie, small businessman and fringe criminal in Cannes.
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Eugene, OR: Bruin Books, 2010 (Bruin Crimeworks). ix, 281 pp.
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The Golden Age of Film: Four Novels That Captivated Hollywood
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New York: Dell Publishing Company, 1953 (Dell 658). 224 pp.
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Mr. and Mrs. Sanford, wealthy American residents of Cannes.
339:, and never recognized "Burns" until they met on the roof. 235:: Mrs. Stevens, the Souzas, and the Sanfords. He works out 430:
Claude, swimming instructor at Bellini's beach concession.
592:. London: Reader's Digest Association, , p. 409-503 530:
London: White Lion Publishers Limited, 1972. 215, pp.
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Mrs. Maude Stevens, wealthy, flamboyant American widow.
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Danielle, an employee of Bellini's beach concession.
113: 105: 97: 87: 77: 69: 61: 53: 43: 610:. Ultimo, N.S.W.: Reader's Digest Australia, 2009. 231:. He identifies three likely targets for the new 209:. Robie was suspected, but he assured Oriol that 169:the German occupation of France in World War II 8: 272:Francie Stevens has guessed that "Burns" is 164:. He was caught and sent to prison in 1939. 26: 216:After escaping, Robie contacts Bellini in 194:with the townsfolk, including his friends 32: 25: 19:For the 1955 film based on the novel, see 323:-style planning. This seems to exonerate 283:Bellini provides Robie with six tough ex- 619: 496:In 2011, the novel was dramatized as a 518:New York: Random House, 1952. 248 pp. 500:, which was broadcast on 8 January on 404:comrade of Robie, and crook in Cannes. 397:comrade of Robie, and crook in Cannes. 7: 181:), and fought against the Germans. 672:American novels adapted into films 445:Senhor and Senhora Souza, wealthy 14: 599:Anthology of Mystery and Suspense 590:Reader's Digest Condensed Books 579:Reader's Digest Condensed Books 386:comrade of Robie, and fence in 372:Oriol, head of police in Vence. 524:London: Michael Joseph, 1953. 424:Francie Stevens, her daughter. 1: 291:to sleep, the thief strikes. 258:The thief strikes again, and 439:Lepic, sent down from Paris. 128:is a 1952 thriller novel by 562:Condensed/abridged versions 488:Season 10 of the TV series 703: 18: 437:Commissaire divisionnaire 31: 16:1952 novel by David Dodge 667:American thriller novels 581:, Winter 1952 Selections 411:, and burglar in Cannes. 136:, and the time is 1951. 633:: 17. January 14, 1952. 458:In 1955, the novel was 677:Novels set in France 662:1952 American novels 627:"To Catch a Thief". 449:residents of Cannes. 418:and crook in Cannes. 331:the guests' jewels. 682:Fiction set in 1951 508:Publication history 132:. The scene is the 38:First edition cover 28: 630:The New York Times 571:(Vol. 131, no. 6) 556:978-0-9826339-3-9 173:French Resistance 121: 120: 98:Publication place 54:Cover artist 27:To Catch a Thief 694: 635: 634: 624: 480:The Pink Panther 464:Alfred Hitchcock 460:made into a film 382:Jean-Pierre, ex- 264:headquarters in 125:To Catch a Thief 93:January 14, 1952 89:Publication date 36: 29: 21:To Catch a Thief 702: 701: 697: 696: 695: 693: 692: 691: 652: 651: 643: 638: 626: 625: 621: 617: 564: 515: 510: 456: 407:The Romani, ex- 359:), now retired. 352: 142: 106:Media type 90: 39: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 700: 698: 690: 689: 687:French Riviera 684: 679: 674: 669: 664: 654: 653: 650: 649: 642: 641:External links 639: 637: 636: 618: 616: 613: 612: 611: 602: 593: 584: 572: 563: 560: 559: 558: 548: 538: 528: 525: 522: 519: 514: 511: 509: 506: 486:Episode 10 of 455: 452: 451: 450: 443: 440: 434: 431: 428: 425: 422: 419: 412: 405: 400:Le Borgne, ex- 398: 391: 380: 373: 367: 360: 351: 348: 162:French Riviera 141: 138: 134:French Riviera 119: 118: 115: 111: 110: 107: 103: 102: 99: 95: 94: 91: 88: 85: 84: 79: 75: 74: 71: 67: 66: 63: 59: 58: 55: 51: 50: 45: 41: 40: 37: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 699: 688: 685: 683: 680: 678: 675: 673: 670: 668: 665: 663: 660: 659: 657: 648: 645: 644: 640: 632: 631: 623: 620: 614: 609: 606: 603: 600: 597: 594: 591: 588: 585: 582: 580: 576: 573: 570: 566: 565: 561: 557: 553: 549: 547: 546:0-460-12557-5 543: 539: 537: 536:0-85617-803-9 533: 529: 526: 523: 520: 517: 516: 512: 507: 505: 503: 499: 498:Saturday Play 494: 492: 491: 484: 482: 481: 475: 473: 469: 465: 461: 453: 448: 444: 441: 438: 435: 432: 429: 426: 423: 420: 417: 413: 410: 406: 403: 399: 396: 392: 389: 385: 381: 378: 374: 371: 368: 365: 361: 358: 354: 353: 349: 347: 344: 340: 338: 332: 328: 326: 322: 317: 315: 310: 308: 303: 299: 297: 292: 288: 286: 281: 279: 275: 270: 267: 263: 262: 256: 252: 250: 247:dog pin with 246: 242: 238: 234: 230: 225: 223: 219: 214: 212: 208: 203: 201: 197: 193: 192: 187: 182: 180: 179: 174: 170: 165: 163: 159: 155: 151: 147: 139: 137: 135: 131: 127: 126: 116: 112: 108: 104: 101:United States 100: 96: 92: 86: 83: 80: 76: 72: 68: 64: 60: 57:Irving Miller 56: 52: 49: 46: 42: 35: 30: 22: 628: 622: 607: 604: 598: 595: 589: 586: 577: 574: 569:Cosmopolitan 568: 497: 495: 489: 485: 478: 476: 457: 436: 415: 408: 401: 394: 383: 376: 375:Bellini, ex- 369: 356: 345: 341: 336: 333: 329: 324: 320: 318: 313: 311: 304: 300: 295: 293: 289: 284: 282: 277: 273: 271: 259: 257: 253: 236: 232: 226: 221: 215: 210: 206: 204: 200:tuberculosis 195: 189: 185: 183: 176: 166: 157: 143: 124: 123: 122: 82:Random House 502:BBC Radio 4 472:Grace Kelly 466:, starring 454:Adaptations 414:Michel, ex- 370:Commissaire 196:Commissaire 156:, known as 150:Côte d'Azur 130:David Dodge 48:David Dodge 656:Categories 615:References 468:Cary Grant 350:Characters 285:maquisards 186:maquisards 447:Brazilian 416:maquisard 409:maquisard 402:maquisard 395:maquisard 393:Coco, ex- 388:Marseille 384:maquisard 377:maquisard 357:maquisard 148:near the 78:Publisher 513:Editions 255:mother. 241:roulette 73:Thriller 62:Language 337:Le Chat 325:Le Chat 321:Le Chat 314:Le Chat 278:Le Chat 274:Le Chat 249:emerald 245:diamond 237:Le Chat 233:Le Chat 229:casinos 222:Le Chat 211:Le Chat 207:Le Chat 167:During 158:Le Chat 154:burglar 65:English 554:  544:  534:  364:Grasse 307:Romani 261:Sûreté 218:Cannes 191:boules 178:Maquis 44:Author 490:Bones 266:Paris 175:(the 146:Vence 114:Pages 109:Print 70:Genre 552:ISBN 542:ISBN 532:ISBN 470:and 296:must 140:Plot 462:by 117:248 658:: 605:In 596:In 587:In 575:In 504:. 483:. 474:. 202:. 390:. 366:. 23:.

Index

To Catch a Thief

David Dodge
Random House
David Dodge
French Riviera
Vence
Côte d'Azur
burglar
French Riviera
the German occupation of France in World War II
French Resistance
Maquis
boules
tuberculosis
Cannes
casinos
roulette
diamond
emerald
Sûreté
Paris
Romani
Grasse
Marseille
Brazilian
made into a film
Alfred Hitchcock
Cary Grant
Grace Kelly

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