The Gentleman Thief Steals a Blanket

Vanessa Bettencourt
Sep 6
2 min read

(image from the author's website)

4 stars

Set in Chicago, home to me, this was a fun read. The introduction of the characters set the mood for the entire novel with some surprises, because these two will go on a fun adventure. It has a lot of references to the mystery, sleuth genre literature, and also movies. Plus improbable plot twists, entertaining scenes that will keep us reading. Focuses on the Gentleman Thief trope, with an author character (yes please, these are always fun) who goes in a Robin Hood morally style stealing challenge. Instead of aiming to steal the crown jewels, they go for a blanket ahah. This is a great theme to explore, sentimental value vs monetary value. Witty, naughty, delightful, good fun.

Here is a good example of the humor and vibes.

"To some, magic is the creation of miracles. To others, magic is a riding lawn mower more luxurious than any other grass cutter on the market. What if these two types of magic came together?"

About the book

Published: June 2025, 296 pages
Publisher: BookBaby
Category: Adult Fiction (18+ and up)
Genre: Humorous Fiction
Content rating:PG-13: Some language and a non-explicit post-coital scene.

Frustrated novelist Danny is resigned to writing material for trade shows, promoting garage doors and non-stick cookware. His ex-wife threatens legal action for non-payment of alimony. Danny never dreamed the answer to his troubles could be larceny. But then wealthy, charming Packard Hale III reenters his life. He was Danny's college roommate, and like Lupin and Raffles, he now fancies himself a gentleman thief. Packard hires Danny to write about his capers.

Danny follows Packard as they break into a mansion and steal, among other things, a priceless Chinese vase and a curiously valuable souvenir blanket from Branson, Missouri. However, it's not Packard who is pursued by the police, but Danny. Simultaneously, he struggles to please his client, a lawn-and-garden CEO with an erotic attraction to lawnmowers. Danny also endures abuse from Soren, a boozy has-been Vegas magician. He tolerates the mistreatment because of Crystal, the magician's assistant. He's falling for her.

When he learns Soren screwed Crystal out of rights to magic tricks she's created -- and in spite of the cops on his tail -- Danny plots revenge. He and Packard attempt the daring theft of a state-of-the-art lawnmower—during a live performance in front of 400 people.

Buy the book:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3G7T1mD

Image from the official website

About the author

MARK NUTTER grew up in a motel near Joliet, Illinois, which is not as glamorous as it sounds. He's the author of the humorous heist novel The Gentleman Thief Steals a Blanket. He wrote three collections of comedic short stories: Giant Banana Over Texas, Dancer on the Ceiling, and Sunset Cruise on the River Styx. He won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and the LA Weekly Theater Award for the music & lyrics for Reanimator the Musical. Mark also wrote for television (SNL, 3rd Rock from the Sun) and feature film (Almost Heroes).

www.marknutter.com

A teaser from the official website