Customer Reviews

Matchstick Men: A Novel of Petty Crimes

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Roy and Frankie are partners in con, ripping off everyone who crosses their paths from college kids to home making women to greedy men. But Roy is also suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Frankie hooks him up with psychiatrist Dr. Klein so he can get the pills he needs. Dr. Klein in turn hooks Roy up with a daughter he never knew he had. Angela, fourteen, is eager to have a dad and wants to learn all about his job. Pretty soon she's helping. Pretty soon Roy wants to give up all his tricks in order to gain custody of her, but Frankie convinces him they should play the con game one more time ... just one more time.

MATCHSTICK MEN is one of the best books I have read this spring. It is fast, full of twists and cons, cleanly and cleverly plotted, and peopled with characters who, while not brilliant, are sturdy enough to hold up their ends of the book. Angela especially will keep you reading. For me, the ending was a complete surprise and it left me thinking the whole book through again from a different angle. I found it a resounding and fitting wrapup for a book of cons, hinted at but unexpected.

If you like fast, absorbing, perfectly plotted little books of petty crime with a twist, MATCHSTICK MEN is a treasure I couldn't recommend more highly.

Author Eric Garcia has written two previous books in which hard-boiled private eye Vincent Rubio is actually a dinosaur in disguise. No dinosaurs in his latest masterpiece but two sleazy con artists who are very good at taking money from others by all kinds of clever scams. Roy and Frankie are very good at what they do, in spite of Roy's obsessive compulsive disorder and hypochondriasis. The book becomes really interesting when Roy's long lost daughter from a failed marriage turns up and begins to change his life.

What will happen next? The plot takes a number of surprising twists and turns and carries you along, unable to put the book down, until the surprise ending that blew me away. While some of the reviewers found the ending obvious, I must be a good "mark" because I fell for it completely.

This book is not for everyone. It is not uplifting or redeeming. It is about some very bad people doing very bad things, but it is extremely well-written, fast-moving, entertaining and engaging. It has a lot of interesting information about scams and flimflams. Sometimes it is funny. But nothing like dinosaurs. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

Eric Garcia's series about a dinosaur detective, ANOMYMOUS REX & CASUAL REX, are totally different from his MATCHSTICK MEN, except for the fact they are all humorous. Roy & Frankie have been partners as con artists (matchstick men) for years. They are at opposite ends of the pole. Roy saves his money, planning for his retirement, (He doesn't trust banks; he keeps his money in a horse in his living room.) takes his medication regularly for his obsessive-compulsive disorder, & is very careful, except evidently during his brief marriage years ago. He finds out he has a teenage daughter who now wants to come stay with him & learn the trade. Frankie is just the opposite; he is willing to take chances. He wants to make a big score so he can get some money. They usually do their business in places, like restaurants, etc, on a small scale. Frankie isn't thrilled about having Roy's daughter sit in on some action, in fact he is downright opposed to it. But when a girl makes up her mind, what is a father to do? The big question here is can a con man be conned?

This is a great read. The characters are well developed and believable (unfortunately). I usually prefer books with a bit more scene setting but because the story was so good, I gave it 5 stars.

With Matchstick Men, you get great insight into the world of con artists. It's descriptive, funny, and hard to put down. The relationship between the two main characters, Roy and Frankie, is delightfully dynamic and Angela is something else all on her own. Plus, it has one of the best twists I think I have ever read. Just as a side note, if you are sensitive to foul language, then you probably ought not buy this book. Otherwise, go for it and enjoy a great read!

I will preface this review in saying that I saw the movie first, so the plot was severely ruined in many ways for me. But I'm a huge fan of Garcia's work, so I figured I would enjoy the book anyway.

Unfortunately I found that this novel is all about the plot, and the character development lacks. The main character, Roy, is the only individual who really gets fleshed out at all, and his character seems to deviate heavily from neurotic and crazy to calm, collected, and "normal." I found the transitions between his behaviors jarring; there didn't seem to be enough indication of his issues throughout the majority of his narrative.

However, despite the lack of memorable and interesting characters, the plot is still well developed, and if you haven't seen the movie, I think you'll be quite satisfied with the direction the story takes. With that said... I recommend seeing the movie, which in a rare turn of events, I find is better than the book.

As an additional note: I picked up the Kindle edition and it is riddled with typos. I normally don't get too bothered by such things, but it became somewhat distracting as I kept reading.

FRankie and Roy are out to con anyone they can. They start out with conning college kids with a card trick. Roy and Frankie are partners. Roy is the head man. Roy also has a serious case of obsessive compulsive disorder. His doctor that gives him pills for this left the state. Frankie takes Roy to a new doctor to receive pills for his disorder. The doctor wants to know about Roy's wife, Heather. Roy tells the doc she left him when she was pregnant. The doctor finds Heather for Roy and find out she has a 14 year old daughter. The doctor sets up a meeting with them and they start seeing each other. Roy tells Angela he's a antique seller. Roy is doing a con painting game with Frankie. Angela soon finds out Roy is a con man and wants to learn some cons. He finally lets in and teaches her one. Frankie and Roy are doing a currency exchange scam with a man named Chuck. Angela becomes a distraction for the con and Chuck notices her even though they escaped safely. Roy and Frankie suddenly learn Angela has a police record and they become scared Chuck is going to find them. To find out what happens next read the book. I though this book was very exciting and gave you an inside look of a con mans life. It was very suspensful and gave a good twist towards the end. I'd reccomend this book more towards older people because of some profanity and the whole crime scene.

OK in my make believe world everything has the perfect ending so I had already put an ending to this book but then reality hit me hard in the face. What a surprise! This book is one of the best books I've read this year so far. It reminded me of the last Grisham book I read - again expecting a different ending and just taken by surprise. At times I could not contain my laughter at Roy's "weirdness" especially his deal with the carpet. Sadly I can relate to the fact that we sometimes get so caught up in the absurd. I love a book that won't let me sleep because it's so darn good. Now I'm hesitant in viewing the movie - will I be disappointed? I wonder. . . .

And now I want to see the movie! I hope they keep everything the same, especially Roy. I didn't really picture Nicholas Cage as Roy, but as soon as I saw the trailer I see how he could do a really great job. I read the book in about two days which is really fast for me. I would want to know what people thought who saw the movie first and read the book after or vice versa.

Alex

Matchstick Men is an all around fun and satisfying read. The Characters were well written and the ending was a great touch.