Customer Reviews

Something Missing: A Novel

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Something Missing, by Matthew Dicks is a unique novel about a thief named Martin. Martin breaks into the homes of his clients and takes random articles that he feels the homeowners will never miss. This unique storyline is the charm of the novel and the simple humor makes it fun to read. For those who are avid readers, this novel is a break from the norm. As the story develops and the reader gains a greater understanding of Martin, it takes some interesting turns.

This is a quick read, which makes it perfect to take along on vacation. You will constantly be reminded of those products in your home you were sure you had more of, but tend to go missing.

This book was a fun change of pace and I liked it for that.

Something Missing by Matthew Dick

I'm still laughing my butt off at some of the scenes in this book, as I type this review.
So if you find any misspellings blame the author please!

For a while I didn't think I was going to be able to appreciate this novel. I reads so much like a cookbook for criminals. Yet after a few chapters you have to really let Martin's sociopath tendencies and slight OCD take over for your own moral compass and let the story reveal itself slowly and deliciously, much like a meal being cooked in a crock pot!

Martin is a thief, but not just any kind of thief. He thinks of his victims as clients and sometimes he`s been stealing from them for so long that he thinks of them as friends. Not only does he steal the requisite silver, diamonds, crystal etc...he also treats these peoples pantries as his own personal grocery store or even a department store, it depends on what he needs and how much the `client has in stock! (he steals towels from two different `clients' to make up his own set *chuckle*) He makes massively lengthy lists, plans and timetables. He is a master at planning, he has every base covered, or does he? Just when the book starts to get a tad boring, Martin found himself in a situation he had planned for but really never expected to be in and it is hilarious and goes to prove that Martin isn`t a true OCD sufferer. A bit anal and overly cautious perhaps, but I don't see him as a true sufferer of OCD.

This book ends magnificently on a great note with such a surprise ending, that if I don't stop here I may give it away.

It may be slow to start and a bit frustrating at times, but it's never boring. Martin and the secondary characters are very well fleshed and believable. I was thrilled with the setting that is in my home state, yet Mr. Dick never gets too bogged down in the details and makes this seem as if it were written to be about Anytown, USA.

I kind of thought that this could be compared a bit to Tim Dorsey's novels featuring Serge a. Storms, but with no murders (just mayhem) and a lot less drinking and drugs!
You may not like reading what amounts to a recipe for B&E, but I promise you'll fall in love with Martin Railsback and absolutely enjoy the ending.

This book was one of those books that really makes you feel as though you are connected to the story. You feel for Martin (A thief) and root for all of his positive endeavors. This book made me laugh out loud, then want to go out and buy some cylinder locks for every door in the house and install a state of the art alarm system (plus check to see if the unused bottles of salad dressing in my fridge were still there). It also made me think about life and the way we lead it and how that effects our situations and circumstances. This book was just downright wonderful, and I couldn't stop reading once I had started. I can't recommend this book enough.

I didn't know quite what to expect when I started this book. Right from the get go you know you're in for something different. Just how different Martin Railsback, Junior's story was going to be, that was the question. Very different is the answer. Martin's story is a lot of fun, too.

Martin is a burglar with OCD. He sneaks into people's homes during the night, but that's about all he has in common with your average, everyday thief in the night, if there is such a thing as your average burglar. Martin mostly only takes things that won't be missed and he's a repeat offender, that is to say that he goes into the same homes time and time again. He considers the people he burgles his clients. Martin takes meticulous notes and plans his home invasions well.

Then one day he accidently knocks an electric toothbrush into a client's toilet. Horrified at the thought that someone will have to brush their teeth with a toothbrush that has been so soiled, he races against time to replace the toothbrush with a new identical double and thus his life undergoes a sea change. Events conspire to turn him into a sort of self appointed guardian angel of those whose homes he invades.

I had a lot of fun reading this entertaining novel and against my better judgment I found myself caring for Martin. He's misguided to be sure, but he's an obsessively lovable character and this is an obsessively lovable story.

In this wonderfully quirky debut novel, Matthew Dicks (who has subsequently written another great book: Unexpectedly, Milo: A Novel) introduces us to a most unusual character. Martin Railsback is a barista, but during his off hours he is a "professional" thief. But unlike your typical thief, what he steals is surplus groceries - he basically "shops" from his "clients" (what he calls the people from whom he burgles). He keeps track of exactly what they have on hand and takes just enough to serve his needs without tipping them off to the fact that, say, a third of their laundry detergent is suddenly gone.

As time goes by, Martin also starts to meddle in the affairs of his "clients" - setting himself up a sort of anonymous counselor. Things really start to get interesting then ...

Not much more I can tell you about the plot - I don't want to get into too many details and spoil it for you. Suffice it to say that this is a delightful tale and one that you will not regret picking up and reading. Give it a try! I highly recommend it.

This book is the second one that I have read from Matthew Dicks and he once again proves he has a talent for creating unique and impelling characters. Martin is a burglar but not the usual kind. He locates "clients" who he can mostly steal small items that the homeowners will never notice missing. He has very strict criteria for determining his "clients" and each excursion to their home his carefully planned to the minutest of details.

Martin takes anything that won't be missed, even food from the refrigerator, laundry detergent, and other mundane products. He would never take anything he perceives as important to the "clients."

Martin gets to know just about everything about his "clients" and cares very much when something happens to get them into trouble. Like the husband who has not paid attention to his wife, and with a little secret prodding from Martin, could make their relationship blossom anew.

Martin has been doing this for several years and he will "drop" his "clients' when they no longer meet his strict criteria. Eventually, some of his "clients" needs become a little more high stakes and Martin has to make decisions as to whether he will break some of his own rules.

The author is amazing, coming up with another character (as in Unexpectedly Milo) that has so many quirks but is intriguing at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more books from the amazing talent of Mr. Dicks.

Something missing had me hooked from the beginning. Martin Railsback, the protagonist, is a quirky, unique and well-developed character. His OCD tendencies are clear, giving every detailed thought, rationale, and rules for choosing "clients." You not only begin to feel that you know Martin, but you begin routing for him to "acquire" the items he desires. As I read, I began wondering if I would I realize if a Martin-esque criminal had been in my house?! It would certainly explain why that extra tube of toothpaste I bought last time I was at the store is suddenly missing from my linen closet. Clever humor throughout the book had me chuckling out loud. The suspense and unexpected turns the story took made the book fun and addicting. Matthew Dicks has written a unique and enthralling story. I can't wait for his next book, Unexpectedly, Milo" to hit the shelves in August!

The protagonist of Something Missing is a burglar, but don't let that put you off: he is most considerate, and if my house were to be robbed I hope it would be by him. Martin steals for survival and a little profit, only taking items that he is sure will not be missed, such as out of date food and jewelry which has been long forgotten. His OCD tendencies require that he leave no trace of himself in your house, and he is very clean.

Martin's unusual occupation and OCD make him socially awkward, and he lives a very ordered life centered around routines. When Martin visits one of his "client's" houses, he is presented with an opportunity to help fix an ailing marriage. Once he learns the joy of helping others, he begins intervening in the lives of other people whose homes he burglarizes. For Martin this large break in routine leads to danger, new friendship, and possibly love.

Something Missing presents a unique hero in Martin, and his story is written in a humorous yet sensitive tone. The book is a page turner because the reader comes so engaged with Martin. Highly recommended for those who enjoyed The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-Time.

This is the kind of book you sit down to read on a dreary fall afternoon. When you are finished with it, you will feel better for reading it and the day will no longer seem dreary..then it will just feel romantic. Yes, it's a bit slow and the details that it goes into are a bit much. However, it is written this way so that we the reader understand how thorough and obsessive that martin is with every detail in his life. Besides, after you figure out the pattern, you can skim through the details and read the meat of the story w/o any problem. It's different and I was hoping it was, that's why I picked it up. You will know very soon if you like it or not and if you do, then you are in for a real treat. If not, well you didn't miss the best thing out there, but you will miss a good ending.

I picked this book up from a stack of review titles in a newsroom of a metro newspaper where I was working on contract. I needed something to read on the flight home. This was a very enjoy read. Surprising for a first novel. I look forward to other titles by the author.

I recommend this book.

Jon