A career criminal with OCD tendencies and a savant-like genius for bringing order to his crime scenes, Martin considers himself one of the best in ...
read full description
reviews
Sep 18, 2009
Stephanie
rated it: 
OK, this is a good little book. Funny, quirky - just my style! The only weird thing is that there are a LOT of product placements throughout the book - almost on every page! It might just be my conspiracy theory side talking, but it really freaked me out when I noticed it! Other than that, great book, but I feel like I'm going to have to go out and buy a Subaru Outback or some Tide detergent after I finish the book.
5 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Dec 28, 2011
Anneliese
rated it: 
This book was so much fun. I love Martin's methodical manner, and I love that our protagonist is... not exactly normal. It's fascinating "watching" him pack up and plan what and how he is going to steal what he steals. It's never at risk to the "client," and his methodical nature is very near charming. This isn't heavy reading, but it's certainly fun!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 02, 2011
Angela
rated it:
What a wonderful debut novel about a lovable thief! Martin is believable, sympathetic, and twisted all at the same time. I love how Martin refers to his victims as "clients" and his life of crime as "work".
A must read for anyone interested in suspense, mystery, psychology, and literature.
A must read for anyone interested in suspense, mystery, psychology, and literature.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 12, 2012
Adrienne
rated it:
Reason for the Book's Selection: The idea of a burglar who only takes things that will go unnoticed by homeowners is intriguing (i.e.--toilet paper, cans of fruit, detergent).
Plot: Martin works part-time at Starbuck’s for the excellent health benefits but during his off hours robs unattended homes of things that will go unmissed; however, during one of his burglaries, he decides to help one of the homeowners, and his well-ordered life spins out of control.
Charac More...
Dec 19, 2011
Pygmy
rated it:
Lots of points for this book for the concept, but I wish someone else had executed it. The character's voice is more than a little pedantic, and for the first 3 quarters of the book, the only conversation the character has is with a parrot. Everything else is just paragraph after pargraph of description....which is fine up to a point, and then I just started skipping pages to get through it.
It got a bit more exciting by the last quarter of the book; the main character meets a poten More...
It got a bit more exciting by the last quarter of the book; the main character meets a poten More...
Oct 05, 2011
April
rated it: 
The main character is utterly charming as a kind of "Monk" gone awry. The author knows how to set up a situation so you can't wait to see what happens next and OCD Martin is a man who has few friends, no family to speak of, and keeps to himself as much as possible. The one thing that brings him comfort and pride is his self proclaimed "job". He is extremely dedicated to his clients, and is very selective as to who he takes on--or rather, takes from. His "takes" usua
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 22, 2011
Dani
rated it:
More often than not, I read books that are heavy and depressing. Typically, they are filled with troubled characters with troubled pasts and (inevitably) troubled and depressing futures. "Something Missing" is the exact opposite and because of that it is a very welcomed breath of fresh air!
Matthew Dicks tells the story of a "friendly" thief, Martin, who calls those he steals from his "clients". He is a conscientious thief in that he only takes items that h More...
Matthew Dicks tells the story of a "friendly" thief, Martin, who calls those he steals from his "clients". He is a conscientious thief in that he only takes items that h More...
Apr 29, 2011
Saxton B. Little
rated it:
Matthew Dick's Something Missing is what can only be described as a quirky read. Last night we discussed this book in an online Booksonthenightstand group. When trying to decide where to place Something Missing the group was at a loss. Certainly not a mystery and not exactly humorous, though it is funny; I’ll call it just plain good fiction and worry no further.
Martin, the main character, a man who burglarizes homes, taking only items that will not be missed, is someone you should dis More...
Martin, the main character, a man who burglarizes homes, taking only items that will not be missed, is someone you should dis More...
Jan 27, 2011
Annie
rated it:
A light-hearted fictional story about a career thief named Martin who methodically targets “clients” repeatedly and steals everyday items like laundry detergent, canned food, etc. that won’t be detected as missing. He adheres to a strict system devised over the years and enforced by his most important tool, a ten-sided die, whose roll determines the route in and out of the house, even down to which parking spot he should chose. Its kind of eerie thinking about someone watching you and knowing
More...
Jan 13, 2011
gert
rated it:
ok, firstly - this is not an "easy" read. its so chock full of details, some readers may get bored/disheartened. but the details are a requirement for the story. we need to hear all of the steps the hero (using the term loosely!) goes through even for most mundane activities to full understand him.
a paragraph if inner monologue debating the correct tone of a greeting may sound painful, but it helps show just how exhausting for the hero to have to go through for each and every More...
a paragraph if inner monologue debating the correct tone of a greeting may sound painful, but it helps show just how exhausting for the hero to have to go through for each and every More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 22, 2010
Louise
rated it:
This was a hilarious story! At times it was serious, at times heart pounding and at times funny as heck.
Martin is a career criminal with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) tendencies who has a list of clients he frequents. He knows where they work, if they’re married or live alone, whether they have a dog or not, and what time of day they leave their home and what time they return.
During Martin’s excursions into their homes when they’re at work, he carries a list for e More...
Martin is a career criminal with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) tendencies who has a list of clients he frequents. He knows where they work, if they’re married or live alone, whether they have a dog or not, and what time of day they leave their home and what time they return.
During Martin’s excursions into their homes when they’re at work, he carries a list for e More...
Sep 24, 2010
Kristi
rated it:
What a great character! And a great story, too! Martin is a very successful catburglar. He's been working for 19 years, robbing the same homes over and over again for many years, and has never been caught. In fact, the homeowners never even realize they were robbed at all. Because Martin has a lot of rules about who he can rob (his "clients), when he can steal something (acquire), and what can be stolen (only the unlikely to be noticed.) So, Martin keeps himself in fresh produce, soup, laun
More...
May 19, 2010
Susan
rated it:
In Mathew Dicks’ charming debut novel, Martin Railsback has an unusual daytime job—he robs from a select set of “clients” he’s developed over the years. He rarely goes after big ticket items...jewelry and such...but raids his clients’ pantries and refrigerators for edibles and their linen closets for towels.
In the first half of the novel, Martin meticulously details his client selection process, as well as how he goes about undetected in his clients’ homes, how he decides what to More...
In the first half of the novel, Martin meticulously details his client selection process, as well as how he goes about undetected in his clients’ homes, how he decides what to More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 18, 2010
Vegantrav
rated it:
pros: interesting premise -- a professional burglar (the protagonist, Martin) who has a list of clients (i.e. victims); for the most part, Martin steals only basic necessities (food, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, towels, etc.) and occasionally steals more expensive items; the trick is: he only steals things that he knows his clients won't notice he's stolen -- Martin suffers from an OCD-type personality, and so he is very meticulous in his criminal activities (which has helped him
More...
Aug 30, 2009
Sharon
rated it:
I am so glad I found this book! New author Matthew Dicks has created a real gem.
His main character is utterly charming. Martin is a man who has few friends, no family to speak of, and keeps to himself as much as possible. The one thing that brings him comfort and pride is his job. He is extremely dedicated to his clients, and is very selective as to who he takes on--or rather, takes from. Oh, didn't I mention? Martin is a thief. The nicest one you'd ever come across though. His " More...
His main character is utterly charming. Martin is a man who has few friends, no family to speak of, and keeps to himself as much as possible. The one thing that brings him comfort and pride is his job. He is extremely dedicated to his clients, and is very selective as to who he takes on--or rather, takes from. Oh, didn't I mention? Martin is a thief. The nicest one you'd ever come across though. His " More...
Jun 03, 2009
pride myself on knowing our forthcoming list of books pretty well, but every once in awhile, one sneaks up on me. That’s what happened when I read the Booklist starred review of Matthew Dicks’s first novel Something Missing. Speaking of missing, how did I miss this one? It was totally under my radar, so I dipped into it and couldn’t put it down. The narrator is a charming thief with OCD tendencies, who becomes a guardian angel to the unwilling victims of his pilfering. This delightful stor
More...
Jan 11, 2011
Penny
rated it:
I bought this book for ten cents at a library sale. It sounded fascinating and it was. It was quirky and often tedious but interesting enough to hold my attention. I like to think of myself as an honest person so I did find it a bit unsettling that the main character---the unconventional good guy in the book---makes a living by stealing but he did have several endearing and even redeeming qualities. The book made some interesting and insightful observations about possessions and people. It spent
More...
Mar 24, 2011
John
rated it:
Adrian Monk Meets Boo Radley: Something Missing by Matthew Dicks [Review]
Something Missing: A Novel by Matthew Dicks
Martin, the peculiar hero of Something Missing, is a burglar by profession, but not just that. Martin is a master burglar, who robs the same house again and again over the course of years or decades and never gets caught because, and here is the brilliance of his scheme: he only steals things people won’t miss anyway. Six bars of soap in the linen clos
More...
Jul 29, 2010
Melanie
rated it:
Normally, I love thief characters in fiction. This time, I wasn't absolutely in love with Martin, the main character/thief in this book, but the book was so honest and fun that I really liked the book. It was quirky and enjoyable. I could believe that someone could steal the way Martin does, just because I have sometimes wondered where all my shampoo/laundry detergent/food has gone. I was so sure I had more left than that. (But I highly doubt that someone has been sneaking into my house and stea
More...
Nov 25, 2009
Terri
rated it:
I read this book last week and enjoyed it quite a bit. I always wish I could give half stars on these reviews, because I'd like to give this one 3 1/2. The premise is really intriguing - a conscientious, OCD thief who only steals what you wouldn't notice. It's such a clever idea! But, this book REALLY takes a while to get going! It has a pretty slow beginning and the author takes his time getting to the plot and setting up the background of the main character, Martin. When the plot finally hit
More...
Apr 20, 2010
Mallory
rated it:
I love enjoying a book I never would have chosen for myself. This book was selected by my book club and follows the escapades of an OCD burglar who frequents the same "clients" over many years. As time passes, he begins to feel that he knows the people whose houses he is breaking into and, when his life actually begins to intersect with the lives of his clients, he is put into a position where he must either sacrifice the people he has grown attached to or begin to interact with his
More...
Mar 09, 2009
Diane
rated it:
Martin is an OCD thief. Yeah, kind of like Monk the obsessive-compulsive detective, but better - he takes things he needs from people who don't notice that the items are missing (for example, a stick of butter, 2/3 laundry detergent, and only the occasional earring). He has a small select group of clients, and lives his life pretty quietly, with one good friend and no girlfriend (though he believes he has a relationship with a waitress). Until the day he knocks a toothbrush into the toilet...
More...
2 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 07, 2010
Elisha
rated it: 
A summer "Readers Choice" book from the local library. The back cover made me think it was going to be much better than it ended up it was. It was just so-so.
But it wasn't bad. Martin is a thief, an OCD thief who meticulously goes through his "clients" homes and takes things they wont' miss - a roll of tp here, some vegetables there. Every once in a while he snatches a silver tray and sells it on ebay. But he's a good guy. A weird guy, but nice enough. I just More...
But it wasn't bad. Martin is a thief, an OCD thief who meticulously goes through his "clients" homes and takes things they wont' miss - a roll of tp here, some vegetables there. Every once in a while he snatches a silver tray and sells it on ebay. But he's a good guy. A weird guy, but nice enough. I just More...
Jun 08, 2011
Hobart
rated it:
Martin's a thief--a very peculiar kind of thief. He keeps going back to the same places time and again, mostly stealing staples--food, household supplies, etc.--enough to get by on, but never enough to get noticed. This book takes effort to get through--the quirky, even funny, premise will carry you through the first chapter or two, but then the excruciating detail that the Narrator gives about every little thing threatens to drag the story to a halt. I wanted to stop more than once, but ther
More...
Jul 11, 2011
Peggy
rated it:
Martin Railsback is a thief, and he's very good at it. He is not, however, your typical thief. He takes things you won't miss: a couple of rolls of toilet paper, an extra bottle of Liquid Plumr, the dusty china at the back of your cabinet that you never use, or, brilliantly, one diamond earring. This enables him to return to the same houses over and over again, with no one ever suspecting a thing. Martin researches his “clients” thoroughly, and keeps up with their lives. In fact, he's now come t
More...
Dec 14, 2009
Laura
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 13, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
The premis for the book is one of it's best assests. Martin is a concientious thief. His first rule when conducting buisness is never take anything that will be noticed missing. A half container of detergent here, five asprin there...He has morals and standards and seems to genuinly care about integrity and fair play, thinking of the people he steals from as "clients." Martin is hard to get close to as a character as a reader because his obsessive compulsive behavior is deeply embedded
More...
Mar 14, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
A fun story about Martin... a man with OCD who is a burglar by trade - a burglar who takes things people won't miss, mostly incidental household objects (toothpaste, aspirin, syrup - and occasional jewelry, selecting pieces he knows won't be missed) - with very strict rules about who and how - making weekly, 15 minute, highly planned visits to numerous homes - and who starts to look at his clients as friends - and he begins to help them anonymously...
the 1st help was to a couple lon More...
the 1st help was to a couple lon More...
Nov 09, 2010
Gmama
rated it:
For the first 2/3 of the book I could only think of a few words to describe this book. Tedious, boring, well, I didn't have much good to say. I felt like I was the one SUFFERING from the main character's OC behavior. I asked myself several times why I was wasting my time on this book. It wasn't until very near the end that it got interesting and I felt like my time was paying off. It had some very fun surprises at the end, although whether or not the outcome of the book was believeable is a
More...
Jun 28, 2011
Kim
rated it:
Good book, very different; however, it was eye opening the amount of "info" about your life is contained in your house that someone could be paying attention to. There are very good descriptions in this book so that you really could get mental images, but after a little while it was draining (mostly towards the middle, but nothing major). I really liked Martin's character, he seemed like a really "different" kind of friend, but charming nonetheless. I almost felt sorry for
More...
