What do you think?
Rate this book
Something Missing
"The story of an obsessive-compulsive housebreaker whose every waking moment is jam-packed with finicky clockwork ritual--the kind of intense micro-planning that might have made even Napoleon back off...Matthew Dicks has created an unforgettable character that will have you torn between wanting to throttle him--or adopt him."
--Alan Bradley, author of the New York Times bestselling Flavia de Luce novels
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. After all, he’s been able to steal from the same people for years on end—virtually undetected. Of course, this could also be because of his unique business model—taking only items that will go unnoticed by the homeowner. After all, who would notice a missing roll of toilet paper here, a half-used bottle of maple syrup there, or even a rarely used piece of china buried deep within a dusty cabinet?
Even though he's never met these homeowners, spending hours in their houses, looking through their photo albums and reading their journals, he feels like he knows them. So Martin decides to meddle more in their lives—playing the part of a rather odd guardian angel—even though it means breaking many of his neurotic rules.
In this hilarious, suspenseful and often profound novel about a man used to planning every second of his life, Martin comes to realize thatlife is much better lived on the edge (at least some of the time).
--Alan Bradley, author of the New York Times bestselling Flavia de Luce novels
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. After all, he’s been able to steal from the same people for years on end—virtually undetected. Of course, this could also be because of his unique business model—taking only items that will go unnoticed by the homeowner. After all, who would notice a missing roll of toilet paper here, a half-used bottle of maple syrup there, or even a rarely used piece of china buried deep within a dusty cabinet?
Even though he's never met these homeowners, spending hours in their houses, looking through their photo albums and reading their journals, he feels like he knows them. So Martin decides to meddle more in their lives—playing the part of a rather odd guardian angel—even though it means breaking many of his neurotic rules.
In this hilarious, suspenseful and often profound novel about a man used to planning every second of his life, Martin comes to realize thatlife is much better lived on the edge (at least some of the time).
294 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2009
191 people are currently reading
4,227 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Dicks
16books1,128followersMatthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Something Missing, Unexpectedly, Milo, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs, and the upcoming novels The Other Mother and Cardboard Knight, as well as the nonfiction Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Art of Storytelling. His novels have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide.
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was the 2014 Dolly Gray Award winner and was nominated for a 2017 Nutmeg Award in Connecticut. Matthew was also awarded first prize in 2016 and second prize in 2017 in the Magazine/Humorous Column category by the CT Society of Professional Journalists.
He is also the author of the rock opera The Clowns and the musicals Caught in the Middle, Sticks & Stones, and Summertime. He has written comic books for Double Take comics. He is a columnist for Seasons magazine and has published work in Reader's Digest, The Hartford Courant, Parents magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor. He was awarded first prize for opinion writing in 2015 by the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists.
When not hunched over a computer screen, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, a storyteller, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, a minister, a life coach, and a Lord of Sealand. He has been teaching for 20 years and is a former West Hartford Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
Matthew is a 35-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 5-time GrandSLAM champion whose stories have been featured on their nationally syndicated Moth Radio Hour and their weekly podcast. He has also told stories for This American Life, TED, The Colin McEnroe Show, The Story Collider, The Liar Show, Literary Death Match, The Mouth, and many others. He has performed in such venues as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Wilbur Theater, The Academy of Music in North Hampton, CT, The Bynam Theater of Pittsburgh, The Bell House in NYC, The Lebanon Opera House, Boston University, and Infinity Hall in Hartford, CT.
He is a regular guest on several Slate podcasts, including The Gist, where he teaches storytelling.
Matthew is also the co-founder and creative director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England. He teaches storytelling and public speaking to individuals, corporations, and school districts around the world. He has most recently taught at Yale University, The University of Connecticut Law School, Purdue University, The Connecticut Historical Society, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Miss Porter's School, The Berkshire School, and Graded School in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Matthew is the creator and co-host of Boy vs. Girl, a podcast about gender and gender stereotypes.
Matthew is married to friend and fellow teacher, Elysha, and they have two children, Clara and Charlie. He grew up in the small town of Blackstone, Massachusetts, where he made a name for himself by dying twice before the age of eighteen and becoming the first student in his high school to be suspended for inciting riot upon himself.
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was the 2014 Dolly Gray Award winner and was nominated for a 2017 Nutmeg Award in Connecticut. Matthew was also awarded first prize in 2016 and second prize in 2017 in the Magazine/Humorous Column category by the CT Society of Professional Journalists.
He is also the author of the rock opera The Clowns and the musicals Caught in the Middle, Sticks & Stones, and Summertime. He has written comic books for Double Take comics. He is a columnist for Seasons magazine and has published work in Reader's Digest, The Hartford Courant, Parents magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Christian Science Monitor. He was awarded first prize for opinion writing in 2015 by the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists.
When not hunched over a computer screen, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, a storyteller, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, a minister, a life coach, and a Lord of Sealand. He has been teaching for 20 years and is a former West Hartford Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
Matthew is a 35-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 5-time GrandSLAM champion whose stories have been featured on their nationally syndicated Moth Radio Hour and their weekly podcast. He has also told stories for This American Life, TED, The Colin McEnroe Show, The Story Collider, The Liar Show, Literary Death Match, The Mouth, and many others. He has performed in such venues as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Wilbur Theater, The Academy of Music in North Hampton, CT, The Bynam Theater of Pittsburgh, The Bell House in NYC, The Lebanon Opera House, Boston University, and Infinity Hall in Hartford, CT.
He is a regular guest on several Slate podcasts, including The Gist, where he teaches storytelling.
Matthew is also the co-founder and creative director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows throughout New England. He teaches storytelling and public speaking to individuals, corporations, and school districts around the world. He has most recently taught at Yale University, The University of Connecticut Law School, Purdue University, The Connecticut Historical Society, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Miss Porter's School, The Berkshire School, and Graded School in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Matthew is the creator and co-host of Boy vs. Girl, a podcast about gender and gender stereotypes.
Matthew is married to friend and fellow teacher, Elysha, and they have two children, Clara and Charlie. He grew up in the small town of Blackstone, Massachusetts, where he made a name for himself by dying twice before the age of eighteen and becoming the first student in his high school to be suspended for inciting riot upon himself.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 983 reviews
March 4, 2009
This is my book, so obviously I like it a lot. It's available to the public in July of 2009.
January 10, 2018
Martin was put out of his mother's and stepfather's Connecticut home when he turned 18. He tried to support himself with a job at Starbucks while taking courses at a community college, but sometimes there would be no food on his shelves. That's when he started his other "job", entering people's houses when they were gone and taking items that would not be noticed. Martin has OCD tendencies and is very meticulous in his planning, leaving no evidence behind.
After stealing from the same homeowners for years, Martin feels like he knows them since he reads their mail and invitations to find out when they will be leaving the house empty. He starts getting involved in their lives, preventing bad things from happening to his "clients". Martin goes from an existence where everything is orderly and predictable to one with more diverse experiences. There might even be room for love in his life.
The book starts out slowly since Marin is doing everything in such an OCD manner. But the pace quickens and more humorous situations arise as the book continues. Martin is a thief, but he's also a man with a good heart.
Author Matthew Dicks, who is also a personable storyteller and elementary school teacher, writes with humor and understanding of the challenges that many face in life. I used to work in the town where this story is set, so it was fun recognizing the landmarks included in the story. 3.5 stars.
After stealing from the same homeowners for years, Martin feels like he knows them since he reads their mail and invitations to find out when they will be leaving the house empty. He starts getting involved in their lives, preventing bad things from happening to his "clients". Martin goes from an existence where everything is orderly and predictable to one with more diverse experiences. There might even be room for love in his life.
The book starts out slowly since Marin is doing everything in such an OCD manner. But the pace quickens and more humorous situations arise as the book continues. Martin is a thief, but he's also a man with a good heart.
Author Matthew Dicks, who is also a personable storyteller and elementary school teacher, writes with humor and understanding of the challenges that many face in life. I used to work in the town where this story is set, so it was fun recognizing the landmarks included in the story. 3.5 stars.
December 28, 2011
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!
November 29, 2024
This is the author’s first book.
Funny, quirky. Different.
Charming in a To Catch A Thief way (especially since the main character has chosen this as an unusual profession).
The humor and human-ness of the novel make it an enjoyable read.
Funny, quirky. Different.
Charming in a To Catch A Thief way (especially since the main character has chosen this as an unusual profession).
The humor and human-ness of the novel make it an enjoyable read.
May 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It was highly descriptive, probably some would consider it slow moving, and at times the author drew out a suspenseful moment by describing the characters internal dialogue or by revealing a story from the past to add meaning to the moment. The character is an endearing thief. You learn how he came into his career choice, what motivates him, and how he views himself.
I love books where you slowly become more close to the main character through slow revelations instead of it being spelled out for you. In this way its like becoming acquainted with a new friend rather that reading about someone that is spelled out for you. Those that write this way leave me more powerfully affected than if they simply told a great story. You become friends with the characters rather than viewing them as a form of entertainment. What a gem of a story!
I love books where you slowly become more close to the main character through slow revelations instead of it being spelled out for you. In this way its like becoming acquainted with a new friend rather that reading about someone that is spelled out for you. Those that write this way leave me more powerfully affected than if they simply told a great story. You become friends with the characters rather than viewing them as a form of entertainment. What a gem of a story!
February 4, 2019
Long build-up describing the details of Martin's strategies at his profession, efficiently told climax and resolution. I found it fascinating. The concept reminds me of the DiCaprio movie "Catch Me if You Can." The vibe reminds me a bit of or .
But Martin does *not* have OCD... he's careful because he has to be... he may have been successful in this job because he's naturally tidy and observant, but that is not a mental illness. I think he's an endearing character, and I'm glad that I'm not the only one who does. I believe in him, and I believe in the people with whom he makes connections. Even if I don't entirely believe in the plot.
I'm only giving it three stars because it is awfully fluffy to justify rounding up from 3.5... but I may change my mind as I reflect on it over the next few days. I *do* recommend it if you're interested.
But Martin does *not* have OCD... he's careful because he has to be... he may have been successful in this job because he's naturally tidy and observant, but that is not a mental illness. I think he's an endearing character, and I'm glad that I'm not the only one who does. I believe in him, and I believe in the people with whom he makes connections. Even if I don't entirely believe in the plot.
I'm only giving it three stars because it is awfully fluffy to justify rounding up from 3.5... but I may change my mind as I reflect on it over the next few days. I *do* recommend it if you're interested.
February 18, 2010
This is a book written from the POV of a man with OCD, so it's not surprisingly that it's a bit obsessively detailed. And while I love the fantastic premise -- a careful thief spends months and years researching, burglarizing and re-burglarizing his "clients" so they never even notice anything has been stolen -- spending time with Martin, who can't make a simple decision without reviewing all his options in meticulous detail, can get a little tiring.
Matthew Dicks writes as if he's got OCD himself, bringing you into Martin's world, resulting in some very funny scenes and tense moments of suspense, but his obsessive personality is also a bit distancing. I also found the second, plot-heavy half of the book a bit less satisfying than the set-up. It's a fun, fast read, but it might make you feel a little crazy.
Matthew Dicks writes as if he's got OCD himself, bringing you into Martin's world, resulting in some very funny scenes and tense moments of suspense, but his obsessive personality is also a bit distancing. I also found the second, plot-heavy half of the book a bit less satisfying than the set-up. It's a fun, fast read, but it might make you feel a little crazy.
May 8, 2011
Martin Railsback is a thief. He repeatedly breaks into the homes of his “clients� and steals only that which will not be missed � a couple of rolls of toilet paper, an earring that hasn’t been worn in years, etc. For Martin this seems almost like a game that provides him not only with enough goods and cash to live on, but also more than a few thrills. But Martin isn’t a villain at heart, nor will you think he is. One day, he realizes that something terrible is going to happen to one of his “clients� and, at the risk of being unmasked, works to avoid the catastrophe. This leads him into a new aspect of his career � breaking in for the good of the victim.
Martin is an engaging character � lovable, quirky, suffering from OCD. Matthew Dicks provides the reader with humor, excitement and thrills in this terrific debut novel. The author seems to have cornered the market on unusual main characters with interesting avocations. His second novel, “Unexpectedly, Milo� is also a real treat.
Grade: A
Martin is an engaging character � lovable, quirky, suffering from OCD. Matthew Dicks provides the reader with humor, excitement and thrills in this terrific debut novel. The author seems to have cornered the market on unusual main characters with interesting avocations. His second novel, “Unexpectedly, Milo� is also a real treat.
Grade: A
August 17, 2010
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 dislike but can't. Even though what he does
is a bit creepy; picking locks, duplicating keys, rummaging through personal belongings, somehow he is endearing. Martin considers those that he robs his clients. He sees this as his profession and he takes it seriously. It is his means to survival. As you journey with Martin through his entering into homes, you learn much about what motivates his
lifestyle. Though not quite kosher, it's a romp, nonetheless. Redeeming all is that underneath his obsessive compulsive self there beats a good heart.
As Dicks resides in Connecticut, a special treat for Connecticut readers is his use of familiar places and streets throughout. You'll recognize the scene beyond a
doubt and may even think you know some of the people on the pages. If nothing else, you'll crave breakfast at The Quaker Diner in West Hartford and hope to meet Jillian, a
special waitress.
Something Missing is funny, insightful and moves briskly to a satisfying end.
Martin, the main character, a man who burglarizes homes, taking only items that will not be missed, is someone you should dislike but can't. Even though what he does
is a bit creepy; picking locks, duplicating keys, rummaging through personal belongings, somehow he is endearing. Martin considers those that he robs his clients. He sees this as his profession and he takes it seriously. It is his means to survival. As you journey with Martin through his entering into homes, you learn much about what motivates his
lifestyle. Though not quite kosher, it's a romp, nonetheless. Redeeming all is that underneath his obsessive compulsive self there beats a good heart.
As Dicks resides in Connecticut, a special treat for Connecticut readers is his use of familiar places and streets throughout. You'll recognize the scene beyond a
doubt and may even think you know some of the people on the pages. If nothing else, you'll crave breakfast at The Quaker Diner in West Hartford and hope to meet Jillian, a
special waitress.
Something Missing is funny, insightful and moves briskly to a satisfying end.
October 9, 2019
A good read, yes... Somewhere between As Good As It Gets, a great film about how love can be the best agent for change, specifically in regards to serious illness & Klosterman's The Visible Man, one of my favorite books regarding morally questionable career choice involving secretly spying on others in their private lives; while not necessarily a violent wrong, wrong nonetheless. (Obviously similar to Monk... But I feel like the media over sensationalized that one, negating what it or really like to suffer from the disorder; at least a serious version of it... )
The first thing I would like to say is that Martin does not have the symptoms to be diagnosed. At the most he has some serious anxiety in specific situations. Other than that, he is simply a lonely, socially awkward, shy guy with intelligence along with imaginative ideas for his life choices. That being said, his "tendencies" are not easy to change & it was quite beautiful to watch him gradually become a better man, first when he sees his clients in need, then as he falls in love with Laura. (Yes, I am referencing the line, "You make me want to be a better man" from As Good As It Gets). Something Missing was also quite hilarious at times, reading like a satire. So, why, one might wonder, is this only a three star rather than a five?
Well, unlike The Visible Man, this is a debut. Unfortunately, it shows. Much of the novel is numbingly predictable, although the hilarious vignettes & creative adventures Martin finds himself in mostly overshadows this. The foremost foundation in writing is to "show, not tell". Here, the author does some showing, and a lot of telling. To every detail. A play by play. Not leaving anything to the reader's imagination. Even telling things he showed already. Both the predictability and tendency to over tell are most evident in the chapters with dialogue, at the end of the novel. The author has characters rebelling entire scenes; Laura's words seem literally taken from a textbook stereotype; Martin's client-turned-friend tells him things likewise from a personality textbook, as if he is a child.
As the main character, Martin, already realizes, the elaborate, methodical, over attention to detail is not always something good. The unnecessary restating, the telling of something better left to the reader's imagination... In this case, something is not missing. Something is extra.
The first thing I would like to say is that Martin does not have the symptoms to be diagnosed. At the most he has some serious anxiety in specific situations. Other than that, he is simply a lonely, socially awkward, shy guy with intelligence along with imaginative ideas for his life choices. That being said, his "tendencies" are not easy to change & it was quite beautiful to watch him gradually become a better man, first when he sees his clients in need, then as he falls in love with Laura. (Yes, I am referencing the line, "You make me want to be a better man" from As Good As It Gets). Something Missing was also quite hilarious at times, reading like a satire. So, why, one might wonder, is this only a three star rather than a five?
Well, unlike The Visible Man, this is a debut. Unfortunately, it shows. Much of the novel is numbingly predictable, although the hilarious vignettes & creative adventures Martin finds himself in mostly overshadows this. The foremost foundation in writing is to "show, not tell". Here, the author does some showing, and a lot of telling. To every detail. A play by play. Not leaving anything to the reader's imagination. Even telling things he showed already. Both the predictability and tendency to over tell are most evident in the chapters with dialogue, at the end of the novel. The author has characters rebelling entire scenes; Laura's words seem literally taken from a textbook stereotype; Martin's client-turned-friend tells him things likewise from a personality textbook, as if he is a child.
As the main character, Martin, already realizes, the elaborate, methodical, over attention to detail is not always something good. The unnecessary restating, the telling of something better left to the reader's imagination... In this case, something is not missing. Something is extra.
July 25, 2015
The book for review is “Something Missing� by Matthew Dicks. I would place this in the genre of fiction.
Meet our main character Martin. He’s a thief. But not your everyday run of the mill thief. He could come into your home and you would not even know he was there for all your big-ticket items would be left in tact.
He has clients, or that is what he calls the people he robs. But what does he take? Things you would never notice even if you tried. Some of his items could be two ounces of laundry detergent, a roll of toilet paper perhaps or condiments. He has rules that he abides by which has made him a successful businessman.
He is doing fine until he starts caring for some of his clients. Ones who are in danger if he doesn’t do anything. He’s a burglar not a hero. So what does he do? Ask his long gone father for advice. Sounds like a plan.
This is not the first book I have ready by Mr. Dicks. He didn’t fail me with this one. I loved it. I inhaled it. The characters were so well written The pace was amazing with me reading the book in mere days. It was impossible for me to dislike Martin. If that wasn’t enough, how the book ended did throw me for a loop. I didn’t see it coming. A great read and another awesome book from Mr. Dicks.
Meet our main character Martin. He’s a thief. But not your everyday run of the mill thief. He could come into your home and you would not even know he was there for all your big-ticket items would be left in tact.
He has clients, or that is what he calls the people he robs. But what does he take? Things you would never notice even if you tried. Some of his items could be two ounces of laundry detergent, a roll of toilet paper perhaps or condiments. He has rules that he abides by which has made him a successful businessman.
He is doing fine until he starts caring for some of his clients. Ones who are in danger if he doesn’t do anything. He’s a burglar not a hero. So what does he do? Ask his long gone father for advice. Sounds like a plan.
This is not the first book I have ready by Mr. Dicks. He didn’t fail me with this one. I loved it. I inhaled it. The characters were so well written The pace was amazing with me reading the book in mere days. It was impossible for me to dislike Martin. If that wasn’t enough, how the book ended did throw me for a loop. I didn’t see it coming. A great read and another awesome book from Mr. Dicks.
March 9, 2009
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...and his life changes dramatically.
This book had me alternating between laughing out loud on the subway (getting me some strange looks, even for NYC), cheering on his budding - and real - relationship, and being on the edge of my seat, worrying about Martin getting caught in one of his client's houses. It's suspenseful and funny and I can't recommend it enough. It's charming in a TO CATCH A THIEF way, and Martin's criminal tendencies don't seem so bad when compared to the real criminal who appears later in the story.
Forgot to say: Fans of Mark Haddon will like this book, too.
This book had me alternating between laughing out loud on the subway (getting me some strange looks, even for NYC), cheering on his budding - and real - relationship, and being on the edge of my seat, worrying about Martin getting caught in one of his client's houses. It's suspenseful and funny and I can't recommend it enough. It's charming in a TO CATCH A THIEF way, and Martin's criminal tendencies don't seem so bad when compared to the real criminal who appears later in the story.
Forgot to say: Fans of Mark Haddon will like this book, too.
April 11, 2022
Something Missing is the story of Martin Railsback, an obsessive-compulsive thief who experiences profound life-altering changes. He rediscovers family, saves lives and falls in love, all while struggling to maintain his 9-year-old "career" as a highly skilled and undetected robber.
A past reviewer correctly pointed out the highly descriptive nature of this story, and I agreed. However, I reveled in all those details: those wonderful specifics that elucidated Martin's initially "locked" OC behavior. I absolutely relished Martin Railsback's habit-riddled brain with all of its secrecy and fixation. His odd world with its isolation, silence, schedules, and social unease created a strange sense of solace for me. It was like listening to rain. I was strangely comforted by it. Matthew Dicks really knows how to write these kinds of characters in a light, accurate, and endearing way. I have already purchased another of his books.
4 stars
A past reviewer correctly pointed out the highly descriptive nature of this story, and I agreed. However, I reveled in all those details: those wonderful specifics that elucidated Martin's initially "locked" OC behavior. I absolutely relished Martin Railsback's habit-riddled brain with all of its secrecy and fixation. His odd world with its isolation, silence, schedules, and social unease created a strange sense of solace for me. It was like listening to rain. I was strangely comforted by it. Matthew Dicks really knows how to write these kinds of characters in a light, accurate, and endearing way. I have already purchased another of his books.
4 stars
May 3, 2011
This book was recommended by Bethany Scott quite a while ago & I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It was a quick, light piece, quirky & amusing. I also had to give it an extra star for the mere fact the main character uses a d10 to randomize some of his decisions!
October 28, 2021
If you had a stockpile of toilet paper or canned goods in your pantry, would you notice if one or two went missing in the course of a couple months? If you had a giant bottle of ibuprofen pills in your medicine cabinet, would you notice if 2 or 3 pills went missing? If a single earring that you rarely use went missing, would you suspect anything?
is the story of a lovable household thief Martin, who makes a living out of stealing these items. It is a fun and quirky book that made me wonder... did I use up all my lined paper for school? Or has a neighborhood 'Martin' been sneaking off with unnoticeable amounts of my office supplies?
Martin's "full time job" consists of making an inventory of everything his clients own, assessing how often these items are used, and then acquiring the items that his clients wouldn't miss or notice (i.e. a couple of grocery items here, a bit of laundry detergent and toiletry there, and the occasional unused jewelry and silverware). He is meticulous and his attention to detail is impeccable. It is because of this skill that he is able to notice small problems that happen in his clients' lives. He uses this skill to help his clients anonymously, making him their guardian angel of sorts.
The story started off at a very slow pace, focusing more on the details of Martin's profession and his OCD tendencies when it comes to covering his tracks. The story started picking up halfway through the novel and about two-thirds in, I couldn't put the book down!
4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
3/5 for writing style
Overall: 3.7/5
----------------------------------------------
If you liked the following quirky books, then you'll probably also enjoy Something Missing, (and vice versa):
is the story of a lovable household thief Martin, who makes a living out of stealing these items. It is a fun and quirky book that made me wonder... did I use up all my lined paper for school? Or has a neighborhood 'Martin' been sneaking off with unnoticeable amounts of my office supplies?
Martin's "full time job" consists of making an inventory of everything his clients own, assessing how often these items are used, and then acquiring the items that his clients wouldn't miss or notice (i.e. a couple of grocery items here, a bit of laundry detergent and toiletry there, and the occasional unused jewelry and silverware). He is meticulous and his attention to detail is impeccable. It is because of this skill that he is able to notice small problems that happen in his clients' lives. He uses this skill to help his clients anonymously, making him their guardian angel of sorts.
The story started off at a very slow pace, focusing more on the details of Martin's profession and his OCD tendencies when it comes to covering his tracks. The story started picking up halfway through the novel and about two-thirds in, I couldn't put the book down!
4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
3/5 for writing style
Overall: 3.7/5
----------------------------------------------
If you liked the following quirky books, then you'll probably also enjoy Something Missing, (and vice versa):
May 20, 2010
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 take, and how he processes his wares. He’s quite the OCD fellow to the point that I almost put the book down for good. However, the novel is redeemed about halfway through with an amusing interlude at a client’s home where Martin is almost discovered. He scrapes through the encounter which starts off a life-altering change of events.
I was pleasantly surprised to feel sympathy for Martin and to even cheer him on towards the end. His description of accessing his clients� homes chilled me a bit and made me realize how vulnerable I leave my home and my family each day. The humor and humaness of the latter half of the novel make this an enjoyable read.
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 take, and how he processes his wares. He’s quite the OCD fellow to the point that I almost put the book down for good. However, the novel is redeemed about halfway through with an amusing interlude at a client’s home where Martin is almost discovered. He scrapes through the encounter which starts off a life-altering change of events.
I was pleasantly surprised to feel sympathy for Martin and to even cheer him on towards the end. His description of accessing his clients� homes chilled me a bit and made me realize how vulnerable I leave my home and my family each day. The humor and humaness of the latter half of the novel make this an enjoyable read.
May 15, 2011
Yes, Martin Railsback is a thief. He breaks into homes and steals, selecting the same group of residences, repeatedly. The funny thing is, no one notices. Martin only pilfers items, that will not be missed. A roll of toilet paper, a dish towel, a can of soup. He has a touch of OCD, which works perfectly, for this unusual, but productive career. He is as meticulous, as a brain surgeon.
The twist in the story, arrives, when Martin inadvertently becomes a sort of “guardian angel� to his beloved homeowners, helping them out in some difficult circumstances. This leads to some situations, which are humorous, suspenseful and dangerous.
If you are looking for something, completely refreshing, with a wonderful lead character, give Martin a try, it’s a lot of fun.
The twist in the story, arrives, when Martin inadvertently becomes a sort of “guardian angel� to his beloved homeowners, helping them out in some difficult circumstances. This leads to some situations, which are humorous, suspenseful and dangerous.
If you are looking for something, completely refreshing, with a wonderful lead character, give Martin a try, it’s a lot of fun.
July 18, 2015
Swell book-it doesn't have a lot of dialogue at first (the only interaction he has for around 150 pages is with a parrot), but the idea of a thief who thinks of the people he robs regularly as his "clients," a thief who is rather attached to the people on his client list and only steals what they won't miss, is wonderful. The description of his adventures was thoughtful and original, and the character of Martin truly lovable.
December 29, 2022
Really enjoyed this. I thought the pacing was maybe a little off? A lot of the beginning was just set up and then the action was all the last 1/3 of the book but I still enjoyed the whole thing.
January 27, 2024
A bit of a long walk for a short drink…the premise is interesting enough, but it took wayyy too long to get to the actual plot/love interest, and by then it was hard to care as much. At least a satisfying ending, so the long walk did have some reward.
May 27, 2023
This novel describes the observations and actions of a thief as he makes the rounds of the homes of his “clients�, stealing only things they won’t notice are missing. Every tiny detail of Martin’s thought process is described in painful, tedious specificity. And there is almost zero contact with other humans for most of the book. We are just stuck inside the head of a criminal with OCD. The conclusion was not believable and I didn’t really care, because I thought Martin was creepy.
August 30, 2009
This book has a great premise - our hero Martin makes a career out of breaking into people's homes and taking only what they won't miss. For Martin its a combination of grocery shopping (a tomato here, a bar of soap there) and a money maker (a diamond necklace that hasn't been worn for years gets sold on ebay). As the other reviews on ŷ point out, there are a LOT of details to this book to explain how Martin can actually get away with this. And the reviewer's pleasure in the book seem to depend on whether or not they like reading into all that nitty gritty or if they want more plot and dialog. I fall into the plot and dialog camp which is why I can only give this fairly enjoyable book 3 stars (or lets call it 3.5 to give it a bit more credit.)
Martin is very likable and engaging which also made me wonder how it was possible that he only had one friend (who barely seemed to know him since he was clueless about Martin's career). So likable that I was starting to wish that he would come and clean out my fridge once in a while. But after about 100 pages where nothing had really happened I was starting to lose interest in my new friend and start thinking about what book I was going to read next. Luckily the last third of the book does had some action although its all a little far fetched but it was enough to keep me reading.
Martin is very likable and engaging which also made me wonder how it was possible that he only had one friend (who barely seemed to know him since he was clueless about Martin's career). So likable that I was starting to wish that he would come and clean out my fridge once in a while. But after about 100 pages where nothing had really happened I was starting to lose interest in my new friend and start thinking about what book I was going to read next. Luckily the last third of the book does had some action although its all a little far fetched but it was enough to keep me reading.
July 13, 2012
I really loved it. Let's see if I can explain why because it is different. For most of the book, it's pretty slow paced and goes into excruciating(I know that sounds bad but it's not) detail about the main character's daily routine.I found this fascinating, but others may be turned off by it.I felt like it helped me get inside Martin's head. The protag is a 30-something guy with OCD who works part-time at Starbucks as a cover for his real job as a thief. He's quite endearing actually. Martin has a series of houses or "clients" which he visits regularly, stealing small amount of everyday household supplies to keep his own home stocked up. A few pickles here, some Tide detergent there. In addition, he does occasionally steal some bigger ticket items after watching to see if the homeowners use it and might miss it. There are some funny passages about his ebay persona, Barbara Teal. Martin's life is one of routine which takes a sharp turn when he accidentally knocks a client's electric toothbrush into the toilet. Knowing he can't in good conscience just wash it off and put it back, Martin begins to break one after another of his long-held rules. The "something missing" of the title refers not only to the items Martin steals, but also to Martin's solitary world as well. I had so much fun reading this. I'm going to miss Martin. Cleverly done.
September 29, 2013
Something Missing by Matthew Dicks is a surprising book because I had expected it to be a cute and quirky story about a burglar who only steals things that people will not miss. Instead I found myself largely creeped out and annoyed with the main character for his over-meticulousness and pompousness, as well as bored by all of the internal monologues and lack of action or conversation. While I understand why the book is so introverted into the main character for so long, I feel that the writing style took it a little too far by over analyzing Martin’s thought process rather than just showing us his actions and giving explanations only when absolutely necessary. The story did definitely pick up with the introduction of the character Laura and then the main drama that leads to Martin becoming something of a hero, but by that point, everything felt a little cliché and was too neatly wrapped up in the end. Overall, I suppose this book will make a great conversation piece because I can understand where others might really like the main character, but I found the writing style to be too overly analytical and the main character not personable enough for me to really get into and enjoy this book.
December 19, 2011
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 potential love interest, he's meddling in the lives of his "clients" to make things better for them, all the way up to that final heroic conclusion.
I'm not crazy about the way the author handles dialogue, but the quirky concept had me thinking that this is the perfect story to turn into a movie. Lately I've been obsessed with watching Burn Notice and Touching Evil (US version), and I feel that the actor Jeffrey Donovan is the perfect guy to pull off this oddball character who skirts the law but has a kind heart and well meaning intentions.
So in summation: bleh book but awesome concept. Make me a movie, please.
It got a bit more exciting by the last quarter of the book; the main character meets a potential love interest, he's meddling in the lives of his "clients" to make things better for them, all the way up to that final heroic conclusion.
I'm not crazy about the way the author handles dialogue, but the quirky concept had me thinking that this is the perfect story to turn into a movie. Lately I've been obsessed with watching Burn Notice and Touching Evil (US version), and I feel that the actor Jeffrey Donovan is the perfect guy to pull off this oddball character who skirts the law but has a kind heart and well meaning intentions.
So in summation: bleh book but awesome concept. Make me a movie, please.
May 19, 2021
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 fully understand him.
A paragraph of 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 thing he does.
The day everything changes for the hero (martin) seems to happen slowly, but in fact, i found the pace of the book picked up almost instantly - the pace mirroring Martin's own change - and was quickly immersed.
Martin's personality is one that made me feel sorry for him, and that sympathy really went a long way to how I felt about the ending.
Good book. totally recommend. but only if you're willing to spend some time in the mind of an OCD suffering thief with a ridiculous amount of intelligence and an almost complete lack of confidence.
A paragraph of 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 thing he does.
The day everything changes for the hero (martin) seems to happen slowly, but in fact, i found the pace of the book picked up almost instantly - the pace mirroring Martin's own change - and was quickly immersed.
Martin's personality is one that made me feel sorry for him, and that sympathy really went a long way to how I felt about the ending.
Good book. totally recommend. but only if you're willing to spend some time in the mind of an OCD suffering thief with a ridiculous amount of intelligence and an almost complete lack of confidence.
March 9, 2014
it's a little hard for me to decide what I think of this book.
Taken at face value, as simply a book with characters and plot, it's a cute, light, fun read. It's a bit slow at the start but the pace picks up near the end. For light, mindless reading, this serves its purpose.
As a concept, I'm somewhat less sold. It's a bit like reading only half of the book, , wherein we see someone whose behavior is clearly aberrant, but from his perspective only. I don't care how many good deeds a person does in the process, breaking into people's homes, going through their things and taking items is not endearing behavior. If you are willing to suspend your disbelief enough to get past that, I suspect you will enjoy the book, but for me I wasn't ever entirely able to quiet that disbelief.
Taken at face value, as simply a book with characters and plot, it's a cute, light, fun read. It's a bit slow at the start but the pace picks up near the end. For light, mindless reading, this serves its purpose.
As a concept, I'm somewhat less sold. It's a bit like reading only half of the book, , wherein we see someone whose behavior is clearly aberrant, but from his perspective only. I don't care how many good deeds a person does in the process, breaking into people's homes, going through their things and taking items is not endearing behavior. If you are willing to suspend your disbelief enough to get past that, I suspect you will enjoy the book, but for me I wasn't ever entirely able to quiet that disbelief.
March 2, 2011
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.
August 25, 2014
This is a wonderful story, full of ironic humor, suspense, and feel-good incidents. It's also squeaky clean, with a complete absence of profanity and only a couple of very-minor sexual references. This was a fun read and, given that it's the author's first novel, I'll be watching for his next.
January 3, 2010
too tedious, couldn't finish, couldn't find a point to the lumbering descriptions of procedure that were redundant
Displaying 1 - 30 of 983 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.