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To Catch a Thief
It takes a thief…
"Le Chat" ("The Cat"), an infamous thief, has come out of retirement and is again liberating expensive jewelry from wealthy tourists on the FreRch Riviera. Or is it a "copycat" who is stealing fortunes?
John Robie thought he had left his larcenous past behind. Once responsible for a string of daring thefts and escapes, he was caught and sent to prison just before the outbreak of World War II. Freed during the German occupation of France, Robie joined the French Resistance and received unofficial amnesty after the war ended. He retired to a simple life in the country where he befriended the local commissaire, Oriol, and tended his gardens. Now it's 1951, and someone has been at work using his old MO. When the police come to arrest him, Robie escapes to Cannes. There, he reconnects with his former comrade Bellini, who convinces Robie to help catch the copycat.
Disguised as a pudgy, middle-aged American businessman, Robie scouts the local nightclubs and casinos and tries to outthink the new thief. When he meets Francie Stevens, the daughter of a wealthy tourist, she becomes Robie's unwelcome ally, and together they hatch a dangerous plan to catch the thief at a gala party. But soon they both realize that Robie really is a thief at heart. With Oriol and the police on his trail, will he escape capture? Will the real thief be caught? And will Robie give up the thief?
"Le Chat" ("The Cat"), an infamous thief, has come out of retirement and is again liberating expensive jewelry from wealthy tourists on the FreRch Riviera. Or is it a "copycat" who is stealing fortunes?
John Robie thought he had left his larcenous past behind. Once responsible for a string of daring thefts and escapes, he was caught and sent to prison just before the outbreak of World War II. Freed during the German occupation of France, Robie joined the French Resistance and received unofficial amnesty after the war ended. He retired to a simple life in the country where he befriended the local commissaire, Oriol, and tended his gardens. Now it's 1951, and someone has been at work using his old MO. When the police come to arrest him, Robie escapes to Cannes. There, he reconnects with his former comrade Bellini, who convinces Robie to help catch the copycat.
Disguised as a pudgy, middle-aged American businessman, Robie scouts the local nightclubs and casinos and tries to outthink the new thief. When he meets Francie Stevens, the daughter of a wealthy tourist, she becomes Robie's unwelcome ally, and together they hatch a dangerous plan to catch the thief at a gala party. But soon they both realize that Robie really is a thief at heart. With Oriol and the police on his trail, will he escape capture? Will the real thief be caught? And will Robie give up the thief?
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1952
183 people are currently reading
1576 people want to read
About the author
David Dodge
89 books28 followersDavid Francis Dodge (August 18, 1910 – August 1974) was an author of mystery/thriller novels and humorous travel books. His first book was published in 1941. His fiction is characterized by tight plotting, brisk dialogue, memorable and well-defined characters, and (often) exotic locations. His travel writing documented the (mis)adventures of the Dodge family (David, his wife Elva, and daughter Kendal) as they roamed around the world. Practical advice and information for the traveler on a budget are sprinkled liberally throughout the books.
David Dodge was born in Berkeley, California, the youngest child of George Andrew Dodge, a San Francisco architect, and Maude Ellingwood Bennett Dodge. Following George's death in an automobile accident, Maude "Monnie" Dodge moved the family (David and his three older sisters, Kathryn, Frances, and Marian) to Southern California, where David attended Lincoln High School in Los Angeles but did not graduate.
After leaving school, he worked as a bank messenger, a marine fireman, a stevedore, and a night watchman. In 1934, he went to work for the San Francisco accounting firm of McLaren, Goode & Company, becoming a Certified Public Accountant in 1937. On July 17, 1936, he was married to Elva Keith, a former Macmillan Company editorial representative, and their only daughter, Kendal, was born in 1940. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, emerging three years later with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
David Dodge's first experience as a writer came through his involvement with the Macondray Lane Players, a group of amateur playwrights, producers, and actors whose goal was to create a theater purely for pleasure. The group was founded by George Henry Burkhardt (Dodge's brother-in-law) and performed exclusively at Macondria, a little theater located in the basement of Burkhardt's house at 56 Macondray Lane on San Francisco's Russian Hill. His publishing career began in 1936 when he won First Prize in the Northern California Drama Association's Third Annual One Act Play Tournament. The prize-winning play, "A Certain Man Had Two Sons," was subsequently published by the Banner Play Bureau, of San Francisco. Another Dodge play, "Christmas Eve at the Mermaid," co-written by Loyall McLaren (his boss at McLaren, Goode & Co.), was performed as the Bohemian Club's Christmas play of 1940, and again in 1959. In 1961, the Grabhorn Press published the play in a volume entitled Shakespeare in Bohemia.
His career as a writer really began, however, when he made a bet with his wife that he could write a better mystery novel than the ones they were reading during a rainy family vacation. He drew on his professional experience as a CPA and wrote his first novel, Death and Taxes, featuring San Francisco tax expert and reluctant detective James "Whit" Whitney. It was published by Macmillan in 1941 and he won five dollars from Elva. Three more Whitney novels soon followed: Shear the Black Sheep (Macmillan, 1942), Bullets for the Bridegroom (Macmillan, 1944) and It Ain't Hay (Simon & Schuster, 1946), in which Whit tangles with marijuana smugglers. With its subject matter and extremely evocative cover art on both the first edition dust jacket and the paperback reprint, this book remains one of Dodge's most collectible titles.
Upon his release from active duty by the Navy in 1945, Dodge left San Francisco and set out for Guatemala by car with his wife and daughter, beginning his second career as a travel writer. The Dodge family's misadventures on the road through Mexico are hilariously documented in How Green Was My Father (Simon & Schuster, 1947). His Latin American experiences also produced a second series character, expatriate private investigator and tough-guy adventurer Al Colby, who first appears in The Long Escape (Random House, 1948).
Two more well-received Colby books appeared in 1949 and 1950, but with the publication of To Catch a Thief in 1952, Dodge abandoned series ch
David Dodge was born in Berkeley, California, the youngest child of George Andrew Dodge, a San Francisco architect, and Maude Ellingwood Bennett Dodge. Following George's death in an automobile accident, Maude "Monnie" Dodge moved the family (David and his three older sisters, Kathryn, Frances, and Marian) to Southern California, where David attended Lincoln High School in Los Angeles but did not graduate.
After leaving school, he worked as a bank messenger, a marine fireman, a stevedore, and a night watchman. In 1934, he went to work for the San Francisco accounting firm of McLaren, Goode & Company, becoming a Certified Public Accountant in 1937. On July 17, 1936, he was married to Elva Keith, a former Macmillan Company editorial representative, and their only daughter, Kendal, was born in 1940. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, emerging three years later with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
David Dodge's first experience as a writer came through his involvement with the Macondray Lane Players, a group of amateur playwrights, producers, and actors whose goal was to create a theater purely for pleasure. The group was founded by George Henry Burkhardt (Dodge's brother-in-law) and performed exclusively at Macondria, a little theater located in the basement of Burkhardt's house at 56 Macondray Lane on San Francisco's Russian Hill. His publishing career began in 1936 when he won First Prize in the Northern California Drama Association's Third Annual One Act Play Tournament. The prize-winning play, "A Certain Man Had Two Sons," was subsequently published by the Banner Play Bureau, of San Francisco. Another Dodge play, "Christmas Eve at the Mermaid," co-written by Loyall McLaren (his boss at McLaren, Goode & Co.), was performed as the Bohemian Club's Christmas play of 1940, and again in 1959. In 1961, the Grabhorn Press published the play in a volume entitled Shakespeare in Bohemia.
His career as a writer really began, however, when he made a bet with his wife that he could write a better mystery novel than the ones they were reading during a rainy family vacation. He drew on his professional experience as a CPA and wrote his first novel, Death and Taxes, featuring San Francisco tax expert and reluctant detective James "Whit" Whitney. It was published by Macmillan in 1941 and he won five dollars from Elva. Three more Whitney novels soon followed: Shear the Black Sheep (Macmillan, 1942), Bullets for the Bridegroom (Macmillan, 1944) and It Ain't Hay (Simon & Schuster, 1946), in which Whit tangles with marijuana smugglers. With its subject matter and extremely evocative cover art on both the first edition dust jacket and the paperback reprint, this book remains one of Dodge's most collectible titles.
Upon his release from active duty by the Navy in 1945, Dodge left San Francisco and set out for Guatemala by car with his wife and daughter, beginning his second career as a travel writer. The Dodge family's misadventures on the road through Mexico are hilariously documented in How Green Was My Father (Simon & Schuster, 1947). His Latin American experiences also produced a second series character, expatriate private investigator and tough-guy adventurer Al Colby, who first appears in The Long Escape (Random House, 1948).
Two more well-received Colby books appeared in 1949 and 1950, but with the publication of To Catch a Thief in 1952, Dodge abandoned series ch
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
June 10, 2021
David Dodge’s writing style often reminds me of Montgomery Clift’s acting style; five minutes into the film or the narrative, you forget either exist. Clift’s fine performances were sometimes overlooked, because he became the character he was portraying so completely, that Clift no longer existed. In a David Dodge novel, the writer no longer exists, just the character and the story. In this case the character is John Robie, or Le Chat, the retired thief. As Somerset Maugham noted, the reader should never realize the writer exists if a story is told properly. Everything should happen as if by some magic happenstance where we are privy to a great story. That style isn’t showy, it doesn’t call attention to itself, but when it’s done to perfection, as Dodge so often did, it’s a heck of a read.
I love the film based on the book, but since it has been many years since I’ve viewed it, I’ll only state that a few differences certainly exist. Francie here is a blue-eyed brunette, for example, and the romance more intellectual. Robie, in fact — or Jack Burns throughout much of this book — doesn’t even realize romantic feelings toward him exist inside Francie. He believes — for good reason — that she in fact dislikes him. Only Robie’s friend Bellini is emotionally aware enough to realize Francie’s reason for living.
In many ways To Catch a Thief is the quintessential thief story. The colorful locations along the French Riviera make it all sparkle with glamor and elegance. Yet there is something more going on here, as Dodge subtly explores Robie’s own nature, and the world of the classic high-end thief. Beneath a fast-flowing and entertaining narrative are insights into Robie’s psyche, which encapsulates all those to whom he is loyal, and who are loyal to him. In Robie’s world, there is indeed honor among thieves, most of whom served beside him in a kind of Resistance during the war, called the Maquis. Once the war was over, the Sûreté looked the other way in regard to their prior crimes, and the great Le Chat — The Cat — simply ceased to exist. But someone has made it seem as though he has returned, their acrobatic feats as they plunder priceless jewels across the Riviera pointing to one man — Le Chat. If the American Robie is to remain a free man in France, rather than leave all he loves behind, and flee, he must gather his old loyal confederates and try to capture the imposter himself.
What follows is fun and exciting, as Robie changes identities, sets up surveillances, and hires an escort in Danielle, who it turns out mirrors the dead wife of his loyal friend Paul. It is Robie’s loyalty, however, which causes him problems, making him reluctant to reveal his predicament, and explain why he’s pretending to be Jack Burns. In Paul’s case, he doesn’t want to involve him on the chance that something will go wrong. But in Francie’s case, it is because she is not a thief, therefor she cannot be trusted. It is an interesting psychological insight, and is fully explored in a swiftly-moving narrative full of color and elegance. Francie does at first appear to warrant Robie’s reticence to allow her in, because she appears to be a very strange girl only out for kicks. Robie is chained to her by blackmail, because she’s guessed who he is, even wants him to steal her mother’s jewels.
A big party, an exciting and dangerous chase across rooftops — which is also how the book begins — and the startling discovery of who has been mimicking Le Chat, brings about a truly unconventional solution that once again, plays into the loyalty and psychology of thieves.
Is the ending of the book as romantic as the film? Does Robie finally realize what his pal Bellini has known all along? You’ll have to read it to find out. There is no existential, stream-of-consciousness, experimental nonsense here. This is simply an elegantly atmospheric narrative of crime and romance, wonderfully told by a writer who understood that the best way to tell a great story, was just to tell it. It makes for a smooth, enjoyable ride along the French Riviera.
I love the film based on the book, but since it has been many years since I’ve viewed it, I’ll only state that a few differences certainly exist. Francie here is a blue-eyed brunette, for example, and the romance more intellectual. Robie, in fact — or Jack Burns throughout much of this book — doesn’t even realize romantic feelings toward him exist inside Francie. He believes — for good reason — that she in fact dislikes him. Only Robie’s friend Bellini is emotionally aware enough to realize Francie’s reason for living.
In many ways To Catch a Thief is the quintessential thief story. The colorful locations along the French Riviera make it all sparkle with glamor and elegance. Yet there is something more going on here, as Dodge subtly explores Robie’s own nature, and the world of the classic high-end thief. Beneath a fast-flowing and entertaining narrative are insights into Robie’s psyche, which encapsulates all those to whom he is loyal, and who are loyal to him. In Robie’s world, there is indeed honor among thieves, most of whom served beside him in a kind of Resistance during the war, called the Maquis. Once the war was over, the Sûreté looked the other way in regard to their prior crimes, and the great Le Chat — The Cat — simply ceased to exist. But someone has made it seem as though he has returned, their acrobatic feats as they plunder priceless jewels across the Riviera pointing to one man — Le Chat. If the American Robie is to remain a free man in France, rather than leave all he loves behind, and flee, he must gather his old loyal confederates and try to capture the imposter himself.
What follows is fun and exciting, as Robie changes identities, sets up surveillances, and hires an escort in Danielle, who it turns out mirrors the dead wife of his loyal friend Paul. It is Robie’s loyalty, however, which causes him problems, making him reluctant to reveal his predicament, and explain why he’s pretending to be Jack Burns. In Paul’s case, he doesn’t want to involve him on the chance that something will go wrong. But in Francie’s case, it is because she is not a thief, therefor she cannot be trusted. It is an interesting psychological insight, and is fully explored in a swiftly-moving narrative full of color and elegance. Francie does at first appear to warrant Robie’s reticence to allow her in, because she appears to be a very strange girl only out for kicks. Robie is chained to her by blackmail, because she’s guessed who he is, even wants him to steal her mother’s jewels.
A big party, an exciting and dangerous chase across rooftops — which is also how the book begins — and the startling discovery of who has been mimicking Le Chat, brings about a truly unconventional solution that once again, plays into the loyalty and psychology of thieves.
Is the ending of the book as romantic as the film? Does Robie finally realize what his pal Bellini has known all along? You’ll have to read it to find out. There is no existential, stream-of-consciousness, experimental nonsense here. This is simply an elegantly atmospheric narrative of crime and romance, wonderfully told by a writer who understood that the best way to tell a great story, was just to tell it. It makes for a smooth, enjoyable ride along the French Riviera.
September 9, 2025
The novel is set on the fabulous, romantic French Riviera and takes the reader on a journey to the sandy beaches, the gated estates, and the lively casinos. Although during the day, bikinis are standard attire, at night, the gowns and the jewels come out and what follows, of course, are the jewel thieves.
John Robie, better known as Le Chat, was once a former circus acrobat and the greatest jewel thief to ever roam the cities of the Mediterranean coast. There was no wall to high for him to climb. No hiding place too secret. No jewel was ever safe from him until he was caught. Released during WWII, John fought against the Nazi Occupation and earned a gentleman's truce with the French authorities. As long as he didn't cause further trouble, he wouldn't be required to finish his sentence and could continue on in his estate on the mountain.
But what happens when someone has copied his techniques, his signature, his modus operandi? All of a sudden, retirement is over and he can either flee the country or lay a trap for the real thief, the copycat so to speak. It is a well-paced thriller with something for just about everyone including crime, thievery, romance, and terrific descriptions of the Cote D'Azure. It's a game of cat and mouse and its a game with high consequences for Le Chat.
John Robie, better known as Le Chat, was once a former circus acrobat and the greatest jewel thief to ever roam the cities of the Mediterranean coast. There was no wall to high for him to climb. No hiding place too secret. No jewel was ever safe from him until he was caught. Released during WWII, John fought against the Nazi Occupation and earned a gentleman's truce with the French authorities. As long as he didn't cause further trouble, he wouldn't be required to finish his sentence and could continue on in his estate on the mountain.
But what happens when someone has copied his techniques, his signature, his modus operandi? All of a sudden, retirement is over and he can either flee the country or lay a trap for the real thief, the copycat so to speak. It is a well-paced thriller with something for just about everyone including crime, thievery, romance, and terrific descriptions of the Cote D'Azure. It's a game of cat and mouse and its a game with high consequences for Le Chat.
January 31, 2022
The basis for the great Alfred Hitchcock movie starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.
Quite a good book but different from the Alfred Hitchcock movie in several key points. However, if you have seen the movie you will recognize many parts of the novel. I am not sure that either the novel or the movie is actually better than the other. They are very similar and both are very good. I recommend both.
Quite a good book but different from the Alfred Hitchcock movie in several key points. However, if you have seen the movie you will recognize many parts of the novel. I am not sure that either the novel or the movie is actually better than the other. They are very similar and both are very good. I recommend both.
February 26, 2025
This is the book that supplied the source material for the famous film of the same name starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.
John Robie is a jewel thief, known by the name Le Chat, who was notorious for his acrobatic skills which aided many of his most daring thefts. Now retired from the game he lives quietly, until a copy cat thief begins robbing the very rich holidaying on the Riviera. The police suspect John and he is obliged to hide from them and at the same time try to capture the actual thief.
I enjoyed the book very much. There were a number of excellent characters and Robie himself is memorable. The identity of the thief is not totally unexpected but the last few lines were disappointing. I hoped for a little bit more than that!
John Robie is a jewel thief, known by the name Le Chat, who was notorious for his acrobatic skills which aided many of his most daring thefts. Now retired from the game he lives quietly, until a copy cat thief begins robbing the very rich holidaying on the Riviera. The police suspect John and he is obliged to hide from them and at the same time try to capture the actual thief.
I enjoyed the book very much. There were a number of excellent characters and Robie himself is memorable. The identity of the thief is not totally unexpected but the last few lines were disappointing. I hoped for a little bit more than that!
February 4, 2020
“Is Danielle your mistress?”
“No.”
“It wouldn’t be gentlemanly to say yes, would it? I’m sure you’re a gentleman. It’s one of the things I like about you. Gentleman thief has such a nice sound.”
John Robie is an American who prefers the sunny countryside of Provence to his native land. From his hilltop villa overlooking rolling lavender fields, John savours the local cooking, climbs mountains and plays ‘boules’ with the locals. Until one day the police comes knocking at his door and he is forced to flee. The past has catch up with Mr. Robie, as all the newspapers in France are full of the exploits of a daring thief nicknamed ‘Le chat’ . John knows these accounts are false, since he is actually the famous rooftop menace, but would anybody believe him when he tells the truth about his retirement? The unknown thief is using all the signature moves that made John infamous. After consultation with his former fence and maquisard comrade Bellini, John decides that he needs to set a trap and catch the copycat criminal in the act. After all, all he has to do is to plan the next high-stakes robbery to the last detail and wait for the unknown perpetrator to reveal himself.
What follows should be familiar to most of us who enjoyed repeated viewings of Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation: a daring, fast-paced caper among the casinos and luxury mansions on the Cote d’Azur, with a touch of romance and of humour to spice things up. I found it almost impossible, as I perused the novel on an airplane hop to Nice a couple of weeks ago, to picture anybody else in the roles of John Robie and of his socialite sidekick Francie Stevens other than the incredible Cary Grant / Grace Kelly partnership.
For years, I thought I have no need to go to the source material for the famous movie, but now I have been proven wrong. David Dodge is a very, very good storyteller, of the sort who doesn’t need hundreds of pages to get to the point or to create the right mood, the right tension. As I read about the background of John Robie as an acrobat in the circus and as a fighter in the maquis during the second world war, or as I followed him up across treacherous tiles on the roof of a local castle, I was transported right in the middle of the action.
I believe the novel is good enough to be considered a classic on its own merits, with or without the Hitchcock treatment as a companion, and I plan to track down and read a couple of other jet-set thrillers written by Dodge.
November 25, 2023
04/2017
Well plotted...fast for the early 1950s...the French Riviera location was unusual and exciting. The end was fine but left a little to be desired, for me.
Well plotted...fast for the early 1950s...the French Riviera location was unusual and exciting. The end was fine but left a little to be desired, for me.
July 4, 2022
The attraction of the book for me is the famous Alfred Hitchcock film starring Cary Grant as John Robie and the luminous Grace Kelly as Frances Stevens.
While by no means a great film, To Catch a Thief is vastly entertaining and has long been a favourite, for the chemistry between the stars, the witty lines and the gorgeous Riviera of the mid-1950s.
What surprised me is how close the film is to its source material, including several scenes which, up until I read the book, I was sure were purely cinematic. For example, there is the opening action sequence with the gendarmerie screaming up the hill to John Robie’s villa and his clever subterfuge: the housekeeper roars off in his car and the police pursue her, thinking Robie is driving.
This sets us up for the cat and mouse game as Robie (The Cat) realises he has to capture the current cat burglar, so successfully imitating his methods. Not only does he need to stay ahead of the police, he has to outsmart his wartime colleagues, heroes of the resistance, but always nefarious characters who now believe Robie has betrayed them by returning to his old criminal ways.
Dodge rises to no great heights, but has some feel for creating tension: Robie knows he is in a very tight spot. His wartime exploits did not lead to him being pardoned for his crimes but rather he has been paroled, an important distinction. As for the real thief; there are several plausible suspects and the revelation of the true criminal a surprising one.
While by no means a great film, To Catch a Thief is vastly entertaining and has long been a favourite, for the chemistry between the stars, the witty lines and the gorgeous Riviera of the mid-1950s.
What surprised me is how close the film is to its source material, including several scenes which, up until I read the book, I was sure were purely cinematic. For example, there is the opening action sequence with the gendarmerie screaming up the hill to John Robie’s villa and his clever subterfuge: the housekeeper roars off in his car and the police pursue her, thinking Robie is driving.
This sets us up for the cat and mouse game as Robie (The Cat) realises he has to capture the current cat burglar, so successfully imitating his methods. Not only does he need to stay ahead of the police, he has to outsmart his wartime colleagues, heroes of the resistance, but always nefarious characters who now believe Robie has betrayed them by returning to his old criminal ways.
Dodge rises to no great heights, but has some feel for creating tension: Robie knows he is in a very tight spot. His wartime exploits did not lead to him being pardoned for his crimes but rather he has been paroled, an important distinction. As for the real thief; there are several plausible suspects and the revelation of the true criminal a surprising one.
December 29, 2024
Just shy of the 70th anniversary of its release, David Dodge’s To Catch a Thief remains as clever and suspenseful as ever. How grateful I am to Poisoned Pen Press for reissuing this heart-stopping thriller!
American-born cat burglar John Robie has been retired from jewel robbery for years now, leaving in obscurity in Vence in southeastern France, near the French Riviera. The local commissaire, Oriol, realizes that Robie was Le Chat, an acrobatic cat burglar who was an international sensation before being arrested. Robie’s unofficially pardoned for his part in the French Resistance during World War II and looks the other way.
Robie’s placid existence ends when a copy-cat cat burglar begins stealing jewels during the high season in the French Riviera. Their styles are so similar that Robie flees and, through his Resistance pals (nearly all of them still a bit crooked) masquerades as an American insurance agent newly arrived from New York City. The gang decides that the only way to clear Robie is to nab the cat burglar because “To catch a thief, it takes a thief.”
No less than Alfred Hitchcock turned this Golden Age gem into a 1955 film starring Carey Grant and Grace Kelly. I can assure you that — as usual — you’ll love the book more than the movie. Highly, highly recommended.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.
American-born cat burglar John Robie has been retired from jewel robbery for years now, leaving in obscurity in Vence in southeastern France, near the French Riviera. The local commissaire, Oriol, realizes that Robie was Le Chat, an acrobatic cat burglar who was an international sensation before being arrested. Robie’s unofficially pardoned for his part in the French Resistance during World War II and looks the other way.
Robie’s placid existence ends when a copy-cat cat burglar begins stealing jewels during the high season in the French Riviera. Their styles are so similar that Robie flees and, through his Resistance pals (nearly all of them still a bit crooked) masquerades as an American insurance agent newly arrived from New York City. The gang decides that the only way to clear Robie is to nab the cat burglar because “To catch a thief, it takes a thief.”
No less than Alfred Hitchcock turned this Golden Age gem into a 1955 film starring Carey Grant and Grace Kelly. I can assure you that — as usual — you’ll love the book more than the movie. Highly, highly recommended.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2025
A few months ago I randomly picked up this old mystery/crime thriller at a bookstore in Paducah, Kentucky, and I’ve been anxiously waiting for it to make it to the top of the to-be-read pile.
Light-hearted, well-plotted, and decently written, this 1951 release tells the story of retired cat burglar John Robie (a.k.a. Le Chat) who is forced back into the game to save his name and to stay out of prison when someone else starts commiting crimes just like he used to and everyone thinks he is the one doing them.
The setting – the French Riviera – probably epitomized exoticness in the Fifties (heck, it still sounds pretty nice) as did the Monte Carlo casino (in which a tuxedoed James Bond would later sip shaken martinis), the young women strutting around in their skimpy bikinis (invented in 1946), and the wealthy women who, when they go out at night, feel naked if they’re not flaunting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry (preferably diamonds or pearls).
Robie is an intelligent and empathetic anti-hero and the secondary characters (gendarmes, underworld figures, upper class vacationers/potential victims, and romantic interests) are all fun and memorable in their own ways, too.
My copy includes some interesting background information on the author, David Dodge, who was quite a colorful person himself. He was inspired to write this book when, while he was staying in the French Riviera, his neighbor’s jewelry was stolen by a cat burglar and Dodge himself was, for a while, a suspect!
Excited to watch the Alfred Hitchcock movie tonight. I probably saw it decades ago, but don't remember it. In the Introduction to my copy of the book, Edith Head, legendary Hollywood costume designer, is quoted as saying, “When people ask me who my favorite actress is, who my favorite actor is, who my favorite director is, and what my favorite film is, I tell them to watch To Catch a Thief, and they’ll get all the answers.”
UPDATE: Watched the film last night. Meh. It was cute but they changed the plot in many ways--none for the better. As usual, the book is superior :)
Also, Grant was too old for Grace Kelly. He was 50, she 26, when they made the film. It always bugs me when they link a way older leading man with a much younger leading lady.
I enjoyed seeing the French Mediterranean coast, though :)
Light-hearted, well-plotted, and decently written, this 1951 release tells the story of retired cat burglar John Robie (a.k.a. Le Chat) who is forced back into the game to save his name and to stay out of prison when someone else starts commiting crimes just like he used to and everyone thinks he is the one doing them.
The setting – the French Riviera – probably epitomized exoticness in the Fifties (heck, it still sounds pretty nice) as did the Monte Carlo casino (in which a tuxedoed James Bond would later sip shaken martinis), the young women strutting around in their skimpy bikinis (invented in 1946), and the wealthy women who, when they go out at night, feel naked if they’re not flaunting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry (preferably diamonds or pearls).
Robie is an intelligent and empathetic anti-hero and the secondary characters (gendarmes, underworld figures, upper class vacationers/potential victims, and romantic interests) are all fun and memorable in their own ways, too.
My copy includes some interesting background information on the author, David Dodge, who was quite a colorful person himself. He was inspired to write this book when, while he was staying in the French Riviera, his neighbor’s jewelry was stolen by a cat burglar and Dodge himself was, for a while, a suspect!
Excited to watch the Alfred Hitchcock movie tonight. I probably saw it decades ago, but don't remember it. In the Introduction to my copy of the book, Edith Head, legendary Hollywood costume designer, is quoted as saying, “When people ask me who my favorite actress is, who my favorite actor is, who my favorite director is, and what my favorite film is, I tell them to watch To Catch a Thief, and they’ll get all the answers.”
UPDATE: Watched the film last night. Meh. It was cute but they changed the plot in many ways--none for the better. As usual, the book is superior :)
Also, Grant was too old for Grace Kelly. He was 50, she 26, when they made the film. It always bugs me when they link a way older leading man with a much younger leading lady.
I enjoyed seeing the French Mediterranean coast, though :)
February 28, 2025
Finished Reading
Pre-Read notes
I was offered this book and it's partner, To Catch a Spy, from the publisher. I've never read anything by Dodge, but I love the classic film made from To Catch a Thief. So it seemed like a good fit!
Final Review to come
“I am always confident of my friends. I find that loyalty repays loyalty.” (1:01:25)
Review summary and recommendations
Was offered a free copy of this book, a wonderful, gritty romance about a thief and their mark, only neither of them know which is which. It's a captivating blend of romance and crime thriller elements.
Beautiful setting work here that feels old but not anachronistic. Paris is truly Francie's city, if not her wealthy mother's.
Speaking of Francie, she is a contemporary woman's woman, strong and driven and smart, and completely likeable. She was part of the reason I gound the book so compelling, since she was written by a man in 1952. I really enjoyed this bit of character work.
I recommend this one to fans of both romantic suspense and crime novels. Dodge writes in a more contemporary style, so this doesn't feel like historical fiction. Readers who like strong, smart female characters, and "honor amongst thieves" type of bad guys.
I agree that... it was my own man who betrayed us.” He chuckled. “Honor among thieves is not what it used to be. p108
Reading Notes
Three things I loved:
1. It was early evening, not yet full night. A shadow was out of place against the wall at the back of the garden, just inside the gate. He could not be mistaken. He knew every shrub in the garden. Except for the olive trees that were there when he started, he had planted everything himself, down to the endive and the leeks and the fines herbes in the vegetable patch. He had not planted a shadow by the gate. p1 A very interesting introduction to the mmc.
2. I adore the first four chapters of this story. It's such a fantastic setup. The style reminds me of contemporary police procedurals, which is to say it is wonderful entertainment, albeit a bit dry.
3. The dynamic between the characters is charming! “I’d like to know what’s going on between you two,” Mrs. Stevens said shrewdly. “You’ve been cooking something for a couple of days now. You aren’t planning to elope, I hope.” Francie blushed. John said, “We haven’t got that far yet. We’re cooking up a scheme to win you a lucky dog.” p166
One thing I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. The book reads a little like a nonfiction history text – a bit dry and in love with itself. Too much summary, not enough description.
Rating: 💎💎💎💎 /5 family jewels
Recommend? yes
Finished: Feb 26 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
💍 heist stories
👥️ complicated characters
🗼 Paris
🪭 strong heroines
🩶 morally grey characters
Thank you to the author David Dodge, publishers Diversion Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of TO CATCH A THIEF. All views are mine.
---------------
Pre-Read notes
I was offered this book and it's partner, To Catch a Spy, from the publisher. I've never read anything by Dodge, but I love the classic film made from To Catch a Thief. So it seemed like a good fit!
Final Review to come
“I am always confident of my friends. I find that loyalty repays loyalty.” (1:01:25)
Review summary and recommendations
Was offered a free copy of this book, a wonderful, gritty romance about a thief and their mark, only neither of them know which is which. It's a captivating blend of romance and crime thriller elements.
Beautiful setting work here that feels old but not anachronistic. Paris is truly Francie's city, if not her wealthy mother's.
Speaking of Francie, she is a contemporary woman's woman, strong and driven and smart, and completely likeable. She was part of the reason I gound the book so compelling, since she was written by a man in 1952. I really enjoyed this bit of character work.
I recommend this one to fans of both romantic suspense and crime novels. Dodge writes in a more contemporary style, so this doesn't feel like historical fiction. Readers who like strong, smart female characters, and "honor amongst thieves" type of bad guys.
I agree that... it was my own man who betrayed us.” He chuckled. “Honor among thieves is not what it used to be. p108
Reading Notes
Three things I loved:
1. It was early evening, not yet full night. A shadow was out of place against the wall at the back of the garden, just inside the gate. He could not be mistaken. He knew every shrub in the garden. Except for the olive trees that were there when he started, he had planted everything himself, down to the endive and the leeks and the fines herbes in the vegetable patch. He had not planted a shadow by the gate. p1 A very interesting introduction to the mmc.
2. I adore the first four chapters of this story. It's such a fantastic setup. The style reminds me of contemporary police procedurals, which is to say it is wonderful entertainment, albeit a bit dry.
3. The dynamic between the characters is charming! “I’d like to know what’s going on between you two,” Mrs. Stevens said shrewdly. “You’ve been cooking something for a couple of days now. You aren’t planning to elope, I hope.” Francie blushed. John said, “We haven’t got that far yet. We’re cooking up a scheme to win you a lucky dog.” p166
One thing I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. The book reads a little like a nonfiction history text – a bit dry and in love with itself. Too much summary, not enough description.
Rating: 💎💎💎💎 /5 family jewels
Recommend? yes
Finished: Feb 26 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
💍 heist stories
👥️ complicated characters
🗼 Paris
🪭 strong heroines
🩶 morally grey characters
Thank you to the author David Dodge, publishers Diversion Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of TO CATCH A THIEF. All views are mine.
---------------
July 1, 2014
This just became one of my favorite books! I've been trying to get a copy of this book for a long time but could only find old beat up paperbacks by people wanting $50 for them.
I finally found it on ebay in a fairly new edition and immediately bought it.
One of my favorite Hitchcock films was based on this book starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelley. The author wrote travelogs as well as crime fiction stories in the 40s and 50s and incorporated all of the exotic places he knew in his stories. This was written while he was living in a villa on the Cote D'Azur. I would call it more of a romance than crime fiction.
While living there, the author's wealthier neighbors in the larger villa next door were robbed by a cat burglar.
This gave him the idea for John Robie, Le Chat (pronounced"Shah"), or "The Cat", who while living in retirement in his villa in Nice is accused of returning to his old ways as a daring second story jewel thief on the French Riviera. The Police are searching for him to take him into custody (he has been living untouched by them thanks to his service to France with the "Maquis" French Resistance in WWII). Now he has become the primary suspect in a rash of jewel thefts which match his own daring thefts before the War. Needless to say, Robie decides to take matters into his own hands to catch the thief and clear his name before he is caught. The name of the book comes from the old English Proverb "It Takes a Thief to Catch a Thief".
I finally found it on ebay in a fairly new edition and immediately bought it.
One of my favorite Hitchcock films was based on this book starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelley. The author wrote travelogs as well as crime fiction stories in the 40s and 50s and incorporated all of the exotic places he knew in his stories. This was written while he was living in a villa on the Cote D'Azur. I would call it more of a romance than crime fiction.
While living there, the author's wealthier neighbors in the larger villa next door were robbed by a cat burglar.
This gave him the idea for John Robie, Le Chat (pronounced"Shah"), or "The Cat", who while living in retirement in his villa in Nice is accused of returning to his old ways as a daring second story jewel thief on the French Riviera. The Police are searching for him to take him into custody (he has been living untouched by them thanks to his service to France with the "Maquis" French Resistance in WWII). Now he has become the primary suspect in a rash of jewel thefts which match his own daring thefts before the War. Needless to say, Robie decides to take matters into his own hands to catch the thief and clear his name before he is caught. The name of the book comes from the old English Proverb "It Takes a Thief to Catch a Thief".
March 6, 2017
Great fun and a quick read. The exotic location, the cast of characters, the tension, the chase, it all adds up to a highly enjoyable thriller with not too much riding on the line, and that lets you enjoy this light tale to the fullest.
April 13, 2025
I was quite delighted to see that a new edition of this classic was coming out. It's a book I've been promising to read since I fell in love with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in the movie.
David Dodge's book follows the trials of John Robie (Le Chat), an ex-thief living quietly in the south of France. However his peace is shattered when a new series of robberies begins that mimic his style exactly. The Police are coming for John Robie.
Into this frenzied atmosphere come The Stevens - mother and daughter - travelling through Europe and enjoying the casino life - well mother is. Daughter Francie is not so keen but she is interested in the mysterious Mr Burns who introduces himself one night and seems very taken by her mother's jewellery collection.
More robberies occur and the Police net begins to close. But are Francie's suspicions about Mr Burns correct? And if John Robie is not the thief then who is?
The film stays fairly close to the book but I have to say I much preferred the ending of the film to the book. Read the book, watch the film and you decide.
Thankyou to Netgalley for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
David Dodge's book follows the trials of John Robie (Le Chat), an ex-thief living quietly in the south of France. However his peace is shattered when a new series of robberies begins that mimic his style exactly. The Police are coming for John Robie.
Into this frenzied atmosphere come The Stevens - mother and daughter - travelling through Europe and enjoying the casino life - well mother is. Daughter Francie is not so keen but she is interested in the mysterious Mr Burns who introduces himself one night and seems very taken by her mother's jewellery collection.
More robberies occur and the Police net begins to close. But are Francie's suspicions about Mr Burns correct? And if John Robie is not the thief then who is?
The film stays fairly close to the book but I have to say I much preferred the ending of the film to the book. Read the book, watch the film and you decide.
Thankyou to Netgalley for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
February 20, 2017
3.25 stars (liked it)
A mystery with an intriguing premise, glamorous setting, and relatively well-drawn main character, albeit occasionally a little slow moving and with secondary characters that lacked some depth. John Robie is an infamous, retired jewel thief now living on the French Riviera where some recent burglaries have created a renewed focus on him. To prove his innocence, he involves others to uncover the true culprit. Although I have not seen the movie on which the book is based, I envision the story working better as a movie because some of the scene descriptions which somewhat slowed or interrupted the story line, and some of the secondary characters which had some degree of superficiality, would likely have more impact on film.
A mystery with an intriguing premise, glamorous setting, and relatively well-drawn main character, albeit occasionally a little slow moving and with secondary characters that lacked some depth. John Robie is an infamous, retired jewel thief now living on the French Riviera where some recent burglaries have created a renewed focus on him. To prove his innocence, he involves others to uncover the true culprit. Although I have not seen the movie on which the book is based, I envision the story working better as a movie because some of the scene descriptions which somewhat slowed or interrupted the story line, and some of the secondary characters which had some degree of superficiality, would likely have more impact on film.
November 19, 2011
When I saw an original 1952 paperback of one of my favorite Hitchcock films at a flea market for $1, I couldn't resist it. The titillating cover illustration shows a bikini and jewel clad blonde kneeling in the sand with her arms crossed behind her head - in the classic provocative pose to best display her bazooms. Obviously the cover was designed to attract a male reader. I was curious to see how closely the movie followed the book, and the answer is not very. Hitchcock's screenplay was written by John Michael Hayes and while the basic bones are the same, some elements of the plot are very different. The premise and most of the characters are there, though some of the roles are changed. The classic scene with Grace Kelly speeding along the curving mountain road of the French Riviera with an increasingly uncomfortable Cary Grant in the passenger seat? Not in the book. The chase for the real thief over the steep roof tiles in the dark? In the book. One of the major differences where the plot diverged involved the character of the real thief and another important character eliminated in the movie altogether. (No spoilers here in case you haven't seen the movie.) It made for an interesting read and reminded me how I like the old mystery/suspense/thriller that doesn't involve a serial killer or terrorist and a cop/detective/government agent. It was easy to visualize Cary Grant as John Robie and Grace Kelly as Francie Stevens, and I don't think the book would have been nearly as much fun without the movie playing a counterpoint in my mind.
March 22, 2022
What gives To Catch a Thief a very special flavor and resonance is that it explores the realm of Thiefdom. And thiefdom, here, is a place of moral and psychological ambiguity as well as a physical and geographic gray border area. It is a place where bigger loyalties than the law lie, albeit not so much as to endanger life or well being. Against that background, David Dodge constructs an elegant portrayal of the sophisticated crime caper. And he does so while generating a sometimes comic and other times intense romantic drama that exists in the bright and vivid world of the French Riviera. This is a world that could only have existed in the 1950s, when the hardships of World War II had begun to fade into the glamor of postwar luxury and brilliance, especially if you were an American come upon sudden riches. Whether you're John Robie or Francie Stevens.
Lastly, Dodge's novel is much more complex than Alfred Hitchcock's classic film version with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. In fact, it is a decidedly better experience to read through this story than watch it on the screen, which is also a special view of a master filmmaker at his height. And, to be honest, despite all of Hitchcock's alterations, especially his purposeful intent of putting everyone in their proper moral category, it becomes difficult to separate images of the film from the imagery of the novel. This is the novel, however, that will allow Dodge to endure for a wider readership. Thankfully so, because his other works, in particular, Plunder of the Sun, are equally compelling.
Lastly, Dodge's novel is much more complex than Alfred Hitchcock's classic film version with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. In fact, it is a decidedly better experience to read through this story than watch it on the screen, which is also a special view of a master filmmaker at his height. And, to be honest, despite all of Hitchcock's alterations, especially his purposeful intent of putting everyone in their proper moral category, it becomes difficult to separate images of the film from the imagery of the novel. This is the novel, however, that will allow Dodge to endure for a wider readership. Thankfully so, because his other works, in particular, Plunder of the Sun, are equally compelling.
February 18, 2025
Le Chat (The Cat), an infamous thief, has come out of retirement and is again stealing expensive jewelry from wealthy tourists on the French Riviera. Or is it a copycat ???
The premise was great but I struggled with how dated the book felt. (It was written in 1952 so maybe that was to be expected.) I went into To Catch a Thief blindly, never having read the book or seen the movie. I had the antagonist narrowed down to two people ... and it was neither one of them. I love it when that happens!
There was one part of the book I truly disliked, however.
Thank you, #PoisonedPenPress, for providing this book for review consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. To Catch a Thief has an expected publication date of April 1, 2025.
The premise was great but I struggled with how dated the book felt. (It was written in 1952 so maybe that was to be expected.) I went into To Catch a Thief blindly, never having read the book or seen the movie. I had the antagonist narrowed down to two people ... and it was neither one of them. I love it when that happens!
There was one part of the book I truly disliked, however.
Thank you, #PoisonedPenPress, for providing this book for review consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. To Catch a Thief has an expected publication date of April 1, 2025.
January 20, 2019
Lovely read! Great writing style and discriptions that had you there on the French Rivera.
November 3, 2024
My husband and I watched this novel's movie version several years ago with my mother-in-law and really enjoyed it. And now I've enjoyed reading the book. This is a reissue by the Library of Congress Crime Classics and as I am a fan of the British Library Crime Classics, this was a great pick for me.
John Robie very much came alive on the page and I enjoyed his trying to figure out who the real thief was. He was a man under threat, and I felt the tension as I read. The beyond glittering locale did nothing to allay that but it was lovely nonetheless. If you're not so much into the crime aspect but more the travelogue feels, this has it. While I appreciated Francie Stevens (a brunette here), I didn't connect with her as much. I found her often as inscrutable as John did. She also came off as a bit younger than her movie counterpart and while John as described still seemed a bit old for her. Perhaps it's a difference of women through time but I often just didn't really get her or what her deal was (other than snagging John and having adventure). I can say that I appreciated their romantic thread being subtle but it was so subtle I could have done without it completely. They did have a perfect exchange in the last page of the book that made me laugh out loud (I had to read it to my husband) and I will remember it very fondly.
I will read the follow-up and see where the story takes these people next. I recommend this because it was fun, old novels should be read and this makes me want to read more by Dodge.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader Copy. My thoughts and review are my own.***
John Robie very much came alive on the page and I enjoyed his trying to figure out who the real thief was. He was a man under threat, and I felt the tension as I read. The beyond glittering locale did nothing to allay that but it was lovely nonetheless. If you're not so much into the crime aspect but more the travelogue feels, this has it. While I appreciated Francie Stevens (a brunette here), I didn't connect with her as much. I found her often as inscrutable as John did. She also came off as a bit younger than her movie counterpart and while John as described still seemed a bit old for her. Perhaps it's a difference of women through time but I often just didn't really get her or what her deal was (other than snagging John and having adventure). I can say that I appreciated their romantic thread being subtle but it was so subtle I could have done without it completely. They did have a perfect exchange in the last page of the book that made me laugh out loud (I had to read it to my husband) and I will remember it very fondly.
I will read the follow-up and see where the story takes these people next. I recommend this because it was fun, old novels should be read and this makes me want to read more by Dodge.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader Copy. My thoughts and review are my own.***
September 22, 2025
Sufficiently different from the Hitchcock film of the same name with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant so that neither form completely spoils the other. I enjoyed both. To Catch a Thief is a sort of inverted heist story: a former burglar living on the French Riviera has to figure out where his newly emerged copycat (copy-chat) will strike next before he gets arrested for the other's crimes. A "rooting for the crook" story with a long history including Raffles, Lupin, and Richard Stark's Parker. Dodge spends a number of pages delving into the erstwhile thief's thoughts about crime and justice, right and wrong, but doesn't slow down the pace. I recently encountered this oft-used plot of the accused on the run from the law in order to prove their innocence in a mystery from 1869. Compelling read, fast paced despite the ruminations on thieving. [4½★]
February 4, 2025
This 1951 thriller, better known for the Hitchcock film based on it, is a cozy, escapist adventure on the French Riviera. Retired thief Le Chat is forced to flee his home when a copycat thief puts the police on his tail. With the help of fellow thieves/maquis comrades, he needs to find the real thief to clear his name. With a comfortable degree of suspense and vintage aesthetics, it all turns out okay in the end.
This updated edition is nice; it includes a good introduction, piece on the author, and endnotes to each chapter (including translations of French terms). It suggests the film does not share much substance with the book, but now I want to find out!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
This updated edition is nice; it includes a good introduction, piece on the author, and endnotes to each chapter (including translations of French terms). It suggests the film does not share much substance with the book, but now I want to find out!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
July 26, 2025
I read this because my dad and I were doing an introduction to the Alfred Hitchcock film for a “mini-university” screening for alumni. I felt like I needed more to talk about, and when I realized that To Catch a Thief was based on a novel—probably should have known that earlier, but it had been a while since I thought about the movie—I decided to read it and do a dive into the author.
David Dodge was a mid-century author whose specialties were action thrillers and humorous travel writing, and To Catch a Thief is an enjoyable read that plays to both of those strengths. If you’ve seen the movie, you know it’s about a retired cat burglar living in the south of France who’s forced to become a sleuth when the rich and careless of Cannes and Monte Carlo start having their jewelry robbed in a set of thefts that closely resembles his own back in the day. He goes undercover as an American tourist with the help of some of his old friends from the Resistance in WWII—who are seedy enough that they’re getting eyed by the police as possibly involved in the thefts—and meets a wealthy young American woman, Francie Stevens, who’s initially of interest as a potential target for the thief but later becomes a more complex opponent/helper/love interest.
So if you’ve seen the movie but haven’t read the novel, what’s different? Well, first, the main character. Cary Grant was 51 when he played John Robie; the character in the novel is 34. As one of the articles I read in prepping for the introduction argues, this makes a pretty big difference. John Robie the novel character is very physical—part of his disguise involves covering up the fact that he’s unusually muscular from his life first as an acrobat and later as a cat burglar—and is frequently described by other characters in the novel as having a kind of one-track mind. He’s not stupid, and his craftiness is essential to catching the real thief, but he’s also not really a mastermind capable of catching the thief on his own; his old friend Bellini, a kind of nice crime boss, handles a lot of the planning and logistics.
By contrast, though Cary Grant was still in great shape, both his age and his star persona both meant that he wasn’t going to be the kind of body-grounded, canny but frequently befuddled protagonist that the novel’s hero is. Instead, as you’d expect from a character played by Cary Grant, he’s charming, and rather than being nondescript and fuddy-duddy, his disguise relies on that charm. He’s not taking the back seat to anyone in his investigations, and one of the consequences for this on the plot is that, rather than working together with his old Resistance buddies, he actually has a pretty hostile relationship with these men in the film. In general, the film has much less male friendship than the novel—the novel has a really major character named Paul who’s a widowed, aristocratic, somewhat estranged friend of John Robie’s, and this character is absent entirely from the film.
Another major difference is in how Hitchcock and Dodge treat their female characters, and while I enjoy the expanded role given to Francie’s mother Jessie (played by Jessie Royce Landis) in the film, I think the combination of the changes to the female characters and the removal of the male friendship element actually makes the climax of the plot make less sense. Let me explain:
This isn’t to say that there’s not a lot to like about the movie. You really can’t beat Robert Burks’s gorgeous cinematography—he won an Oscar for it, after all—and Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are at their most charming as John and Francie respectively. As I mentioned, Jessie Royce Landis is a blast as Francie’s mother, and Hitchcock regular John Williams is great as insurance investigator H. H. Hughson, who gets a much-expanded part from a significant but limited role in the book. But if you ever watched this film and thought to yourself, “Man, that’s a pretty movie, but plotwise it doesn’t make a ton of sense” and written it off as a story with more style than substance, I’d really recommend checking out the novel. It’s a brisk read, and though I’d add the caveat that, having been written in 1952, its treatment of the aforementioned Romani character and women leave something to be desired, it gives the characters and the world more depth and cohesiveness than I think you get in the movie. And sorry for talking about the movie so much, but since that was my starting point, I really ended up reading the book through a comparative lens. I think some time I'd like to try one of Dodge's other books, one that isn't colored by having seen an adaptation first.
David Dodge was a mid-century author whose specialties were action thrillers and humorous travel writing, and To Catch a Thief is an enjoyable read that plays to both of those strengths. If you’ve seen the movie, you know it’s about a retired cat burglar living in the south of France who’s forced to become a sleuth when the rich and careless of Cannes and Monte Carlo start having their jewelry robbed in a set of thefts that closely resembles his own back in the day. He goes undercover as an American tourist with the help of some of his old friends from the Resistance in WWII—who are seedy enough that they’re getting eyed by the police as possibly involved in the thefts—and meets a wealthy young American woman, Francie Stevens, who’s initially of interest as a potential target for the thief but later becomes a more complex opponent/helper/love interest.
So if you’ve seen the movie but haven’t read the novel, what’s different? Well, first, the main character. Cary Grant was 51 when he played John Robie; the character in the novel is 34. As one of the articles I read in prepping for the introduction argues, this makes a pretty big difference. John Robie the novel character is very physical—part of his disguise involves covering up the fact that he’s unusually muscular from his life first as an acrobat and later as a cat burglar—and is frequently described by other characters in the novel as having a kind of one-track mind. He’s not stupid, and his craftiness is essential to catching the real thief, but he’s also not really a mastermind capable of catching the thief on his own; his old friend Bellini, a kind of nice crime boss, handles a lot of the planning and logistics.
By contrast, though Cary Grant was still in great shape, both his age and his star persona both meant that he wasn’t going to be the kind of body-grounded, canny but frequently befuddled protagonist that the novel’s hero is. Instead, as you’d expect from a character played by Cary Grant, he’s charming, and rather than being nondescript and fuddy-duddy, his disguise relies on that charm. He’s not taking the back seat to anyone in his investigations, and one of the consequences for this on the plot is that, rather than working together with his old Resistance buddies, he actually has a pretty hostile relationship with these men in the film. In general, the film has much less male friendship than the novel—the novel has a really major character named Paul who’s a widowed, aristocratic, somewhat estranged friend of John Robie’s, and this character is absent entirely from the film.
Another major difference is in how Hitchcock and Dodge treat their female characters, and while I enjoy the expanded role given to Francie’s mother Jessie (played by Jessie Royce Landis) in the film, I think the combination of the changes to the female characters and the removal of the male friendship element actually makes the climax of the plot make less sense. Let me explain:
This isn’t to say that there’s not a lot to like about the movie. You really can’t beat Robert Burks’s gorgeous cinematography—he won an Oscar for it, after all—and Cary Grant and Grace Kelly are at their most charming as John and Francie respectively. As I mentioned, Jessie Royce Landis is a blast as Francie’s mother, and Hitchcock regular John Williams is great as insurance investigator H. H. Hughson, who gets a much-expanded part from a significant but limited role in the book. But if you ever watched this film and thought to yourself, “Man, that’s a pretty movie, but plotwise it doesn’t make a ton of sense” and written it off as a story with more style than substance, I’d really recommend checking out the novel. It’s a brisk read, and though I’d add the caveat that, having been written in 1952, its treatment of the aforementioned Romani character and women leave something to be desired, it gives the characters and the world more depth and cohesiveness than I think you get in the movie. And sorry for talking about the movie so much, but since that was my starting point, I really ended up reading the book through a comparative lens. I think some time I'd like to try one of Dodge's other books, one that isn't colored by having seen an adaptation first.
December 31, 2024
In To Catch a Thief, David Dodge pulls us into a thrilling tale of crime, trust, and second chances. Set against the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera after World War II, the story follows John Robie, aka "Le Chat," a retired jewel thief who now lives quietly as a farmer. But when a string of burglaries that mirror his old crimes puts him at risk of going back to prison, Robie must navigate a world of deceit, loyalty, and surprising love to clear his name.
Dodge paints a vivid picture of the lavish world of the Riviera's rich and famous, taking us from sun-soaked villas to bustling markets. His descriptions of the extravagant lifestyles of the characters immerse us in this luxurious yet precarious setting.
The characters are well-crafted, especially the charming but flawed Robie as he grapples with his past and identity as a thief. Like the mysterious Francie and loyal friend Paul, the supporting cast adds layers to Robie's journey.
Dodge's writing is clear and engaging, with a straightforward style that keeps the plot moving while keeping us hooked. His prose captures the essence of the story's lavish environment, giving us a rich experience without distracting from the plot.
This novel also poses interesting questions about trust and morality. Robie's internal struggle reflects broader themes of loyalty among thieves and the nuances of human relationships. His journey makes us to wonder if true redemption is possible for someone like him.
Dodge wrote To Catch a Thief while living in France, after switching careers from tax accounting to writing. His experiences there no doubt add to the story's authenticity and depth. This novel isn't just an exciting mystery; it also offers insights into post-war society and the people who lived through it.
To Catch a Thief shows Dodge's impressive storytelling skills. While it may not delve deeply into the characters' inner psychology, its gripping plot, vivid setting, and exploration of trust make it a must-read for fans of classic crime fiction.
Whether you read it on its own or compare it to Hitchcock's film adaptation, Dodge's novel stands the test of time as an elegant, suspenseful read.
Dodge paints a vivid picture of the lavish world of the Riviera's rich and famous, taking us from sun-soaked villas to bustling markets. His descriptions of the extravagant lifestyles of the characters immerse us in this luxurious yet precarious setting.
The characters are well-crafted, especially the charming but flawed Robie as he grapples with his past and identity as a thief. Like the mysterious Francie and loyal friend Paul, the supporting cast adds layers to Robie's journey.
Dodge's writing is clear and engaging, with a straightforward style that keeps the plot moving while keeping us hooked. His prose captures the essence of the story's lavish environment, giving us a rich experience without distracting from the plot.
This novel also poses interesting questions about trust and morality. Robie's internal struggle reflects broader themes of loyalty among thieves and the nuances of human relationships. His journey makes us to wonder if true redemption is possible for someone like him.
Dodge wrote To Catch a Thief while living in France, after switching careers from tax accounting to writing. His experiences there no doubt add to the story's authenticity and depth. This novel isn't just an exciting mystery; it also offers insights into post-war society and the people who lived through it.
To Catch a Thief shows Dodge's impressive storytelling skills. While it may not delve deeply into the characters' inner psychology, its gripping plot, vivid setting, and exploration of trust make it a must-read for fans of classic crime fiction.
Whether you read it on its own or compare it to Hitchcock's film adaptation, Dodge's novel stands the test of time as an elegant, suspenseful read.
July 4, 2017
Great little mystery set among the rich people dripping with diamonds vacationing on the Cote d'Azure. The novel is loosely based on a real life jewelry thief. It had me guessing until the end.
September 20, 2020
Witty read. Not sure if I would have enjoyed it as much if I wasn't channeling Cary Grant and Princess Grace.
November 20, 2020
Ok
The book was good but not any thing like the movie. I keep thinking about the changes from book to movie.
The book was good but not any thing like the movie. I keep thinking about the changes from book to movie.
August 3, 2022
Synopsis: John Robie was a jewel thief known as Le Chat, who terrorized the French Riviera by stealing the most famous and valuable jewelry he could find. He is betrayed and caught, sent to prison for twenty years. However, during the War when France falls to Germany, they release all the prisoners and John joins the resistance. After the war, he tries returning to his home country, America. Soon he is back in his beloved Riviera, living a quiet and peaceful life in his villa. But that peace is shattered with the return of Le Chat, once again stealing the most priceless gems from the wealthy tourists and residents of the entire Riviera. Now John must follow the old adage: To catch a thief you must be a thief. The only way to get his life back is to catch the thief himself, before the police catch him.
The only thing better than this book is the inspiration behind it! I have been on the hunt for this book since I was eight years old, when I watched the movie version for the first time. It was the movie that introduced me to Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. I fell in love with Cary Grant and the French Riviera at the same time. I also became obsessed with Grace Kelly, watching every one of her too few movies. Finally, I was able to get my local library to order it. The book definitely exceeded my expectations. It was wholly different than the movie in a number of ways.
1. John Robie is much younger in the book, which I felt was actually a downside. His backstory and the way he thinks, the inner monologues were well written and interesting. He is a likable rogue, and you find yourself cheering him on, despite the fact that he is a thief.
2. A number of different characters appear in the book that don’t appear in the movie, or they have been so modified that they barely make an appearance. I admit that I missed Houston, the insurance company representative who helps Cary Grant in the movie. The character of Bellini in the book was an odd replacement for him.
3. In the movie, Francie Stevens appears to be aloof, but she truly has a passion for John (as he discovers in the famous kissing scene) and an obvious desire for excitement. She is also impeccable in her dress, the way a rich, young heiress would look at that time. In the book she has a different man every day following her around like a puppy while she acts like they aren’t even there, and she dresses for attention, wearing odd patterns and colors rather than jewelry, and she is brunette not blonde. I think Hitchcock built on the foundations David Dodge set for the character and made her better. In the movie she was likable. In the book, she was my least favorite of the two main characters. After a certain point towards the climax she barely even appears in the rest of the story and does nothing to help John, but in the movie she plays an active and helpful part in catching the thief.
4. Jesse Royce Landis plays Mrs. Stevens in the movie, and she was a brilliant but underrated actress. The way she portrayed Mrs. Stevens made sense for her, and she could carry off the nonchalance Mrs. Stevens had of her jewelry and it’s value to her while also perfectly capturing the wealthy widow with way too much money and time. In the book, her attitude makes way more sense. She is devastated when her jewelry is stolen, and keeps it locked in a safe.
5. The ending of both the movie and the book are fabulous! I didn’t see either one coming but it was also completely logical once you find out who the thief is. I can’t recommend the book or the movie enough. The movie is practically a standalone compared to the book but it will leave you breathless and wanting to see how it measures up to the book.
The only thing better than this book is the inspiration behind it! I have been on the hunt for this book since I was eight years old, when I watched the movie version for the first time. It was the movie that introduced me to Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. I fell in love with Cary Grant and the French Riviera at the same time. I also became obsessed with Grace Kelly, watching every one of her too few movies. Finally, I was able to get my local library to order it. The book definitely exceeded my expectations. It was wholly different than the movie in a number of ways.
1. John Robie is much younger in the book, which I felt was actually a downside. His backstory and the way he thinks, the inner monologues were well written and interesting. He is a likable rogue, and you find yourself cheering him on, despite the fact that he is a thief.
2. A number of different characters appear in the book that don’t appear in the movie, or they have been so modified that they barely make an appearance. I admit that I missed Houston, the insurance company representative who helps Cary Grant in the movie. The character of Bellini in the book was an odd replacement for him.
3. In the movie, Francie Stevens appears to be aloof, but she truly has a passion for John (as he discovers in the famous kissing scene) and an obvious desire for excitement. She is also impeccable in her dress, the way a rich, young heiress would look at that time. In the book she has a different man every day following her around like a puppy while she acts like they aren’t even there, and she dresses for attention, wearing odd patterns and colors rather than jewelry, and she is brunette not blonde. I think Hitchcock built on the foundations David Dodge set for the character and made her better. In the movie she was likable. In the book, she was my least favorite of the two main characters. After a certain point towards the climax she barely even appears in the rest of the story and does nothing to help John, but in the movie she plays an active and helpful part in catching the thief.
4. Jesse Royce Landis plays Mrs. Stevens in the movie, and she was a brilliant but underrated actress. The way she portrayed Mrs. Stevens made sense for her, and she could carry off the nonchalance Mrs. Stevens had of her jewelry and it’s value to her while also perfectly capturing the wealthy widow with way too much money and time. In the book, her attitude makes way more sense. She is devastated when her jewelry is stolen, and keeps it locked in a safe.
5. The ending of both the movie and the book are fabulous! I didn’t see either one coming but it was also completely logical once you find out who the thief is. I can’t recommend the book or the movie enough. The movie is practically a standalone compared to the book but it will leave you breathless and wanting to see how it measures up to the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
Headline: A delightful must-read!
Book Review: To Catch A Thief by David Dodge
(Library of Congress Crime Classics, originally published by Random House as a novel in 1952)
Published by Poisoned Pen Press, April 1, 2025
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars, Rave!)
Foreword. Carla Diane Hayden, appointed in 2016 as the 14th librarian of Congress, provides a brief insight into the evolution of crime writing, citing the world's first wholly fictional detective, E. A. Poe's C. Auguste Dupin, first published in 1841.
Introduction. Noted literary editor, Leslie S. Klinger, pens a scintillating piece on the publication and aftermath of David Dodge's eight novel.
Vive le Chat!
// To Catch A Thief by David Dodge (1952) //
The French Riviera, also known as "le Côte d'Azur"
France
Late 1930s. A daring, supremely athletic burglar specializing in jewel thefts menaces the rich in hotels and villas. In 1939, American John Robie, aka "Le Chat" (the cat) was caught and sent to prison.
1940. Robie, the accidental freedom fighter. The Germans invade France and release many convicts from French prisons. Unwittingly perhaps, as Robie and many other convicts refuse to serve as German forced laborers and instead join the "Maquis", The French Resistance.
After the war there was an unofficial amnesty for those released convicts who had been maquisards, on the condition that they refrain from new crimes.
Vence, France. John Robie accordingly lives a quiet life, and ensconces himself in a charming, historic Provençal town in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
1951. A new wave of jewel thievery, exactly in the style of "Le Chat", suddenly proliferates. Immediate suspicion falls on Robie, also implicating his former comrades-in-arms, the "maquisards", now longtime friends.
To get "le flic" (French slang for cops) off their backs, instead of escaping to back to the USA, Robie is persuaded by his former comrades to stay and try to "catch the thief", with their cooperation.
Enter Jack Burns, described as a pudgy, middle-aged vacationing American businessman.
Enter the Francie Stevens (changed to Frances in the movie), flamboyant heiress to diamonds, sapphires and oil wells.
Lastly, enter the new "Le Chat"...!
-------
// Faites vos jeux! Faites vos jeux!
Rien ne va plus! //
In 1955, none other than Alfred Hitchcock made the novel into a film starring superstars, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Among many scenes, the "master of suspense" captures the boisterous, vibrant ambience in casinos and the Riviera itself, and those breathtaking views from the hills of Provençal overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. He slightly changes the book's ending, perhaps to capitalize on the chemistry between Grant and Kelly.
On January 8, 2011, the novel was dramatized as a "Saturday Play", broadcasted on BBC Radio 4. This version can be viewed in a popular streaming site.
"To Catch a Thief" was first published by Random House in 1952. It is now in the public domain. A .pdf version of a hard copy of the book complete with book cover (Penguin 1955) can be visualized online.
Quite simply, a delightful must-read!
Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley.
Book Review: To Catch A Thief by David Dodge
(Library of Congress Crime Classics, originally published by Random House as a novel in 1952)
Published by Poisoned Pen Press, April 1, 2025
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars, Rave!)
Foreword. Carla Diane Hayden, appointed in 2016 as the 14th librarian of Congress, provides a brief insight into the evolution of crime writing, citing the world's first wholly fictional detective, E. A. Poe's C. Auguste Dupin, first published in 1841.
Introduction. Noted literary editor, Leslie S. Klinger, pens a scintillating piece on the publication and aftermath of David Dodge's eight novel.
Vive le Chat!
// To Catch A Thief by David Dodge (1952) //
The French Riviera, also known as "le Côte d'Azur"
France
Late 1930s. A daring, supremely athletic burglar specializing in jewel thefts menaces the rich in hotels and villas. In 1939, American John Robie, aka "Le Chat" (the cat) was caught and sent to prison.
1940. Robie, the accidental freedom fighter. The Germans invade France and release many convicts from French prisons. Unwittingly perhaps, as Robie and many other convicts refuse to serve as German forced laborers and instead join the "Maquis", The French Resistance.
After the war there was an unofficial amnesty for those released convicts who had been maquisards, on the condition that they refrain from new crimes.
Vence, France. John Robie accordingly lives a quiet life, and ensconces himself in a charming, historic Provençal town in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
1951. A new wave of jewel thievery, exactly in the style of "Le Chat", suddenly proliferates. Immediate suspicion falls on Robie, also implicating his former comrades-in-arms, the "maquisards", now longtime friends.
To get "le flic" (French slang for cops) off their backs, instead of escaping to back to the USA, Robie is persuaded by his former comrades to stay and try to "catch the thief", with their cooperation.
Enter Jack Burns, described as a pudgy, middle-aged vacationing American businessman.
Enter the Francie Stevens (changed to Frances in the movie), flamboyant heiress to diamonds, sapphires and oil wells.
Lastly, enter the new "Le Chat"...!
-------
// Faites vos jeux! Faites vos jeux!
Rien ne va plus! //
In 1955, none other than Alfred Hitchcock made the novel into a film starring superstars, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Among many scenes, the "master of suspense" captures the boisterous, vibrant ambience in casinos and the Riviera itself, and those breathtaking views from the hills of Provençal overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. He slightly changes the book's ending, perhaps to capitalize on the chemistry between Grant and Kelly.
On January 8, 2011, the novel was dramatized as a "Saturday Play", broadcasted on BBC Radio 4. This version can be viewed in a popular streaming site.
"To Catch a Thief" was first published by Random House in 1952. It is now in the public domain. A .pdf version of a hard copy of the book complete with book cover (Penguin 1955) can be visualized online.
Quite simply, a delightful must-read!
Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley.
April 22, 2021
I've always loved Hitchcock's film version. This has more resonance for me know, as my wife comes from Nice; the scenery all too often shows the damage that population growth and unsympathetic building codes can do to the look and feel of a place. I've read the book once before, so this is a reread and review.
I have always wondered why screen adapters have to change the plot, often in quite significant ways. Is it a personal ego thing, the change the story, to leave their own personal inprint ? I don't mean those elements based on events that simply cant be filmed for whatever reason, why did John Michael Hayes (and Alfred Hitchcock) change the plot for the film ? For a more dramatic ending ? Because they thought the climax of the book was unbelievable in some way ? I'd really like to know.
In my opinion, the plot of the book, which I won't spoil other than by saying the film uses enough of it that adding more would spoil the reading experience, is better than that of the film. What the film adds, is a much wider use of the location (but not the Casinos which were the actual hubs of the night life of the rich and famous who visited the Riviera in the 1950s), made the characters much more interesting and believable than the book. To be honest mashing the script and novel together would make a much better story than either does alone. The book features two "romances" . The one in the film is, I think, more believable - just - than either in the book.
As for the book, it's of its time, but it is well worth reading both as the source for the classic film, but as a robbery detective thriller in its own right.
I have always wondered why screen adapters have to change the plot, often in quite significant ways. Is it a personal ego thing, the change the story, to leave their own personal inprint ? I don't mean those elements based on events that simply cant be filmed for whatever reason, why did John Michael Hayes (and Alfred Hitchcock) change the plot for the film ? For a more dramatic ending ? Because they thought the climax of the book was unbelievable in some way ? I'd really like to know.
In my opinion, the plot of the book, which I won't spoil other than by saying the film uses enough of it that adding more would spoil the reading experience, is better than that of the film. What the film adds, is a much wider use of the location (but not the Casinos which were the actual hubs of the night life of the rich and famous who visited the Riviera in the 1950s), made the characters much more interesting and believable than the book. To be honest mashing the script and novel together would make a much better story than either does alone. The book features two "romances" . The one in the film is, I think, more believable - just - than either in the book.
As for the book, it's of its time, but it is well worth reading both as the source for the classic film, but as a robbery detective thriller in its own right.
September 18, 2024
ARC | Worth the read, whether you know the film or not | As a Cary Grant devotee, I've known and loved the glamorous Hitchcock film for a couple of decades, but I didn't know the source material was a novel until this Library of Congress reprint crossed my path. Personally, I can't divorce John Robie from Grant, though it was easier to get the lovely Grace Kelly out of my mind while reading. The film hewed fairly closely to the book, so if you loved the screen version you'll likely appreciate this. If you've not seen the film, though, this is an enjoyable novel of suspense. In fact, the only problem is the one I complain of with every Library of Congress reprint: the footnotes. They are worse than unnecessary, they make the reading experience less enjoyable. They visually disturb the page, especially on Kindle where they're a bright blue link in the middle of the standard black text, and the information they provide is not needed, sometimes unhelpful. Twice, in this book, French exclamations that are clearly insulting from context are footnoted, and the footnote doesn't translate or define them, just says that they're profanity. There are no footnotes here that are necessary for understanding and enjoying the book, so instead of interrupting the reader, the details could have simply been explained in an epilogue. The British Library Crime Classics series doesn't insert these things, there's no need to have them in this series, which is published in the States by the same company.
Advanced Reader Copy provided free of charge, which did not impact my review
Advanced Reader Copy provided free of charge, which did not impact my review
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