Word of mouth…a powerful marketing tool. I picked The Lies of Locke Lamora by new writer, Scott Lynch, because of a recommendation from a very reliable source.
I wasn’t let down.
This is a debut book that feels like a pro wrote it. The story takes place in a fictional island city of Camoor, very much like Venice, and tells the tale of Locke Lamora, a ragged orphan child who dodges death and slavery in a world of vicious nobles and ruthless cutthroats. He is taken under the wing of a consummate con artist who goes by the name of Chains. By day Chains manacles himself to the pillars of the temple where he begs for alms while his small band of thieves strips upperclass nobles of their wealth. But hidden deep below the temple is a money trove Chains has accumulated over the years and rooms with all the comforts of a nobleman’s home.
Nothing is what it seems.
Locke joins this small light-fingered band, known as the Gentlemen Bastards, and receives advanced training in all things from gourmet cooking to consummate duplicity. Soon, Locke becomes the brains of the outfit, creating outrageous thievery and even scamming the underworld’s most feared ruler.
Until, from past shadows stirs someone even more audacious who plans to use Locke for a violent and bloody coup.
The book is full of twists and turns, fun banter among the band of young thieves, and pulse pounding action as they dare to trick the powerful and ruthless nobles of the land. It’s a combination of “Robin Hood,” “Mission Impossible” and “The Sting.”
The story also reminds me of Lynn Abbey’s Thieves World, which I also enjoyed.
Scott Lynch’s next book has just come out and is called Red Seas under Red Skies, and continues the saga of Locke Lamora. It will be interesting to see if it is as good as the first in this new exciting series.
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