The Lies of Locke Lamora
by Scott Lynch
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Book Summary Information
Author: Scott LynchEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Published: 2007-06-26
ISBN: 055358894X
Number of pages: 752
Publisher: Spectra
Book Reviews of The Lies of Locke Lamora
Book Review: Witty and clever
Summary: 4 Stars
Locke Lamora is orphaned at the age of 5 where he is taken up by a Thiefmaker. Thieving in the city of Camorr is a regulated activity under the auspices of the brutal Capa (read:Godfather) Barsavi. Thieves can steal from commoners but can't steal from nobility, a practice known as The Secret Peace. At the tender age of 5, Locke is a gifted thief, actor and inveterate schemer. He also manages to break the secret peace much to the dismay of the thiefmaker. He is sold to a blind priest named Chains (who is neither blind nor a priest). Chains is the leader of a small gang known as The Gentlemen Bastards.
Under Chains, Locke learns a lot more than simple petty thievery. He undergoes a whole new type of training that allows his own personal skills to flourish. Over time Locke becomes the leader of the Gentlemen Bastards and creates elaborate long cons that bilk the nobility of thousands and makes the Gentlemen Bastards very rich. This breaking of the secret peace remains very covert. The nobility who are bilked do not report their losses for fear of looking stupid. And Locke has created just as elaborate of a cover for the Gentlemen Bastards. In the thieving community, they are considered unimportant, low level break in artists who are unworthy of real notice of the Capa.
But a new player named The Grey King has entered the game and is killing off high level thieves in Barsavi's organization. Although he is counseled to get out of town until The Grey King is caught, Locke refuses. First he believes his cover as an low level thief will be beneath the Grey King's notice and second he is in the middle of one the biggest and best cons of his career. Sadly, Locke is mistaken. He is most definitely on the Grey King's list and things that have been going so very, very right start to go impossibly wrong....
I did not know what to expect when I picked up this book. I got it because someone in one of my reading groups rattled it off as a recommendation and others seconded it enthusiastically. I LOVED it the minute I started reading it. I was quickly immersed in the setting (feels like Renaissance Italy) and the words and voice of Scott Lynch. The writing is exquisite and the tone takes just takes one captive.
The architecture of the story is well done. It starts out when Locke is five years old, introduces you to this engaging little scamp through a comically woeful retelling of his exploits by the Thiefmaker who is trying to sell him to Chains. Then the story leaps forward to "present" time where Locke is the leader of the Bastards and he and his band are right at the beginning of their latest caper. Every few chapters or so, we go back and revisit young Locke and watch him progress in what can only be considered a finishing school of thievery where he and the other Bastards learn other languages, accent, make-up, mummery, cooking, society manner etc. I know some people dislike this structure but it served to keep the story interesting on two fronts,imo, moreso than a simple linear narrative would have done. And it allows some suspense and character development in what is otherwise a strongly plot-driven narrative.
And at the start, you feel like you are along for the ride on a rollicking, effervescent adventure. The Gentlemen Bastards are fun and funny. They engage in quick and witty repartee. You can't help but be reminded of George Clooney/Brad Pitt in Oceans 11, complete with the dry raillery and practice scenarios. Or while reading about the fabulously twisty con being pulled on the Count and his wife, I couldn't help but be reminded of the complex theatre that played out each week on Mission Impossible. Or during the scenes with Capa Barsavi of picturing Marlon Brando's Don Corleone from the Godfather. This book is like all of these things and none really. Lynch has built a complete world and describes the city of Camorr and the various populations and parts very well. Again, his language and ability to draw in the reader is brilliant.
So if I loved it so much why did it take me forever to read it (I started this book like a frigging Month ago!)? I honestly don't know. This books is not a deep or thought provoking book, it is high fun for the most part. And I can usually bang out a book I like in about three days or less. But this one took me a while. I do ascribe a bit of my malaise to the fact that the bite and wit of the story falters with the advent of the Grey King. Strangely enough I was enjoying a fantasy book that did not include magic and sorcery. But it was introduced with the Grey King along with what I felt was some clunky motivation, some plot points that made me truly regretful and sad, and an ending that was a bit bittersweet. Not enough to make me dislike the novel by a long shot, but enough to slow down the momentum a bit.
No matter, really. Just smallish quibbles in what is otherwise a very well written, nicely plotted, purely enjoyable book. And I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
Summary of The Lies of Locke Lamora
In this stunning debut, author Scott Lynch delivers the wonderfully thrilling tale of an audacious criminal and his band of confidence tricksters. Set in a fantastic city pulsing with the lives of decadent nobles and daring thieves, here is a story of adventure, loyalty, and survival that is one part Robin Hood, one part Ocean’s Eleven, and entirely enthralling.…An orphan’s life is harsh–and often short–in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains–a man who is neither blind nor a priest. A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected “family” of orphans–a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting.
Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld’s most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful–and more ambitious–than Locke has yet imagined.
Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi’s most trusted men–and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr’s underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game–or die trying.…
From the Hardcover edition.
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