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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN num: 9780553588941
ISBN number: 055358894X
Label: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 752
Printing Date: June 26, 2007
Publishing house: Spectra
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 6000
Studio: Spectra
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Product Description:
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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Rated by buyers 
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Lies of Locke Lamora
Without question, one of the best books I've read this year and probably the best book in the genre I've read since I finished the last George R. R. Martin Song of Ice and Fire book. I finished it a few days ago and I'm still excited about it!
Lies, by new author Scott Lynch, follows the exploits of Locke Lamora, an orphan who is raised to be a thief. The setting is Camorra, a Venice-like city that has a rather significant crime problem, mostly made up of little gangs of orphaned thieves and controlled by a mafia-like crime boss. Lamora is the ultimate anti-hero, charming and funny but also a little despicable. He is trained in the art of deception by a false priest named Chains, along with his adopted brothers Galo, Caldo, Jean and Bug. The book switches back and forth between when Locke and his "brothers" are young and being trained by Chains, to the present day when Locke is the new "garrista" (leader) of their gang, called The Gentlemen Bastards, now that Chains has passed away. Although the Gentlemen are thought to be just a bunch of low-producing sneak thieves to the rest of the crime gangs and the boss, they really spend their day breaching "The Secret Peace"--a deal struck between the ruling class of Camorra and the crime boss that his thieves would stick to robbing the commoners and merchants and leave the upper class alone, and in exchange the police would "miss" a lot of the crime going on right under their noses. Lamora and his gang purposely target the upper class, even though they have no idea how to even spend their secret fortune, just to prove they can get away with it. The trouble begins when a man calling himself The Gray King starts targeting the gangs, and Lamora in particular.
I read some of the negative reviews of this book, and most seem to take umbrage with the extensive use of foul language. Yes, if cursing inherently offends you, this book is not for you. It's about a bunch of people raised from childhood to be criminals, so to me the cursing is pretty natural. I also saw a criticism that the wittiness of the dialogue was distracting and unrealistic--that characters in mortal danger should not be ready with a pithy, thoughtful comment. Ok, fair, but honestly, the dialogue in this book is so masterfully entertaining that I can forgive the fact that it's just a little bit too good to be real. I mean, it's not a book that is trying to portray any sort of realism, so I think a bit of overly witty commentary is ok.
To any fan of the genre, this is surely a can't-miss read. I'm about 100 pages into Lynch's second in the series and already lamenting that the third isn't out yet.
Rated by buyers 
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If you consider a book based on how it makes you want to keep reading, then I'll give this one full marks. My main issue with it, however, was excessive exposition. This, I'll admit, might just be my own issue. I tend not to like a lot of descriptive verbiage and this one has pages and pages of it that I basically skimmed.
I thought the main story was interesting and generally well laid out. The author did a lot of flashing back and forth in time, especially early in the book, to provide the back story on certain elements. Some of it I didn't think were necessary or useful at all, but some was helpful. The main character (Locke Lamora) was one that definitely grew on me. He is both crafty and heroic, despite being perhaps a less than heroic sort of character.
Overall, I'll call it a pleasant read, though as yet I have not decided whether I'd buy another book by the author.
Rated by buyers 
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I am not vehemently opposed to this book; certainly many moments struck a key, but I believe this book just isn't for me. I saw George Martin's blurb, read the glowing reviews, and even heard people talk about the book in regular settings. I picked up the book as fast as I could.
Unlike other reviews, I loved the very first 100 pages. I just didn't find anything special about the tale. In some instances I feel like the description paragraphs were overdone, which is surprising for me to say since I fancy elaborate prose. There was also a few moments where the profanity appeared forced. I have no personal objections to obscene language in books, but unless the book is meant to be a jarring read (like Fight Club), it should come off natural - just like anything, really.
Character sympathy extended to half of the crew. On a personal level I "liked" Bug, Jean, and the Priest more than I did Locke.
I definitely think this was a good very first effort, though. The cover art is beautiful as well.
Rated by buyers -
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 ... Read More
Rated by buyers -
Scott Lynch along with Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind) will rock your world!!! two of the greatest very first novels from two of the greatest promises in the literal fantasy world. Ok, it sounds like "too much" indeed, but after you read "The Lies of Locke Lamora" perhaps you will understand the great feeling that a great book leaves in you. You will be transported to a different and raw world. A world where you better be alert or you could probably loose all of your money or worst, your life.
Scott Lynch has created an incredible world of MAFIA, assasins, dark magic, and dark humour at its best. This wonderful and well plotted book will leave you wanting more and more. I've already ordered the subsequent book "Red Seas under Red Skies". I truly hope that the sequel retains the magic of the 1st one. Indeed "The Lies of Locke Lamora" owns a special spot on my personal collection. Cheers.
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