The Lies Of Locke Lamora

This is the first novel written by author Scott Lynch, but the novel reads as if he has been writing for years. The characters come alive as you follow their path from lonely orphans to clever and conniving specialists of their trade. The city is so complex you feel as if you have stepped into the landscape, with the ancient and alien luminescent glass towers above and the canals and waterways below. Locke keeps you guessing with his various approaches to the problems that crop up in his work, all while ensuring that he and his gang always have a backup plan for when things could, and do, go wrong. Anything less than the greatest care could spell death in a land as unforgiving as Camorr. The politics at play are real and dangerous; a wrong step could mean fighting for life and limb. With a group of side characters that range from an Underworld Mafioso-Pirate to the richest and wisest of the gilded elite, this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat through its various twists and turns. You'll be rooting for a morally-gray Robin Hood-esque character that cares more for the con than the monetary reward.