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In an imaginary city reminiscent of medieval Venice, a group of orphans concoct all sorts of elaborate scams to strip the rich of their wealth, without raising suspicions from the authorities or the local “godfather”.
The Bastards Gentlemen (which I affectionately call “Horse Piss”) starts a bit like Oliver Twist. The narrative is sprinkled with flashbacks in which we learn how Locke Lamora grew up with his band of friends, under the protection of Father Chain. Then, around the middle of the book, the story takes a darker turn…
What I really love about this series are the hilarious dialogues. The hero is completely incapable of keeping his mouth shut, which often lands him in impossible situations.
While the story might seem a little light-hearted at first, there are two or three epic fight scenes—the kind that could make you miss five or six train stops. Yes, really.
For the non-native English speakers who prefer the original version, here are two things to note:
- The French translation has, as always, sparked controversy. The colourful style of the dialogues has been translated into 1950s slang. It’s as out of place as finding Jean Gabin in The Lord of the Rings, you know?
- It’s tough to get into. I struggled at first.
Update: Book 2, Red Blood Horizons, weaves together two plots: an extravagant scam against a casino and a forced stay with a pirate crew. Action, humour, betrayals; I really enjoyed it, even though the expected final duel never happens…
Book 3, The Republic of Thieves, is about theatre and politics. We discover the city of mages, meet Sabetha, Locke’s old girlfriend; it’s an opportunity to reconnect with a dual narrative that alternates between the past and the present. The problem is, neither story really takes off, and absolutely nothing happens until the last five pages of the book. I’m rather cold now, waiting for the next instalment…
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The Lies of Locke Lamora
Les Mensonges de Locke Lamora