The Lies of Locke Lamora

By: Scott Lynch

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning.

He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards. Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces, and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.

©2007 Scott Lynch (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Great

It was a great book. Story kept you intrigued the whole time. It's a fascinating mix between The Italian Job / Oceans Eleven / Clever Crime with fantasy and a fascinating city-scape.
Definitely worth reading. The narrator does a great job too. Very good reading

Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Bloody

The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006) by Scott Lynch is a suspenseful scam and revenge story set in a colorful and brutal fantasy world, a little like The Sting meets The Revenger's Tragedy in a Joe Abercrombie novel. Locke Lamora is the leader of a gang of seemingly small-time thieves that actually executes complex and high-yield con-schemes utilizing their skills of prevarication and impersonation and targeting the proud nobility of the Italian-esque city-state of Camorr. Locke and his brother-thieves take pride in their talents and scorn their blue-blooded marks--until the Gray King comes to town with his hired Bondsmage and Locke learns what it's like to be caught in the machinations of people who are more devious, powerful, and bloodthirsty than he is. Lynch interweaves throughout this main story compelling short chapters depicting Locke's childhood education and indoctrination into the gang by his surrogate father "Chains."

Lynch's fantasy world is a vivid creation, featuring different cultures, languages, and gods, alien artifacts, alchemy, magic, an economy, and a history. But it is populated by unpleasant people: scheming, thieving, insulting, cruel, violent, vengeful, greedy, and power-hungry. And these people spew foul language and references to body-parts, bodily-functions, and prostitutes, until I often felt as if I were watching a desperately gritty crime movie. When Dona Sofia Salvara (an aristocratic alchemist) says, "Don't teach a sailor to s--t in the ocean," it feels excrescent and out of character. And some scenes ring false, as when Locke visits a brothel to seek solace, and some seem tedious, as when he visits a bank to borrow a suit of clothes.

After Lynch complicates the initial scam story strand with revenge, I did come to care about Locke and his friends in their predicament. And Lynch does write some rich descriptions that are a pleasure to read/hear, like this: "From the heights of the Five Towers to the obsidian smoothness of the vast glass breakwaters, to the artificial reefs beneath the slate-colored waves, Falselight radiated from every surface and every shard of Elderglass in Camorr."

Michael Page does a great job reading the novel, modifying his voice for various accents, genders, ages, and moods so as to vivify the best qualities of the story. And I did mostly enjoy it. And if you like complicated scams, graphic violence, macho banter, foul language, and morally ambiguous fantasy worlds, you should give it a try.

Glad I gave this book a second chance

What did you love best about The Lies of Locke Lamora?

I really enjoyed the bad guys in this book. I mean Locke was written very well, but the bad guys we're hiatal good. I also liked how the book went from present to past in different chapters.. One chapter would leave you wonder, and a few down the road would explain it all. At first I didn't like it, but once I got into the book I enjoyed it.

What other book might you compare The Lies of Locke Lamora to and why?

Oliver Twist.. Which is why I put the hardcover down a couple years ago. Started off very much like Twist, but grows up really quick. Like I said, I'm really glad I gave the book a second chance.

Which character – as performed by Michael Page – was your favorite?

Locke for sure.. The spider second.. He put just enough passion into lockes character that by the end you really feel for him like you're supposed to. I think the performer makes this book as good as it is.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Ya, the final fight scene.. But I don't want to spoil it for anyone but it was done very well. Scott Lynch is up there as one of my favorites....

Great Book

The story is great, the language is sharp and witty and the narration is fantastic. This was completely entertaining.

Excellent narration!

In terms of narration this is the best book I've experienced in audio. The novel oozes with sarcasm and Michael Page makes paints a very colourful picture with his great variety of accents and voices. The story is intruiging enough, but it's the narrator that makes me want to pick up the sequel as well.

exceptional

Quite possible the best audio book I've yet listen to. Epic story. Exceptional narration. Going straight to book two!

Great Book

It took a while to learn how to follow the story, but it is a great story, and an amazing performance!!

My favourite book this year

Good narrator with a book full of devious plans. Best book i've listened to in a long time. Can' wait to start the second book

Even better than 'The name of the Wind'

Seldom a book has me laughing out loud, gasping, giggling, gives shivers down my spine...
2 minutes after starting this audiobook I noticed I was missing too much info.
Rewind and listen again, carefully.
My god, what a ritchness of beautifully tailored sentenses.
The story is awesome, the characters are awesome, even the narrator is awesome.
The narrator does a great job in reading multiple people and their voices.

3 books for your listening pleasure. It was a true joy listening to it.

Most enjoyable!!

Combination of well written plot, great characters and excellent narration. Very entertaining and highly recommend!