Locke Lamora is the protagonist of Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series. Orphaned as a small child in the city of Camorr, Locke was taken in by a con man posing as a priest, Father Chains, who trained him and a handful of other orphans in the arts of disguise, deception, and theft. By adulthood, Locke leads the Gentleman Bastards, a tight crew that runs elaborate confidence schemes targeting the wealthiest nobles in the city.
Locke is physically unimposing and not much of a fighter, but he is quick-witted, bold, and an exceptional liar. His best friend and partner Jean Tannen provides the muscle and steadiness that Locke lacks. Across three published novels, their cons grow more ambitious and more dangerous, pitting them against crime lords, pirates, and political schemers in a fantasy world inspired by Renaissance-era Venice and other Mediterranean cities.
Reading Order
See the complete Gentleman Bastard reading order for all books in the series.