Reading order
| # | Title | Year | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lies of Locke Lamora | 2006 | Buy |
| 2 | Red Seas Under Red Skies | 2007 | Buy |
| 3 | The Republic of Thieves | 2013 | Buy |
| 4 | The Thorn of Emberlain | TBD | Unpublished |
Locke Lamora is a charismatic con artist in the fantasy city of Camorr. He leads the Gentleman Bastards, a gang of thieves who rob only the wealthy and corrupt. Camorr is loosely inspired by Venice during the Renaissance - a city of canals and palaces, intrigue and opportunity. Scott Lynch creates a world that feels both familiar and fantastic, with rich detail and depth.
The Gentleman Bastard series follows Locke and his partner Jean Tannen through increasingly elaborate heists and conspiracies. Lynch is a skilled plotter who constructs complex schemes that readers enjoy unraveling alongside his characters. The books feature political intrigue, gang warfare, betrayals, and unexpected alliances set against a backdrop of fantasy and magic.
Lynch’s prose style is distinctive. He writes long, detailed scenes with Shakespearean dialogue punctuated by bursts of action and humor. The series is often compared to Ocean’s Eleven set in a fantasy world. The books are long and leisurely paced, which rewards attentive reading but may frustrate readers who prefer faster narratives.
Fans have been waiting for the next book since 2013. Lynch posts occasional updates about his progress on social media but has not announced completion. The anticipated fourth book is titled The Thorn of Emberlain.