“Lies of Locke Lamora” by Scott Lynch

“... It's perfect! Locke would appreciate it."

"Bug," Calo said, "Locke is our brother and our love for him knows no bounds. But the four most fatal words in the Therin language are 'Locke would appreciate it.'"

"Rivalled only by 'Locke taught me a new trick,'" added Galo.

"The only person who gets away with Locke Lamora games ..."

"... is Locke ..."

"... because we think the gods are saving him up for a really big death. Something with knives and hot irons ..."

"... and fifty thousand cheering spectators.” 

― Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora

For a movie version of "Locke Lamora" to be successful there has to be a killer ensemble cast.  The exchange above where the brothers Calo and Galo finish each other's thoughts in a seamless monologue gives an example of the repartee that fills this book and must be a part of the movie.

"Locke Lamora" is Robin Hood - Oliver Twist - Bartimaeus - The Count of Monte Cristo - The Sting - The Martian Chronicles all wrapped up in one.  While it doesn't try to be any one of these books, it uses the best of all of them and places it on a planet whose past, and physics, are a mystery even to the inhabitants.

Locke has a mysterious past as well.  He is rescued from an Island that has been destroyed to end up as an orphan with a petty crime crew.  He causes so much trouble for the leader of the crew he is shipped off to work for a strange blind/not blind monk.  We find that they monk has his own band of merry men who are well-versed in the art of the scam and seem to have a bottomless pit of financial resources.

I think that is enough to whet your appetite for this book.  Of course this is a big, big scam to be planned, maidens to be rescued, a possibility of the end of the world (in good Gene Roddenberry fashion), sword fights, and magic.  It is an extremely fun romp that I will be listening to again very soon.