Benjamin and Tom are two entrepreneuring eighteenth-century grifters who need a sympathetic third body to help them tug at potential marks’ heart and purse strings. Enter Ren, a small dirty orphan with only one hand. Grateful to have found a new “family,†Ren agrees to play his part, though his sensitive conscience (well developed at the Catholic orphanage) often pains him. Using Ren’s wan face and prominent disability, the two crooks clean up until they turn their illegal attentions to grave robbing. Caught at the dirty deed, the trio are targeted by a shady local mill owner, who holds an entire small New England town in his tight fist. As they try to escape his murderous intentions, a surprising secret about Ren’s past comes to light, changing, well…everything. This quirky historical yarn, reminiscent of the writing of Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson, is full of colorful characters and unexpected twists. Both absorbing and exciting, often absurd and sometimes deeply sad, The Good Thief is a darn good read.
For those interested, here’s a compelling interview with Ms. Tinti where she talks about her writing style and gem of an idea that sparked the writing of “The Good Thief.” Here is the link: http://tiny.cc/cqBGq
Thanks for the link, GFS3!
Just finished “The Good Thief”, really enjoyed it. I loved all the creative characters that Tinti came up with. Most definitely a page turner!
Great book! Hats off to Ms. Tinti
I thought while it was entertaining at points the ending was very uneven and unsatisfying. It didn’t tie together well. The first 3/4 of the book was excellent, but then it fell apart.