The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti chronicles the adventures of Ren, a young orphan with one hand. His other hand, missing since infancy, is replaced by smooth skin and surgery scars.
Ren’s adventures begin when a stranger arrives and claims Ren as his long-lost brother. The stranger, Benjamin, removes Ren from the orphanage, the only home he’s ever known, and uses the crippled child in his illegal money-making schemes. This is not the family Ren dreamed of, and feels little comfort when Benjamin tells him he's not his brother. But Ren grows accustomed to Benjamin’s ways and begins to adapt.
Ren meets a series of thieves, criminals, and outcasts on his adventure including a drunk ex-school teacher, a giant, a dwarf, a doctor who buys dead bodies, and a nearly-deaf landlady.
Ren is a likeable, sympathetic character who keeps the story interesting. Tinti writes beautiful prose, and it is often her use of language that kept me engaged as I read.
Beyond its entertainment value and quality language, The Good Thief doesn’t bring much to the table. It doesn’t encourage me to think about anything beyond the surface story, which is good if you’re looking for a quick read, but disappointing if you’re hoping for something with more substance.
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