Most mystery stories are at least semi-predictable – the majority of the story will be told from the point of view of the person investigating the situation, some major trauma or will action will have precipitated the start of the investigation, and the odds are that the “good” guys will eventually win out. This story is devoted mostly to the actions of a pair of young boys (Prosper and Bo) who are guilty of nothing more serious than running away from an aunt who wants to split them up.
As with most first-rate mysteries, which this is, the obvious story is only the beginning. The Thief Lord, a young, poor, homeless Venetian turns out to be the son of a wealthy man, living the majority of his daytime hours in a palazzo. His claims of having stolen much loot from assorted high-profile break-ins in called into question, and ultimately disproved.
It is easy to see why the author is outshined (in Germany) only by J. K. Rowling and R. L. Stine. There is the camaraderie of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermoinie Granger; the initially distrusted “adversary”; the disregard for rules; and a general sense of fun underlying everything.
Set firmly in the here and now, with no occult overtones until almost the end of the book, if it weren’t for my daughter’s insistence that it “looked interesting,” I probably would have passed it by. I’m glad I didn’t. It was a most pleasant, well-written jaunt through the underside of one of the most romantic, exotic cities in Europe.
Only a touch of magic, no Witches; just an enjoyable trip through youthful adventure. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It is a great way to spend some time while trying not to melt in the summer heat.
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