The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti

This novel is so Dickensian that I was surprised at every New England reference. Ren, an orphan at St. Anthony's, is cloaked in mystery. His name is taken from initials embroidered in the shirt he was wearing when he was abandoned. And what happened to the hand that he was too young to remember loosing.? When he is twelve, he is adopted by Benjamin Nab who convinces the Monk's that Ren is his long lost brother. It becomes clear early on that Ren is to be a partner in a number of scams and thefts. Let the adventure begin. Grave robbing, cruel factory owners, complicated relationships all in a smelly, dark, crusty atmosphere that you would swear is 19th century London instead of 19th century New England. This is a novel told in the old fashion swash-buckling classic story telling tradition but I'm not sure how it will play as book group fare.