The first one is the best , the second is crap and the third is mediocre

 

Lies is the best - not just the best book in the series, but also, I feel, the single best fantasy book in recent times.

There are better series (GRRM's ASOIAF, Abercrombie's The First Law) - and these are better by far. The characters are more developed, the plot is stronger, the themes far, far better explored.

Red Seas under Red Skies was poorly paced (too much build up, and the important, climactic scenes too rushed) and Republic of Thieves underdelivered (too much of stuff not happening, and the climactic scenes rather disjointed).

What The Lies of Locke Lamora does is what no other recent fantasy book achieves - it grabs you, and never lets go from beginning to the end. It is simply so exciting, from the first page to the last. No page is wasted. Lynch might spend a page primarily on characterization, but also throw in a heap of worldbulding at the same time. The interludes are handled exceedingly well - they introduce the necessary backstory and worldbuilding, but never feel out of place. Meanwhile, the plot races along, unhindered by the necessary digressions. The plot is incredibly fast paced, and you can feel yourself in the adventure, almost in real time, the excitement and anticipation building in you. Everything feels fresh, and new, and utterly, unspeakably awesome. I would compare it to DLP's very own L. Lamora's Game of Champions (haha I wonder where he got his name from) - it just shits awesomeness, in all ways, all along, all the time.

Compared to (say) other series' first books, it starts the series in an incredibly powerful way. It compares very favourably with the likes of Storm Front (which just isn't that original or exciting compared to Lies, and isn't a good indication of the Dresden Files' later quality). Even compared to The Blade Itself or Game of Thrones, it stands out. These books are great, their authors the best the genre can offer, but these books are obviously part of a bigger stories, and just aren't that exciting, as standalones.

I think Lies's greatest strength is almost the Gentleman Bastard Sequences's greatest weakness. Lies reads as a full story of its own. It is fantastic at resolving all the issues it raises - at tying up all loose ends. But because of that there is nothing, really, to guide us and our expectations in reading the later books.

What Lies fails to do is lay the groundwork for the full series' plot, and to give us an idea of the bigger conflict. Indeed, Lynch only does this in the Republic of Thieves (many here commented how Republic is very much a "stepping-stone" - used to establish the centrality of the Bondsmagi and to hint at the future central issue of the books). And now that the delayed laying of the groundwork is done, I expect far, far better from Scott Lynch. I don't think we'll be disappointed.