This book is an amazing story by Cornelia Funke. The book consist of three stories that wind together. Prosper and Bo have run away from their homes in Germany to Venice. In order to see what their diseased mom had told them about the city and to escape from their aunt Esther, who is interested in adopting Bo.
In Venice they meet a group of children that live in an empty cinema. And that are cared for by the lord of the thieves. But who is he?? Meanwhile, Aunt Esther and her horrible husband have come to Venice and hire a private detective to look for the children. Little do they know, that the kids are busy with helping the Scipio (the lord of the thieves) with his biggest and most dangerous job yet.