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A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION PICK 2026
'An enjoyable historical thriller' Sunday Times
'Out of the ashes of the Great Fire of London comes an unforgettable tale … T. L. Mogford has excelled himself' Michael Morpurgo
‘I swallowed up The Saffron Thief in 36 hours. It’s a tremendous piece of work … Truly superb’ William Boyd
In 1666, England's saffron industry is booming, with the spice fetching a staggering £4 per pound—rivalling gold. Fabian Smith, the sensible second son of a Holborn poulterer, has sacrificed his dreams of adventure for family duty. But when the Great Fire claims his father and his reckless brother plunges them into debt with a ruthless conman, their home—and freedom—hang in the balance.
Desperate to save his family, Fabian hatches a daring plan: steal the fortune they need. His target? The wealthiest saffron grower in Saffron Walden. Disguised and determined, he arrives just in time for the harvest, only to discover that the townsfolk are far more cunning than he expected.
As danger closes in, Fabian must navigate treachery and his own heart, racing against time to save everything he holds dear.
‘A riveting historical novel' Heat
'Historical fiction at its best' Closer
'A dangerous race against time. We were gripped’ Bella
Readers love The Saffron Thief:
''An absolute cracker of a story and can’t wait for more’
‘If you like Robert Harris and S.J. Parris then this is absolutely for you’
‘With a wealth of historic detail, plus great characters and plot, this book is difficult to put down’
‘A detective story full of twists and turns that was unpredictable and unputdownable’
‘A very impressive start to a new series. Informative and enjoyable’
Genre: Historical Mystery
'An enjoyable historical thriller' Sunday Times
'Out of the ashes of the Great Fire of London comes an unforgettable tale … T. L. Mogford has excelled himself' Michael Morpurgo
‘I swallowed up The Saffron Thief in 36 hours. It’s a tremendous piece of work … Truly superb’ William Boyd
In 1666, England's saffron industry is booming, with the spice fetching a staggering £4 per pound—rivalling gold. Fabian Smith, the sensible second son of a Holborn poulterer, has sacrificed his dreams of adventure for family duty. But when the Great Fire claims his father and his reckless brother plunges them into debt with a ruthless conman, their home—and freedom—hang in the balance.
Desperate to save his family, Fabian hatches a daring plan: steal the fortune they need. His target? The wealthiest saffron grower in Saffron Walden. Disguised and determined, he arrives just in time for the harvest, only to discover that the townsfolk are far more cunning than he expected.
As danger closes in, Fabian must navigate treachery and his own heart, racing against time to save everything he holds dear.
‘A riveting historical novel' Heat
'Historical fiction at its best' Closer
'A dangerous race against time. We were gripped’ Bella
Readers love The Saffron Thief:
''An absolute cracker of a story and can’t wait for more’
‘If you like Robert Harris and S.J. Parris then this is absolutely for you’
‘With a wealth of historic detail, plus great characters and plot, this book is difficult to put down’
‘A detective story full of twists and turns that was unpredictable and unputdownable’
‘A very impressive start to a new series. Informative and enjoyable’
Genre: Historical Mystery
Praise for this book
"I swallowed up The Saffron Thief in 36 hours. It's a tremendous piece of work ... Truly superb." - William Boyd
"The Great Fire of London as a backdrop, scoundrels and rogues lurking around every corner, a determined hero, and a daring heist - The Saffron Thief is a brilliantly fun caper that had my heart racing. Tremendous!" - R S Burnett
"The Saffron Thief is a thrilling adventure exploring complex themes of love, loyalty and faith against the dramatic backdrop of the Great Fire of London. Through masterful storytelling and richly textured detail, T. L. Mogford conjures the noisy streets of commercial London and colourful saffron fields of Essex to explore how far a good man will go to save his family. A tremendous book - readers will love it" - Miranda Malins
"From the ashes of the Great Fire and the threads of the saffron trade, Mogford has built a fantastic historical heist novel that reminded me in the best possible way of Andrew Taylor. Brilliant." - Anna Mazzola
"Out of the ashes of the Great Fire of London comes an unforgettable tale ... T.L. Mogford has excelled himself." - Michael Morpurgo
"I am so used to skipping the boring stuff when reading fiction I couldn't quite believe that in The Saffron Thief there was nothing to skip. It's such a compelling piece of writing: thoroughly entertaining, pacily told and enduringly moving." - James Runcie
"The Great Fire of London as a backdrop, scoundrels and rogues lurking around every corner, a determined hero, and a daring heist - The Saffron Thief is a brilliantly fun caper that had my heart racing. Tremendous!" - R S Burnett
"The Saffron Thief is a thrilling adventure exploring complex themes of love, loyalty and faith against the dramatic backdrop of the Great Fire of London. Through masterful storytelling and richly textured detail, T. L. Mogford conjures the noisy streets of commercial London and colourful saffron fields of Essex to explore how far a good man will go to save his family. A tremendous book - readers will love it" - Miranda Malins
"From the ashes of the Great Fire and the threads of the saffron trade, Mogford has built a fantastic historical heist novel that reminded me in the best possible way of Andrew Taylor. Brilliant." - Anna Mazzola
"Out of the ashes of the Great Fire of London comes an unforgettable tale ... T.L. Mogford has excelled himself." - Michael Morpurgo
"I am so used to skipping the boring stuff when reading fiction I couldn't quite believe that in The Saffron Thief there was nothing to skip. It's such a compelling piece of writing: thoroughly entertaining, pacily told and enduringly moving." - James Runcie
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