Compelling Heist Novel with Heart and Historical Insight
The story begins in September 1666 when the Great Fire is still burning timber-built London. A young legal clerk called Fabian Smith is fleeing the city with his mother and siblings, alongside thousands of others who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones. Whereas historians might stress the longer-term benefits of the fire, such as reducing plague and enabling Sir Christopher Wren to build baroque churches, Mogford focuses on the more immediate human impact. He paints a vivid picture of devastation and upheaval, but also the ingenuity and enterprise of those who survive. We smell the smoke and feel the heat with Fabian and his family, and follow their first steps trying to recover.
The fire inflates prices. Old norms no longer hold. Saffron spice, which is known for healing and aphrodisiac qualities not just flavouring food, reaches the same pound-for-pound price as gold. People must do what they can to survive. When Fabian and his brother are tricked by crooks, he decides to steal saffron to repay a monstrous debt and save his family from destitution. For this, he must travel to Saffron Walden in Essex, the worldwide centre of production and infiltrate the business of the local saffron ‘tycoon’.
Fabian finds his task harder than he expected. Only those with small fingers can pick the stamens of crocus flowers from which the spice is made. Wealthy landowner Elias Eccles controls all aspects of production. The resulting saffron cakes are closely guarded night and day. Detractors claim it would be ‘easier to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London’ than take saffron from Walden.
The would-be thief meets many colourful characters, including enticing young women and feisty older ones, and discovers London is not the only place more lawless than before. The civil war and subsequent interregnum have uprooted lives in Essex too. Although King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, locals are still struggling to adjust. Some have old scores to settle. Religious differences play a part. Fabian must pick a team of accomplices to help him steal the cakes, but are they trust-worthy enough? Will he succeed and return unharmed to pay his family’s debt?
The Saffron
Thief is a book that stays with one long after finishing. It will delight
fans of historical crime, along with all those curious about the lives of past
generations. T. L. Mogford has been nominated for prestigious awards before and deserves to again with this impressive novel.
Karen H
Karen Haden’s historical
mysteries are available from Sharpe Books at Karen Haden
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