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The Saffron Thief

The Saffron Series (Book 1)

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What to expect

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

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’

Critics Review

'An enjoyable historical thriller' Sunday Times
'Colourful, and with a charmingly warm tone' Literary Review
‘A riveting historical novel' Heat
'Historical fiction at its best' Closer
'An entertaining adventure … Recommended' Historical Novel Society
'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
'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
'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
'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
'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
n Praise for T. L. Mogford:n
'A riveting page-turner, rich with fascinating period detail'Sunday Telegraph
'Highly recommended' Mick Herron
'A must for every reader who enjoys great adventure writing' Imogen Robertson
'It's excellent. No other word for it … A beautiful, charming book that stays in the mind long after you've closed it and put it away. I was delighted by it' John Simpson
Author T. L. Mogford
Narrator Joe Eyre
Series The Saffron Series
Duration 10 hours and 44 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9780008790004
Format Audiobook
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Generational sagas, Historical adventure fiction, Historical crime and mysteries, Historical fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

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