'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. - When the Great Fire of London plunges a family into near destitution the youngest son hatches a plan to solve all their woes in one fell swoop - by stealing a king's ransom in saffron. - TL Mogford, has been shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing prize and a Telegraph 'Book of the Summer. He's also been shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger and Crimefest's eDunnit. - A beautiful package and a strong regional appeal in the south east makes this the perfect book for booksellers. Internationally Canada are very keen on this book. - The Bookseller of Inverness, HB 5k; The Shadows of London, HB 5k. Competition: William Boyd; S.

G. Maclean; Andrew Taylor; Robert Harris; Rory Clements; Ken Follett; Hilary Mantel; Barbara Erskine; S.J. Parris; Bernard Cornwell; Conn Iggulden; Simon Scarrow; Philippa Gregory; Hilary Mantel; Edward Rutherfurd; Wilbur Smith; James Michener; Sharon Kay Penman; Colleen McCullough.