'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. Praise for T. L. Mogford: '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 'Cleanly written … and exquisite' ― Times Literary Supplement '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 An unforgettable historical suspense adventure novel for 2026 T. L. Mogford is the pen name of Thomas Mogford, a British crime writer. As T. L. Mogford he writes historical fiction, the first example of which was The Plant Hunter , a novel set in nineteenth-century England and China, which was shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. The Saffron Thief is the first in a new series. Thomas lives in London with his family and their Corfu street dog, Gerry.