The Saffron Thief

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’

About the author

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.