Pickpocket's Apprentice cover art

Pickpocket's Apprentice

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Pickpocket's Apprentice

By: Sheri Cobb South
Narrated by: Joel Froomkin
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About this listen

When magistrate Patrick Colquhoun orders a habitual thief and ne'er-do-well transported to Botany Bay, he doesn't realize a 14-year-old boy has been left behind to follow in his father's footsteps - not until young John Pickett is hauled into Bow Street for stealing an apple from the produce market at Covent Garden.

Feeling to some extent responsible for the boy, Mr. Colquhoun prevails upon Elias Granger, a prosperous coal merchant, to take him on as an apprentice. For the next five years, John Pickett hauls coal in exchange for room and board. The work is dirty and hard, but the drudgery is lightened by the occasional deliveries to Bow Street, where Mr. Colquhoun usually tosses Pickett a coin for his pains. An even more pleasant diversion exists in the form of Mr. Granger's pert daughter Sophy, with whom Pickett tumbles headlong into love.

And then one day 19-year-old John Pickett stumbles by accident into a criminal investigation that will bring him once again to the attention of Bow Street for an entirely different reason, and will change the course of his life.

©2015 Sheri Cobb South (P)2016 Sheri Cobb South
Historical Mystery Fiction

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Critic reviews

"It's impossible to choose which of narrator Joel Froomkin’s skills is better - his expert narrative or his spirited portrayals of the vast array of eccentric figures in this historical novel... Well-delivered subtle humor and clever wordplay add to this fascinating tale as Pickett thrives and grows." (AudioFile)

All stars
Most relevant
This is about John pickett before he became a bow street runner.
It was a short listen with a great narrator.
Would recommend.

Pickpocket's Apprentice

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Who was your favorite character and why?

The magistrate and John were my favourite characters. I liked the magistrates philanthropic ways and John's innocent nature.
I loved the story surrounding John's childhood and his experiences with his job and the family who had taken him in.

What about Joel Froomkin’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed the various accents performed by the narrator. I thought the narration was done very well. Well paced, easy to listen to and enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Any additional comments?

I received a copy via audio book boom in exchange for an honest review.

Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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John Pickett's lucky childhood takes him from almost being punished for stealing an apple in Covent Garden to becoming a thief taker. A good story with social background about the early 19th century.

Interesting and I think following Pickett's career is worth it.

Beginnings

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