Pickpocket's Apprentice

By: Sheri Cobb South

Narrated by: Joel Froomkin

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

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)

Can't wait for the rest of this series!

If you could sum up Pickpocket's Apprentice in three words, what would they be?

Great origin story. I started with the 1st book so the characters had context. I really would like to read more, but so far they are not available on audible. May have to break down and actually read them.

An Instant Classic

Set in London in the 1700s, John Pickett finds himself in front of the same judge that deported his father several months ago. Since then the younger Pickett has been living on the street and fending for himself. Desperate, the young Pickett is caught stealing and apple stay alive. Instead of dealing with him harshly for stealing, magistrate Colquhoun arranges for John Pickett to haul coal for Mr. Granger in exchange for room and board.

This is a wonderful historical period piece including all of the great elements for classic. A poor young boy of misfortune, a powerful man, a job, a girl and everything else. I really enjoyed listening to this piece.

Joel Froomkin performance for the lovely British accent. It is warm and soothing, the 2 1/2 hours flew by.

There are no warnings to give with this book.

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4 Solid stars

Took awhile but I loved it!

Any additional comments?

Full disclosure: I'm a Joel Froomkin fan and he can really do no wrong in my eyes. Still, it took me awhile to get into this listen. Once I did though, I was rewarded with one of the best short stories I've ever listened to an and incredible narrator that made the story simply jump off the pages. Such win.

This was a prequel and I've already downloaded the first book in the series. I'm officially a fan!!!

The rise of a scamp

Captain Jack' is deported to Botany Bay leaving behind his pickpocket son. Arrested for stealing an apple the boy is brought before a sympathetic magistrate and so the story begins. This short story lays the groundwork for a series that I am anxious to begin

Top notch

This story is so worthwhile — a period piece carefully researched and unusually well written, with an interesting mix of characters and truly outstanding narration. Fortunately it’s the first in a long series. I look forward to reading each in turn, as this is one of the best audiobooks I’ve heard in 15 years of listening.

A wonderful start to a lovely series

In what short book we see our young hero go from villain to lovelorn but substantial young man. Can’t wait for the next one!

Super stuff!

I save my 5th star for a life-changing book, but this is a charming series, well written and told. I'm becoming a Joel Froomkin fan!

delightful

I really like this narrator! The story is a charming intro for the series. I look forward to seeing if the longer books by this author are as rewarding.

Son of a Criminal Makes Good

When fourteen-year-old John Pickett is hauled into Bow Street for thieving an apple from a street vendor, the copper who brings him in is ready to lock him up and throw away the key. But magistrate Patrick Colquhoun recognizes his last name and asks the boy if he is the son of the criminal, he has just transported to Botany Bay. Not knowing that the man had left behind a child, Mr. Colquhoun seeks to rehabilitate the boy. Taking him to Elias Granger, a prosperous coal merchant, and asks him to take him on as an apprentice for the next five years, in leu of putting the boy in jail. Such harsh and hard work, John Pickett had never encountered, but it served him well, and he soon learned a different way of life. On Sundays he went to church with the family and also dined with them. The daughter of the Grangers, Sophy, began to flirt with John Pickett, and sneak him food not long after he came to board there. She taught him to play chess and he regularly beat her and her father at the game. John Pickett fell hard for Sophy . . . but was it just entertainment for her? Then one day, nineteen-year-old John Pickett noticed something whilst delivering coal which would change his future forever . . . This story, rich with the English dialect of the day, the descriptions of the happenings at the docks with the workers, the upper crust with their servants and hopes for their daughter’s future, and the Bow Street Runners are absolutely wonderful. This is the perfect start for a series that I am sure to continue!

Good Backstory

I have read all of Ms South's books and they get better and better. This introduction to John Pickett gives us a solid characterization which avoids subsequent detailed repetition.

This one made me eager to read the next installment. It took me a few minutes to get into the rhythm of the reader, but then I was into the story ... And it ended all too quickly.