I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a London pickpocket and the scrapes he gets himself into when he picks a gentleman's pocket of a mysterious document - only to see the gentleman murdered in front of him a few moments later. The premise seemed very much like Oliver Twist (orphan boy meets wealthy family who offer him a new life), but it is in fact a very original tale. The historical detail and fantastic writing make this an exceptional book!

Left on the table during our Bastille Day visit.