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John Pickett Mystery #0.5
Pickpocket's Apprentice
When magistrate Patrick Colquhoun orders a habitual thief and ne'er-do-well transported to Botany Bay, he doesn't realize a fourteen-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 delivery 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 nineteen-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...
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 delivery 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 nineteen-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...
126 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2015
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393 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 30, 2023
I want to read the John Pickett Mysteries and saw this short story lays out the history of the character. I really enjoyed how well the story is written and look forward to starting the series.
October 24, 2020
It’s narrated by Joel Leslie so, yes.
(Not a romance, not MM, GREAT!)
(Not a romance, not MM, GREAT!)
April 24, 2020
Audiobook reviewThis book marks the beginning of John Pickett's journey. We first meet him at 14 as a young pickpocket just caught by the magistrate. Instead of punishment, magistrate Patrick Colquhoun arranges for him to apprentice with a coal merchant. It’s hard and dirty work, but John is content, he has is fed and has a roof over his head. By happy coincidence some five years later he stumbles into a criminal investigation, his first of many if Colquhoun has any say in it.
I’ve read this series out of order and much of John’s future is already known to me. But going back to the beginning to where it all started was a real treat. I loved this young boy, there was such kindness and innocence to him. Some doing their best to quash it, but never managing. The events of this book in large shaped the man John will become, and I’m excited to continue his journey. Excited for him to meet Lady Fieldhurst.
Pickpocket’s Apprentice was narrated by Joel Froomkin. I love his British accent, he took you to the streets of London. But what’s more I think he really captured he essence of John. Made you fall for this lost boy. Made you feel his bewilderment of Sophie in the beginning, bewilderment turning into love. He also made you feel John’s strong sense of right and wrong how ingrained it was to his sense of self.
Pickpocket’s Apprentice is a nice introduction to John and how he became the Bow Street runner that we’ll follow for many books to come.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest Review.
October 2, 2019
2019 bk 314. A charmingly written novella that provides the background story behind John Pickett becoming a Bow Street Runner. Not a mystery this time, but rather the story of a pickpocket transforming into an honest, hardworking young man who has a very intelligent mind, except where a certain young lady is involved. You can read the full length novels with out this, but why would you want to when it allows you to know John Pickett's story more fully?
April 7, 2018
A very charming novella introduction to this series. John Pickett is the son of a notorious Covent Garden criminal who is transported to Botany Bay when John is just 14. Having no other means of survival, he takes to petty thievery, stealing apples and other bits of food. When he is arrested by a Bow Street Runner, the magistrate, Mr. Colquhoun, feels pity and perhaps senses something about the boy.
He takes John to a Mr. Granger, a coal merchant, and John apprentices himself to Mr. Granger until he turns 21. Mr. Granger has a pert, pretty daughter, Sophy, who is John’s age. She sneaks him food at first, and later books, John having learned to read at a charity school. Sophy also amuses herself by kissing John at every opportunity.
Poor John! He thinks she loves him and he has built castles in the air. When she completes her finishing school, she disabused him of this notion.
Mr. Colquhoun has kept in touch with John and is impressed by the young man’s talents and abilities. John helped solve a mystery concerning a valuable emerald necklace. So he offers to buy John out of the remaining years (2) of his apprenticeship and employ him as a beginning Bow Street Runner.
This is an intriguing series intro and I can’t wait to read more. I love stories involving Bow Street Runners.
He takes John to a Mr. Granger, a coal merchant, and John apprentices himself to Mr. Granger until he turns 21. Mr. Granger has a pert, pretty daughter, Sophy, who is John’s age. She sneaks him food at first, and later books, John having learned to read at a charity school. Sophy also amuses herself by kissing John at every opportunity.
Poor John! He thinks she loves him and he has built castles in the air. When she completes her finishing school, she disabused him of this notion.
Mr. Colquhoun has kept in touch with John and is impressed by the young man’s talents and abilities. John helped solve a mystery concerning a valuable emerald necklace. So he offers to buy John out of the remaining years (2) of his apprenticeship and employ him as a beginning Bow Street Runner.
This is an intriguing series intro and I can’t wait to read more. I love stories involving Bow Street Runners.
October 31, 2017
I feel madly in love with Sheri Cobb South's "weaver" trilogy, "The Weaver Takes a Wife of one of the finest Regencies I have ever had the pleasure to read and it's obvious that the author greatly admires Georgette Heyer. This sweet novella,, "Pickpocket's Apprentice" introduces the protagonist of this series, John Pickett, as a fourteen year old pickpocket who gets a second chance because someone in power saw a glimmer of something in this young man worth saving.
Cobb South is a wonderfully gifted writer whose characters are delightful and interesting. I truly felt as though I was transported to the early 1800's. This introduction to the John Pickett mysteries was very delightful to read. I am so happy to have found a new Regency series to delve into.
Cobb South is a wonderfully gifted writer whose characters are delightful and interesting. I truly felt as though I was transported to the early 1800's. This introduction to the John Pickett mysteries was very delightful to read. I am so happy to have found a new Regency series to delve into.
March 27, 2018
Sheri Cobb South writes a series about Bow Street Runner John Pickett, whom we have learned was found by Magistrate Patrick Cahoon as a 14-year-old pickpocket, and she has now written a prequel story about how Cahoon found Pickett in the novella The Pickpocket’s Apprentice. The magistrate meets John when the boy gets caught stealing an apple and learns that John has been left alone in London when his father, a notorious criminal, has been transported to Australia. Determined to help John find honest employment, Cahoon calls in a favor and gets him apprenticed to Mr. Granger, a coal merchant. But eventually John proves himself to be highly clever, leading to his entry to the Bow Street Runners.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2018
Picked up this audio novella length book when it was on sale a few weeks back. I've been curious about the John Pickett mysteries and thought this might be a good introduction, which it was. We meet John Pickett when he is a young lad of fourteen and he is brought before a magistrate named Mr. Colquhoun. Lucky for young John, who has been caught stealing, Colquhoun sees something in the boy and rather than hang him or "transport" him, he takes him to get something to eat and then arranges for him to be a coal apprentice to a gentlemen he knows. This is a long term relationship and the coal merchant basically owns John for a period of nine years.
Although short in length, this novella covers almost all those years. Eventually, Mr. Colquhoun comes to John's rescue again when he buys out his remaining years. It seems Colquhoun has come to realize John is a pretty sharp young man and he wants him to work as a Bow Street runner. This of course, is the lead into the first John Pickett mystery which I plan to pick up soon. I think I would enjoy spending a bit more time with John Pickett.
Although short in length, this novella covers almost all those years. Eventually, Mr. Colquhoun comes to John's rescue again when he buys out his remaining years. It seems Colquhoun has come to realize John is a pretty sharp young man and he wants him to work as a Bow Street runner. This of course, is the lead into the first John Pickett mystery which I plan to pick up soon. I think I would enjoy spending a bit more time with John Pickett.
February 19, 2017
Amazingly good, especially for a novella. Great and unusual hero.
April 29, 2022
When patrolman Foote brings into Bow Street a bloodied boy of about 14, magistrate Patrick Colquhoun can't bear to see the boy hanged. It's not the boy's fault he's forced to steal to survive. In fact, Mr. Colquhoun feels responsible for it is he who sent the boy's father to Botany Bay! Instead of sentencing the boy to hang for his crimes, Mr. Colquhoun takes pity on the boy and arranges for young John Pickett to be apprenticed to a wealthy coal merchant for 7 years in exchange for room and board. John agrees easily enough but he never imagined how gruelling the work would be or how hard it would be to go without wages for 7 long years. Miss Sophy Granger, the daughter of John's master, is kind to him and provides John with leftover tea sandwiches and teaches him to play chess. Soon John has tumbled head over heels in love with Sophy. How can he ask her to marry him if he isn't free until he's 21? Can he buy out his indenture? Will Mr. Colquhoun loan him the money to do so? One day delivering coal to Bow Street, John is obloged to wait and picks up the Hue and Cry. That decision will radically change his life forever!
This is a short novella of about 150 pages detailing John's origin story of how he came to be a Bow Street Runner. I found it rather slow moving and felt it could have been a lot shorter. It was obvious what was going to happen between John and Sophy and painful to watch unfold.
John wasn't always the sweet, gentle, caring man we know from later books. He was a street rat with a chip on his shoulder and swagger. Yet, deep down, he was just a child longing for love and acceptance. I think he's still that way inside. I don't see a lot of character growth through the 7 years of this story. He remains sweetly naive which I find unbelievable for a youth who spent his early years on the streets. Children lost their innocence and grew up quickly where he comes from. Poor John is so sweet, so trusting and so longing for love that he goes looking in the wrong places.
Sophy is a minx. She's horrid. It's so obvious she's just amusing herself with John and has no real feelings for him. Sophy leads him on and nearly gets him into huge trouble.
Patrick Colquhoun sees John as he truly is and gives the lad a chance- more than once. John repays that kindness with loyalty and honesty. Mr. Colquhoun is a wise and perceptive man. He can see what might happen between John and Sophy and even he doesn't think it should happen. Fortunately we know he changes his mind about people staying in their stations!
Mrs. Cranston-Parks is a very silly young woman. John is perceptive but she's rather obvious. I didn't like her at all.
This story is filled with a few Easter Eggs for readers of this author's other Regency stories. John delivers coal to Brundy & Sons (as in Ethan Brundy from The Weaver Takes a Wife and his foster father who is still living). John also delivers coal to Lord Fieldhurst's residence and at the end of the book he catches a glimpse of Lord Fieldhurt's lovely young bride inside a carriage! That was fun!
This is a short novella of about 150 pages detailing John's origin story of how he came to be a Bow Street Runner. I found it rather slow moving and felt it could have been a lot shorter. It was obvious what was going to happen between John and Sophy and painful to watch unfold.
John wasn't always the sweet, gentle, caring man we know from later books. He was a street rat with a chip on his shoulder and swagger. Yet, deep down, he was just a child longing for love and acceptance. I think he's still that way inside. I don't see a lot of character growth through the 7 years of this story. He remains sweetly naive which I find unbelievable for a youth who spent his early years on the streets. Children lost their innocence and grew up quickly where he comes from. Poor John is so sweet, so trusting and so longing for love that he goes looking in the wrong places.
Sophy is a minx. She's horrid. It's so obvious she's just amusing herself with John and has no real feelings for him. Sophy leads him on and nearly gets him into huge trouble.
Patrick Colquhoun sees John as he truly is and gives the lad a chance- more than once. John repays that kindness with loyalty and honesty. Mr. Colquhoun is a wise and perceptive man. He can see what might happen between John and Sophy and even he doesn't think it should happen. Fortunately we know he changes his mind about people staying in their stations!
Mrs. Cranston-Parks is a very silly young woman. John is perceptive but she's rather obvious. I didn't like her at all.
This story is filled with a few Easter Eggs for readers of this author's other Regency stories. John delivers coal to Brundy & Sons (as in Ethan Brundy from The Weaver Takes a Wife and his foster father who is still living). John also delivers coal to Lord Fieldhurst's residence and at the end of the book he catches a glimpse of Lord Fieldhurt's lovely young bride inside a carriage! That was fun!
March 18, 2024
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; MARCH 1, 2024
Narrator: Joel Leslie (aka Joel Froomkin)
Surprisingly good for this 2 and a half hour prequel novella. Usually, these short prequels don't do much for the series and I wouldn't have missed anything if I didn't read it. This one, however, did justice as an "origin" tale and we learn the background of John Pickett and how he ends up as a Bow Street Runner.
Joel Froomkin (who narrates MM gay romance as Joel Leslie) narrated this very ably.
Narrator: Joel Leslie (aka Joel Froomkin)
Surprisingly good for this 2 and a half hour prequel novella. Usually, these short prequels don't do much for the series and I wouldn't have missed anything if I didn't read it. This one, however, did justice as an "origin" tale and we learn the background of John Pickett and how he ends up as a Bow Street Runner.
Joel Froomkin (who narrates MM gay romance as Joel Leslie) narrated this very ably.
December 17, 2018
I received this book for free. I voluntarily left this review and all opinions contained herein are my own.
This is the first book in the John Pickett Mysteries series. It is more of a novella which provides the background of John Pickett, starting when he was about 14 years old. John is caught stealing. Despite the urging of the police officer, the magistrate see something in John and gets John an apprenticeship which will last until he is 21 years of age. Through the apprenticeship, John meets his employer's daughter Sophy [who teases and entices John mercilessly]. John is very intelligent, can read [which is unusual for a street urchin] and is quick to learn. John becomes involved in the mystery of a stolen necklace, which catches the eye of the same policeman who had arrested John for theft.
Sheri Cobb South's writing skill transports you to the 1800's and then pulls you in with the interesting empathetic characters she has created. I did not want the story to end. There is some wonderful wit and some clever turns of phrase in her writing. I really enjoy historical mysteries and I have found a new favorite.
I listened to this book -- the narrator, Joel Froomkin, is perfect for this series. He does accents and really adds a great atmosphere and richness to his narration. He really enhances the written word.
This is the first book in the John Pickett Mysteries series. It is more of a novella which provides the background of John Pickett, starting when he was about 14 years old. John is caught stealing. Despite the urging of the police officer, the magistrate see something in John and gets John an apprenticeship which will last until he is 21 years of age. Through the apprenticeship, John meets his employer's daughter Sophy [who teases and entices John mercilessly]. John is very intelligent, can read [which is unusual for a street urchin] and is quick to learn. John becomes involved in the mystery of a stolen necklace, which catches the eye of the same policeman who had arrested John for theft.
Sheri Cobb South's writing skill transports you to the 1800's and then pulls you in with the interesting empathetic characters she has created. I did not want the story to end. There is some wonderful wit and some clever turns of phrase in her writing. I really enjoy historical mysteries and I have found a new favorite.
I listened to this book -- the narrator, Joel Froomkin, is perfect for this series. He does accents and really adds a great atmosphere and richness to his narration. He really enhances the written word.
December 18, 2019
Wonderful
I read this solely because it's the introduction to the John Pickett series, so I wanted his backstory. This is my first book by this author, and I can tell that she's a talented writer. She's given us a character that, in spite of his rough origins, we can come to care for. He's young, extremely naive, but also very intelligent. He starts the story as a 14 year old boy, alone on the streets of London, picking pockets to live. He's arrested, and by some miracle the magistrate decides to help him on an alternate path in life. Through hard labor and some tough experiences, John Pickett grows, in years, in body, and emotionally.
What should be a grim and dark tale of a young criminal's life is made endearing by the presence of several characters that are good people. The author has wisely provided characters to care about, which always makes a story more enjoyable. Although John Pickett has to endure some hard knocks in his life, there is the hope for a better future.
The book is well written and well edited, I recommend it .
I read this solely because it's the introduction to the John Pickett series, so I wanted his backstory. This is my first book by this author, and I can tell that she's a talented writer. She's given us a character that, in spite of his rough origins, we can come to care for. He's young, extremely naive, but also very intelligent. He starts the story as a 14 year old boy, alone on the streets of London, picking pockets to live. He's arrested, and by some miracle the magistrate decides to help him on an alternate path in life. Through hard labor and some tough experiences, John Pickett grows, in years, in body, and emotionally.
What should be a grim and dark tale of a young criminal's life is made endearing by the presence of several characters that are good people. The author has wisely provided characters to care about, which always makes a story more enjoyable. Although John Pickett has to endure some hard knocks in his life, there is the hope for a better future.
The book is well written and well edited, I recommend it .
November 7, 2021
Fantastic Prequel To John Pickett Mysteries
I really enjoyed being able to see the back story of John Pickett. It was a really fun look at how he became a Bow Street runner and his first experience with love. This particular story doesn't have much of a mystery to it but was still really entertaining.
Parents: PG13 - I really like how clean the author keeps these stories. In this series there is very little language (if any and no f-bombs), the violence isn't overly graphic, and although there is some sexual inferences and situations there are no actual sex scenes. I am quite proud of Pickett for having such good morals and treating girls with respect.
The narrator is incredible! I love all of his voices, he is prefect especially for John Pickett, all the differrent accents are fantastic, and he does a wonderful job with the acting as well.
I really enjoyed being able to see the back story of John Pickett. It was a really fun look at how he became a Bow Street runner and his first experience with love. This particular story doesn't have much of a mystery to it but was still really entertaining.
Parents: PG13 - I really like how clean the author keeps these stories. In this series there is very little language (if any and no f-bombs), the violence isn't overly graphic, and although there is some sexual inferences and situations there are no actual sex scenes. I am quite proud of Pickett for having such good morals and treating girls with respect.
The narrator is incredible! I love all of his voices, he is prefect especially for John Pickett, all the differrent accents are fantastic, and he does a wonderful job with the acting as well.
April 1, 2023
This is the opening salvo of the John Pickett series of books (with twelve stories and still counting). This is somewhat short, introducing the humble beginnings of John Pickett, who started as a pickpocket. A kindly magistrate took pity on the boy (who was caught stealing an apple), took him to a coal merchant, and convinced him to take the fourteen-year-old boy as an apprentice.
This author has an engaging style that creates exciting and sympathetic characters. I decided to try this book because I enjoyed the same author's first two books of the Weaver series. In addition, this author has a beautiful grasp of the Regency Era. This is a great intro and sets up readers for the further adventures of John Pickett.
John Pickett
** 0.5. Pickpocket's Apprentice (2015)
1. In Milady's Chamber (2006)
2. A Dead Bore (2008)
3. Family Plot (2014)
This author has an engaging style that creates exciting and sympathetic characters. I decided to try this book because I enjoyed the same author's first two books of the Weaver series. In addition, this author has a beautiful grasp of the Regency Era. This is a great intro and sets up readers for the further adventures of John Pickett.
John Pickett
** 0.5. Pickpocket's Apprentice (2015)
1. In Milady's Chamber (2006)
2. A Dead Bore (2008)
3. Family Plot (2014)
December 1, 2018
I must have gotten this novella for free, or almost free and when I started reading it yesterday I was going to put it down because it didn't seem to be based on romance and was about a 14 year old boy... However, the story sucked me in and I was absolutely enchanted with John. The writing was excellent and I didn't put it down until I was finished. Set between 1798 and 1803 approx. it's the story of a lad brought from living on the streets of London to work hauling coal for his room and board. He falls for his employer's daughter and dreams of the day he can marry her. Excellent Historical details and I already have the next book in the series, following John's story as an adult. (Can be read as a stand alone)
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August 22, 2019Young Apprentice Becomes a Bow Street Foot Patrol
I enjoyed the character of John Pickens, who is rescued by a magistrate from Bow Street. His heart is broken by his employer's flighty daughter. I enjoy3$ the story of John Pickens's the from pickpocket to an employee of Bow Street.
I enjoyed the character of John Pickens, who is rescued by a magistrate from Bow Street. His heart is broken by his employer's flighty daughter. I enjoy3$ the story of John Pickens's the from pickpocket to an employee of Bow Street.
August 5, 2020
John Pickett is my new book boyfriend.
This novella tells the athletic how John was taken off the streets as a pickpocket and how he became a Bow Street Runner. Didn't take long to read but you got to know John and I feel in love with him. This series is gonna be one of my favorites I can tell. Highly e
This novella tells the athletic how John was taken off the streets as a pickpocket and how he became a Bow Street Runner. Didn't take long to read but you got to know John and I feel in love with him. This series is gonna be one of my favorites I can tell. Highly e
January 5, 2025
I enjoyed this Novella immensely. The prequel to the John Pickett mystery series, none of which I have read as yet. I found the story relaxing, cosy and truly satisfying. Don't expect any rip roaring action or gruesome moments, it's just a story that will leave you with a warm feeling inside. I loved it.
May 9, 2017
I enjoyed it very much. But I am a sucker for historicals. The author said that she was a fan of Georgette Heyer.
and it shows. I am very excited to start reading her mysteries starring John Pickett. I very enjoyed her style!
and it shows. I am very excited to start reading her mysteries starring John Pickett. I very enjoyed her style!
September 25, 2018
This tells about John Pickett when he was a teenager. Unfortunately he had a rough start. He made the most of where he was placed. I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to people who like mysteries.
July 11, 2020
Cracking start
This story was my first introduction to this series when in one of my GR groups the first book entitled "In Milady's Chamber" was recommended. I really liked John Pickett and look forward to reading the rest of the stories.
This story was my first introduction to this series when in one of my GR groups the first book entitled "In Milady's Chamber" was recommended. I really liked John Pickett and look forward to reading the rest of the stories.
September 8, 2021
Having galloped through books 1-10 in the series, it was a sheer delight to go back to the very beginning of John Pickett's story and trace his route to Bow Street, with some delightful teasers about his future. A joy to read!
October 11, 2025
A novella with depth from a very good author whose books I have enjoyed reading. The book is 103 pages and filled with main characters that are fleshed out along with a good story line. What a pleasant little surprise!
March 29, 2018
OK this was a very pleasant surprise! can't wait to read the mystery series!
April 22, 2018
Sweet, interesting
January 19, 2019
Great series!
March 29, 2019
Listened to this after I had listened to the first book in the series. Glad to find out how John Pickett got started with the Bow Street Runners. Perfect little novella.
August 17, 2019
A nice little book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews