The Young Accomplice

by Benjamin Wood

'Britain's answer to Donna Tartt' Sunday Times'A huge talent' Hilary Mantel'Was this how it was going to be for ever? Wrapping things for customers in womenswear, no conversation. Polishing the counters so her face reflected in the brass and sweeping floors at closing time until the boss said she could leave. How much worse off would she be if she went driving with a stranger for a while?'When sixteen-year-old Joyce Savigear absconds from work to go out with a man she barely knows, she hopes a new, exciting life is just beginning. But, two years later, she is waiting on a railway station in the tranquil English countryside. It's the summer of 1952 and she and her younger brother Charlie have just been released from borstal. Another fresh start awaits - but can Joyce ever outrun the darkness of her past?'What a writer' Richard Osman 'An involving tale of revenge and responsibility, which, while it devastates, also tells us that new lives can be built among the ashes' FT 'The Young Accomplice shows the difference between a book that slides down the surface of things, and one that digs its claws into you and sticks there' The Times

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2022

About the author

Benjamin Wood was born in 1981 and grew up in Merseyside. He is the author of five novels, the latest of which, SEASCRAPER, won the Nero Book Award for Fiction and was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2025. His first book won France's Prix du Roman Fnac and Prix Baudelaire in 2014. His other works have been shortlisted for a number of awards, including the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year, the Costa First Novel Award, the CWA Gold Dagger Award, the European Union Prize for Literature, the Commonwealth Book Award, and the RSL Encore Award. He is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at King's College London, where he founded the PhD in Creative Writing programme. He lives in Surrey with his wife and sons.​

Reviews

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benjamin Wood’s fourth novel is a reflective tale that seems only mildly tense when compared to the harrowing drama of A Station on the Path to Somewhere Better. In 1952, young siblings Charlie and Joyce Savigear have just been released from borstal; they join a rural architectural practice, Leventree, as apprentices. Leventree is the idea of architects Arthur and Florence Mayhood, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin as well as Arthur’s redemption after his own youthful period of incarceration. At first, all seems well. But soon Joyce is dragged into a criminal scheme by an old acquaintance, threatening the tenuous peace of this makeshift family.

The Young Accomplice has echoes of the author’s previous work: the setup, with troubled young people arriving at a kind of artistic refuge, reminded me of The Ecliptic; the malevolent influence of (the aptly named) Mal recalls Francis from Station. I know Wood can write ruthlessly, but that isn’t really on display in this relatively slow-paced novel – for example, there’s a section about how the Mayhoods fell in love that doesn’t seem fully relevant, and could have been cut without the story losing anything. Instead, this is a book concerned more with quiet emotion than suspense (though there are certainly moments of the latter). It sometimes steers away from moments of potential turmoil to focus on what the characters are thinking. The writing is always beautiful. It’s unlikely I would have picked this up if it wasn’t by Wood, and I’m glad I did – its unhurried grace felt like a literary palate cleanser.

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[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious novel, not at all what I thought I was getting in for. I enjoyed the cameos from Frank Lloyd Wright and the idea of a chain of architectural apprenticeship. Siblings Joyce and Charlie have separately won the chance to redeem themselves after time spent in borstal through work with the Mayhoods on their Surrey farm. The title refers to Joyce: in time it becomes clear that she's still up to the sort of mischief that put her into a youth detention centre in the first place, in thrall to an older man whose threats if she doesn't cooperate are all too believable. You can tell Wood had fun recreating the 1950s setting, and the character dynamics are strong, but ultimately there was no real payoff, such that I wondered what the intended point could have been. If you want to try Wood's work, I'd recommend The Bellwether Revivals or The Ecliptic instead.

[Thomas Stroemquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads app swallowed my almost finished review today, I’ll have a rest and see if I can muster up the strength to redo it. I enjoyed this very much - it’s what I’d call a real novel. Set in the 1950s, with flashbacks to the 30s, two young siblings get the chance to join an architect couple as accomplices in the English country. The sister Joyce’s dark past does follow her though. Great characters and a well told and ‘true sounding’ story.

[Ingibjörg Iða Auðunardóttir · Rating 4 out of 5]

þessi er algerlega frábær - langt síðan ég hef fundið jafn góða og vel skrifaða bók og langaði strax að lesa hana aftur. Bretland, sjötti áratugur síðustu aldar og vandræðasystkini sem fá annað tækifæri í lífinu í vinnu á sveitabæ hjá gömlum hjónum. Alger skyldulestur bara vegna systkinasambandsins án alls hins sem gerir hana yndislega. Á kápunni segir: „Britain’s answer to Donna Tartt” - og ég er ekki frá því að það sé satt.

[Debby Binns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. I listened to the abridged version on Radio 4 and it was hugely suspense filled and brilliantly narrated.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: Surrey, UK; 1950's.
Siblings Joyce and Charlie Savigear are 'rescued' from their Borstal sentences by married architects Arthur and Florence Mayhood, who run their architectural practice from a Surrey farm, which they plan to be self-sufficient - and they also seek a couple of apprentices to work with them, both on the farm and in their architectural practice. The Mayhoods are both keen followers of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his Taliesin community in Arizona and Arthur, having ended up in Borstal himself when he was a teenager, wishes to give Joyce and Charlie the chance to make something of themselves. Both have been selected following a drawing competition run in conjunction with the various Borstals by Arthur and Florence, where they both showed promise.
Everything appears to be going well for the two youngsters at the farm, both with the architectural drawing and the farm-work, although Joyce has some clashes with the farm manager, Hollis. However, more seriously, Joyce is still in contact with petty criminal, Mal, whose activities led to her and Charlie ending up in Borstal - and he is now forcing her to continue to do jobs for him....
This was a promising and very different sort of book for me - I enjoyed the 1950's setting, which came over as very genuine and believable, and the characters were also well-drawn. I wasn't too enamoured with the detailed sections on architectural drawing but took it as a necessary part of the story. However, I was disappointed when Joyce, the 'young accomplice' of the title, disappeared from the story well before the end, leaving just her younger brother Charlie with the Mayhoods - and a discovery that shocks all the characters. I also didn't particularly enjoy the fairly inconclusive ending, which loops back to Frank Lloyd Wright and his architecture - perhaps this is 'organic architecture' in literary form?! - 7/10.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very character driven novel. I did enjoy it, probably more of a 3.8. It’s a little slow to begin with as you get to know the characters. Didn’t love the ending, but it was an interesting read and would look out for other books by the author.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the recommendation Debby. It was really good.

[Katie Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calm and collected writing, elegant storytelling, a novel you could enjoy without worrying it was going to let you down. A story about mainly kind people and the value of opportunity and fresh chances, with the counterpoint of the experience of never quite fleeing past associations. Very satisfying and glad to have sought out the back catalogue of the seascraper author

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
1950s Britain and we follow the lives of siblings Joyce and Charlie following their release from Borstal.
Well written and engaging.

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to buy this in London because it never made it to the States, sadly. I love Wood's other books, so I might have hyped this up in my mind since I wanted it for a few years before I could get my hands on it. That said, I enjoyed the read! It was just as dark and messy as his other books - imperfect characters, plausible plot. I especially liked the ambiguity of the ending - hopeful but definitely not happily ever after.

(I was never a huge fan of Wright, so the thread of reverence was a bit lost on me.)

[Laura Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

'He lay back with his throat bared while the barber whipped the soap, and didn't think about the razor. Everything that hurt had already been cut'

The characters are so vivid and Wood teases and reveals each of the characters' inner thoughts beautifully. Each character's revelations about human nature, what it means to be human and a victim of circumstance stay with you... especially the familial sacrifices. Charlie's voice is particularly poignant

[JacquiWine · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 Stars)

It was the 1950s setting that first attracted me to Benjamin Wood’s, The Young Accomplice, an immersive, slow-burning tale of opportunity, idealism and the possibility of breaking free from the past. I’m often a little sceptical when contemporary authors try to recreate this era in their work, especially the dialogue and period detail. Luckily, there are no such problems here. The early 1950s brilliantly are evoked – from the stripped-back, smoke-laded pubs to the grubby underworld of petty crime, everything feels authentic and true. The Young Accomplice was my first book by Benjamin Wood, but it impressed me so much that I’ll definitely be checking out his backlist.

The novel is mostly set at Leventree, a Surrey-based farm where the idealistic architects Arthur and Florence Mayhood hope to develop a new practice along the lines of Frank Lloyd Wright’s collaborative programme at Taliesin. Their aim is to train a series of apprentices – disadvantaged youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds – to participate in their altruistic project. Arthur feels a particular kinship with these ideals, having spent time in a borstal as a teenager for unknowingly handling stolen goods; and with no children of their own, the Mayhoods are keen offer wayward youngsters a fresh start.

Enter Joyce and Charlie Savigear – siblings in their late teens – who win the Mayhoods’ drawing competition for borstal kids with an eye for design.

The Savigears were not the scrawny pair she [Florence] was expecting. Standing half a yard from one another in the fug of their own cigarettes, they had the restful attitude of two navvies on a lunch break. (p. 24)

While Joyce (the elder of the two) is rather sly and outspoken, Charlie is much quieter – a diligent young man who seems eager to learn. He responds well to the expectations set by the Mayhoods, contributing to the farm labour alongside his architectural training. In truth, there is something of the young Arthur in Charlie Savigear, a gentleness combined with curiosity and determination, qualities that Florence detects and hopes to nurture.

But as he [Charlie] stood there by his doorway, thick-browed, restful, waiting for an answer to his invitation, he looked so much like Arthur in his youth that she could feel the strangest dislocation from herself. He had the same involuntary pout, the same relentless motion to his eyes, as though observant of particulars that only he could see. And his carriage: borstal-trained into uprightness, yet so languid and serene. (p. 76)

Right from the start, the novel is imbued with a noticeable sense of unease, a feeling accentuated by the fact that Joyce and Charlie appear to have won their places at Leventree independently and on their own merits, despite hailing from different borstals. While the Mayhoods are too trusting for their own good, Hollis, the seasoned farmhand, soon gets the measure of the two youngsters, Joyce in particular. Hollis swiftly tapes her as crafty operator – smart enough to put on an act in front of her benefactors but quick to slacken off when left unsupervised.

To read the rest of my review, please visit:
https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2023...

[Jonathan Pool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read five Benjamin Wood novels, his total output in thirteen years from 2012. I would appear to be some fan-boy. I have got a feel for Wood’s writing style, and recognise certain authorial traits in him, but for the most part the novels he writes are refreshingly different from one another. All are set in England, and the time frames are contemporary, covering recent historical periods from 1952 to 2003.
This 2022 novel (written in the pandemic years) revolves around the unlikely combination of organic farming, coupled with the technicalities of the architect’s profession. The inspiration behind this frame is the real-life initiative and practice of the renowned, legendary American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Reading Benjamin Wood’s descriptions of both facets in this unusual mixture, you would think that his personal background informs at least one of these disciplines- but it would appear this is not the case. Wood, instead, is an extremely proficient researcher and highly skilled didactic. The book has an authentic feel which could run the risk of becoming a bit dry.

Fortunately, Wood is equally skilled in the portrayal of character, and this fourth novel of his also continues his incorporation of nefarious human activity and murderous intent.

It really very impressive and I’m surprised that Wood’s star has not shone more brightly hitherto in his unusual ability to combine a “literary” writing style with a storyline that throws up twists and turns beloved in the crime writing genre.

There are four main characters, husband and wife, Arthur and Florence Mayhood, and brother/sister Joyce and Charlie Savigear. Florence is a woman of many talents, and it’s slightly surprising that she winds up with worthy Arthur. Florence draws attention and plaudits in whatever she does. The Savigears are the main points of view around whom the reader has a sense of foreboding. Joyce is the complicated one, and if this world is hard on the gullible who are drawn into troubled lives by the unscrupulous, Joyce nonetheless exhibits agency whose outcome is never obvious to the reader.

As ever with Benjamin Wood, the finale doesn’t disappoint. The action turns transatlantic; and there’s a clever ambiguity about the outcomes for the key character. Reader decide.

[Ben Bergonzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel about architecture, ambition, crime and guilt. It takes place in the early 1950s, and is set mainly on the Surrey farm where Arthur and Florence Mayhood are attempting to set up both an architect’s practice and a self-sufficient commune. Their inspiration is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin in Wisconsin, but their community has only two members, brother and sister Joyce and Charlie Savigear, young offenders recently released. Through dramatic time jumps and a sure ear for dialogue, Wood builds up convincing levels of psychological depth in all the main characters. Arthur is saintly in his determination to see good in everyone, and to rise above a major disability. Florence is his loyal, pragmatic companion, prepared to act also as driver and mechanic. Charlie is determined to overcome all obstacles to make it as an architect, and such is his practicality and willingness to learn, that we suspect he will. His older sister Joyce, six foot tall and immensely strong, has however come to the commune with hidden motives.
The truth is revealed sparingly, until we suddenly find ourselves no longer reading a psychological thriller but an action thriller, reminiscent of old British films.
Wood writes with superb attention to detail and authenticity. My only question is why the Mayhoods are shown to have a diesel-powered ‘wagon’ at a time when all but the heaviest goods vehicles would have used petrol engines.
If the book has a more substantial fault, I felt its second part could have been a little longer. The brevity of the writing leads some confusion leading up to the denouement. Still, this really is a great read, so beautifully composed that at times I found it hard to believe it was not a forgotten classic by a master such as Graham Greene or Nigel Balchin.

[Dynisha Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that makes you think - the honesty of it, the simplicity but also the choices of the characters. The way that those choices build up slowly and steadily; the way even the characters themselves build up throughout the narrative and then they kind of just exist that way at the end. Large and honest and full of tension. There’s no relief in the narrative and that makes the storytelling even more poignant.

A book that’ll linger in the emotions of it all. What happens when your sibling is all you’ve got whether you want them or not? And sometimes you do but sometimes you don’t. When a man comes to lead you astray. When you’re growing up with and without positive direction. When you take a chance on someone and give them unconditional belief and regard.

Definitely would recommend!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about various ups and downs in the lives of Arthur and Flo and ex-Borstal siblings, Joyce and Charlie who they allow to live with them on their farm/architectural practice based on the ideals of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is quite exciting and fast paced and lots of good and bad things happen including murder, parenthood and success.. For the most part, quite believable too and Wood shows a good understanding of human nature and the circumstances that can shape it. As Arthur says, all you need is belief and opportunity.

[Mischa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tuto knihu dokážu popsat asi jen jedním slovem: zvláštní. Na jednu stranu nebyla úplně špatná, na tu druhou mi na ní prostě pořád něco vadilo, byla taková… neúplná, či jak to popsat. Celou dobu mi tam „cosi“ scházelo, a ten pocit mě neopustil ani po dočtení. Určitě byla vcelku originální, ale příliš mě nezaujala a nedivila bych se, pokud si za pár týdnů ani pořádně nevzpomenu na děj.

[Khara Burch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the 1950s, this book follows a couple who take on a pair of apprentice architects, who've come straight out of prison. The couple aspire to show these youngens the way of the land, how to work hard and a sense of pride, but it all starts to go wrong when the past catches up with them.

An enjoyable read, nice to read about something from a different timeline to my own.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so pleased to have discovered Benjamin Wood's work. The Young Accomplice is an unnerving, moving novel about the ties that bind- sometimes too tightly. Wood's writing is a delight and the ending made me shiver. Fantastic.

[Harriet Crossley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the heads up on the iPlayer adaptation. Thoroughly enjoyed this stylish gripping thriller!

[Matt Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

So-so. The final scene makes it all worthwhile, but it takes a long time getting there.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Well worth a read.

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very weak ending

[Murnatjo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Botboiler with added random architectural words. Rather insipid.

[Little BigGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, it had some good parts. But on the whole there was a lot of waffle and the pace just deflated and flat lined towards the end.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing style (quite 'traditional'), the plot, the setting in 1950s England and above all, the beautifully drawn characters, especially Charlie.

[Tom Otley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real pager-turner, but a little disjointed in places and almost but not quite believable.
I'd recommend it...