History: Literature / AConspiracyOfPaper

The year is 1716, and Benjamin Weaver is your average thief taker--helping the wealthy obtain what has been stolen from them. He is an outcast among London society--a Jew among Christians and despite the fact that he helps recover what his clients want, they have no qualms about mocking him to his face. When he learns that his father, a stock-jobber, has been murdered (possibly for knowing too much), Benjamin is thrown into the underworld of the English Stock Exchange, where everyone is an enemy and allies are few and everyone has their own reasons for keeping things quiet, and confront his past and culture.

!!Provides Examples of:
* BasedOnATrueStory: Benjamin is loosely inspired by British Jewish boxer David Mendoza, although he lived about a generation later and wasn't a private detective.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Benjamin's past isn't so much dark as it is troubled.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: Benjamin is always helping his clients, returning their stolen goods, but what does he get in return? Racist remarks and scorn!
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Ironically, Wild's lieutenant, Abraham Mendes (an actual historical figure), attends synagogue regularly and chides Benjamin for breaking with the Jewish community. In the sequel, it's also revealed that he [[PetTheDog loves animals]].
* GambitPileup: It gets to the point where it's easier to list who ''isn't'' manipulating the main character.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Jonathan Wild
* LoveInterest: Miriam. 
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Subverted. Jonathan Wild was the first English crime boss; the author toyed with his character a bit in the book.
* PoliticallyCorrectHistory: Acknowledged in the afterword toward Miriam. In real life, a woman in her social position/culture wouldn't have the opportunity to interact with society or for that matter a young man the way Miriam does. On the other hand, it pulls no punches in respect to anti-Semitism during the time period.
* PrivateDetective
* PsychoSidekick: Abraham Mendes fits the profile pretty well. He grew up friendly with Benjamin, and is now a gangster, whereas Benjamin becomes a detective. And according to type, in the sequel, Benjamin takes advantage of his psychotic personality.
* PurpleProse
* TheReveal: And man, what a reveal it is! [[spoiler:Sir Owen Nettleton was the ''true'' villain, going under Martin Rochester.]]
* TheRival: Wild to Benjamin.
* {{Ungrateful Bastard}}s: Benjamin's clients.
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