The King's Messenger
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4.3 • 48 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
"A tempest of treachery and romance." —Entertainment Weekly
"I've loved every one of Susanna's books! She has bedrock research and a butterfly's delicate touch with characters—sure recipe for historical fiction that sucks you in and won't let go!"—Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander
New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Susanna Kearsley explores romance, court alliances, and the limits of one's duty in this rich story of an honorable man in service to a treacherous king, and the mission that brings him to love and his true calling.
It is the year 1613, and King James is sending his messenger Andrew Logan into Scotland with secret orders to arrest Sir David Moray, close friend and advisor of the late Prince Henry. Secrets are second nature to Andrew, who must hide his Second Sight to stay alive. Joined by a court scrivener and the scrivener's spirited daughter Phoebe, Andrew slowly untangles the true purpose of his mission—to frame Sir David for Prince Henry's murder. But Andrew is unwilling to betray an innocent man.
Phoebe Westaway dislikes Andrew, and their history makes it hard for her to trust him. But as their journey draws them deeper into the dark web of court intrigue, Phoebe begins to suspect that she might have more need of the King's Messenger and his unusual gifts than she could ever have foreseen.
More praise for Susanna Kearsley:
"I loved the story. Couldn't put it down. It was thoroughly researched and told with brilliantly compelling authenticity." —Barbara Erskine for The King's Messenger
"Susanna Kearsley just keeps getting better and better!" —Lauren Willig
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kearsley (Vanished Days) draws on the mysterious 1618 death of Henry, Prince of Wales, in this noteworthy historical. Andrew Logan, a messenger for King James I, is tasked with investigating the prince's untimely death after rumors swirl that he was poisoned. The first order of business is tracking down Sir David Moray, who served as Henry's Gentleman of the Robes and who had aroused suspicion by traveling to France soon after Henry's death. Logan travels to Moray's native Scotland, accompanied by scrivener Laurence Westaway, to arrest Moray there. Because Westaway is in poor health, his daughter Phoebe joins the party to tend to her father. After Logan locates Moray, he comes to doubt Moray's guilt and leads the group back to London in hopes of finding the truth. A detailed afterword lays out the historical record and where Kearsley has taken creative license, and her reveal of how Henry died is both surprising and logical. Kearsley's deep character work includes flashbacks depicting Moray's close relationship with Henry and an unexpected but convincing bond between Logan and Phoebe. Fans of C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake series will appreciate this.
Customer Reviews
The King’s Messenger
As a lover of historical novels, especially history of the British Isles, I applaud Ms. Kearsley’s in-depth research and her ability to weave a compelling story with all her characters. It was hard to put down! Looking forward to reading more of her books.