The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley
Canadian | CBC Books | | Posted: February 13, 2025 1:17 PM | Last Updated: February 13
A servant of the king embarks on a thrilling mission while also hiding his own secrets
The crown prince is dead, and the court is in turmoil. Only a man of extraordinary gifts can uncover the truth.
1613: King James — sixth of Scotland; first of England; son of Mary, Queen of Scots — has unified both countries under one crown. But the death of his eldest son, Henry, has plunged the nation into mourning, as rumours swirl that the prince was poisoned.
Andrew Logan has heard the rumours, but he's paid them little heed. As one of the King's Messengers, he has plenty of secrets to guard, including his own. In these perilous times, when the merest suggestion of witchcraft can lead to torture and hanging, men like Andrew must hide well the fact they were born with the Sight — a gift that allows him to see things others cannot.
And he'll need all his gifts as he embarks on the perilous trip to capture Sir David Moray — once the prince's trusted advisor, and now the main suspect in his death — and transport him from Scotland back to England. Andrew must travel with not only his prisoner, but an elderly scribe, sent to keep a written record of the journey, and the scribe's fiery daughter, Phoebe. With treachery lurking at every turn, Andrew won't just need to guard his prisoner, but his extraordinary gift, and his heart as well.
Both sweeping and intricate, The King's Messenger is a spellbinding tale of secrets, love, and honour by a writer at the height of her power.
1613: King James — sixth of Scotland; first of England; son of Mary, Queen of Scots — has unified both countries under one crown. But the death of his eldest son, Henry, has plunged the nation into mourning, as rumours swirl that the prince was poisoned.
Andrew Logan has heard the rumours, but he's paid them little heed. As one of the King's Messengers, he has plenty of secrets to guard, including his own. In these perilous times, when the merest suggestion of witchcraft can lead to torture and hanging, men like Andrew must hide well the fact they were born with the Sight — a gift that allows him to see things others cannot.
And he'll need all his gifts as he embarks on the perilous trip to capture Sir David Moray — once the prince's trusted advisor, and now the main suspect in his death — and transport him from Scotland back to England. Andrew must travel with not only his prisoner, but an elderly scribe, sent to keep a written record of the journey, and the scribe's fiery daughter, Phoebe. With treachery lurking at every turn, Andrew won't just need to guard his prisoner, but his extraordinary gift, and his heart as well.
Both sweeping and intricate, The King's Messenger is a spellbinding tale of secrets, love, and honour by a writer at the height of her power.
(From Simon & Schuster)
The King's Messenger is available in March 2025.
Susanna Kearsley is a Ontario novelist of historical fiction and mystery, as well as bestselling thrillers under the pen name Emma Cole. Her previous works include Bellewether, Deadly Hours, The Vanished Days and The Firebird.