The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley - #bookreview #blogtour

 The stars were hidden at my birth. There was no moon. A tempest rising in the west sent clouds that settled like a veil of black across the night sky, and my father feared this total darkness was a sign of trouble...

***

1613: Scotland and England, unified under one crown, are reeling from the sudden death of King James' popular eldest son, Henry, as rumours swirl that the prince was poisoned.

Andrew Logan, one of the King's Messengers, is sent north with secret orders to find and arrest the man the king suspects.

Phoebe Westaway cannot abide Andrew Logan. But when her ageing father is tasked with helping Logan, Phoebe finds herself with no choice but to join them in their quest to capture Sir David Moray, once Prince Henry's trusted courtier, and carry him to London to stand trial for the prince's murder.

It's a journey rife with complications. Sir David has no intention of allowing himself to be delivered to London, and as he draws them deeper into the dark web of court alliances and rivalries, Phoebe realises she might have more need of Logan than she believes.

A story of justice, honour, truth and love - and survival against impossible odds…

***

I like Susanna Kearsley's books, and I have read a few in the past; Mariana, Sophia's Secret, The Firebird and A Desperate Fortune. I have enjoyed all of them and thus, had high expectations of The King's Messenger.

I am delighted to say that this book completely lived up to those expectations. It is well written and had everything that you would expect to find in a historical fiction novel. There were a handful of characters based on actual historical figures mixed in with some fictional ones, and these came together to create an excellent work of historical fiction that I really enjoyed reading.

The chapters were written from the points of view of four of the characters: Phoebe Westaway, Andrew Logan, Sir David Moray and Queen Anna, the wife of James I of England/VI of Scotland. I really enjoyed reading this story from the perspectives of each of them, especially Phoebe and Andrew. Watching their relationship develop made for fascinating reading.

As you would expect from Ms. Kearsley, her research is meticulous and this really shows. It enabled me to really wallow in the 17th century. It is a period that fascinates me, and I enjoyed reading about Andrew's second sight. This period was around the time of the infamous witch trials, and I rather admire the author for not taking that road through the story, although I'm sure it would have been equally fascinating.

Instead, she focussed her story on the politics of the day, especially those surrounding the death of Prince Henry. Andrew, who is the titular King's Messenger, is tasked with escorting Sir David Moray back to London from Scotland in order that he faces trial as he is suspected of having a hand in the death of the young Prince Henry.

Watching the development of the dynamic and relationships between the characters on this journey was riveting. I enjoyed reading about the way they interacted with one another, and how with time and observation they were able to change their preconceived opinions. 

I was already a reader willing to pick up any book that has Ms. Kearley's name attached to it, and this book has reinforced that opinion. She is a great writer and story teller and I heartily recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction.

ISBN: 978 1398514362

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages:  384 (hardback)

About the Author:

Susanna Kearsley is a former museum curator who loves restoring the lost voices of real people to the page, often in twin-stranded stories that interweave present and past. Her award-winning novels are published in translation in more than twenty five countries. She lives near Toronto.

(ARC and all media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)