The King's Messenger - Book Review

Title: The King’s Messenger

Author: Susanna Kearsley

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Genre: Historical Fiction

It was another book club weekend for @bookfriendsbookclub and we had the privilege to once again meet with Susanna Kearsley.  She writes such richly historical, deeply researched, romantic stories!  The King’s Messenger was no different.  

Our first question we always to ask our authors is, where the idea for the book came from.  So, where did the idea percolate for The King’s Messenger?  Every bookworm is going to love this answer!  It was one of those cozy used bookstores beckoning you downstairs where more books are, and finding one in particular—The History of King’s Messengers by V. Wheeler-Holohan—published in 1935.  Next came research of King’s Messengers, Pell Records, Scrivners, Second Sight, traveling and so many more rabbit holes. It’s clear Susanna enjoys the research that she does just as much as the writing!

With a multi POV story, I was so glad to have access to this via audio.  Thank you @recordedbooks via @netgalley for the #gifted audiobook which is narrated by Angus King and Beth Eyre to perfection!

Part adventure. Part romance. Rich history. Impossible choices. Duty and court alliances. 

What stuck out most to me in this story is the good vs. evil element.  One’s duty and a treacherous king.

1613—King James, sixth of Scotland, first of England, son of Mary, Queen of Scots—has unified both countries under the crown.  But, when his eldest son, Henry, dies it sends a nation in mourning and rumors of a poisoning.

Andrew Logan, The King’s Messenger, is tasked with with arrest of Sir David Moray, who is accused of the poisoning.  He must find him and bring him from Edinburgh.  Coming with him on the journey is to record all the events in an official scrivener, Laurence, and his daughter Phoebe to help her aging father.

Phoebe and Andrew are enemies, but with  a journey this long they start to soften for each other.  Along the way, they also pick up a stable boy, Hector, who helps them with their horses, errands and keeping an eye on things.  I adored Hector!

Susanna Kearsley just doesn’t miss and I highly recommend this story!