A lush, enthralling new novel from New York Times bestselling author Susanna Kearsley, set during the reign of James I, in which emissary Andrew Logan must complete a vital mission on behalf of the king—a mission that will threaten not only his own life, but everything he holds dear.

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.

As a former museum curator, Susanna Kearsley brings her own passion for research and travel to her novels, weaving modern-day and historical intrigue. She won the prestigious Catherine Cookson Fiction Award for her novel Mariana, the 2010 Romantic Times Book Review’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction novel for The Winter Sea, was shortlisted for a 2012 RITA Award for The Rose Garden, and was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel from the Canadian Crime Writer’s Association for Every Secret Thing. She lives outside Toronto, Canada.

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“I’ve loved every one of Susanna’s books! She has bedrock research and a butterfly’s delicate touch with characters—a sure recipe for historical fiction that pulls you in and won’t let go!”
— DIANA GABALDON, New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series

“A lavish seventeenth-century adventure with a riveting blend of impeccably researched history, court intrigue, and slow-burn romance—with a supernatural twist reminiscent of the late, great Judith Merkle Riley.”
— SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series

“Susanna Kearsley has long been one of my favorite authors and her new novel—The King’s Messenger—is a perfect example of why. Rich in historical detail and compelling narrative, it is the story of Andrew Logan and Pheobe Westaway, unwilling travel companions caught up in the treacherous court of King James and his pursuit of an innocent man. Romantic, intricate, and mysterious, it is my favorite kind of story.”
— ARIEL LAWHON, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and The Frozen River

“Susanna Kearsley never fails to bring history to life. The King's Messenger is a captivating and layered tale of romance, peril, and court intrigue. . . this will fit nicely on the shelf between Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory. And Kearsley's author note is the icing on the cake!”
— SARAH PENNER, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary