I both love and hate devouring a book in one day. I love it because it means it’s a book I was enjoying so much that I didn’t want to put it down (and that I had the time to do nothing but read all day). But I hate it because it means the book I was loving is now done, and in just one day. That happened with The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley. I was riveted from the first page and needed to keep reading. But when I was done? I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I wanted more!

Here’s the book’s description:

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 the rumours rise the prince was poisoned.

Andrew Logan’s heard the rumours, but he’s paid them little heed. As one of the King’s Messengers he has enough secrets to guard, including his own. In these perilous times, when the merest suggestion of witchcraft can see someone tortured and hanged, men like Andrew must hide well the fact they were born with the Sight.

He’ll need all his gifts, though, when the king sends Andrew north to find and arrest Sir David Murray, once Prince Henry’s trusted courtier, and bring him a prisoner to London to stand trial before the dreaded Star Chamber.

A story of treachery, betrayal and love…

While The King’s Messenger doesn’t seem to officially be a part of Kearsley’s Slain series, it does have some characters readers may remember from those books. That said, this reader could only kind of remember the Moray (spelled Murray in the book’s description) family. But, in my defense, it’s been almost three years since I read The Vanished Days. At some point I really want to reread all the books because I want to see how they fit together and what kind of overlap there is. And they’re all just so good!

The characters in this book burrowed their way into my heart - just as they burrowed into each others’. Reading as Andrew and Phoebe realized they had each other all wrong, from just about the very first moment they had met each other so long ago? And as they all interacted with young Hector? And as David and Andrew learned to respect each other in the most unlikely of circumstances? It was all SO good.

Kearsley has a magic touch when it comes to writing history and characters that leap off the page. She’s so knowledgeable and knows how to research (which she comes by honestly - she has a background in museums) but (and this is a very important but) she also knows what information to put on the page that actually adds to the story. Too many authors will try to put everything they learned into the story but that just makes the story worse. I never felt like I was being lectured or that I was reading a textbook.

Speaking of magic - the small touches of it in this book were perfectly added. Andrew’s Sight was a large part of his character but it didn’t take over the narrative. Lots of people compare Kearsley to Gabaldon, and while I don’t think the two women write the same way, they write the same feelings and ideas. So while time travel in Gabaldon’s books is there and important to the series, it’s not the most important part of the Outlander series. Same goes with Andrew’s Sight. It plays a large role in The King’s Messenger but the story is about so much more than that. And I really appreciated the balance.

The King’s Messenger was such a wonderful read. It had everything I love in historical fiction - fascinating history, great characters, a little love story, some intrigue - and it was all so well written. Every time I read a new Susanna Kearsley novel, I’m reminded that I absolutely must read her backlist. Her books are just so very good and there are many more for me to explore!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

A Kearsley historical novel is always a treat and much anticipated. Add The King’s Messenger to your TBR because I loved it. When I read the author’s note on her research and process, I loved it even more. Why, you may ask? Anon, my friend, anon. To the blurb for the premise and further details:

…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.

As I expected, the blurb doesn’t do Kearsley’s novel justice because it diminishes the developping relationships of this road romance, the characters’ backstories, and their shared lives in London’s St. Bartholomew’s Close. Kearsley’s author’s note says she tries to give shape and voice to history’s ordinary people and make them loveably “extraordinary”. In recent books, Kearsley has moved away from high drama and jinks to a quietly, deeply emotional resonance in her characterization and I am here for it.

The eponymous King’s Messenger, Andrew Logan, is a gentle giant, stalwart, moral, handsome!, thoughtful, and of wry, understated humour. Which makes for great banter with his antagonist, Phoebe Westaway, whose journey is both falling-in-love and coming-of-age (though only two years separate her from Andrew). Phoebe’s love for the smarmy, exploitative, and immoral Valentine Fox makes for a great contrast to Andrew’s ethic and care. As they travel together, she gets to know Andrew and puts away her immature dislike for him; she grows in discernment and understanding, so that, in the end, she can be with a worthy man who is worthy of her. Phoebe, however, is not flighty, vain, or shallow: the journey setting gives her an opportunity to truly get to know another person and she is fair, seeing Andrew’s value and finding the sly, oily Valentine wanting. Phoebe proves learned, droll, witty, loyal, and loving because Andrew too deserves no less.

In the meanwhile, I nod to Kearsley for taking a serious premise and the setting of a dangerously volatile royal court (where people like Phoebe, her father, and Logan are always in precarious positions) and infuse it with, gosh, fun, yes, fun. This is thanks to Andrew-Phoebe banter, but also tenderness, and brilliant details: like Andrew’s “banter” with his beloved horse, Brutus, and everyone’s care for their child-companion, the Andrew-hero-worshipping Hector Reid, endearing, funny, heroic! (no spoilers), adorable. (The adults’ care for the irrepressible Hector renders them even more heart-warming to read about.)

Hector and Brutus, Andrew and Phoebe and the banter the travellers share keep enough lightness to offset what is a heartbreaking story. Kearsley pulls this off with a multiple-POV-ed narrative structure and a variety of character “voices”, alternating first and third-person narration depending on fictive and non-fictive characterization, respectively. Though at first I was a trifle disoriented, as Kearsley “switched” from Andrew and Phoebe’s first-person narrated alternating chapters to third-person POV for the tragic Sir David Moray and sad Queen Anna (of Denmark), I soon appreciated the sense of narrative interweaving of imaginary and imagined characters.

Rather than spoil what are compelling narrative revelations (read it!), I’m going to talk about why I appreciated Kearsley’s novel even more when I read her author’s note about process. Kearsley is a meticulous researcher with a deep interest in, and respect for, history; moreover, she does what I call “fieldwork”, visiting and storing a feel for the place and people who inhabit her stories. Lastly, and most fascinating, Kearsley imagines the historical gaps, works in the what-ifs and could-it-have-beens, asks questions of the what-we-don’t-knows and brings her narrative to beautiful apt end, answering with the imagination what we cannot with historical document. Miss Austen and I nod to a fine, fine read and deem The King’s Messenger “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.

Susanna Kearsley’s The King’s Messenger is published by Simon and Schuster Canada and released on March 4th. I received an e-galley from Simon and Schuster Canada via Netgalley. The above is my honest, AI-free opinion.

When King James’s eldest heir, young Prince Henry dies suddenly the King is sure he knows who is to blame. The King requests one of his messengers, Andrew Logan to bring Sir David Moray, the Prince’s courtier and from Scotland to England to stand trial before the dreaded Star Chamber. Laurence Westaway is tasked as scribe to accompany the group on their journey. Laurence’s daughter, Phoebe demands to accompany her father due to his ill health.

The journey is long and arduous, with many miles to cross, many dangers for Logan to keep his entire group safe. Logan is a man who has been tasked to keep many secrets, including his own secret that he has the sight, as this was not a time in history, to be different, men and women had been burned at the stake for less. Logan is not so sure that Moray is guilty but that doesn’t change his task.

Pheobe is not a fan of Logan at first, they have a history of sorts. As Logan and his group get closer to England, Phoebe starts to see different side of Logan, she sees how honourable he is. The journey’s end was just the beginning for some and was a wonderful read.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters. This author has a way of bringing history to life. The narrator did a wonderful job with this book. I first read the book and then listened to the audio book. I enjoyed both but did find the many characters sometimes made the narration harder to determine who was who. I always look forward to this author and her books are ones that I always read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, the audio house, the narrator and the author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of this book in return for review, based upon my honest opinion.

Susanna Kearsley has been one of my favourite authors for many years. I’m always excited when I learn she has a new book coming out because each one is an emotional journey across history, and I know I’ll learn new things and fall in love with her characters. As expected, The King’s Messenger delivered on all those things and then some.

It’s hard to say much about this book without giving things away. The story was enthralling from beginnnig to end, with an element of mystery and danger woven throughout that made it compelling and hard to put down. The characters were captivating and I enjoyed seeing things from so many different perspectives. As a romance lover, I enjoyed the progression of Andrew and Phoebe’s relationship and how things unfolded. Kearsley has a knack for writing swoony, brave, intelligent, heroic men and Andrew was no different. Also, does anyone else hope we might get a story about Hector set 10-20 years down the line?

Kearsley is a highly favoured writer in my library system, and patrons always look forward to her new books. For historical fiction readers who enjoy this time period and a bit of Scottish flavour, there is much to enjoy in the details and Kearsley's excellent research into the time. She chooses very interesting characters from history to incorporate, and I particularly liked her inclusion of Esther Inglis, a remarkably skilled artisan. It's also a terrifically interesting switch to give the more mystical powers of vision to the male lead, rather than the female (psychic tuition being, by and large, uncreatively limited to women in fiction).

Unlike several other Kearsley books that flip between time periods, this book remains stolidly in its own present with its own story to tell. While there is court intrigue, I never felt it had the same atmosphere of suspense that imbues many of her other works. The relationship between the characters is a gentle one with a gradual change in understanding one another that becomes stronger all the time and not terribly fraught. While not a new favourite for me, it remains a good reading suggestion for people who enjoy solid historical fiction with a very light touch of the supernatural.

I was excited to read another Susanna Kearsley novel. She's a 🇨🇦 author and I've enjoyed some of her past books. I loved the sound of this, "royal intrigue" story.

The Stuarts are on the throne in 1613. King James's son, Prince Henry has died. Some think he was poisoned. The King summons his, "Messenger," Andrew Logan to go to Scotland and bring back, Sir David Moray for questioning on the death. On Andrew's journey, is also Laurence Westaway who has been appointed, "Scribe." Laurence's daughter, Phoebe comes along as her father is in ill health and she wants to help him. Along the journey Phoebe and Andrew mostly clash and to be honest I did not really like Phoebe all that much. The story is told in many POV and goes back and forth in time. Especially the Queen Anna chapters.

I initially found it hard to keep in check with the past and present storylines. The old Scottish dialogue was confusing at first until I got used to it. I also didn't really warm to the romance of Andrew and Phoebe. I enjoyed the chapters with Queen Anna the most I think. There's mystery, romance and a wee bit of magical realism in the story. Kearsley's writing is still in top form and her research is amazing. My favourite part was the Author's Note at the end. It explained a lot for me. I know many others loved this one but for me it's not her best work. My favourite is still, "Mariana."

Published March 4, 2025

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for granting me access to this Advanced Reader's Copy.

A moving historical fiction love story set in early 17th century Britain, this was a well-written, funny, road trip romance with intrigue and memorable characters. There also a supernatural/paranormal element (the MMC has the gift of second sight) and it was good on audio narrated by Beth Eyre and Angus King. Fans of the author's past novels might recognize some familiar family connections but this is definitely okay to read as a standalone and while it wasn't my favorite by Kearsley it was still really enjoyable and recommended for fans of authors like Philippa Gregory. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon& Schuster Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.


England, 1613, Prince Henry, son of King James and Queen Anna, has died, and many in the court whisper that the young prince was poisoned. Andrew Logan, as the King's Messenger, is granted the task of bringing Sir David Moray from Scotland to England to answer the demands of the King. After all, Sir David was the closest confidant of the Crown Prince and must know what happened to his charge. Accompanying Andrew are Phoebe and her father, a man who is also in service to the King. Through the adventure, all learn something about themselves and what they want in their lives. We are also treated to flashbacks that show the many years that David Moray and the Prince Henry knew one another.


Usually when I begin a Susanna Kearsley historical fiction, I dive right in and don't come up for air until it is finished. This one took a few starts and stops before I could find myself interested enough to sit down and read. Perhaps it was because I am less familiar with the reign of King James or there were too many characters sharing the narrative. I found myself very taken with Queen Anna and those chapters remain a highlight of my reading experience.

I found the author's note was quite informative and I would encourage future readers to maybe read about Susanna Kearsley's research before reading. It is fascinating how the author weaves historical and fictional characters together side by side.


Publication Date 04/04/25
Goodreads Review 04/04/25

Susanna Kearsley's newest does what her books often do for me. It both informed me on a historical time period I know little about (and made me want to know more) and reminded me how powerful small moments can be amidst that very large background. I think, in many way, that is her gift as a writer.

Phoebe is doing her best, in the early 17th century, to keep things together. She keeps house for her father, who is in the service of the King, and has built a place for herself in a small community of court staff after the death of her mother. She has a crush on a local gallant, which means that she might not have the clearest lens on what's going on around her. She and her father are tasked to accompany a King's Messenger and neighbour, Andrew Logan, to retrieve Sir David Moray, so that he can be questioned about the death of his dear friend, Crown Prince Henry. Was Henry poisoned? If so, who by? All kinds of intrigue is swirling around. Phoebe's journey turns out to not only be physical as a shift in lens helps her have a better understanding of who she is and what she wants.

Kearsley has a remarkable gift for combining real people (like Sir David Moray and the royals) from history with her fictional characters and making them all into people the reader can relate to. I want to know more about Queen Anne after reading this and the norms around royal child-rearing. Anne drove the court to distraction with her insistence on wanting involvement in her children's lives.

Phoebe, and her gradual understanding of herself, and where she fits in the world is beautifully conveyed here. Andrew Logan, who has his own issues of identity to grapple with, is also a character who will remain with you. There are faces from Kearsley's other books that appear here - Patrick Graeme shows up, as he nearly always does and, as always, there is a nod to the characters from Mariana.

If you enjoy spending immersive time in a historical period with characters who feel real, this is for you. 4.5 stars from me.

I love historical fiction if set in Scotland, it’s pretty much a guarantee that I’m going to love it, no matter the time period.  While it has been a number of years since my Scottish history deep dive, I’m always interested in tales that bring to life the history I’ve read about.

Set in 1613 Scotland and England several months after the death of Prince Henry, “The King’s Messenger is told in a single timeline with  flashbacks to Moray’s time with the Prince.  A fully immersive story as we try to solve the mystery of Prince Henry’s death, question the morality of the task Logan and his scribe are assigned, even as the motley crew of characters are being hunted through treacherous terrain and areas where loyalty to the crown is not always guaranteed.  I was completely immersed in the story becoming invested in the lives of  Logan, Phoebe, Laurence, David, and Hector.   While I did find Phoebe innocent and naive at the start of the novel, this created some tension which allowed for character growth that endeared her to me. 

This is the first book I’ve read that examines the role of the King’s Messenger in and I have to say I loved learning more about the job and would certainly read more tales of the fascinating lives that messengers lived.  I also have a lot to say about the machinations of life at court and the royals, however those will have to wait as to discuss them would involve spoilers.  I really enjoyed Kearsley’s notes at the end that gave additional history, separated truth from fiction, and provided readers with some philosophical thoughts to ponder.

Impeccably researched historical fiction with a splash of second sight, a dash of romance, and a cup of political intrigue, Susanna Kearsley’s “The King’s Messenger” will make you want to know more about the time period, the character’s lives beyond this story, and wondering why you didn’t pick this book up sooner.  While this is my first Susanna Kearsley novel, it certainly won’t be my last!

The King's Messenger is set in 1613 with the head of the monarchy as King James, who has united Scotland and England under one crown. Political intrigue and confusion abound as his eldest son has died, and James suspects that he has been poisoned. Andrew Logan, the King's Messenger is sent to arrest Sir David Murray, one of Prince Henry's courtiers and most trust friends. Murray is suspected of poisoning the Prince, but the court is unaware that Logan was born with the Sight and knows exactly what has happened to Prince Henry.

I really enjoyed this historical read! I'm someone who tends to read about the time period just before this, having a deep interest in the time of the Tudor's and the Plantagenets, but I really enjoyed reading about the time period just after Queen Elizabeth's reign. I also loved that this is not a book specifically about the court or the King, but more about the people just outside the court. While it involves the Prince, King and courtiers it is really about Logan, and what he see's, thinks and feels. One of the challenges is that it is a multiple POV story, which takes a minute to realize who is narrating each chapter, but once the distinct voices becomes clear, the story is insatiable and easy to read.

A definite recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction!

3.5 stars

It has been a while since I ventured into historical fiction from the 1600's. I was glad to be reacquainted with that era by Susanna Kearsley‘s new book The King’s Messenger.

It is evident that the author knows the time period, I knew this from past experience. With an authentic story that takes place during the time of King James 1 of England/James IV of Scotland, who inherited the English throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He is the son of Mary Queen of Scots. Here we are a decade later when James‘s son Henry has died under mysterious circumstances. Andrew Logan, a King‘s Messenger is tasked with travelling to find and arrest David Murray, a person of interest in his death. We get a clear picture of what a Messenger's job entails.

Told through a number of different points of view, first and foremost was Andrew Logan who takes his job very seriously and is very good at it. He also has a second sight and can sometimes see things others can’t, which added a nice twist to the story. There is also a scribe and his daughter, along with a wee lad Hector, who was an endearing fella.

The King’s Messenger is a slow paced story that was atmospheric with attention to historical facts. There was a touch of romance, adventure and some magical realism.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA for a print arc in exchange for a honest review

This is an atmospheric, quieter read with a sweet love story, some political intrigue and adventure.

The Gist: 1613: when King James' son Prince Henry suddenly dies, rumours abound about the cause of his death. The king sends Andrew Logan, his trusted messenger, to ride into Scotland and apprehend Sir David Morgan, the close companion to the prince, and bring him back for trial. Logan is assigned an aging scribe to accompany him, but due to his health problems, the scribe's daughter Phoebe, who is not a fan of Logan, tags along.

My Take: Well-researched and with great use of various POVs, the story and atmosphere are easy for readers to envision - the dangers, the subterfuge, and the gorgeous Scottish setting. This wasn't the high adventure read I was expecting but it does have a couple of tense scenes. It's more of a milder, straightforward story that benefits from a sprinkling of magical realism, a tender romance and I particularly enjoyed the bits of well-placed humour and the addition of wee Hector.

The only harrumphy feelings I had was the miscommunication trope which went on a bit long and the fact that Phoebe initially is a prickly character (stubborn and judgy), but readers will warm to her as the journey progresses and she lets go of old feelings.

The King's Messenger had more of a slower paced, historical romance feel to it and less court intrigue and adventure than I expected, but Historical Fiction fans will enjoy Kearsley's ability to surround her reader in the era and atmosphere while sprinkling well-researched historical facts.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy of this book which was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

My review was posted on my blog, Indigo.ca and my socials on Feb 17, 2025.

The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley. Simon & Schuster, 2025.

This story takes place during the spring of 1613. King James VI of Scotland and I of England and Queen Anna reign. Their son’s early death is a catalyst for the story, which unfolds as a prisoner, an ailing scribe, a child, a young woman and a messenger make a seven-week horseback trek from Edinburgh to London together, under pursuit.

Main characters Phoebe and Andrew each tell the story from their own point of view, while an omniscient narrator speaks for Anna and David. Each of these four has at least one love story. Memories of earlier events and second-sight visions of the future are important, as are ghostly manifestations, and descriptions of relationships within and between the five families.

All of this may sound complex, but it is not; the tale is so beautifully and simply written, readers will feel as though they are along for the experience, coming to know and what to expect from each fellow traveler when the characters themselves do. And as each chapter is ordered by time and named for its narrator, it is easy to keep track.

I first met members of the Moray and Graeme families in The Winter Sea (Sophia’s Secret), then Firebird, then The Vanished Days and was pleased find them here, consistent in their characteristics, sharing with the prisoner and the messenger honour, integrity among their other strengths to guide their actions. No checks and balances appear to guide the irredeemable King James or those that flock around him. Some others are shades of grey in that they go along with the King’s corruption, at least to a point.

It is my view that Susanna Kearsley is and has been the leading writer of historical fiction; her work has set the standard for timeslip novels for 30 years.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The King’s Messenger free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheKingsMessenger #NetGalley

I had the privilege of reading Susanna Kearsley’s upcoming novel, The King’s Messenger, and WOW—her writing style once again swept me into a world I didn’t want to leave.

Set in 1613, during the reign of King James VI of Scotland and I of England, the story is a masterful blend of historical intrigue, loyalty, and the struggles of doing what’s right despite the consequences. The relationships between the characters are deep and beautifully written. Kearsley has an incredible talent for creating true gentlemen and women who are caught in the complexity of what they truly desire, and what they believe they should desire.

I was especially drawn to the subtle yet compelling revenge aspect of the story—though it’s not the primary focus, it adds an edge to the plot that kept me turning pages.

If you’re a fan of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon or historical fiction by Philippa Gregory, this one is definitely for you!

The King’s Messenger releases in March—don’t miss out on this fantastic new release from @simonschuster.ca who provide me with an advanced copy of the book.!