If you want a fabulous historical read that combines mystery, romance, and a well-researched time period, The King’s Messenger is perfect for you.

England/Scotland 1613: Prince Henry is dead, allegedly from an illness that had been plaguing him for months, but Queen Anne has suspicions as to whether that is genuinely what killed her bright, beautiful, vivacious, and popular child. It is an open secret that many at court were jealous of the place the young man held in the people’s hearts, not least among them his own father, King James I. When the whispers spread from the castle to the streets, the King is forced to act to quell the suspicions gripping the populace. To that end, he sends messenger Andrew Logan to Scotland with secret orders to remand Sir David Moray, close friend and advisor of the late Prince Henry. Andrew is uncomfortable with his orders, and a conversation with Sir William Moray, Sir David’s brother and a high-ranking member of Anne’s court, makes him even more so. There is little doubt that the King plans to make a scapegoat of Sir David in a quest to quiet the rumors racing through the nation and bring a rapid end to any mistrust that might be thrown on His Majesty’s own coterie.

Andrew knows he has been tasked with this mission because of the many secrets he himself has to keep. Having the Second Sight has made him exceptional at his job, able to survive traps that would have killed lesser men. In James’ religious court, it could also get him hanged for witchcraft, so he must maintain a façade of excellence that hides what makes him so. There is another weakness, one that he has worked hard to conceal, which makes him ideal for this particular assignment. Andrew, contemplating why he was chosen, experiences some discomfort at the idea that this particular deficiency might already be known.

Adding to the many concerns surrounding the journey is the fact that Laurence Westaway, a court scrivener, is to join him. The man is a friend, someone whose company Andrew sincerely enjoys, but the Sight has shown Andrew that the man’s age and illness are catching up with him and he fears that the trip will be far too difficult for someone so weak to survive. Phoebe, Westaway’s daughter, has similar concerns so she demands to come along to take care of her father. Andrew is not too thrilled about that because from the moment he and Phoebe met, they’ve been at odds. Having her along to snipe at him will make for an acrimonious trip.

Phoebe doesn’t trust Andrew. There is too much about him that is shrouded in mystery, and he doesn’t seem to have much regard for the heirarchy that runs the court and the lives of the people who work there. She knows she is on this voyage only to care for her father, but will she be able to get along with Andrew Logan well enough to do her job and let him do his?

For those who dislike paranormal elements in their novels, let me assure you that Andrew’s gift plays a relatively minor role in the story. It is of (small) use for their travels but provides no answers to the mystery surrounding Henry’s death.

Ms. Kearsley’s writing is – as always – beautiful, evocative, and lyrical. Her prose calls forth a perfect sense of a chilling, atmospheric world in which we are never sure of our footing and lends the perfect air of menace to the main focus of the tale. Fans of her novels often rave about the meticulously detailed and immersive history and that, too, is in full evidence here.

However, some things are different this go-round. Ms. Kearsley previously wrote dual timeline novels with a modern-era hero/heroine and a historical couple embroiled in politics, but that is not the case here. This book is an historical, focused on the events of the characters’ present (mainly their journey to bring Sir David to the King), and the only forays into the past are through their memories. It works because the author focuses on their growth as a team and the mystery surrounding Henry’s death, giving us a thorough understanding of who the players are as people as well as a rich understanding of the components and personalities surrounding Henry’s case. Ms. Kearsley does a terrific job of showing us the dangers of working for royalty, how lives were impacted by the many fights for power at court, and how easily the truth is distorted when those who wield control wish it to be.

I liked Phoebe and Andrew a lot. Phoebe is a bit acerbic at the start of the trip, having mistakenly believed slanderous information about Andrew given her by a cruel-hearted neighbor, but she is wise enough to change her mind as the expedition progresses and she sees a man wholly different to the one she had been led to expect. She behaves appropriately for the era while still being independent, mature, temperate, and wise. The latter is especially important given her proximity to the court.

Andrew is a stellar hero. Strong, brave, honest, smart, skilled – really, my list could extend into eternity. He’s absolutely lovely, and he is so gentle and patient with Phoebe, it is amazing. He loves her before she loves him, and his kindness and respect for her own feelings as he waits for her to be his is wonderful to behold. Their HEA is made all the sweeter by watching them work a bit to get there.

Sir David is also a terrific character. He is very similar to Andrew, but the strength of his family connections makes him bolder. He is also a bit more savvy and skeptical regarding politics, but he has a core sense of honor that keeps him from becoming bitter about it. I loved glimpsing the young Prince Henry through his wise and caring eyes.

I have a few (very) minor quibbles with the tale. One is my bafflement at Phoebe’s inclusion on the trip. From a story standpoint, it makes perfect sense since she and Andrew fall in love along their arduous ride. From a practical perspective, it would only have made sense to include her if she shared the same gift that made her father ideal for his position. My second is that Andrew’s rival for Phoebe’s hand seems unlikely. I got no sense of why he would have genuinely wanted to marry her.

That said, The King’s Messenger is both a fantastic, detailed look at a bygone era and a wonderful mystery. I strongly recommend it.