This series is set in the 14th Century, during the reign of King Edward III of England. In this particular tome, the newly burgeoning wool trade with Flanders and the trade in saffron is at the heart of the mystery that King's Messenger, Simon Merrivale must solve.

Wool became the backbone and driving force of the Medieval English economy between the late thirteenth century and late fifteenth century and at the time the trade was described as “the jewel in the realm”! And as such, it was heavily taxed and regulated by the English Crown. You can read more here: Britain Express - Edward III and the Development of Trade. Saffron, as today, is a very expensive spice that was produced under certain conditions. It is still processed manually, the dried stigma of the saffron crocus flower is incredibly delicate, making it difficult to harvest, especially in great quantities, hence its high price. Like the wool and saffron trade, the medieval Italian Banking families are also comprehensively dealt with as well, especially England's links to the Bardi and Peruzzi - as they too play a role in this tale.

I will preface my review by saying that this is the first in a new series. However, upon reading it, I felt that much had happened (backstory-wise) that was not - again, my own thoughts - adequately covered off. It read like I had just jumped into the middle of a series - maybe a short prequel might be in order to set things right - or will this be explored more as the series progresses, I wonder.

The author, whilst providing much information on the key subjects that form part of the narrative, I think, assumes you have some idea of what was happening at this particular time in history. And a general read of the times would be an advantage, though the author does provide a list of characters at the beginning.

Having said that, there is much to admire in this book: a good mystery; themes of murder, corruption, medieval politicking, scandal; and the promise of a series.

I am looking forward to the next installment.

Three and a half stars - rounded up to four for tackling an intricate plot.

An excellent mix of historical fiction and mystery: well plotted and tightly knitted.
The historical background is well researched and vivid, the characters well rounded, and the plot is solid.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this book. It’s in a number of distinct sections that are joined together by a clever and well told story. I hope there will be more in the series as the main character was likeable and complex but it feels like we’ve got a lot more to learn about him. The story is set in a time not many writers seem to write about which added to the enjoyment. Very good writing and a well told story means I couldn’t put the book down so hope there will be more to come.

This had a great historical mystery element to it, I was hooked from the first page and got through the twisted path of this mystery. It worked well with the medieval elements and the characters felt like they belonged in this universe. I’m excited to read more from A J MacKenzie.

A very complex plot embedding closely political times and historical events! Absorbing, fascinating as to the extent of informative details (wool smuggling, saffron culture, France, Flanders), this spy novel has really captivated my attention! Much action, many betrayals, distrust lead to a storyline that might appear sometimes confusing, well illustrating how Simon must have felt during this couple of years striving to find out what happened! Superb characterisations giving a vivid portrait of all around Simon. Highly recommended for readers who are keen on mystery with an astounding historical background.
I received a digital copy of this novel as an ARC from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.