A Knight and a Spy 1411

Medieval #2

by Simon Fairfax

In the midst of the Hundred Years War, with Henry IV threatened by revolts in the north and the precious English wool trade imperiled by pirates in the English Channel, Sir Jamie de Grispere, newly appointed Royal Household Knight, is secretly tasked by Royal Spymaster Sir Richard Whittington to infiltrate and inform on the rebels.

Jamie soon uncovers a plot to seize the crown for the young Prince Henry. With the court a swirl of rumours and treachery, Jamie must decide who to follow: the king to whom he has pledged his allegiance, or the strong prince who knighted him. The wrong choice will cost him his life.

A Knight and a Spy 1411, is the second in the new medieval series by Simon Fairfax.

440 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2021

About the author

Simon Fairfax writes in three different genres: International financial thrillers, medieval fiction and Classic Westerns.
He is a former Chartered Surveyor, Editor of an online polo magazine (having played for a number of years) and practiced martial arts, fencing and shooting. He now restore old classic sports cars for fun.

As a lover of crime thrillers and espionage, Simon turned what is seen by others as a dull 9 – 5 job into something that is exciting, as close to real life as possible, with Rupert Brett, his unwilling hero.

The medieval series now has 6 books released in a 6 book series. The first A Knight and a Spy 1410 set in a tumultuous time at the English court. It tells the story of Jamie de Grispere squire in training and his two companions as they fight the French to save Calais, Welsh treason and Scottish revolts. The final book in the series, A Knight and a Spy 1415 is now available.
Details of all his books can be found at www.simonfairfax.com or email him at simonfairfaxauthor@gmail.com

Reviews

[Deb Balster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the authors proof copy, I can happily say that it does not disappoint and readers of the previous adventures of Sir James de Grispere in 1410 will revel in the adventures that he finds himself in alongside his faithful friends, Christoforo and Mark, and his faithful hound and horses.
I lived it and loved it.

[Shane Findlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this novel is written, it has a surfeit of politics/machinations which take rather than add to the interesting series. 3.5⭐️

[pamela stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good and entertaining read.

I like the characters and the way the plot unfolds. I also like the critters in the story. I hope the next in the series is a bit longer.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed 1411 just as much as the previous book.
The characters continue to develop and I’m more invested than ever in the intrigues. The character of Richard Whittington is fascinating. I passed the sculpture of Dick Whittington’s cat inside its cage every morning on Highgate Hill as I walked to primary school and finding Richard Whittington as a significant figure in these books has whetted my appetite to learn more about this historical figure.

I’ll be ordering 1412, of course.

[Studebhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Unlikely Duo
This series continues with this wonderful account of historical fiction. The story focuses on this unlikely duo of a Knight and a spy. Adding one additional figure in the guise of a wrestler adds color and depth to this tale.
This installment is full of palace intrigue between an aged, infirm King and his opportunistic son. The palace intrigue comes with a heavy dose of the medieval history of the period. At times this story can feel weighed down by the sheer weight that the author delivers with this excellent adventure tale. This series delivers action and historical detail in abundance. The reader can only hope for more.

[Michael G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series gets better.

I praised the first book of this series, and recommended it to people who might have enjoyed Cornwell’s Azincourt. This second book is every bit as good and I shall now buy the third.

[Andrew Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

1411 follows its predecessor 1410 in taking us on a one-year journey through the eyes of its three protagonists, Jamie de Grispere, Cristoforo, and Mark of Cornwall. Even the four-legged characters return: the flaming chestnut stallion “Richard” and the wolfhound “Forest”.

Jamie, Cristo, and Mark are under the fiat of King Henry IV’s spymaster, Sir Richard Whittington. There’s turmoil in the land being fomented by rebels to the North who claim favoritism to Prince Henry (the future Henry V), as well as on the seas by disaffected nobles acting as pirates harrowing the English Channel. Plus, the Burgundians and Armagnacs in France are battling for supremacy in France, for which King Henry and his son find themselves on different sides. It’s a complex game of political chess that Sir Richard must sort out, and to this end he calls on his trusted spies.

What we get is a fascinating series of adventures for our heroes, each initially given his own objective. In the first half of the book, the story switches between the three, but in a coherent way that is roughly coincident with time. Unlike other authors, Fairfax doesn’t need to carry the stories with monumental battle scenes. While there are numerous action scenes, one doesn’t feel like they’re reading a medieval James Bond book.

The last two sections in the book lay out a complex web of political intrigue within the English court, brought on by parasitic nobles at court and abroad. Jamie and his pals rely heavily on advice given by Sir Richard, until suddenly he’s gone to Gloucester. Without Sir Richard’s guidance, Jamie must rely on his brain and brawn to thwart an attempt on the king’s life.

This is a rousing tale of swordsmanship, espionage, and political maneuvering. The discourse among the characters makes you feel like the veritable fly on the wall, albeit a 15th century one.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic follow up to 1410, I loved being back in the company of Jamie, Christo, and Mark! Simon Fairfax has created three wonderful characters and transplanted them into the later stages of the reign of King Henry IV of England. Yes, this is an historical novel but that doesn't do it full justice. This a crime novel, a spy novel, a thriller, and a history lesson all rolled into one, and for me that makes for a very enjoyable read.
This isn't a period of history that I know incredibly well but it's easy to follow, and boy are there some shocking and exciting real events that have been woven through the pages that added to my enjoyment of reading this book. Through the adventures of this captivating trio of men, and especially through Jamie (Sir James de Grispere) I can't wait to see what's lined up for them in the next book! Please tell me that there will be "1412"!!

[Paul Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but got confused with the language. While I understand the author is trying for authenticity, it does assume prior knowledge. Maybe a glossary or footnotes would help with clarification.

[LaDawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely drowning in detail which simple doesn’t move the story along. Hoped this would be better than the first in the series but it was far worse.