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A Knight and a Spy 1413
England 1413: the king is dead, long live the king!
Household knight and spy Sir James de Grispere has never faced such overwhelming odds.
The turbulent reign of Henry IV has finally come to an end, yet his son inherits a kingdom riven with debt and dissension. The Scots threaten to breach the treaty of peace, raising a banner under the imposter Richard II to unite with English rebels.
Paris is torn apart by a terror that could unite France against the English king; and in England, a deadly heretical sect threatens to undermine the fabric of all society linking these forces to assassinate the new King Henry V.
Sir James must face a charge of treason and his own mortality to save his family and the king.
Buy A Knight and a Spy 1413 now to enter a deadly medieval world.
Household knight and spy Sir James de Grispere has never faced such overwhelming odds.
The turbulent reign of Henry IV has finally come to an end, yet his son inherits a kingdom riven with debt and dissension. The Scots threaten to breach the treaty of peace, raising a banner under the imposter Richard II to unite with English rebels.
Paris is torn apart by a terror that could unite France against the English king; and in England, a deadly heretical sect threatens to undermine the fabric of all society linking these forces to assassinate the new King Henry V.
Sir James must face a charge of treason and his own mortality to save his family and the king.
Buy A Knight and a Spy 1413 now to enter a deadly medieval world.
502 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2022
About the author
Simon Fairfax
24 books29 followersSimon 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 29, 2022
This is the fourth of six books in a series about Sir James de Grispere's band of motley spies doing the crown's work in the early 15c. If you haven't read any of the other books that have been published (1410, 1411, and 1412) then I suggest you read at least one of them first before tackling 1413. The court politics in England and France can be confusing, so starting off with 1413 might prove difficult.
In this book, Henry IV dies and the crown passes to his son, Henry V. With any transfer of power in the Middle Ages there is bound to be conflict and this certainly holds true here. There is not one, but three challenges Henry V faces in 1413, and who else to take them on but Sir James? We find James traveling to Scotland to solve the problem of a pretender to Richard 11. Then it's on to France to prevent the Burgundians from seizing power and thus becoming a serious threat to England. Finally, things stay at home, as the Lollard conspiracy to assassinate Henry must be addressed.
Fairfax does a good job of allowing his characters to mature. Henry V becomes pious, shedding his puerile behavior on ascending to kingship. Jamie is now married to Alice, who is pregnant. Thus Jamie now carries the weight of becoming a father.
There are action scenes galore, and detailed descriptions of Edinburg and Paris. In 1413 there are fewer escapades in which the trio (Jamie, Cristo, and Mark) act in separate venues and more situations where they work in tandem. Mark assumes a bit of an increased role, while Cristo is more of the stranger in the shadows who bales out Jamie.
If there's one gripe (and I'm being very picky here) it's that there are too many instances where Jamie and his compatriots fight off an almost insurmountable number of foes. I would like to see Jamie solving things by his brain rather than his brawn.
Fairfax does his homework and it shows in how well he can depict minute events while weaving in his fictional characters. I always come away with new knowledge about this period in England's history. It's truly historical fiction at its best.
In this book, Henry IV dies and the crown passes to his son, Henry V. With any transfer of power in the Middle Ages there is bound to be conflict and this certainly holds true here. There is not one, but three challenges Henry V faces in 1413, and who else to take them on but Sir James? We find James traveling to Scotland to solve the problem of a pretender to Richard 11. Then it's on to France to prevent the Burgundians from seizing power and thus becoming a serious threat to England. Finally, things stay at home, as the Lollard conspiracy to assassinate Henry must be addressed.
Fairfax does a good job of allowing his characters to mature. Henry V becomes pious, shedding his puerile behavior on ascending to kingship. Jamie is now married to Alice, who is pregnant. Thus Jamie now carries the weight of becoming a father.
There are action scenes galore, and detailed descriptions of Edinburg and Paris. In 1413 there are fewer escapades in which the trio (Jamie, Cristo, and Mark) act in separate venues and more situations where they work in tandem. Mark assumes a bit of an increased role, while Cristo is more of the stranger in the shadows who bales out Jamie.
If there's one gripe (and I'm being very picky here) it's that there are too many instances where Jamie and his compatriots fight off an almost insurmountable number of foes. I would like to see Jamie solving things by his brain rather than his brawn.
Fairfax does his homework and it shows in how well he can depict minute events while weaving in his fictional characters. I always come away with new knowledge about this period in England's history. It's truly historical fiction at its best.
August 19, 2025
Eadventurexcellent for Sir James in this series. The historical accuracy is a bonus.
Excellent adventure for Sir James in this series. The historical accuracy is a bonus. The whole series is worth your time.
Excellent adventure for Sir James in this series. The historical accuracy is a bonus. The whole series is worth your time.
August 23, 2022
I had the privilege of reading this before publication and I loved it. Fairfax has, once again, told a tale of historical intrigue with our favourite characters doing what they do best! He has built on the main protagonists making you feel as though you are part of their story, being in the thick of it around every corner alongside them.
Being as faithful as possible to the historical records, the story twists and turns keeping the reader in suspense as to what will follow, investing one in the story and in support of the main characters, especially Sir James de Grispere!
A great read.
Being as faithful as possible to the historical records, the story twists and turns keeping the reader in suspense as to what will follow, investing one in the story and in support of the main characters, especially Sir James de Grispere!
A great read.
December 14, 2022
An exciting read
Henry V generates interest for me because of who he was the intrigue in this tale keeps me keen of what plot is to follow next
Henry V generates interest for me because of who he was the intrigue in this tale keeps me keen of what plot is to follow next
May 21, 2024
Enjoying this series
This is the fourth book of an outstanding series. It is a shame that the author (like many others nowadays) writes “may have” when he means “might have”; but that is a minor quibble.
This is the fourth book of an outstanding series. It is a shame that the author (like many others nowadays) writes “may have” when he means “might have”; but that is a minor quibble.
July 24, 2024
Good series
Great adventure series with a feel for the times. Not always aware of what is or is not a spelling mistake. The online dictionary needs improving to cater for books like this.
Great adventure series with a feel for the times. Not always aware of what is or is not a spelling mistake. The online dictionary needs improving to cater for books like this.
February 19, 2025
I am really enjoying the series, although I do struggle with the authors' insistence on writing in 15th century English. Prithee doubt not enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews