An unlikely spy. A queen in peril. A race to save her life.

Even with the queen's safety hanging by a thread, keeping her alive may prove less dangerous for Danna than guarding her own heart.Seeking work, horse trainer Danna is heading to the palace to try to secure a job in its renowned stables when a runaway horse takes off with its royal rider. After bringing the wild mare under control, she discovers that the woman she has saved is none other than Queen Esther. When they realize this was no simple accident, Esther employs Danna to find out who is behind the attempt on her life.

Allon tends his expansive apple orchards, determined to spend the rest of his days far from palace intrigues. But when Esther summons him for an urgent task, he cannot refuse the queen he once served, even if this new assignment threatens to resurrect the ghosts of his past. As Danna and Allon are charged with establishing Esther's safety, they learn that working together is enough to tie even the steadiest of hearts into knots. With more at stake in the kingdom than either suspected, they find themselves in a race against time to save the life of their queen.

"Afshar brings biblical characters alive in their own times. . . . Readers will not want this book to end."--Library Journal starred review of The Queen's Cook

This gripping inspirational historical fiction novel set in ancient Persia unveils a fascinating glimpse into Queen Esther's life beyond the well-known Old Testament biblical story. With faith, romance, and intrigue, The Palace Spy will appeal to fans of The Chosen, House of David, The Faithful, Mesu Andrews, Angela Hunt, Lynn Austin, Francine Rivers, Jill Eileen Smith, Connilyn Cossette, and Heather Kaufman.