Lord John and the Hand of Devils

Lord John Grey #0.5, 1.5, 2.5

by Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon, the New York Times bestselling author of Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade and the wildly popular Outlander novels, delivers three tales of war, intrigue, and espionage that feature one of her most popular Lord John Grey. In the heart of the eighteenth century, here are haunted soldiers . . . lusty princesses . . . ghostly apparitions . . . dark family secrets. And here Lord John will face enemies who come in the guise of friends, memories in the shape of a fiery-haired Scot named James Fraser, and allies who have the power to destroy him with a single blow. . . .

In Lord John and the Hellfire Club , Lord John glimpses a stranger in the doorway of a gentlemen's club—and is stirred by a desperate entreaty to meet in private. The rendezvous forestalled by a sudden murder, Lord John will wade into a maze of political treachery and a dangerous, debauched underground society. . . . In Lord John and the Succubus , English soldiers fighting in Prussia are rattled by the nocturnal visitations of a deadly woman who sucks life and soul from a man. Called to investigate the night-hag, Lord John finds a murdered soldier and a treacherous Gypsy, and comes to the stark realization that among the spirits that haunt men, none frighten more than the specters conjured by the heart. . . . In Lord John and the Haunted Soldier , Lord John is thrust into the deadly case of an exploding battlefield cannon. Wounded in the same battle, Lord John is called to tesify and soon confronts his own ghost—and the shattering prospect that a traitor is among the ranks of His Majesty's armed forces.

Capturing the lonely, tormented, and courageous career of a man who fights for his crown, his honor, and his own secrets, Diana Gabaldon delivers breathtaking human drama. And in tales seething with desire, madness, and political intrigue, Gabaldon once again proves that she can bring history to life in a way few novelists ever have.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Outlander, Fantasy, Audiobook

302 pages, Hardcover

First published November 27, 2007

About the author

Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and is of Hispanic and English descent (with a dash of Native American and Sephardic Jew). She has earned three degrees: a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D in Ecology, plus an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow, for services to Scottish Literature.

She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona .

Reviews

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of 3 stories (one short story and 2 novellas) is a must-have for all Lord John fans. It took me some time to figure out how these stories should be placed in relation to the 2 Lord John novels, so here is the order to save you trouble:

Lord John and the Hellfire Club (short story)
Lord John and the Private Matter (novel)
Lord John and the Succubus (novella)
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (novel)
Lord John and the Haunted Soldier (novella)
The Custom of the Country (novella printed in Warriors)

Overall, the collection is a nice addition to the series. "Hellfire Club" is negligible, mostly because it is so short (about 30 pages). The ending of it is however mentioned in the 1st Lord John novel. "Succubus" is my favorite story. It has a little bit of mysticism in it and introduces a character of Austrian officer Stephan Von Namtzen, another Gabaldon favorite of mine (possibly gay, naturally). "Haunted Solder" explores Grey's relationship with his De Vane half-brother and of course, there is a military intrigue.

[B the BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read short stories so my rating probably reflects my impatience at the brevity of these tales. I've just finished Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) and picked up this Lord Grey book while waiting for Voyager (Outlander #3) to be available at my library. Gabaldon tantalisingly drops the name 'Jamie Fraser' in each of the three stories and that itself was enough to keep me reading.

Hellfire Club: After an acquaintance is murdered, an event whch John Grey witnesses, he finds himself inexplicably drawn into the ill-reputed Hellfire Club where he discovers secrets he'd never imagined. 3★

Succubus: During a assignment as Liaison Officer to a regiment in Germany, John finds himself in a bewildering drama, murder and intrigue as ranks fall prey to fear of a succubus. The succubus is a demon spirit who hunts men as they dream, taking the form of a human woman in order to seduce the men and taking their seed and their lives. After one soldier's ravaged body is found, rumours abound through the ranks and John is embroiled in an effort to find the assailant and quell the men's fears. I found this to be thoroughly engrossing and at times amusing. European folkore, superstition, life of men in the troop's in 1750s, the Prussian nobility; this was quite the pick of the three stories. 4.5★

The Haunted Soldier: A much more personal drama for John as he is called to an Inquiry over the explosion of a cannon he was in charge of which resulted in a man's death. But all is not as it seems as John discovers there is real evidence of actual treason behind the accident. As he struggles to solve the mystery, John sees a long-dead lieutenant rumoured to appear only at specific times. His investigations lead him to a woman shunned by her family and it seems he is being trailed by a man who has no face. 3.75★

I would be interested in reading more of Lord John albeit in a full novel form. For the book in it's entirety: 4★

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Lord John and the Hand of Devils” by Diana Gabaldon, is a novella consisting of three stories; “Lord John and the Hellfire Club”, “Lord John and the Succubus” and “Lord John and the Haunted Soldier”. As the titles reveal, this series of stories features Lord John Grey, from Outlander fame, both before and during his interactions with Jamie Fraser.

“The Hellfire Club” (4 *) pulls Lord John into a dangerous, politically motivated underground society. “The Succubus” (5*) has Lord John investigating claims that a demonic spirit is possessing English soldiers. Finally, “The Haunted Soldier” (3*) puts Lord John under fire after a battlefield cannon explodes, and he becomes front and centre of an investigation for treachery and treason. All three stories feature Lord John prominently, of course, but don’t expect any other main characters from the Outlander series. Jamie Fraser appears, in name only, exclusively in John’s dreams and recollections.

There are many, many, many other characters to enjoy however, and each story introduces new ones. All three stories are separate from the other, although I read them in the order Gabaldon recommends- merely for continuity.

All three stories in the novella are heavy with war and soldiering, as was the times, and some of the fighting and after-effects described by Gabaldon can be quite gruesome. I did enjoy seeing Grey without Jamie, surprisingly, and to follow him through his adventures, and dalliances, in between his meetings with the redhaired Scot.

“Hand of the Devils” can be read separate from Outlander as well, as the plot lines and characters do not overlap (with the exception of John), but I really see no reason why anyone would read these novels without having a full knowledge of the “Outlander” universe, as it would make the stories more compelling with a complete background. Gabaldon is certainly a talented writer, and she has proven this on more than one occasion, and avid fans of the Outlander universe, and the likeable Lord John Grey, will thoroughly enjoy this novella!

[Christine (AR) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of three novellas.

The first, Lord John and the Hellfire Club, I'd already read as part of one of the other Lord John books. I wasn't too impressed then, and upon re-reading it's still just meh. However, as it's the first Lord John story, it's worth reading.

The second, Lord John and the Succubus, comes between the two Lord John novels and explains his relationship with Namtzen. It was okay as a mystery, but I wish I'd read it before the novel it precedes.

The third, Lord John and the Haunted Soldier, was really, really enjoyable. It takes place after the last book, and John is recovering from battle wounds while looking into possible espionage. I liked the mystery, and I thought there was some fantastic character development here.

I've discovered that with this particular series, I don't really care how good the storyline is, because Lord John himself, the way Gabaldon writes him, has become one of my favorite fictional characters. She says her next novel is going to be Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner, which has to be Jamie Fraser, so all I can say is YAY.

(However. I really, really hope she lets John get over Jamie. I totally get that in the book universe, Jamie is the Ultimate Male, but he's also the straight guy whose relationship with his wife is the one, perfect, literally timeless Love Story of the AGES. I live for subtext and even I can see there's no hope here. Just give the guy a break, already.)

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. ‘Lord John and the Hellfire Club’ - 3 stars

2. ‘Lord John and the Succubus’ - 4 stars

3. ‘Lord John and the Haunted Soldier’ - 5 stars

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
Lord John and the Hellfire Club - Lord John and the Hellfire Club is the first novella in Diana Gabaldon's Lord John Grey series. I'm not sure if it's the shortest story she's ever written, but it's by far the shortest one by her I've read to date. In this novella, she's taken Lord John Grey, a popular secondary character from the Outlander series, and given him a mystery to solve, thereby turning him into an amateur sleuth, which is what I understand he'll be doing throughout the series. It takes place in London sometime after Lord John's return from his time as warden at Ardsmuir Prison where Jamie was held. Harry Quarry, the warden who preceded Lord John, is also a part of the story. He and John share a loose friendship and he's related to the murdered man.

The plot is a fairly simple and straightforward one. John is approached by a man he's barely met, asking for a clandestine meeting to discuss something of import that he can trust to no one else, but before the meeting can take place, the man is stabbed almost before John's eyes and dies in his arms. John vows to find the killer, which leads him to a surprising meeting of a secret society know at the Hellfire Club.

As usual Diana Gabaldon has done an exceptional job with her research. Hellfire Clubs actually did exist during that time period, and Sir Francis Dashwood's, the one which John attends, appears to have been the most famous. I also found it interesting to learn more about the perceptions of gay men in that era. Of course, John, out of necessity for his own safety, keeps his sexuality a closely guarded secret, but we do get hints of how he gets around the social mores of the day to engage in intimacies and how he views society's attitudes toward men like him. I felt rather bad for John, because he still pines for Jamie even though he's trying to set aside that unrequited love.

The main reason this was a four-star read for me instead of higher is that parts of the story didn't seem to flow as well as the Outlander books I've read. The details of the first chapter weren't quite gelling in my mind's eye the way this author's work usually does. I had to concentrate pretty intently to fully grasp the situation. Also, Ms. Gabaldon is a highly intelligent person, and it definitely shows in her writing. That's great, except that in this story, she uses more historically accurate language in both her dialogue and prose. This made it a bit more challenging to read, because the dialogue is unfamiliar to my modern ear, and while normally I can pick up on the meaning of unfamiliar words in context, some of the words in the prose still remained a mystery to me. Otherwise I enjoyed Lord John and the Hellfire Club. The mystery was handled well, especially for such a short format. It was a good start to the series, and I look forward to reading more about Lord John's adventures. Star Rating: ****

Lord John and the Succubus - Lord John and the Succubus is a novella in Diana Gabaldon’s Lord John Grey series that falls between Lord John and the Private Matter and Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade in the series chronology. Much like with the first novella in this book, the story was rather slow-paced and occasionally I was having trouble following it. Now I admit that it could have been that through part of it I was very sleepy and kept dozing off, and through another part, I was repeatedly interrupted by my family members, so the fault may be partly mine, which is why I only marked it down one star. However, this one seemed a bit more steeped in military history surrounding the Seven Years War, with some geography, troop positions, etc. playing a part here. Normally, I’m very appreciative of Ms. Gabaldon’s attention to detail, but for the most part, military history isn’t at the top of my list of reading preferences, especially when it comes to wars I know very little about, therefore some of the details of this story were lost on me.

I did, however, enjoy the mystery. With this being a shorter story, though, it wasn’t as developed as I’m used to, but it was still good. The title of the novella might lead some readers to believe that this is a supernatural mystery, but the paranormal really only comes into play in the form of legends and superstition. The gist of this part of the story is that Lord John, in his capacity as a liaison officer with the English forces who are allied with the Prussians and Hanoverians, becomes aware of the murder of a Prussian soldier. Many locals believe it was the work of a succubus, which of course, the logical and deductive-reasoning John doesn’t believe for a minute. However, to appease them, he allows the use of his horse in a graveyard ritual, during which the body of an English soldier is also discovered. This leads John to investigate a possible connection between the two cases in an effort to bring an end to the speculation regarding a succubus.

While solving the mystery, John is drawn into some interesting interactions with several secondary characters. He and some other high-ranking officers are staying at the castle of a widowed princess. John, being an attractive man, finds himself having to fend of the princess’s advances. Also, the author toys with the reader regarding a possible relationship between John and his dashing Hanoverian friend, Stephan von Namtzen, who was introduced in the previous book, Lord John and the Private Matter. In the end, we know that John’s attraction to Stephan is real, but we’re never entirely sure if the attraction is reciprocal. I suspect it is, but I’ll be interested to see if anything more comes of it in future stories of the series. John’s valet, Tom Byrd, also introduced in the last book, returns as his efficient and helpful assistant. Then John meets a young teenage soldier out in the field, who he realizes is also gay. He is able to provide the young man with some sage advice, during which we learn of a traumatic incident in John’s own past. It’s little more than a mention, though, and I would have liked a better understanding of how it affected him on an emotional level. John is a courageous soldier, so perhaps there isn’t much more to tell, but I doubt. This story makes it seem like it was simply something that happened that he quickly moved on from, but I think it could definitely be an interesting aspect of his character to explore in more depth if the author chooses to go that way. I’ll be interested to see if Ms. Gabaldon expands upon it later.

Overall, Lord John and the Succubus was an enjoyable novella. It may have been a little slow-paced, but I did like following along with the mystery and in particular, John’s interactions with the other characters. I might not have thought it was as good as Diana Gabaldon’s full-length novels, but it was still a good story. Therefore, I look forward to continuing on with the series soon, and since the next book is a full-length one, perhaps it will be even better. Lord John and the Succubus was originally published in the multi-author anthology Legends II: New Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy and was later reprinted in this single-author anthology along with two other companion novellas in the Lord John Grey series. Star Rating: ****

Lord John and the Haunted Soldier - Lord John and the Haunted Soldier is a novella in Diana Gabaldon’s Lord John Grey series that falls immediately after Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. I enjoyed Lord John and the Haunted Soldier better than the first two novellas in this anthology. I think that’s because, rather than being a stand-alone story, it’s more of a continuation of events from Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, which made it a little more interesting to me. It also, like the novels, has a more personal flavor to it, involving John’s older half-brother, whom we’ve not met up until this point and other familiar characters from the previous novel. So overall, Lord John and the Haunted Soldier held my attention equally as well as the novels have so far.

As I said this novella picks up where Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade left off, with John being called before a Commission of Inquiry. They are investigating the explosion of the cannon that badly injured John and other soldiers, as well as the death of Lieutenant Lister, who’d been in command of the cannon before being decapitated by an enemy cannonball and Lord John took over. The Commission seems to be insinuating that John made a mistake which led to the cannon being destroyed, or even perhaps his half-brother, Edgar, who makes the powder for the cannon might have had something to do with it. This leaves John to figure out exactly what did happen to make sure his and his brother’s good names aren’t dragged through the mud. At the same time, he finds himself agreeing to search for the ill-fated Lister’s fiancée, who was believed to have been with child. The two investigations end up intersecting in surprising ways.

John’s investigation into the cannon leads him down a twisting path of corruption and dirty dealings that also connects up with Bowles, a mysterious figure who’s been lurking in the background throughout the series. The more personal side of the investigation leads to a sad and twisted tale of unrequited love. I enjoyed both because they kept me guessing and wondering what new connections John might find next. I also liked meeting new members of John’s family, who seem like good people. Throughout all this John continues to deal with the pain and fear of death associated with a piece of shrapnel still lodged in his chest. He also continues to pine for Jamie, regrets the heated the words they exchanged in the last book, and finds comfort in writing letters to his old friend. The only reason I knocked off the half star is because there were one or two plot points that were a tad hard to follow and a couple of places that were just a little slow, but otherwise, Lord John and the Haunted Soldier was a very good read. John is an excellent hero who I very much look forward to reading more about in the coming stories. Star Rating: ****1/2

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! As an avid read of the Outlander series as well as a fan of the Starz series, I just had to read the Lord John series as well. Personally Lord John is one of my favorite characters in the series. I have read the first two Lord John novels preceding this one (Lord John and the Private Matter and Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade) and each time I am drawn in by Gabaldon's writing and the development she has provided for his character. In each of the novels what I find appealing is that Lord John Grey is not only an aristocratic soldier, but he is also gay which quite often places him in precarious situations given the time period and the constant threat of being exposed. He also has a very entertaining sense of humor and wit which makes the books crackle with intelligence but also a sense of sarcasm that kept me wanting to read more.

Similar to the previous novels, this book placed John in different mysteries that he finds himself wrapped up in. This book was a compilation of three short stories so each mystery stood alone but at the same time some of the characters and story lines within each story continued. For example, Gabaldon always has a knack for including Jamie Fraser even if it is just a name drop and many of the people that John meets throughout each of the stories has recurring role. Overall I suggest the Lord John series for anyone who is a fan of the Outlander series or just likes a good but quick mystery story now and again. The mysteries are not classic thrillers but they are entertaining and provide another insight into the 18th Century and the role of a soldier.

[Gaijinmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

#11 Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon


Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon


This collection of one longish short story (11,000 words) and two novellas (about 100 pages each) stars one of my favorite secondary characters from Gabaldon's Outlander
series. I'm madly in love with her romantic hero,Jamie Fraser, but lifelong Hag that I am,
I would ***LOVE** to sit down and have a nice pot of Earl Grey with Lord John, preferably with liberal amounts of brandy splashed in for medicinal purposes.

Yes, Lord John is gay. Deal with it, or maybe give this book a miss. As Lord John (and most of my gay friends in real life) would probably agree, his sexual orientation is not the center of the story, but it's an important aspect of who he is and how he sees the world. While he certainly cannot be open about it as a military man in the 18th century, he is brutally honest with himself. Sharing his thoughts and observations is always a fascinating ride.

In the first story, "Lord John and the Hellfire Club", he infiltrates a secret occult society that actually existed at the time, and solves a murder.
In the second, "Lord John and the Succubus", he battles a vengeful demon, fends off the advances of a persistent widow, and develops a major crush on a tall, blond German officer.
In the last, "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier", he is drawn into a web of tragic, star-crossed love, political intrigue, and lots of really cool explosions and details on how gunpowder was made in the 18th century.

This book is completely different from the Outlander series.
Especially if the ongoing romance of Jamie and Claire isn't your cup of Earl Grey, please give Lord John a try, and give yourself a chance to enjoy Gabaldon's great writing talent.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord John and the Hellfire Club (#0.5, comes before LJ and the Private Matter)

The only actual short story in this short story collection, this sees John immediately home from his stint as warden of Ardsmuir Prison, where old acquaintances are eager to catch up. Some of them a little too eager. He finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery and conspiracy.

This one is pretty quick and to the point, with only a couple of chapters, but Gabaldon knows how to pack a lot of detail and info into a tiny space. She never comes right out and says why John was exiled to Ardsmuir, but you get enough nuggets to piece it together here.

Lord John and the Succubus (#1.5, comes between LJ and the Private Matter, and LJ and the Brotherhood of the Blade)

All of these "short" stories were originally written for paranormal anthologies, and this one easily makes the best use of that element. John's on campaign in Germany and there are rumors running amok about a succubus. John has to get to the bottom of it, while dodging advances from foreign princesses and trying to figure out just what Capt. Stephan von Namtzen is about. (OMG JUST KISS! BUT FOR REAL! GAAAHHH!)

Lord John and the Haunted Soldier (#2.5, follows after LJ and the Brotherhood of the Blade and comes before A Custom of the Army)

After John was injured on campaign in Brotherhood of the Blade, he finds himself in the middle of an inquest regarding his involvement in a cannon exploding. As he goes poking around to find out exactly what the military and the war office are trying so desperately to cover up, we meet one of John's half-brothers and find out that John's injuries are far more serious than previously thought.

On one hand, I remembered this as being at the end of Brotherhood of the Blade, so there is pretty good transition from one to the other. On the other hand, maybe some mention of the more long-term effects of John's injuries could've been hinted at in the previous book, because it almost comes out of nowhere here, even though I think this one was written first.

This one also has the least paranormal element of them all, as the "Haunted Soldier" is only glimpsed once and then never mentioned again. It seems the title is more a metaphor for John himself, and the ghost was thrown in only to meet the paranormal element for the anthology it originally appeared in. As a metaphor though, it works extremely well.

Jeff Woodman does his usual great job narrating here. Unfortunately, this audiobook had a lot of technical issues. I even deleted it and re-downloaded it to my Audible app, as well as tried it on iTunes, and had the same issues. There were a couple of instances of background noise, and LOTS of skipping/repeating of words and lines. Looking at reviews, it's not just my copy either, so this one will be returned to Audible, in the hopes it might eventually be fixed and rereleased.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Grey is one of my favorite fictional characters ever, so to say I have mixed feelings about the Lord John series is a bit of an understatement. I love reading about Grey's life when he isn't with Jamie and Claire (the main characters from the Outlander series where Grey is a secondary character). But I'm completely thrown by the stories themselves. They're set up as mysteries, which is fine, but the cast seems to number thousands, and by the time we get to the point where the mystery is solved, I've forgotten who half the people are and why they're important (or not), and sometimes even what exactly Grey is trying to figure out, what with all the subplots and doublebacks and loops.

But John Grey is fascinating, as a gay aristocratic soldier living at a time when gay sex was a crime punishable by death. I really like the characters who show up regularly - Grey's older brother, his valet, and even Jamie Fraser on occasion. I wanted to see more of Jamie since he's the love of Grey's life, but the few times he showed up felt a bit forced. And I must admit I really dislike the person Jamie becomes around Grey, so far in the series.

So, for a glimpse into the life of a smart, rich, handsome, politically-connected gay Englishman in the 17th century, I'm guessing these books are unequaled. As murder mysteries or whatever...~shrug~.

[D Dyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of the three Lord John gray Novelas is definitely interesting enough for me to recommend it to anyone familiar with the outlander universe and with the Lord John Gray novels in particular. But honestly, it’s not a fantastic introduction to either of those series. The stories suffered somewhat from their shortness, there isn’t enough time to really build the sort of complex characterizations that I’ve particularly enjoyed the series for. All of the stories feature some hint of the supernatural and originally appeared in other paranormal-themed anthologies. The best of the three is the last, Lord John and the haunted soldier, where at John is drawn into an army investigation that has implications for his brother. Lord John and at the succubus does the best job of using the supernatural I think, with the investigation of a possible demonic cause to troubles in an Eastern European army camp. The opening story, a prequel to the lord John Gray series, felt more than a bit flat. It’s a quick mystery but so quick that there’s little time to build tension.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an effort to read the Lord John Grey series in order, I have not read this anthology of short story and novellas together, but rather where they fall in the story time line. I love John Grey's character in the Outlander series and was so pleased to see that he had his own stories.

The first story in this book, Lord John and the Hellfire Club, was a nice introduction and reminder of his character while posing a nice murder mystery plot. John has just returned to London and visits a few of his old haunts meeting an old army friend. He is still raw from his experiences with the Scottish prisoner and sees hints of the man at every turn. But soon his thoughts have a new direction when a newly made acquaintance asks for a private interview and then gets murdered almost before his very eyes. John agrees to inquire into the matter of the young man's death and the trail leads to unexpected people and place. I found it engaging and it has whetted my appetite for the rest of the stories. 4.19.13

I just finished the second story, the novella Lord John and the Succubus. Now that was a nice atmospheric mystery set just after the events of Lord John and the Private Matter. John becomes the liaison between the English army and the Prussians in their war against the French and the Austrians near a small town in Germany. Things are going until a rumor of a Succubus breaks out and men start cropping up dead. Between negotiating this superstition, intrigue in the castle where he resides and worrying about the location of the enemy, John has his hands full. My only niggle was the ending was abrupt like you get in a shorter story, but nothing to upsetting. It was another enjoyable installment in the series. 4.27.13

Finally was able the third story after I finished the novel that comes between the second and third stories. For a novella, this one was charged with the danger, tension and internal turmoil that the author is good at. There was the mystery of the sabotage and the accusations that were flung at him going on, but John was also commissioned to discover the whereabouts of a dead lieutenant's woman. This story was very much a follow up to certain events near the end of 'Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade' so I don't want to get detailed and spoil it for anyone. Suffice to say, it was a gripping, entertaining read that was just one more wonderful story in the Lord John series. 6.2.13

In conclusion, if you are thinking of passing on the short story and novellas in this book, don't. These are well worth it and to skip them would to missing out on a good part of Lord John's ongoing story.

Update: I did a re-read listen to this book with the talented Jeff Woodman narrating. I really do enjoy his voice work for John and all the regular characters of this series. John is a thoughtful person, his valet Tom is sharp and eager, Harry is bluff and engaging, and the German accents during the Succubus tale were good. Woodman captures the voices and stories so well There were some editing issues where phrases were repeated now and again. But, it was a delight to listen to these three stories and the author's note with as much interest as the first time.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audible collection of historical mystery short stories and novella by Diana Gabaldon, featuring Lord John, a character from her Outlander series which made my long commute bearable.

[Delta · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where I got the book: B&N clearance rack.

Do you have to be a Lord John Grey fan to read this book? I think not. Or not even, possibly, a fan of Gabaldon's Outlander series, although if you're not there will be one or two references to red hair that might confuse you. This collection of three stories (one short, one long-short-story length and one novella) is a decent introduction to Lord John and to Gabaldon's 18th century.

I've said a lot of what I think about the Lord John books in my review of Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (which I just posted; it is new to Goodreads). As Lord John and the Hand of Devils is a story collection it obviously lacks the coherence of the novel; there is a vague theme of the supernatural which is almost abandoned in the third (and best) story, Lord John and the Haunted Soldier. The stories also lack the long, inventive sex scenes that are a Gabaldon hallmark, and don't suffer from the omission. They carry forward the central problem of Lord John's existence as a gay career soldier in a world where "don't ask, don't tell" is most definitely a survival tactic, and I like the fact that two of the stories (The Succubus and The Haunted Soldier) show Lord John in his day job as an artillery major.

I really liked The Haunted Soldier because it has everything in it that pleases me about Gabaldon (complex, subtle plot, a hint of dry humor, a wonderful sense of being in the 18th century without overdoing it and an excellent command of both dialogue and action) and it contributes depth and pathos to Lord John's wonderfully conflicted character. He's a man who loves men and thrives in a man's world, written by a woman who obviously loves men and thrives in a man's world, and this balance of hidden urges and a commonsense approach to everyday life is rather irresistible. Had the book been comprised of just this story I might have given it 5 stars, because it's the nearest Gabaldon's come to blowing me out of the water, but I'm holding back because the other two stories, although good, didn't pack the same wallop.

[Richard Derus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25* of five

Gabaldon's writing is of the kind I call "serviceable" but her characters either make you swoon, pant, sweat and holler, or they leave you completely cold. I fall on the non-hollerin' end of category A. I like these people, Lord John especially having a claim on me because he's a shirt-lifter (or Warmbruder, depending on where we are geographically).

This book is a collection of three novellas that Gabaldon wrote about the good Major Lord John Grey. One was written for this collection. Does it matter what they're about? Lord John, in peace or at war, will never suffer a wrong he can right to go unrighted; he will never allow personal comfort or convenience to stand in the way of what duty and honor require him to do; and he will never fall out of love with Jamie Fraser, featured in Gabaldon's main time travel romance series as the husband of the time traveler.

So he don't get none. Relax, ewww-ickers.

Anyway, in a marketplace crowded with mystery choices, and quite a fair few eighteenth-century historicals at that, why choose these books with their serviceable writing? Bruce Alexander, for one example, is a better writer. His Blind Justice series is very good.

Simple: Depth. Lord John Grey is part of a well-known alternate world. It's obvious that Gabaldon could act as a tour guide to eighteenth-century England and Scotland, and it's obvious that SOMEwhere in a properly ordered Creation, Jamie and Claire and Lord John are plying their different courses through the time streams. The reason to read this series starts and stops with an individual's familiarity with or receptivity to Gabaldon's world. If you've read Dragonfly in Amber and did not find it so tedious and plodding as to make you beg a merciful Goddess for death or blindness, you're likely to enjoy these books.

Recommended? Oh, sure. Why not. Start with these novellas and see if the character appeals; if so, the novels await your pleasure.

[Jujubee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The drums were beating in the distance, ordering the troops.
The thrum of them beating his blood, in his bone."

Completed anthology Lord John and the Hand of the Devil October 5, 2018
The author spins an excellent puzzle of local folk lore, gypsies, family loyalties, amongst the harsh realities of war and military politics. Seemingly unrelated at the onset, but no less tramatic, a double murder mystery engulfs Major Grey's circumstance in his current post. There was a lot of pieces spinning here, including wisps of "possibilities" toward John's true self, that I thought were brought together brilliantly.
Within all the revelations I found LJG's sharp intelligence and curiosity, ingrained sense of duty and logic, deep-seated protectiveness of those under his charge, and his keen insights of himself and his social consciousness further develops, bringing new insights into an already noble, human character.

Read Lord John and the Hell Fire Club 09/22/17 3.5*
My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Read Lord John and the Succubus 09/28/17 5*
My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So far, this novella is my fav LJG to date.
Read Lord John and the Haunted Soldier 10/04/17 5*
No review, but IMO is Marcus is the haunted soldier ;)
And John's writing of those decidedly unsendable letters to Jaime (as a dear confident) was heartbreakingly poignant.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Lord John and the Hellfire Club (3.5 Stars)
(short story - 0.5)

~Lord John and the Succubus (3.75 Stars)
(novella - 1.5)

~John and the Haunted Soldier (3.75 Stars)
(novella - 2.5)

[Andreas Vasold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leider fehlt es diesen drei Kurzgeschichten an dem Zauber der Outlander Saga....etwas langatmig und leider nur mittelmäßig

[Carol Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love lord John. I hope he finds happiness, like he had with Hector when he was young, by the end of the Outlander books.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when a team comes together. I've been very much a fan of Diana Gabaldon for some time, and I like Lord John Grey very much. And as it turns out I utterly love Jeff Woodman's narration. He's wonderful. He has excellent timing, a marvelous gift for character, and, clearly, a sense of humor that suits Grey down to the ground. He reminds me a great deal of Simon Vance, actually, to the point that I double checked to make sure it wasn't he under a pseudonym. It wasn't. The only issue I have with the narration is a handful of repeated lines, where apparently an editor failed to delete out–takes. Odd.

I have to say, it had been a while since I met up with Lord John, and I had forgotten much of it. Honestly, it is a bit thick that bloody well everyone falls in love with Jamie Fraser.

Then again, he is Jamie Fraser, so...

I plan on using the word "absquatulating" as soon as conveniently possible. Possibly in conversation. Why have a reputation for weird without capitalizing on it?

- "Lord John and the Hellfire Club" felt familiar – oh, that's why. It's not a spectacular story – though part of that might have been me thinking "isn't this an awful lot like that other story, and what is going to happen to make this different?" When in fact (perils of the audiobook) it was the story I was thinking of, which I did not realize for some reason was part of this collection, and so of course nothing happened to make it different from, er, itself. I'm not even going to try to unravel that sentence.
- "Lord John and the Succubus" – That was different. Lord John was not in what I've felt to be his natural element here. The setting and the path of the story are unlike the other stories, but it's fun, and unpredictable.
- "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier" – Such beautiful story–telling. It was entirely natural, no chunks of information floating by, tension maintained throughout. Eerie, with the underlying certainty that there had to be some rational explanation … unless there wasn't… The emotions are honest, and the story leaves a mark. Excellent.

This right here is one of the hazards of becoming addicted to audiobooks. I think I could get the books and stories cheaper in ebook form, or even by trolling used bookstores or what–have–you. And I'm all about the cheaper. (I have no money.) But Audible offered this collection (in a sale), and I knew that Jeff Woodman was going to be one of those narrators in regards to whom money is (almost) no object. I want everything he's ever read. Oh dear.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matkani Lordi John Greyn mukana on ollut mitä miellyttävin ja viihdyttävin. Diana Gabaldonin kirjat hupenevat vauhdilla kirjahyllyssäni lukutahtini vuoksi, enkä tiedä kuinka oikein tokenen niiden loputtua.

Tämä kirja sisältää kolme lyhyttä novellia Lordi Johnin elämässä. Tarinat sijoittuvat Lordin yksityisasia ja Lordi John ja veitsenterän veljeskunta -kirjojen ympärille. Luin kyseiset kirjat ennen tämän kirjan lukemista, jotta pystyisin paremmin sijoittamaan tarinat aikajanallisesti Lordin elämään. Toisaalta sekoitan aikajanaa jatkuvasti, sillä tiedän Lordin elämän myöhemmistä vaiheista huomattavasti enemmän luettuani Matkantekijä-sarjan kaikki (tähän mennessä) ilmestyneet osat. Varsinaista aikamatkailua siis näin lukijakokemuksena, jos näin voi todeta.

Spoilers!

Jokainen novelli oli mielestäni oikein nautinnollinen. Kokoelma on nimetty pahaenteisesti Lordi John ja paholaisen korttipakka-nimellä, mutta ikäväkseni joudun toteamaan ettei yliluonnollisia ilmiöitä kirjassa paljoa ole. Tai Lordi John puhkoo ne logiikallaan ja paljastaa ympärillä tapahtuvat juoruilut sekä salakähmäiset juonikuviot. Tämä on hivenen surullistakin, sillä Matkantekijä-sarjan yksi herkullisimmista puolista on ollut ehdottomasti yliluonnolliset ilmiöt. Milloin Claire näki aaveita tai milloin Geillis-noita teki kuvottavia taikojaan - näitä puolia toivoisin sisältyneen enempi myös Lordi Johnin omiin novellitarinoihin.

Näissä tarinoissa Gabaldon ei retostele niinkään paljoa Greyn homoseksuaalisuudella, vaan se todetaan yhtenä hahmon ominaispiirteenä. Himo, rakkauden ja yhdistymisen kaipuu toisen ihmisen kanssa on aivan normaaleja asioita myös Johnin elämässä tässä kirjassa.

Valtava kaipuu James Fraseria kohtaan nosti lukiessa valtavaa sääliä kirjan päähenkilöä kohtaan. Koin samaan aikaan valtavaa onnea että järkyttävää epäoikeuden tunnetta kirjeistä, joita Lordi John kirjoittaa viimeisessä tarinassa Fraserille vain polttaakseen ne. Onneksi tiedän herrojen välisen erityisen siteen jatkuvan pitkälle "tulevaisuuteen" saakka.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell was filled with clocks, he was sure of it. There was no torment, after all, that could not be exacerbated by a contemplation of time passing. (p. 161)

Lord John and the Hand of Devils is actually three pieces set in 18th century England and Germany: one short story and two novellas, each longer than its predecessor. Each of these three is a mystery and has at its heart Lord John Grey, while Jamie Fraser shows up in some peripheral – but entertaining – role.

In my head, Lord John, is a foppish and superficial figure; perhaps that is in comparison with Jamie Fraser, a large, courageous, honorable, and comely lad. Despite the foppish presentation, Lord John is a major in the British army. He is a logical detective as mysteries appear, dogged in finding an answer, even when he is hungry and dead tired, even when pursuit of the truth puts him at risk. He is honorable, even when surrounded by people who are far from honorable.

I cling to the thought of Simon Coles. His goodness, his idealism—foolish though it may be—is a single bright spot in the dark quagmire of this wretched business. God knows I am neither ignorant nor innocent of the ways of the world. And yet I feel unclean, so much evil as I have met tonight. It weighs upon my spirit; thus I write to cleanse myself of it. (pp. 300-301)

Lord John is honorable even when his love for Jamie must remain unrequited, as Jamie has both different inclinations and another object of desire.

This contradiction between surface appearance and core is part of what makes Lord John a compelling figure. I am also a sucker for a mystery that is more intellectual than physical, particularly when the detective discovers the mystery and does what he knows is right, even when not being entreated or paid.

[Edee Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I've put off reading this series because I have been having issues with breaking my Outlander Big Books cycle. It's all I have read since May and I am currently on my third reading of the series. These books fall between Voyager (which I just finished again yesterday) and Drums of Autumn, so I thought this time I would give them a go.

I see a lot of mixed reviews for this series, and I understand why. Any fan of Outlander will either love this series because they are a huge LJG fan (as I am myself) or because they enjoy light who-done-it style mysteries sprinkled with intrigue a la Sherlock Holmes (another favorite series of mine) OR they will not be huge fans because it is nothing at all like the Outlander Big Books.

At first I thought the series was kinda meh, starting off my reading with the Hellfire Club. By the time I got to The Haunted Soldier, I was hooked. I adore LJG. Always have. Being able to get to know him for who HE is and not who he is in relation to JAMMF or Claire is as enlightening as it is entertaining.

His valet/sidekick Tom Byrd is a perfection partner to LJG, in my humble opinion. He is not the the sharpest tool in the shed, but he is clever and takes very good care of his Lord. Also, LJG has a potty mouth that I had not expected :) Ans Quarry, who we briefly met in Voyager, is another series regular favorite of mine.

Basically, if you love LJG and would like to get to know him better (as well as enjoy some light mysteries) then you should definitely invest in this series.

PS his letters to JAMMF (that he always burns and never sends) kind of broke my heart.

[Robert]

The Lord John series are a MUST read! This really delves into the characteristics of the 18th century gay community - or rather that of a closeted gay male who is also a British military officer and how he deals with issues of the day. In a more subtle way, they are also a series of mystery novels but not being categorized as being such. A lot of interesting information to be found here and the author is outstanding as her previous works have attested.

Go on.. get a copy today!

[Andrea Manzanilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bien.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up
3 novellas
My favorite was Lord John and the Succubus
followed by Lord John and the Haunted Soldier
and then Lord John and the Hellfire Club.

[Ish Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Diana Gabaldon
Genre: Novella, Historical, Mystery
Rating: A

Once again I’m going to start off a review of a Lord John story by referencing the first Lord John story, "Lord John and the HellfireClub." My critique there was that because of the brevity of the work some of the plot was lost due to all the details that Gabaldon includes in her writing. This issue is remedied in "Lord John and the Succubus". Part of this remedy is because of the increased length, while still being a novella it is much longer than "Hellfire Club", but the greater part is because in "Succubus" Gabaldon has learned how to nicely balance the detail and the plot.

"Succubus" picks up much roughly where Lord John and the Private Matter left off: Lord John Grey has gone to Germany (or what would later become Germany) to join the staff of Captain Stephan von Namtzen, Landgrave von Erdberg. Here men begin to die of a mysterious cause, and rumours of a succubus begin to spread. Once again, it is left up to Lord John to investigate the matter and figure out just how these men have died and whether or not the succubus is real. He also must contend with the not-so-subtle advances of the Princess Louisa von Lowenstein, while trying to figure out whether or not Stephan is attracted to him.

The story here is nicely done, Gabaldon weaves the threat of the supernatural with the real deaths together very nicely. In the earlier parts of the story I really did begin to wonder if the succubus might be real, despite the fact that Gabaldon’s stories are, time travel aside, largely set in the real world. Gabaldon conveyed the real fears of the men very well, and showed the mixture of firm belief and strong disbelief, as well as many points in between the two. The language in which much of the story takes place had me a bit confused; it is set in a Germanic part of Europe, thus the majority of the characters should be speaking a dialect of German. While Gabaldon does make it clear that Grey has some German, and the many upper class characters are all proficient in English, in the first chapter of the book Grey does in fact have some difficulty understanding the language, particularly if spoken rapidly. Throughout the book there are points when the dialogue is written in German, implying that unless otherwise noted the dialogue is in English. Grey’s early struggles with understanding some things combined with this note makes me question just how he’s able to interview some of the characters in a language that they logically wouldn’t be able to speak – I really don’t buy that Austrian gypsies in the nineteenth century are fluent in English. But then, I could really just be reading into this too much and over thinking things. As such, if this is my biggest flaw with the story then it stands to reason that it’s a pretty good story.

http://ishreviews.blogspot.ca/2012/07...

Merged review:

There were elements of "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier" that I liked, and elements that I disliked. The story deals with the consequences of the explosion of a cannon. Tom Pilchard, that Lord John momentarily is in command of during Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. An inquiry has been formed as Grey's cannon was not the only one to explode: in the previous ten months, a total of eight cannons have exploded, causing a lot of death and injury among the British army. During the inquiry it is insinuated that Grey is at fault for the explosion of his cannon and that the overall fault lays in faulty gunpowder - gunpowder that is produced by Grey's elder half-brother, Edgar DeVane. Once again, it is up to Grey to take up his own investigations and ensure his family's honour.

The one thing that I really liked about this story was the fact that by this point in the series a group of antagonists are clearly being established. While none of these antagonists are actual villains in any of the books they do appear regularly and their dealings are often antagonistic to that of Grey's. I am looking forward to the point at which Grey actually faces off with these individuals directly, and I wonder if he will do so one-on-one or if it will be a great face off between him and all of them. The book was also very fast paced, which was nice in comparison to its predecessor. Gabaldon doesn't bog herself down with the details (a rarity) and focuses most on telling the story. That having been said, I really wasn't attracted by the story. I found parts of it interesting, but when it was all said and done I felt like the whole thing was handled a bit too easily. Once again, a lot of it really felt a bit contrived. Overall, not Gabaldon's best work, but also not her worst.

http://ishreviews.blogspot.ca/2012/07...

Merged review:

I've already reviewed the three individual novellas that make up this collection, "Lord John and the Hellfire Club," "Lord John and the Succubus," and "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier," but I thought that I might also review the collection as a whole. The theme that connects each novella, asides from the overall connection of being a Lord John novella, is an initial apparent connection to the supernatural - although as each novella climaxes it becomes clear that supernatural elements are not entirely at play.

My one big problem with this collection was the fact that, while arranged chronologically, if you want to read the story entirely chronologically you cannot sit down with this work and read from cover to cover - there are two novels whose events happen in between the events of these stories. Lord John and the Private Matter takes place between "Hellfire Club" and "Succubus" and Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade occurs in between "Succubus" and "Haunted Soldier." It kind of makes reading this a bit of a hassle, having to go from one book to another and then back again, although I do appreciate having these stories collected in general - the other option being tracking down the anthologies in which they were initially written (which I have had to do for the later Lord John novellas, "Custom of the Army" and "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies"). My smaller problem is the lack of a historical note for these stories - "Succubus" does have a small one, but the others don't. Given as I know that Gabaldon's publishers are willing to let her write lengthy tomes, I think she could have gotten away with adding a bit more to discuss the history that she utilizes in her books.

Despite those problems, however, I really did like this collection. I really liked how these stories were related thematically, and I really enjoyed the fact the way that they each referenced each other. Events in one novella affect the events in the next novel, or even another novella. Secondary characters reappear, and the overall antagonists in the series all make appearances. If you're a fan of Gabaldon's work, then I think this is a good addition to your collection.

http://ishreviews.blogspot.ca/2012/07...

[Johanna Lehto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Diana Gabaldon have made a great work. This time in the form of a short story collection. For many reasons, Diana Gabaldon is my favorite author of all time:

Her choice of words are always brilliant! I love how much
time and research she puts into her stories and make them as authentic as possible.Then with a little bit of a twist with supernatural elements (time-travel) she make the stories amazing!

The themes she has in her stories are great: Time travel, 18th century, love, family and friendships. With the case of Lord John Grey stories: the lgbtq+ community during the 18th century is well written. I believe she has read and used 'Mother Clap's Molly House: The Gay Subculture in England, 1700-1830' by Rictor Norton as a base, which is really good!

As for her characters, Lord John Grey is my absolute favorite. He is kind, loyal, noble and strong (both in mind and body). Everytime we meet Lord John in the main series is gold. So, I was thrilled when I realized there where an entire spin-off series with novels and short stories about his adventures outside the the Frasers' life.

These short stories where well made and interesting to read. All of them had a lot of suspense and interesting twists. My personal favorite of these novellas where 'Lord John and the Succubus'. The characters where really nice in this story. I was really happy to read more about Stephan von Namzen and Tom Byard and their relationships with Lord John.

However, eventhough I really enjoyed reading the stories and though they where good. I didn't connect as much with the novellas then with the main series (Outlander) and the spin-off novels. It might be that Diana Gabaldon's work dosen't work as well in novellas. They're not bad by any means! However, I think her work is best the way they are because she writes so many details (smells, texture, feelings etc.). There is simply not space for her to expand the story to its full potential in a short story.

In the end, if you are a big Outlander and Lord John Grey fan this collection is a must read.

[Sheila Melo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of three novellas about Lord John which have all been previously published. The stories about Lord John are a spinoff of the Outlander series.

LORD JOHN AND THE HELLFIRE CLUB: Lord John is approached by a man who bears a resemblance to Jaime and agrees to meet with the man about a political problem. The man is soon murdered and Lord John investigates and is drawn into the Hellfire Club. This is a very short story (around 40 pages) which gives a glimpse into Lord John's life and a quick investigation, but it didn't really stick with me. Neither the mystery, nor the life glimpse seemed that grand. Okay story for fans, but not a necessary read. Rating 2.5 stars.

LORD JOHN AND THE SUCCUBUS: Lord John is in Prussia and encounters another murder. This time the suspect is a succubus (female demon). Lord John investigates the death. This is a longer story (about 100 pages) and has a bit of supernatural flare which won't surprise readers of the Outlander series. The mystery was intriguing to be because of the supernatural possibilities mixed with possible prosaic answers. The closeness of the possibility of supernatural answers feels really time appropriate. The story was enjoyable and I liked the resolution. Rating: 3.5 stars.

LORD JOHN AND THE HAUNTED SOLDIER: Lord John is engaged in an inquiry as to the explosion of a cannon during battle. Through a series of events, Lord John ends up with the only evidence that the cannon was poorly constructed, perhaps even criminally so. The novellas in this series have so far not interested me as much as the previous novel. I was interested in the investigation but perhaps the parts of this novella that overlap with the Outlander series was the most interesting part to me. Rating: 3.5 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com