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Lord John Grey #3
The Scottish Prisoner
1760. Jamie Fraser is a paroled prisoner of war in the remote Lake District. Close enough to the son he cannot claim as his own, his quiet existence is interrupted first by dreams of his lost wife, then by the appearance of Tobias Quinn, an erstwhile comrade from the Rising.
Lord John Grey – aristocrat, soldier, sometime spy – is in the possession of papers which reveal ta damning case of corruption and murder against a British officer. But the documents also hint at a far more dangerous conspiracy.
Soon Lord John and Jamie are unwilling companions on the road to Ireland, a country whose castles hold dreadful secrets, and where the bones of the dead are hidden, in an epic story of treachery – and scores that can only be settled in blood.
Lord John Grey – aristocrat, soldier, sometime spy – is in the possession of papers which reveal ta damning case of corruption and murder against a British officer. But the documents also hint at a far more dangerous conspiracy.
Soon Lord John and Jamie are unwilling companions on the road to Ireland, a country whose castles hold dreadful secrets, and where the bones of the dead are hidden, in an epic story of treachery – and scores that can only be settled in blood.
518 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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24917 people want to read
About the author
Diana Gabaldon
210 books181k followersDiana 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 .
She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,181 reviews
June 26, 2013
4.5 Stars! Thank you sweet Jesus...I got my Fraser Fix!!
Okay, first things first! I read out of order, because I had it on good word that this could be read as a stand-alone, especially since I've read all the books in the Outlander series...twice, some books more. So, I had all the history I needed, and I've been waiting and waiting and waiting...like everyone else...for, Written in My Own Heart's Blood, and I needed some Jamie and this book delivered! I wanted to see how animosity turned to friendship, between John Grey and Jamie Fraser.
There are also some hints of, I don't know what to call it, magic, maybe along with Scottish lore, things that Jamie hears and sees, that give us a clue as to what might be the connection between the 18th and 20th century. Or at least that's how I read it. The story was excellent and Jamie's part in it is huge, very telling of his character, his morals and you see once again just how awesome he is. He's so complex, and I loved listening to his thought process, such a wise man, but it also broke my heart when his memories of Claire, his unborn child, and his family in Lallybroch, consumed him. His developing relationship with William was just lovely, and it warmed my heart to see this man that has been through so much, have a tiny bit of happiness.
John Grey is a character, that over the course of reading the Outlander series, I learned to like very much, it didn’t start out that way, he grew on me. This book sealed the deal…he is everything and more, a man of his word and honor. It started as an attraction, but John becomes a true friend to Jamie.
The alternating narration, for the alternating points-of-view, was done very well and gave the listen a little something extra. My hat’s off to Jeff Woodman and Rick Holmes for an entertaining read!
If you are an Outlander fan, need something to hold you over until Written in My Own Heart's Blood is released, or you love Jamie as much as me and need a Fraser fix, this will be well worth your time!
February 8, 2013
3rd read: Feb 2013
OK, so I'm just a sucker for Jamie Fraser... and any book that he's in.
2nd read: Feb 2012
Just gets better! Not much to add this time through, except that I appreciated the nuances of this book so much more. I was, however, dismayed to realize that the name Tobias Quinn never darkened our door before in any previous Outlander or Lord John book. That was a mystery to me, but...
Also, I'd missed the resolution with Betty, the ladies' maid at Helwater in the 1st read. I was too focused on Jamie and Lord John and the "main" story. When Lord John realizes what's happened at the very end of the book, it finally resonated with me; I wonder how and where DG will take us from here? Her focus is on Outlander book #8 (MOBY), but I foresee much more info about Lord John and how he got involved with The Black Chamber coming. And I suspect that Bowles goads LJ into the intelligence area by virtue of this book - and perhaps, LJ's secret life and what happened with Percy Wainwright. We'll see!
1st read: Nov 2011
OK, I admit, Lord John might be growing on me.... I truly enjoyed this book -- probably because Jamie Fraser has a co-starring role. It was good to see and hear more of Jamie -- learn even more about his time at Helwater, and see him develop a relationship with the toddler William. We're even part of the magical moment when Jamie realizes that he loves the little tyke that he can never claim as his own.
Warning: There is some steam in this book, which comes from Lord John's encounter with Stephan von Namtzen. It's not a long scene, and if that type of scene isn't your cup of tea, it's easily skimmed.
I have to say though, I was actually glad to see LJ and Stephan have their time together. The chemistry & attraction between them has always been palpable, but there was always the question if Stephan swung that way. Even LJ thought that Stephan might be unaware of it, himself. No, I'm not fans of these particular scenes, especially since Ms. Gabaldon is so good at writing steamy sex scenes... but if LJ has to have a lover and Ms. G has to write about it, I was glad that this time it was Stephan. (I never did care for Percy.) Stephan and LJ have a long-standing relationship, a tender friendship; they've both seen each other through joy, war, loss, sorrow, and pain. And it was particularly endearing that this was Stephan's first time with a man; LJ literally made himself vulnerable in his lovemaking with Stephan -- I would argue as vulnerable if not more than he did with Percy. And that shows hope that LJ can and will banish that dark shadow to its rightful place... and perhaps have some true happiness and love. IMO, Stephan is the right person; the problem is that Stephan likely won't be in England a lot, and so I wonder how much time the two can spend together without lifting eyebrows.
While LJ and Jamie take center stage, we still discover new and interesting characters (such as Quinn and Edward Twelvetrees) and receive interesting revelations about characters we already know, either from Outlander or the LJ books, especially Minnie (Hal's wife). I'm not certain if I didn't pick up on something that I should know about with her (is she a secret Jacobite? or was/is her father the Jacobite?) or if this is something to be revealed in a future book. The fact that she knew Jamie and had run messages between Jamie and her father was enlightening. And the way she met and eventually married Hal -- that's quite a story!
The intricate plot of soldiers, war, duty, politics, and spies doesn't disappoint. And in her usual way, Ms. Gabaldon gives us plenty of unforeseen twists and turns, until we tumble onto the truth -- at the very end. This cannot be the last of the LJ books, because it seems as if she brought us up to the brink of what must be LJ's time in the spy-game -- the one he alluded to in "Echo in the Bone" in his musings about Percy and discussions with Percy and others.
And Jamie. *sigh* How can one not love and adore the man? I had to start re-reading my favorite parts of "Voyager" again -- where Claire returns to Edinburgh.
I'm also glad of this book, because I couldn't imagine how LJ and Jamie repaired their relationship, after their violent and emotional encounter at Helwater in the previous LJ book. How did we get from there to the scenes in "Voyager" between LJ and Jamie? In "Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner", we see the beginnings of how their friendship was re-established, if not repaired. Beyond their trip to Ireland, the happenings in LJ's club where someone actually yells out that LJ is a sodomite, and both Jamies and LJ's actions after that show us that, despite everything, there is still a solid and true friendship between the men.
And, interestingly enough, we also see how and when LJ realized that William is really Jamie's son. LJ tucks that away in the back of his mind, his thoughts revealing that he might plan to use that to keep Jamie his prisoner. So, of course, we need to know more about that. As well as how Isobel agreed to become his wife. Again, we see how the pieces might just fit together to make that marriage happen; but we still don't know whether Isobel knows LJ's preference or how their marriage progressed. There is true affection between the two, no doubt, and likely love, just not romantic love. And many marriages of that day had a lot less than friendship and love!
Which brings me to say what I never thought I would: After Outlander book 8, I can truly say that I'm looking forward to the next Lord John book!
Speaking of which.... At the back of the book, Ms. Gabladon treats us to some sneak peeks at "Written in My Own Heart's Blood" (aka MOBY) -- short vignettes, to try to satisfy us until that book is complete and ready for publishing. Ms. Gabaldon says the writing should be done by the end of 2012, which likely means that we won't see the actual book until sometime in 2013. But we can always cross our fingers, can't we? In the meantime, follow Ms. Gabaldon on Twitter or tune into her web site or her Facebook site to catch her daily lines...
OK, so I'm just a sucker for Jamie Fraser... and any book that he's in.
2nd read: Feb 2012
Just gets better! Not much to add this time through, except that I appreciated the nuances of this book so much more. I was, however, dismayed to realize that the name Tobias Quinn never darkened our door before in any previous Outlander or Lord John book. That was a mystery to me, but...
Also, I'd missed the resolution with Betty, the ladies' maid at Helwater in the 1st read. I was too focused on Jamie and Lord John and the "main" story. When Lord John realizes what's happened at the very end of the book, it finally resonated with me; I wonder how and where DG will take us from here? Her focus is on Outlander book #8 (MOBY), but I foresee much more info about Lord John and how he got involved with The Black Chamber coming. And I suspect that Bowles goads LJ into the intelligence area by virtue of this book - and perhaps, LJ's secret life and what happened with Percy Wainwright. We'll see!
1st read: Nov 2011
OK, I admit, Lord John might be growing on me.... I truly enjoyed this book -- probably because Jamie Fraser has a co-starring role. It was good to see and hear more of Jamie -- learn even more about his time at Helwater, and see him develop a relationship with the toddler William. We're even part of the magical moment when Jamie realizes that he loves the little tyke that he can never claim as his own.
Warning: There is some steam in this book, which comes from Lord John's encounter with Stephan von Namtzen. It's not a long scene, and if that type of scene isn't your cup of tea, it's easily skimmed.
I have to say though, I was actually glad to see LJ and Stephan have their time together. The chemistry & attraction between them has always been palpable, but there was always the question if Stephan swung that way. Even LJ thought that Stephan might be unaware of it, himself. No, I'm not fans of these particular scenes, especially since Ms. Gabaldon is so good at writing steamy sex scenes... but if LJ has to have a lover and Ms. G has to write about it, I was glad that this time it was Stephan. (I never did care for Percy.) Stephan and LJ have a long-standing relationship, a tender friendship; they've both seen each other through joy, war, loss, sorrow, and pain. And it was particularly endearing that this was Stephan's first time with a man; LJ literally made himself vulnerable in his lovemaking with Stephan -- I would argue as vulnerable if not more than he did with Percy. And that shows hope that LJ can and will banish that dark shadow to its rightful place... and perhaps have some true happiness and love. IMO, Stephan is the right person; the problem is that Stephan likely won't be in England a lot, and so I wonder how much time the two can spend together without lifting eyebrows.
While LJ and Jamie take center stage, we still discover new and interesting characters (such as Quinn and Edward Twelvetrees) and receive interesting revelations about characters we already know, either from Outlander or the LJ books, especially Minnie (Hal's wife). I'm not certain if I didn't pick up on something that I should know about with her (is she a secret Jacobite? or was/is her father the Jacobite?) or if this is something to be revealed in a future book. The fact that she knew Jamie and had run messages between Jamie and her father was enlightening. And the way she met and eventually married Hal -- that's quite a story!
The intricate plot of soldiers, war, duty, politics, and spies doesn't disappoint. And in her usual way, Ms. Gabaldon gives us plenty of unforeseen twists and turns, until we tumble onto the truth -- at the very end. This cannot be the last of the LJ books, because it seems as if she brought us up to the brink of what must be LJ's time in the spy-game -- the one he alluded to in "Echo in the Bone" in his musings about Percy and discussions with Percy and others.
And Jamie. *sigh* How can one not love and adore the man? I had to start re-reading my favorite parts of "Voyager" again -- where Claire returns to Edinburgh.
I'm also glad of this book, because I couldn't imagine how LJ and Jamie repaired their relationship, after their violent and emotional encounter at Helwater in the previous LJ book. How did we get from there to the scenes in "Voyager" between LJ and Jamie? In "Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner", we see the beginnings of how their friendship was re-established, if not repaired. Beyond their trip to Ireland, the happenings in LJ's club where someone actually yells out that LJ is a sodomite, and both Jamies and LJ's actions after that show us that, despite everything, there is still a solid and true friendship between the men.
And, interestingly enough, we also see how and when LJ realized that William is really Jamie's son. LJ tucks that away in the back of his mind, his thoughts revealing that he might plan to use that to keep Jamie his prisoner. So, of course, we need to know more about that. As well as how Isobel agreed to become his wife. Again, we see how the pieces might just fit together to make that marriage happen; but we still don't know whether Isobel knows LJ's preference or how their marriage progressed. There is true affection between the two, no doubt, and likely love, just not romantic love. And many marriages of that day had a lot less than friendship and love!
Which brings me to say what I never thought I would: After Outlander book 8, I can truly say that I'm looking forward to the next Lord John book!
Speaking of which.... At the back of the book, Ms. Gabladon treats us to some sneak peeks at "Written in My Own Heart's Blood" (aka MOBY) -- short vignettes, to try to satisfy us until that book is complete and ready for publishing. Ms. Gabaldon says the writing should be done by the end of 2012, which likely means that we won't see the actual book until sometime in 2013. But we can always cross our fingers, can't we? In the meantime, follow Ms. Gabaldon on Twitter or tune into her web site or her Facebook site to catch her daily lines...
December 31, 2011
OK, I am biased. It had Jamie Fraser in it.
May 24, 2012
Can't wait for this book, for any of you out there that have read and fallen in love with the outlander series, this is supposedly about Lord John and Jamie's life before Claire returns. This time is only skimmed over as far as Jamie goes during the Outlander books, so it should be an interesting look as to what Jamie's up to after Claire returns to the modern era. And lets face it anything to do with our fav. scottish hottie is worth the look.
July 17, 2012
3.5 stars
While it was a good story, I was disappointed that Lord John had to share the narrative with Jamie Fraser. I've waited for years for a new Lord John book, and really wanted his story. And, while the book cover image and the Goodreads listing has the book as "Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner," I noticed that the library copy of the audiobook is titled, "The Scottish Prisoner" instead. This is much a more accurate title.
I found that the story itself took Lord John and Jamie's relationship in an interesting direction (no, not like that though there was some sexual tension between them from time to time) but was ambivalent about how this affects their relationship within the confines of the Outlander series. I found this thought sort of distracting while I was reading.
As ever with Diana Gabaldon's writing, the story detail was in depth, and it kept me turning pages. I love the level of historic detail in the book, and each character is finely drawn.
However, at times I felt that Jamie was a bit too much of a Mary Sue. I like Jamie, and have really enjoyed the Outlander books, but he was a little too perfect, too virtuously clinging to Claire's memory, and it made my eyes roll more than once.
I also wonder how many people would be able to read this book and not feel lost if they haven't already read the Outlander books. I never really felt that way with the other Lord John books, but this new direction really required a pretty good knowledge of Jamie's backstory and of his relationship with Lord John.
When I started writing this review, I was going to give the book 4 stars, but have now talked myself into giving it 3.5. A good story, just not the one I had hope to read.
While it was a good story, I was disappointed that Lord John had to share the narrative with Jamie Fraser. I've waited for years for a new Lord John book, and really wanted his story. And, while the book cover image and the Goodreads listing has the book as "Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner," I noticed that the library copy of the audiobook is titled, "The Scottish Prisoner" instead. This is much a more accurate title.
I found that the story itself took Lord John and Jamie's relationship in an interesting direction (no, not like that though there was some sexual tension between them from time to time) but was ambivalent about how this affects their relationship within the confines of the Outlander series. I found this thought sort of distracting while I was reading.
As ever with Diana Gabaldon's writing, the story detail was in depth, and it kept me turning pages. I love the level of historic detail in the book, and each character is finely drawn.
However, at times I felt that Jamie was a bit too much of a Mary Sue. I like Jamie, and have really enjoyed the Outlander books, but he was a little too perfect, too virtuously clinging to Claire's memory, and it made my eyes roll more than once.
I also wonder how many people would be able to read this book and not feel lost if they haven't already read the Outlander books. I never really felt that way with the other Lord John books, but this new direction really required a pretty good knowledge of Jamie's backstory and of his relationship with Lord John.
When I started writing this review, I was going to give the book 4 stars, but have now talked myself into giving it 3.5. A good story, just not the one I had hope to read.
August 9, 2016
*Beware, this story and review contains some minor spoiler for those who haven't read first three Outlander novels. If you haven't had a pleasure of reading Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager, I strongly suggest to stay away from this review. You have been warned.*
The Scottish Prisoner is set in 1760 and talks about events that took place more or less in the middle of Voyager. Written in dual POV of Lord John Grey and Jamie Fraser, The Scottish Prisoner is a must-read for those who cannot get enough of Jamie Fraser and makes great additional reading for all lovers of world Diana Gabaldon created in her Outlander series.
Diana Gabaldon once again proved that no matter what the topic, her writing is captivating and capable of bringing out all sorts of emotions in her readers. In this book, she focuses on themes like man's honour, morals and background politics of 18th century England.
But the true treasure of this story lies in stolen moments between loving man and his little illegitimate son, in the moments that warmed my heart greatly!
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
The Scottish Prisoner is set in 1760 and talks about events that took place more or less in the middle of Voyager. Written in dual POV of Lord John Grey and Jamie Fraser, The Scottish Prisoner is a must-read for those who cannot get enough of Jamie Fraser and makes great additional reading for all lovers of world Diana Gabaldon created in her Outlander series.
Diana Gabaldon once again proved that no matter what the topic, her writing is captivating and capable of bringing out all sorts of emotions in her readers. In this book, she focuses on themes like man's honour, morals and background politics of 18th century England.
But the true treasure of this story lies in stolen moments between loving man and his little illegitimate son, in the moments that warmed my heart greatly!
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
July 30, 2023
4.5 Stars ⭐️
February 29, 2012
This review is for the audiobook.
I can't resist! it's about Jamie :)
All I can say is that if you love Jaime you're going to enjoy this book very much. It is so nice to visit Diana's world and characters, I truly feel bad for Lord John, he loves Jaime more than I do, if that is possible.
Now for the narration, I have to warn all Outlanders's fans, the reader's voice and tone for Jaime is completely different from Davina Porter's, it takes a while to get used to him, but Diana's brilliant writing doesn't let you forget for a moment how wonderful Jaime's Personality is, and it comes through beautifully despite the not so great interpretation (some might say horrible). I enjoyed every single chapter he was present, which was a lot of them, I might add.
I really like Lord John after reading this entry.. well, I always did like him, but now I like him a lot more.
I was upset when the book ended, I wanted more :(
Two narrators; one for Jamie's chapters and another one for Lord's John's.
I can't resist! it's about Jamie :)
All I can say is that if you love Jaime you're going to enjoy this book very much. It is so nice to visit Diana's world and characters, I truly feel bad for Lord John, he loves Jaime more than I do, if that is possible.
Now for the narration, I have to warn all Outlanders's fans, the reader's voice and tone for Jaime is completely different from Davina Porter's, it takes a while to get used to him, but Diana's brilliant writing doesn't let you forget for a moment how wonderful Jaime's Personality is, and it comes through beautifully despite the not so great interpretation (some might say horrible). I enjoyed every single chapter he was present, which was a lot of them, I might add.
I really like Lord John after reading this entry.. well, I always did like him, but now I like him a lot more.
I was upset when the book ended, I wanted more :(
Two narrators; one for Jamie's chapters and another one for Lord's John's.
December 4, 2011
I am not a fan of Lord John or his series, but the promise of Jamie Fraser featuring prominently in this book convinced me to buy it.
I wish I hadn't.
Ultimately, I didn't feel that we learned as much about Jamie's time at Helwater as expected. Although Jamie is featured, this is still very much a Lord John book. For fans of the Outlander series, do not read this expecting it to be like Outlander. Although I knew better than to expect that, I came to realize that Jamie without Claire = dull and sad. It is the interaction between them, and not either character alone or with others, that is tantalizing and at the heart of why people love the Outlander series (of which I am a huge fan).
The central mystery did not hold my interest and even with Jamie Fraser tidbits strewn throughout, I had a hard time making it to the end of this book. The one plus to making it all the way through is that (POTENTIAL SPOILER) we learn how Jamie and John managed to rebuild their friendship after the events at Ardsmuire and their massive blow-up at the end of a previous Lord John book. Still, I could have learned that from skimming the book at the library -- like I do with all the other Lord John books.
Lord John fans will probably love this book. As for the rest of us ... well, there is always book 8 of the Outlander series!
I wish I hadn't.
Ultimately, I didn't feel that we learned as much about Jamie's time at Helwater as expected. Although Jamie is featured, this is still very much a Lord John book. For fans of the Outlander series, do not read this expecting it to be like Outlander. Although I knew better than to expect that, I came to realize that Jamie without Claire = dull and sad. It is the interaction between them, and not either character alone or with others, that is tantalizing and at the heart of why people love the Outlander series (of which I am a huge fan).
The central mystery did not hold my interest and even with Jamie Fraser tidbits strewn throughout, I had a hard time making it to the end of this book. The one plus to making it all the way through is that (POTENTIAL SPOILER) we learn how Jamie and John managed to rebuild their friendship after the events at Ardsmuire and their massive blow-up at the end of a previous Lord John book. Still, I could have learned that from skimming the book at the library -- like I do with all the other Lord John books.
Lord John fans will probably love this book. As for the rest of us ... well, there is always book 8 of the Outlander series!
November 5, 2020
"It squeaked between his teeth like a live mouse"
Guess you'll have to read the book to find out what "it" was :)
I've enjoyed the Lord John Grey novels, this one most of all as Grey and Jamie Fraser make a fine double act, and the latter features extensively in this tale.
if you're invested in the Outlander series, this is absolutely worth a look - and if you know the story from TV only then this offers an exciting outing for Grey and Fraser set during Season Three but not at all referenced on screen.
Recommended.
Guess you'll have to read the book to find out what "it" was :)
I've enjoyed the Lord John Grey novels, this one most of all as Grey and Jamie Fraser make a fine double act, and the latter features extensively in this tale.
if you're invested in the Outlander series, this is absolutely worth a look - and if you know the story from TV only then this offers an exciting outing for Grey and Fraser set during Season Three but not at all referenced on screen.
Recommended.
January 22, 2012
I already KNOW my rating will be 5 stars...just sat down to lunch, turned Kindle on..opened Scottish Prisoner..at 1% and I'm grinning like a young schoolgirl who is experiencing her first crush!! Jamie is BACK!! :)
December 21, 2018
Jamie Fraser. If those two words send thrills up and down your spine, then you will undoubtedly want to read The Scottish Prisoner. If, however, that name means nothing to you... well, it's not that I wouldn't recommend The Scottish Prisoner anyway; I just don't think you'd enjoy it as much as we rabid fans do.
The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon fits into the Outlander timeline in the period covered in Voyager, book 3 in the series. Unlike the other Lord John Grey books, TSP features our favorite red-headed Scotsman as a major character, not just in a cameo appearance.
I truly enjoyed TSP, and loved learning more about the developing trust and friendship between Lord John and Jamie. I almost gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, then realized that I was unfairly punishing TSP for not being part of the Outlander series! TSP was a terrific read, but really just whetted my appetite for the next big Outlander novel -- which, sadly, is still a year or two away from publication.
7/13/2014: Update to add: Just finished listening to the audiobook version of The Scottish Prisoner, and if it's even possible, I love the book even more now. For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of listening to the Lord John books on audio, I highly recommend it. The narrator is unbelievalably good, and gave me a whole new love for John as a character (and Hal too). Really spectacular.
12/20/2018: Updated once again: This book holds up! My 3rd read, and it's still terrific. Outlander fans really should not miss the Lord John books and stories.
The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon fits into the Outlander timeline in the period covered in Voyager, book 3 in the series. Unlike the other Lord John Grey books, TSP features our favorite red-headed Scotsman as a major character, not just in a cameo appearance.
I truly enjoyed TSP, and loved learning more about the developing trust and friendship between Lord John and Jamie. I almost gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, then realized that I was unfairly punishing TSP for not being part of the Outlander series! TSP was a terrific read, but really just whetted my appetite for the next big Outlander novel -- which, sadly, is still a year or two away from publication.
7/13/2014: Update to add: Just finished listening to the audiobook version of The Scottish Prisoner, and if it's even possible, I love the book even more now. For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of listening to the Lord John books on audio, I highly recommend it. The narrator is unbelievalably good, and gave me a whole new love for John as a character (and Hal too). Really spectacular.
12/20/2018: Updated once again: This book holds up! My 3rd read, and it's still terrific. Outlander fans really should not miss the Lord John books and stories.
July 30, 2014
When I started this book, I quickly became annoyed at the Scottishisms in the writing - not in the dialogue, but the way they cropped up in the descriptive text. They felt rare and out of place and smacked of shouting "look at me! I've done my research!"
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
December 4, 2011
I am unequal to the task of summarizing over 9,000 pages of conflict into a concise paragraph to set up where The Scottish Prisoner fits in the whole of Gabaldon's massive canon of delicious tomes.
Let's just say: 1) read the Outlander series; and 2) the events in this latest Gabaldon take place during a gap in Voyager, and is in itself a continuation of Lord John Grey's story. This book has the exquisite double-whammy of featuring both Lord John and our favorite Highland warrior, the strapping Jamie Fraser (the Scottish prisoner of the title), who currently is serving his sentence as a traitor to the Crown as a groom at the estate of friends of Lord John.
The last we saw Lord John and Jamie together (in the sequence in which this story fits) was in an uncomfortable scene in a stable in which an angry declaration of desire was made, a punch was thrown, a well-formed nose narrowly avoided smashing, and readers blushed in libraries and living rooms across the world. That is: Lord John declared and defended his passion for the decidedly non-reciprocating Jamie Fraser, who threw a punch that would have crushed Lord John's handsome face had he not wisely checked himself at the last second, and RachelKiwi blushed on her love-seat.
Lord John, who spends his life spying, soldiering, solving mysteries, and pining over Jamie Fraser, has again found himself embroiled in a criminal investigation. His current case will undoubtedly result in the court-martial of a high-ranking military man, but on closer investigation, the case seems entwined with a Jacobite conspiracy. This is where our (and Lord John's) favorite Jacobite comes in. Jamie is summoned to translate a Gaelic poem that may have an encoded message about another imminent Rising, with the goal of reclaiming the English throne for the Catholic Stuarts. Jamie and Lord John must forge an uneasy alliance--each with his own motivation--to untangle the web of murder, politics, and espionage.
Lord John and Jamie--though in effect master and slave, conquerer and conquered--once had a cautious friendship founded on mutual respect, which was ruined by John's passionate avowal of love for Jamie. (This must prove, once-and-for-all, that Jamie is indeed irresistible.) In The Scottish Prisoner, what has been sundered is tentatively repaired, leading Jamie and Lord John back to a fragile friendship.
SPOILERS OF OUTLANDER SERIES AHEAD:
Readers of the Outlander series will remember that Lord John raises Jamie's illegitimate son, William. The sacrifice, trust, and heartache of this situation make the eventual deep friendship between Jamie and Lord John one of the most moving relationships of the series. Despite the obvious difference in orientation, they are remarkably alike. Both were born to be lords, though Jamie's lordship was taken from him after the English conquest of the Highlands. They are military men with great courage and leadership qualities. And both men are fiercely loyal. A promise is a promise. And when Jamie entrusts his only (known) living child into his friend's keeping, he knows that William will know the love of a good man. Happily, The Scottish Prisoner explores the flowering of that friendship in its infancy--finally, they can embrace friendship as equals. TSP answers some of the tantalizing how? why? and when? questions that readers may wonder over after Voyager.
The Lord John books feature His Lordship in swashbuckling adventures, solving mysteries, and wielding swords in battle. Great adventure reading, to be sure, but what was particularly glorious about The Scottish Prisoner was being transported again into the muscled arms of Jamie Fraser. Um, I mean into the intricate and interesting world Gabaldon has created and populated with such unforgettable and lovable characters.
www.rachelkiwi.blogspot.com
Let's just say: 1) read the Outlander series; and 2) the events in this latest Gabaldon take place during a gap in Voyager, and is in itself a continuation of Lord John Grey's story. This book has the exquisite double-whammy of featuring both Lord John and our favorite Highland warrior, the strapping Jamie Fraser (the Scottish prisoner of the title), who currently is serving his sentence as a traitor to the Crown as a groom at the estate of friends of Lord John.
The last we saw Lord John and Jamie together (in the sequence in which this story fits) was in an uncomfortable scene in a stable in which an angry declaration of desire was made, a punch was thrown, a well-formed nose narrowly avoided smashing, and readers blushed in libraries and living rooms across the world. That is: Lord John declared and defended his passion for the decidedly non-reciprocating Jamie Fraser, who threw a punch that would have crushed Lord John's handsome face had he not wisely checked himself at the last second, and RachelKiwi blushed on her love-seat.
Lord John, who spends his life spying, soldiering, solving mysteries, and pining over Jamie Fraser, has again found himself embroiled in a criminal investigation. His current case will undoubtedly result in the court-martial of a high-ranking military man, but on closer investigation, the case seems entwined with a Jacobite conspiracy. This is where our (and Lord John's) favorite Jacobite comes in. Jamie is summoned to translate a Gaelic poem that may have an encoded message about another imminent Rising, with the goal of reclaiming the English throne for the Catholic Stuarts. Jamie and Lord John must forge an uneasy alliance--each with his own motivation--to untangle the web of murder, politics, and espionage.
Lord John and Jamie--though in effect master and slave, conquerer and conquered--once had a cautious friendship founded on mutual respect, which was ruined by John's passionate avowal of love for Jamie. (This must prove, once-and-for-all, that Jamie is indeed irresistible.) In The Scottish Prisoner, what has been sundered is tentatively repaired, leading Jamie and Lord John back to a fragile friendship.
SPOILERS OF OUTLANDER SERIES AHEAD:
Readers of the Outlander series will remember that Lord John raises Jamie's illegitimate son, William. The sacrifice, trust, and heartache of this situation make the eventual deep friendship between Jamie and Lord John one of the most moving relationships of the series. Despite the obvious difference in orientation, they are remarkably alike. Both were born to be lords, though Jamie's lordship was taken from him after the English conquest of the Highlands. They are military men with great courage and leadership qualities. And both men are fiercely loyal. A promise is a promise. And when Jamie entrusts his only (known) living child into his friend's keeping, he knows that William will know the love of a good man. Happily, The Scottish Prisoner explores the flowering of that friendship in its infancy--finally, they can embrace friendship as equals. TSP answers some of the tantalizing how? why? and when? questions that readers may wonder over after Voyager.
The Lord John books feature His Lordship in swashbuckling adventures, solving mysteries, and wielding swords in battle. Great adventure reading, to be sure, but what was particularly glorious about The Scottish Prisoner was being transported again into the muscled arms of Jamie Fraser. Um, I mean into the intricate and interesting world Gabaldon has created and populated with such unforgettable and lovable characters.
www.rachelkiwi.blogspot.com
February 10, 2017
This book is pretty much a crossover between the Lord John Grey books and the main Outlander novels. You can read it on its own, or as part of the LJG series without reading the Outlander novels, but it works best as a companion to that series.
I knew going in that Jamie Fraser was going to be a big presence and that the story in it would fill in the missing pieces of how LJG and Jamie went from loathing each other to becoming friends, but I didn't realize that Jamie would be an actual POV character, and that he would be just as much, if not more, of a protagonist than LJG himself, and it's his series! (In retrospect, I suppose it should have been a clue the book's not called Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner, just The Scottish Prisoner.)
Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Jamie is a great character, and the two previous Lord John books (as well as the short stories and novellas) have all made his character a large part of Lord John's interior landscape, both as a lost friend, and an unrequited love. It feels right that the last book in the series (so far) would feature the mending of their relationship.
Jamie is the titular prisoner, a former Scottish laird and Jacobite "traitor" infamous during the Rising, currently doing his time as a groom on a country estate. Lord John and he met when Jamie was in Ardsmuir prison, and LJG was the warden. The two men became friends but had a falling out when LJG declared his feelings for Jamie, who is still devoted to his dead wife*, Claire.
*Not dead. Just time-traveled into the future. Don't worry about it.
The two are forced together years later when the death of an English soldier in Canada exposes a traitor and a possible conspiracy. The key to the conspiracy seems to lie in a poem written in Gaelic, so LJG's brother Hal, against LJG's wishes, sends for Jamie to aid their investigation, and eventually provide the muscle for bringing the traitors to justice. They get caught up in intrigues of political conspiracy, murder, espionage and theft, but the real focus is on the two men. The plot here is almost secondary. The mystery is settled by 85% of the way into the book. In fact, more than any book in the Lord John series, this book is more about the character arcs of its POVs than it is about the mystery and goings on. Both men have to come to terms with some things together and apart, and the book can't end until both of them have resolution, not just who murdered who and why.
I liked this book quite a lot, but I do wish there had been a bit more genuine emotional interactions between the two leads. The really important stuff Gabaldon seems to let go unsaid. I suppose that's how these two men would really go about it if they were real, but as a reader, I wanted less ambiguous resolution. (Specifically, I wanted to see how Jamie was able to get over his homophobia and how his animosity towards John was able to lessen. We never get to see why or how that happens so they can be friends again, especially after their horrific confrontation in the last book.)
I'm not sure if DG has any plans to write any more Lord John books, or if she even can. There is a limited window of time she can set them in, both characters having moved on to much different settings the next time we see them in Voyager. But if she did manage to write one, I would definitely read it.
I knew going in that Jamie Fraser was going to be a big presence and that the story in it would fill in the missing pieces of how LJG and Jamie went from loathing each other to becoming friends, but I didn't realize that Jamie would be an actual POV character, and that he would be just as much, if not more, of a protagonist than LJG himself, and it's his series! (In retrospect, I suppose it should have been a clue the book's not called Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner, just The Scottish Prisoner.)
Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Jamie is a great character, and the two previous Lord John books (as well as the short stories and novellas) have all made his character a large part of Lord John's interior landscape, both as a lost friend, and an unrequited love. It feels right that the last book in the series (so far) would feature the mending of their relationship.
Jamie is the titular prisoner, a former Scottish laird and Jacobite "traitor" infamous during the Rising, currently doing his time as a groom on a country estate. Lord John and he met when Jamie was in Ardsmuir prison, and LJG was the warden. The two men became friends but had a falling out when LJG declared his feelings for Jamie, who is still devoted to his dead wife*, Claire.
*Not dead. Just time-traveled into the future. Don't worry about it.
The two are forced together years later when the death of an English soldier in Canada exposes a traitor and a possible conspiracy. The key to the conspiracy seems to lie in a poem written in Gaelic, so LJG's brother Hal, against LJG's wishes, sends for Jamie to aid their investigation, and eventually provide the muscle for bringing the traitors to justice. They get caught up in intrigues of political conspiracy, murder, espionage and theft, but the real focus is on the two men. The plot here is almost secondary. The mystery is settled by 85% of the way into the book. In fact, more than any book in the Lord John series, this book is more about the character arcs of its POVs than it is about the mystery and goings on. Both men have to come to terms with some things together and apart, and the book can't end until both of them have resolution, not just who murdered who and why.
I liked this book quite a lot, but I do wish there had been a bit more genuine emotional interactions between the two leads. The really important stuff Gabaldon seems to let go unsaid. I suppose that's how these two men would really go about it if they were real, but as a reader, I wanted less ambiguous resolution. (Specifically, I wanted to see how Jamie was able to get over his homophobia and how his animosity towards John was able to lessen. We never get to see why or how that happens so they can be friends again, especially after their horrific confrontation in the last book.)
I'm not sure if DG has any plans to write any more Lord John books, or if she even can. There is a limited window of time she can set them in, both characters having moved on to much different settings the next time we see them in Voyager. But if she did manage to write one, I would definitely read it.
January 15, 2012
I love Jamie Fraser!
When the masterful author Diana Gabaldon takes time out from her Outlander series to write other novels, sometimes I get frustrated. I want to know what happens next to Jamie and Claire! *stomps foot* But I am SO glad she wrote this novel. The Scottish Prisoner is part of her spinoff series about Lord John Grey, but the story focuses on Jamie during a heartbreaking stage of his life -- a story that simply needed to be told. It's poignant, funny, dramatic, and sweet.
The story takes place during Voyager, the third novel in the Outlander series. Jamie is a parolee at the Helwater estate, placed there by Lord John. But he's not staying there for long because John's brother Hal forces Jamie to help them track down a traitorous English Major hidden away in Ireland. Jamie completes his duty admirably, of course, with several wrinkles along the way.
One reason I love this story is I never know what to expect from Jamie. I know he'll always act with integrity, but this character from the 18th century often surprises me. John, the English colonel who lusts after him, describes Jamie the best:
"he has . . . a sense of himself that is quite separate from what society demands. Hie is inclined to make his own rules."
There's no doubt I care deeply about Jamie. I cried several times reading this novel. His hidden feelings for his son William got to me the most.
He had accustomed himself to thinking of William as a sort of small, glowing light in his mind, something like the flame of a wax candle lit before a saint's statue in a dark chapel. He couldn't afford such a candle, and wouldn't be allowed into the Helwater chapel, but liked to imagine himself lighting one when he said his prayers at night. He would watch the flame catch and swell, wavering a bit and then growing tall and still. He would go to sleep then and feel it burn, a peaceful watch fire in his heart.
He could feel the child's imagined weight on his shoulders, warm and heavy, smelling faintly of wee and strawberry jam. There were some chains you wore because you wanted to.
Willie clung to him like a leech, trying to burrow into his chest, and he wrapped his arms tight around the boy, too overcome to speak.
To this point, he could not really have said that he loved William. Felt the terror or responsibility for him, yes. Carry thought of him like a gem in his pocket, certainly, reaching now and then to touch it, marveling. But now he felt the perfection of the tiny bones of William's spine though his clothes, smooth as marbles under his fingers, smelled the scent of him, rich with the incense of innocence and the faint tang of shit and clean linen. And thought his heart would break with love.
I also deeply enjoyed the relationship between Jamie and John. There is so much baggage between them -- prisoner and gaoler, unrequited love, secrets -- it's amazing they can be friends. It speaks to both characters' integrity. I can't wait for Written in My Own Heart's Blood, book #8 in the Outlander series. There will be much to sort out between Jamie, John, and Claire! *giggles*
I love Jamie Fraser!
When the masterful author Diana Gabaldon takes time out from her Outlander series to write other novels, sometimes I get frustrated. I want to know what happens next to Jamie and Claire! *stomps foot* But I am SO glad she wrote this novel. The Scottish Prisoner is part of her spinoff series about Lord John Grey, but the story focuses on Jamie during a heartbreaking stage of his life -- a story that simply needed to be told. It's poignant, funny, dramatic, and sweet.
The story takes place during Voyager, the third novel in the Outlander series. Jamie is a parolee at the Helwater estate, placed there by Lord John. But he's not staying there for long because John's brother Hal forces Jamie to help them track down a traitorous English Major hidden away in Ireland. Jamie completes his duty admirably, of course, with several wrinkles along the way.
One reason I love this story is I never know what to expect from Jamie. I know he'll always act with integrity, but this character from the 18th century often surprises me. John, the English colonel who lusts after him, describes Jamie the best:
"he has . . . a sense of himself that is quite separate from what society demands. Hie is inclined to make his own rules."
There's no doubt I care deeply about Jamie. I cried several times reading this novel. His hidden feelings for his son William got to me the most.
He had accustomed himself to thinking of William as a sort of small, glowing light in his mind, something like the flame of a wax candle lit before a saint's statue in a dark chapel. He couldn't afford such a candle, and wouldn't be allowed into the Helwater chapel, but liked to imagine himself lighting one when he said his prayers at night. He would watch the flame catch and swell, wavering a bit and then growing tall and still. He would go to sleep then and feel it burn, a peaceful watch fire in his heart.
He could feel the child's imagined weight on his shoulders, warm and heavy, smelling faintly of wee and strawberry jam. There were some chains you wore because you wanted to.
Willie clung to him like a leech, trying to burrow into his chest, and he wrapped his arms tight around the boy, too overcome to speak.
To this point, he could not really have said that he loved William. Felt the terror or responsibility for him, yes. Carry thought of him like a gem in his pocket, certainly, reaching now and then to touch it, marveling. But now he felt the perfection of the tiny bones of William's spine though his clothes, smooth as marbles under his fingers, smelled the scent of him, rich with the incense of innocence and the faint tang of shit and clean linen. And thought his heart would break with love.
I also deeply enjoyed the relationship between Jamie and John. There is so much baggage between them -- prisoner and gaoler, unrequited love, secrets -- it's amazing they can be friends. It speaks to both characters' integrity. I can't wait for Written in My Own Heart's Blood, book #8 in the Outlander series. There will be much to sort out between Jamie, John, and Claire! *giggles*
I love Jamie Fraser!
December 18, 2011
Having read all of Diana Gabaldon's novels, including the Lord John series, in one fell swoop during the past year, I made certain to be the first at my public library to check out The Scottish Prisoner. It was an enjoyable immersion, to be once again alongside two of the three best-developed characters from her Outlander series, Jamie Fraser and Lord John Grey. Gabaldon's historic settings draw me in. Her characters reside in those settings realistically and she maneuvers the reader through the main plot and subplots with aplomb. This novel is not a mystery, though, or barely so, but an adventure involving Jamie Fraser and Lord John as they seek to stop an embryonic Irish Jacobite plot. Lord John is a fascinating character with all the attributes of a humorous and gentle man, unless provoked into fighting a duel or when in battle (he is, after all, an army officer). You would want him to be your friend. Jamie Fraser is . . . well . . . Jamie Fraser, one-half of a great love story, now in nadir along with his soul, while he resides in England as a paroled Scottish prisoner. Gabaldon's fans know from her Outlander series that matters will right themselves soon, so we tolerate his anguish, depression and irritation. Feel sympathy . . . want to pat him on the shoulder and whisper, "Just wait." Reading of the ups and downs of Jamie's and Lord John's friendship in this book -- one of the missing pieces -- is now better understood. Except for their different sexual proclivities,they bear the same code of honor, and so they do understand and mostly trust each other. It is Gabaldon's gift for dialogue - witty, thoughtful, sharp as a rapier's point -- that makes her such a delightful author to read. May she write for many years to come.
Author of The Wolf's Sun
A Devil Singing Small
Author of The Wolf's Sun
A Devil Singing Small
May 26, 2014
Where I got the book: purchased at a conference. Signed.
The Scottish Prisoner could at a stretch be read as a standalone novel, but readers could potentially be confused by the references to events that happen within the Outlander series. This is, in fact, a full-length Outlander side-shoot, set at the point where Jamie is working out his sentence for his part in the Jacobite rebellion on an estate in England’s Lake District, believing Claire to be lost to him forever but still, naturally, pining for her.
And then Lord John Grey turns up to yank Jamie out of his daily grind as a groom and take him on a mission that involves a possible Irish Jacobite plot. This is the first time we see Jamie and John working together at length and more or less as equals, so for fans of the series it definitely has its strong points. It’s pretty much a straightforward adventure story with little or no romance, and its family focus is on Lord John’s family rather than on Jamie’s.
I like Lord John almost as much as I like Jamie, so I found it pretty interesting to have the two men together without Claire’s viewpoint. This really is a novel about men caught up in conflict more than anything else, although like all of Gabaldon’s long fiction it indulges in side trails into the supernatural, makes the most of Gabaldon’s research, and throws up new revelations about secondary characters that could possibly lay the ground for more books to come.
And I’ve already put the audiobook of Written in My Own Heart’s Blood on pre-order, so there’ll be more Jamie and Claire to come very soon. I don’t know if The Scottish Prisoner would be one I’d re-read, but heck, what am I to do? I’m committed to this series until Gabaldon ends it or her brain turns to mush, whichever is the sooner. Bets are on.
The Scottish Prisoner could at a stretch be read as a standalone novel, but readers could potentially be confused by the references to events that happen within the Outlander series. This is, in fact, a full-length Outlander side-shoot, set at the point where Jamie is working out his sentence for his part in the Jacobite rebellion on an estate in England’s Lake District, believing Claire to be lost to him forever but still, naturally, pining for her.
And then Lord John Grey turns up to yank Jamie out of his daily grind as a groom and take him on a mission that involves a possible Irish Jacobite plot. This is the first time we see Jamie and John working together at length and more or less as equals, so for fans of the series it definitely has its strong points. It’s pretty much a straightforward adventure story with little or no romance, and its family focus is on Lord John’s family rather than on Jamie’s.
I like Lord John almost as much as I like Jamie, so I found it pretty interesting to have the two men together without Claire’s viewpoint. This really is a novel about men caught up in conflict more than anything else, although like all of Gabaldon’s long fiction it indulges in side trails into the supernatural, makes the most of Gabaldon’s research, and throws up new revelations about secondary characters that could possibly lay the ground for more books to come.
And I’ve already put the audiobook of Written in My Own Heart’s Blood on pre-order, so there’ll be more Jamie and Claire to come very soon. I don’t know if The Scottish Prisoner would be one I’d re-read, but heck, what am I to do? I’m committed to this series until Gabaldon ends it or her brain turns to mush, whichever is the sooner. Bets are on.
December 2, 2011
Let me begin by saying that I am not a big fan of the Outlander series(Gasp! Don't hate me for it) I don't like time travel books all that much and I find the series confusing when skipping back and forth in time. I am a big fan of the Lord John series, though. I think that Lord John is an interesting character, very dark at times, with moments of lightness and tenderness. I never know what to expect from him from one minute to the next. I like how his public life is at odds with his private life. I am always asking myself who the real Lord John is. Unfortunately for me, this entry in the series had far too little of Lord John and far too much of Jamie. Not that I don't like Jamie, but wasn't this supposed to be Lord John's novel? It really was more of an abbreviated Outlander novel in my opinion--or a bloated Lord John novel with too little of Lord John. I prefer the smaller Lord John novels that emphasize his cleverness in solving problems or mysteries. In this book, Lord John seemed a little helpless, needing Jamie far too much to accomplish his goal. I hope that the next book in this series truly is a Lord John novel. He does have a life independent of all that happens in the Outlander series. Let's see some more of it!
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June 16, 2024
Out of all the Lord John books, this was my favourite. I'm quite sad to leave him and his world, and just might re-read some of the passages in Gabaldon's Voyager to see some more of his character.
September 4, 2018
This is the third and last novel-length Lord John book (at least for now; I'm always hoping and eager for more) and concerns a possible Jacobite plot to overthrown the English crown and reclaim Scotland. Again. Those Jacobites just don't give up, do they? ;)
John starts off just trying to clear his friend, Caruthers, of charges from an unjust court martial and ends up way over his head in matters he simply can never understand. Except he's English, so of course his superior intellect will figure out everything, right? Yeah, not so much. :P John is forced to work alongside Jamie Fraser - or rather, Jamie is forced to work with the Greys - in uncovering the plot and bringing Siverly to justice.
The best thing about this book, other than the complex and ever-evolving plot, is the complex and ever-evolving relationship between John and Jamie. They started off in Voyager as warden and prisoner and forged a tentative friendship that gets tested, destroyed and rebuilt throughout the Lord John Grey series. It's in this book where they finally find some sort of understanding about each other and can finally start to put some of their past hurts and regrets behind them. Of course, John's still hopelessly in love with Jamie, who can never return those feelings. But you know who can? Stephan von Namtzen, baby! He was not in this nearly enough, but for the few scenes we got, they were very sweet indeed. Ah, UST done right is so hard to find. *sigh*
Each time I thought this story was over, there was more yet to go. That's not really a complaint, as it's all relevant and helps to get these two where they need to be for when we catch up with John in Jamaica in the second half of Voyager. But it was still kind of like the end of ROTK all over again. :P
And now, the narrators. Yes, that's plural, because for some reason that I just cannot fathom they decided this book needed two narrators instead of just one. Jeff Woodman returns, reading the sections from John's POV, which he does brilliantly as always. The second narrator is Rick Holmes, who reads Jamie's POV and honestly? It's just not needed. Now, I don't want to put down Rick Holmes's performance at all, and if I see his name on something else I want to listen to, I certainly won't hesitate to get it. I think the main detractor here is the James Marsters effect.* Holmes sounds like a younger version of Roy Dotrice, except that he actually enunciates, and he really does do a bang up job of it. His Scottish and Irish accents are perhaps slightly more Scottish and Irish than Woodman's, and he naturally has a deeper voice like I would expect Jamie to have. But... he's not Jeff Woodman and I don't understand why he's here. It's distracting to go back and forth between two different narrators. They obviously were not in the studio together when they recorded this, and having two different voices for the same characters was pretty pointless. It was especially annoying in the dueling chapter, which has quick and short cuts back and forth to ramp up the tension - which works brilliantly when reading it yourself but not so much when switching between two different narrators - who again were not in the studio at the same time they were recording their parts. If they had been, I imagine they could've really made this part of the book exceptional. But they're not, so you get pauses at the cuts when you should be getting rapid back and forths. It can't be the length of the novel, which is just over 15 hours and not much longer than Brotherhood of the Blade. Not to mention that Davina Porter is recording the Outlander books solo and the shortest of those is over 30 hours. So why do we need two narrators for this one? WHY?!
Just one more Lord John novella to go (and my fave of the novellas), and then it's back to Voyager to the end!
* - James Marsters, for those of you who don't know, records The Dresden Files audiobooks and he's a big part of the reason for that series' success. When Cold Days was originally released, Marsters wasn't available, so instead of waiting for him Penguin decided to throw some poor unsuspecting narrator to the wolves to record it in Marsters' place. While reviewers all agreed that the narrator did a fine job, he just wasn't James Marsters and there was a lot of backlash by the fans. Glad to say, by the time I got around to Cold Days, Penguin had wisely rereleased it with Marsters as the narrator, saving me the trouble of having to decide between reading it or suffering through a very well-read narration by some random guy who wasn't James Marsters. :D
John starts off just trying to clear his friend, Caruthers, of charges from an unjust court martial and ends up way over his head in matters he simply can never understand. Except he's English, so of course his superior intellect will figure out everything, right? Yeah, not so much. :P John is forced to work alongside Jamie Fraser - or rather, Jamie is forced to work with the Greys - in uncovering the plot and bringing Siverly to justice.
The best thing about this book, other than the complex and ever-evolving plot, is the complex and ever-evolving relationship between John and Jamie. They started off in Voyager as warden and prisoner and forged a tentative friendship that gets tested, destroyed and rebuilt throughout the Lord John Grey series. It's in this book where they finally find some sort of understanding about each other and can finally start to put some of their past hurts and regrets behind them. Of course, John's still hopelessly in love with Jamie, who can never return those feelings. But you know who can? Stephan von Namtzen, baby! He was not in this nearly enough, but for the few scenes we got, they were very sweet indeed. Ah, UST done right is so hard to find. *sigh*
Each time I thought this story was over, there was more yet to go. That's not really a complaint, as it's all relevant and helps to get these two where they need to be for when we catch up with John in Jamaica in the second half of Voyager. But it was still kind of like the end of ROTK all over again. :P
And now, the narrators. Yes, that's plural, because for some reason that I just cannot fathom they decided this book needed two narrators instead of just one. Jeff Woodman returns, reading the sections from John's POV, which he does brilliantly as always. The second narrator is Rick Holmes, who reads Jamie's POV and honestly? It's just not needed. Now, I don't want to put down Rick Holmes's performance at all, and if I see his name on something else I want to listen to, I certainly won't hesitate to get it. I think the main detractor here is the James Marsters effect.* Holmes sounds like a younger version of Roy Dotrice, except that he actually enunciates, and he really does do a bang up job of it. His Scottish and Irish accents are perhaps slightly more Scottish and Irish than Woodman's, and he naturally has a deeper voice like I would expect Jamie to have. But... he's not Jeff Woodman and I don't understand why he's here. It's distracting to go back and forth between two different narrators. They obviously were not in the studio together when they recorded this, and having two different voices for the same characters was pretty pointless. It was especially annoying in the dueling chapter, which has quick and short cuts back and forth to ramp up the tension - which works brilliantly when reading it yourself but not so much when switching between two different narrators - who again were not in the studio at the same time they were recording their parts. If they had been, I imagine they could've really made this part of the book exceptional. But they're not, so you get pauses at the cuts when you should be getting rapid back and forths. It can't be the length of the novel, which is just over 15 hours and not much longer than Brotherhood of the Blade. Not to mention that Davina Porter is recording the Outlander books solo and the shortest of those is over 30 hours. So why do we need two narrators for this one? WHY?!
Just one more Lord John novella to go (and my fave of the novellas), and then it's back to Voyager to the end!
* - James Marsters, for those of you who don't know, records The Dresden Files audiobooks and he's a big part of the reason for that series' success. When Cold Days was originally released, Marsters wasn't available, so instead of waiting for him Penguin decided to throw some poor unsuspecting narrator to the wolves to record it in Marsters' place. While reviewers all agreed that the narrator did a fine job, he just wasn't James Marsters and there was a lot of backlash by the fans. Glad to say, by the time I got around to Cold Days, Penguin had wisely rereleased it with Marsters as the narrator, saving me the trouble of having to decide between reading it or suffering through a very well-read narration by some random guy who wasn't James Marsters. :D
Read
December 4, 2011Although I quite like the book as a book, Rick Holmes is dreadfully miscast in this audio version. If the purpose of having two narrators was to give each character a separate focus and "voice", then it's beyond me why they would cast two actors with a very similar tone, style, and timbre. This works somewhat for Lord John - higher pitched and slightly nasal - but not for James Fraser whose voice in the books is described as deep, low, and husky.
But the worst thing is that his Scottish accent is execrable. I just don't get the logic of this casting, especially with a wealth of actors to choose from.
But the worst thing is that his Scottish accent is execrable. I just don't get the logic of this casting, especially with a wealth of actors to choose from.
November 5, 2024
***reread 11/5/24***
I do enjoy the relationship between Lord John Grey and Jamie. I forgot some of what happened in this one, which is why I decided to reread it before jumping back into Outlander with Drums of Autumn. I do really love Jamie. I don't think there could be a bad book when he's in it. I also really like Grey. I do wish we got more romance with him in these books though. He deserves it
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This one was so much better for me. I think it was having Jamie back in this one. Anything with Jamie will be a winner for me.
I do enjoy the relationship between Lord John Grey and Jamie. I forgot some of what happened in this one, which is why I decided to reread it before jumping back into Outlander with Drums of Autumn. I do really love Jamie. I don't think there could be a bad book when he's in it. I also really like Grey. I do wish we got more romance with him in these books though. He deserves it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This one was so much better for me. I think it was having Jamie back in this one. Anything with Jamie will be a winner for me.
October 1, 2017
I LOVE Lord John Grey and Jamie Fraser. And I loved the team they make together. I absolutely loved this book. Especially the last several chapters. My goodness, the way DG wraps up a book is just magical. I am so glad I finally read this one. Thank you to my friends that told me to read it. I can't wait to read it again.
1st read: Aug11-15, 2015
2nd read: Oct 1-7, 2016
1st read: Aug11-15, 2015
2nd read: Oct 1-7, 2016
October 25, 2018
5/5 💞
Relato paralelo al libro de "Viajera" (1760) durante la estancia de Jamie en la mansión de Helwater..
Si juntas en un solo libro como protagonistas a Lord John Grey y Jamie Fraser, Que sale, eh eh eh???? pues una historia maravillosa, con una trama emocionante, misteriosa y a la vez super tierna y emotiva 😍💖 (no digo mas para no spoilear).
Relato paralelo al libro de "Viajera" (1760) durante la estancia de Jamie en la mansión de Helwater..
Si juntas en un solo libro como protagonistas a Lord John Grey y Jamie Fraser, Que sale, eh eh eh???? pues una historia maravillosa, con una trama emocionante, misteriosa y a la vez super tierna y emotiva 😍💖 (no digo mas para no spoilear).
June 2, 2015
Gabaldon presents her penultimate Lord John story in such as way as to lure in long-time fans while filling in many cracks left in her previous stories. The tale, a dual narrative, depicts the lives of both Lord John Grey and Jamie Fraser, at first in their respective residences, but soon together on a mission. Lord John comes into possession of a number of documents that support corruption by a British soldier he first encountered while in Quebec. Buried in the package is a document in 'Erse, language of the Scottish Highland. Grey knows of the language from his time as Governor of Ardsmuir Prison, but with no ability to decipher it, calls on Jamie Fraser, who's living life on parole at Hellwater, in the Lake District. Fraser, approached by a comrade from the Jacobite Uprisings, wants nothing to do with the politics, even after learning that Ireland appears to be a Jacobite hotbed. When Grey arrives and decides they will chase after this soldier, who was last seen in Ireland, Fraser reluctantly accompanies Grey and brings along this comrade, though their connection is not yet revealed. Along the way, both Grey and Fraser encounter Jacobites and generally nefarious characters alike, all of whom make the simple task of the soldier's retrieval all the more difficult. When the soldier is murdered and the accused is amongst the ranks of Grey's travelling party, the story thickens alongside the plot. As Gabaldon tells wonderful backstories of her two male protagonists, the avid Outlander reader can pull together some of the final pieces into the larger puzzle of how life evolved during the years Jamie and Claire were apart. The perfect (almost) end to the two-decade era, keeping the Outlander appetite whetted and the levels of curiosity high.
While this book did nothing for me when first I read it upon its release, I can now say that I have changed my mind. I have a better respect for the story and the role it plays in the larger FRASER and GREY character development. Gabaldon has woven together a stellar set of stories as they relate to Lord John, all of which I have read sequentially. It is by doing this (and following the OUTLANDER chronology) that I have a wonderful respect for the nuggets of information found within these pages. Gabaldon's attention to detail is not lost and the attentive reader will enjoy the throwback to some minor storylines and characters from novels and novellas past. With one more short piece of writing left in the Lord John series, Gabaldon will have to tie up any loose ends she has for her aristocratic protagonist, or pepper things into the OUTLANDER novels anew.
Kudos, Madam Gabaldon. When I took the time to better understand this story, it all came together so well and kept me intrigued until the final page.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While this book did nothing for me when first I read it upon its release, I can now say that I have changed my mind. I have a better respect for the story and the role it plays in the larger FRASER and GREY character development. Gabaldon has woven together a stellar set of stories as they relate to Lord John, all of which I have read sequentially. It is by doing this (and following the OUTLANDER chronology) that I have a wonderful respect for the nuggets of information found within these pages. Gabaldon's attention to detail is not lost and the attentive reader will enjoy the throwback to some minor storylines and characters from novels and novellas past. With one more short piece of writing left in the Lord John series, Gabaldon will have to tie up any loose ends she has for her aristocratic protagonist, or pepper things into the OUTLANDER novels anew.
Kudos, Madam Gabaldon. When I took the time to better understand this story, it all came together so well and kept me intrigued until the final page.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 12, 2014
This is the third in the series starring Lord John Grey, a character in the Outlander series. There is something of an under current of whispered rebellion, that is centering in Ireland, and it smells of a Jacobite uprising. Jamie's past with the Jacobite cause and his ability to read Gaelic make him the perfect person to use for Hal's, John's brother, purposes.
I had a hard time rating this book. I loved the portions that included Jamie and you were able to learn more details about his life. I did not enjoy the Lord John's portion of the book. He was so hung up on Jamie it was like reading a teenage diary. So that for me averaged out to "liked" it. I would be much more interested in a spin off series about Mother Hildegarde or Master Raymond. I have heard that in the new mini book,, A Trail of Fire includes a tale of Mother Hildegarde. Lord John Grey is just not my favorite character, regardless of his sex life, this is just not a series I will continue to give my reading time too. I'll save it for Outlander! ;)
I had a hard time rating this book. I loved the portions that included Jamie and you were able to learn more details about his life. I did not enjoy the Lord John's portion of the book. He was so hung up on Jamie it was like reading a teenage diary. So that for me averaged out to "liked" it. I would be much more interested in a spin off series about Mother Hildegarde or Master Raymond. I have heard that in the new mini book,, A Trail of Fire includes a tale of Mother Hildegarde. Lord John Grey is just not my favorite character, regardless of his sex life, this is just not a series I will continue to give my reading time too. I'll save it for Outlander! ;)
February 17, 2022
I have failed myself again. I swore I was going to savor the Lord John Grey books and not race thru them like I did the 'Outlander' books. But noooo. I. could. not. do. it. I seem to have absolutely NO restraint when it comes to Diana Gabaldons' written works. I got totally sucked into 'The Scottish Prisoner,' even though my brain kept sending me niggling little reminders that "bite size" portions would stretch the journey & prolong the enjoyment. *sigh* I think that's a tactic best implemented on characters other than Lord John Grey & Jamie Fraser. They are two of my very favorites & when they're both in a whole book together, all bets are off.
I originally downloaded this book from my library Overdrive account then promptly ordered my own copy as soon as I finished. It was that good. I will certainly be re-reading, maybe starting as soon as tonight!! haha. I'm not sure where to begin as far as an overview? I almost forgot while I was reading that LJG & Jamie were on a quest ~ crazy, unfocused girl that I am. It was just so riveting to watch their relationship evolve over the length of the book. It definitely spanned the entire spectrum of emotions. Both men are honorable, courageous, educated, magnificent specimens of men, equally at ease in a drawing room or on a battlefield. Can you tell I'm just a little biased?! Neither servitude or imprisonment can take the "shine" off Jamie. No matter what their positions are to each other, warden/prisoner, guardian/servant, there is an underlying mutual respect between them and with just cause. They are true equals, in their own right ~ hero's and natural leaders of men. It was great to see them working together in that capacity.
I was a little confused when I was trying to figure out where the timeline of this novel falls in relation to the 'Outlander' novels. Since Jamie's at Helwater, it has to take place early in 'Voyager' days but the letters & poem left to LJG by Charlie Carruthers (that instigate the storyline of this book) confused me. I know I've read about Carruthers somewhere but at the moment can't remember if it was in one of the side novella's or in the 'Outlander' novels? These books are all so rich in overlapping detail, I may need to read them all ten times to get them straight!
As I said, there was a quest. I do know what it was, however, it might be more significant to me upon a second reading. The first go 'round, I was just caught up in the euphoria of being back in this universe, with a new, unread book before me. It was all the extraneous things surrounding the quest that grabbed me. I loved that Jamie was still so connected to Claire, all these years after Culloden. Made my heart clench. How many times he prays for her & his childs safety! Details are revealed that fill out his life & give us more insights into his beliefs during this period as well. Those were satisfying to read about too. Jamie's journey to Ardsmuir, we knew he went but not the details of his journey there (after being arrested at Lallybroch) Revealing too, his stories of the Auld Ones/fairies. No wonder he believed Claire when she told him the truth! The last sentence of the book made my head spin (when he reaches to clasp her hand thru the veil) Wow. As readers, we've been privy to Jamie's "dreams" or "visions" seeing Claire or Jem in the future but what are the extent of those abilities??!! Mayhaps extraordinary??? and what about the tithes (of two hundred years)? Does that have meaning to the time travelers?? Totally need to read this book again. I've always thought Jamie was remarkably evolved for his time in history and for the way he accepts Claire for who she is & what she does. Anyway, I think I've digressed from the recap?
Let's just end the ramblings with it's a wonderful book because otherwise I could very easily get carried away on a million little tangents. Jamie rising to every occasion, touching scenes with his son, reading his way thru Hal's library, etc., and not to forget Lord John Grey, who is every bit as splendid. What a burden for Jamie that everyone who meets him, wants him! The tension of LJG's attraction & the restraint not to act upon it, is deliciously written. I loved every single word & can't wait to read more in this series and this one in particular again!
I originally downloaded this book from my library Overdrive account then promptly ordered my own copy as soon as I finished. It was that good. I will certainly be re-reading, maybe starting as soon as tonight!! haha. I'm not sure where to begin as far as an overview? I almost forgot while I was reading that LJG & Jamie were on a quest ~ crazy, unfocused girl that I am. It was just so riveting to watch their relationship evolve over the length of the book. It definitely spanned the entire spectrum of emotions. Both men are honorable, courageous, educated, magnificent specimens of men, equally at ease in a drawing room or on a battlefield. Can you tell I'm just a little biased?! Neither servitude or imprisonment can take the "shine" off Jamie. No matter what their positions are to each other, warden/prisoner, guardian/servant, there is an underlying mutual respect between them and with just cause. They are true equals, in their own right ~ hero's and natural leaders of men. It was great to see them working together in that capacity.
I was a little confused when I was trying to figure out where the timeline of this novel falls in relation to the 'Outlander' novels. Since Jamie's at Helwater, it has to take place early in 'Voyager' days but the letters & poem left to LJG by Charlie Carruthers (that instigate the storyline of this book) confused me. I know I've read about Carruthers somewhere but at the moment can't remember if it was in one of the side novella's or in the 'Outlander' novels? These books are all so rich in overlapping detail, I may need to read them all ten times to get them straight!
As I said, there was a quest. I do know what it was, however, it might be more significant to me upon a second reading. The first go 'round, I was just caught up in the euphoria of being back in this universe, with a new, unread book before me. It was all the extraneous things surrounding the quest that grabbed me. I loved that Jamie was still so connected to Claire, all these years after Culloden. Made my heart clench. How many times he prays for her & his childs safety! Details are revealed that fill out his life & give us more insights into his beliefs during this period as well. Those were satisfying to read about too. Jamie's journey to Ardsmuir, we knew he went but not the details of his journey there (after being arrested at Lallybroch) Revealing too, his stories of the Auld Ones/fairies. No wonder he believed Claire when she told him the truth! The last sentence of the book made my head spin (when he reaches to clasp her hand thru the veil) Wow. As readers, we've been privy to Jamie's "dreams" or "visions" seeing Claire or Jem in the future but what are the extent of those abilities??!! Mayhaps extraordinary??? and what about the tithes (of two hundred years)? Does that have meaning to the time travelers?? Totally need to read this book again. I've always thought Jamie was remarkably evolved for his time in history and for the way he accepts Claire for who she is & what she does. Anyway, I think I've digressed from the recap?
Let's just end the ramblings with it's a wonderful book because otherwise I could very easily get carried away on a million little tangents. Jamie rising to every occasion, touching scenes with his son, reading his way thru Hal's library, etc., and not to forget Lord John Grey, who is every bit as splendid. What a burden for Jamie that everyone who meets him, wants him! The tension of LJG's attraction & the restraint not to act upon it, is deliciously written. I loved every single word & can't wait to read more in this series and this one in particular again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2012
The Scottish Prisoner is Gabaldon’s latest book in her extended family of books set in 18th century England/Scotland/Ireland. If you are one of the handful of people who haven’t read her bestselling books, I’ll give a brief overview so you’ll know where this most recent falls in place. Gabaldon says you can read any of her books as stand alones, but even she admits you’ll get what’s going on better if you read in order. Her main series encompasses the Outlander books in which one of the main characters, Claire Randall, steps through an ancient stone circle and passes from 1945 to 1743 and into the middle of war torn Scotland. There she meets James Fraser, along with a great deal of trouble, and eventually they admit they like each other. But she’s married to someone else in 1945, so it’s complicated. There are now seven books in this main series: Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone. The Scottish Prisoner is part of a related series, the Lord John Grey books, which don’t have Claire in them, but include Jamie Fraser along with his sometime nemesis, Lord John Grey, as the primary focus. The Lord John books fall, chronologically speaking, in the middle of the events of Voyager, but don’t influence the plot line of the Outlander series, although they are definitely related.
The Scottish Prisoner has Gabaldon’s usual focus on character development and plot twists. Still a prisoner at Helwater, Jamie is made an offer by Lord John’s brother he has little choice but to accept. It involves traveling to Ireland with Lord John—and neither man wants to spend any time with the other. Trying to insert themselves into this unwanted journey, are even more unwanted people and ideas from Jamie’s past as a Scottish rebel. And, of course, a couple women do their best to help or deceive Jamie also, although the woman Jamie really wants haunts only his dreams. Gabaldon opens the book vividly with one such dream and its effects on Jamie. Lord John continues to be an intriguing person of conflicting loyalties and passions. He’s devoted to his regiment and the code of honor he will uphold at all costs—which is what sends him to Ireland more or less—but he is also gay, a capital offense, and his view of life does not always conform comfortably with the conventions of his time. Part of the pleasure of this book is the way in which Gabaldon manages to build a friendship between these two men quite against their will.
A significant piece of the plot in The Scottish Prisoner turns on the issue of language, which I very much enjoyed. Amongst a series of damning documents, there is one that Lord John cannot figure out at all. Is it a code? No, a Celtic language, Erse, as it turns out, which both Jamie and some other ex- or not so ex-Jacobite rebels know. How accurate will their translations be for Lord John? The way in which access to a given language affects events, the “cueing” that occurs through a bit of Erse poetry, the whole notion of ancient folk traditions in Celtic and, we might say, the abuse of this folk tradition by characters provide a fascinating layer to this novel. Gabaldon has been ably assisted with the various pieces of Celtic language she interweaves into her plot by a group of experts who clearly love the revival of interest in this ancient language that her book provides. As anyone who knows me will realize, I’m always on the side of ancient languages!
The Scottish Prisoner has Gabaldon’s usual focus on character development and plot twists. Still a prisoner at Helwater, Jamie is made an offer by Lord John’s brother he has little choice but to accept. It involves traveling to Ireland with Lord John—and neither man wants to spend any time with the other. Trying to insert themselves into this unwanted journey, are even more unwanted people and ideas from Jamie’s past as a Scottish rebel. And, of course, a couple women do their best to help or deceive Jamie also, although the woman Jamie really wants haunts only his dreams. Gabaldon opens the book vividly with one such dream and its effects on Jamie. Lord John continues to be an intriguing person of conflicting loyalties and passions. He’s devoted to his regiment and the code of honor he will uphold at all costs—which is what sends him to Ireland more or less—but he is also gay, a capital offense, and his view of life does not always conform comfortably with the conventions of his time. Part of the pleasure of this book is the way in which Gabaldon manages to build a friendship between these two men quite against their will.
A significant piece of the plot in The Scottish Prisoner turns on the issue of language, which I very much enjoyed. Amongst a series of damning documents, there is one that Lord John cannot figure out at all. Is it a code? No, a Celtic language, Erse, as it turns out, which both Jamie and some other ex- or not so ex-Jacobite rebels know. How accurate will their translations be for Lord John? The way in which access to a given language affects events, the “cueing” that occurs through a bit of Erse poetry, the whole notion of ancient folk traditions in Celtic and, we might say, the abuse of this folk tradition by characters provide a fascinating layer to this novel. Gabaldon has been ably assisted with the various pieces of Celtic language she interweaves into her plot by a group of experts who clearly love the revival of interest in this ancient language that her book provides. As anyone who knows me will realize, I’m always on the side of ancient languages!
November 14, 2024
I realise it is completely idiotic of me to expect Jamie Fraser to behave like an enlightened metrosexual modern man, when precisely one of the biggest chunks of his charm is that he is not.
But does he have to be such a vehement homophobe?
Well, after what happened to him and his trauma, unfortunately, yes, I think he does, and it would most likely be incongruente for a man of his age, upbringing and religious persuasion if he weren't.
And that is what imbues this story of most of its spice: that you can love John Grey and Jamie both, at the same time, and for so many different reasons and still, even if they manage to iron out some of their differences, (which they sort of do in this book), understand that they will always have a massive chasm between them. Jamie Fraser, despite being such a complex, multilayered character, still has room for wonderful personal development in this book, and ends up being able to separate Lord John Grey's sexuality from his many other attributes, and be a true friend to him.
In this book they find themselves paired on an adventure in Ireland, due to the meddling of John's brother Hal, and have to try to collaborate and repair their fractious relationship, damaged and precarious after John very awkwardly disclosed his feelings to Jamie at the end of Lord John And The Brotherhood of the Blade (if I remember correctly).
Chronologically, this appears somewhere within the span covered in Voyager, after Culloden, after Ardsmuir Prison, during his stint as a horse groom at Helwater, and before Claire finds Jamie at the printing shop (and THE SWOON! ;-).
They find themselves together in a duel (most exciting!), and the interactions of Jamie with his secret son William were tremendously moving, and my heart ached for him. He would have been an excellent father, and yet, properly acknowledged fatherhood escapes him. So tragic!
I am really eager to get to later volumes of Outlander, where I know a bare bones outline of what happens, and they become embroiled in the most unlikely triangle. Oh, happy reading days ahead!
But the Outlander novels are such an undertaking, and they bring such joy, that I am reading slowly on purpose, to make them last, and I am rationing them like two or three a year only.
I loved the book.
I loved Jamie and,
I loved John.
And I completely love Diana Gabaldon and her convoluted, genius mind.
But does he have to be such a vehement homophobe?
Well, after what happened to him and his trauma, unfortunately, yes, I think he does, and it would most likely be incongruente for a man of his age, upbringing and religious persuasion if he weren't.
And that is what imbues this story of most of its spice: that you can love John Grey and Jamie both, at the same time, and for so many different reasons and still, even if they manage to iron out some of their differences, (which they sort of do in this book), understand that they will always have a massive chasm between them. Jamie Fraser, despite being such a complex, multilayered character, still has room for wonderful personal development in this book, and ends up being able to separate Lord John Grey's sexuality from his many other attributes, and be a true friend to him.
In this book they find themselves paired on an adventure in Ireland, due to the meddling of John's brother Hal, and have to try to collaborate and repair their fractious relationship, damaged and precarious after John very awkwardly disclosed his feelings to Jamie at the end of Lord John And The Brotherhood of the Blade (if I remember correctly).
Chronologically, this appears somewhere within the span covered in Voyager, after Culloden, after Ardsmuir Prison, during his stint as a horse groom at Helwater, and before Claire finds Jamie at the printing shop (and THE SWOON! ;-).
They find themselves together in a duel (most exciting!), and the interactions of Jamie with his secret son William were tremendously moving, and my heart ached for him. He would have been an excellent father, and yet, properly acknowledged fatherhood escapes him. So tragic!
I am really eager to get to later volumes of Outlander, where I know a bare bones outline of what happens, and they become embroiled in the most unlikely triangle. Oh, happy reading days ahead!
But the Outlander novels are such an undertaking, and they bring such joy, that I am reading slowly on purpose, to make them last, and I am rationing them like two or three a year only.
I loved the book.
I loved Jamie and,
I loved John.
And I completely love Diana Gabaldon and her convoluted, genius mind.
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