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Lord John Grey #1

Lord John and the Private Matter

diana gabaldon

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Includes a sneak preview of the next Outlander novel, An Echo in the Bone .

Adored bestselling author Diana Gabaldon brings us the first book in a new trilogy featuring many of the characters from her wildly popular Outlander series.

In her New York Times bestselling Outlander novels, Diana Gabaldon introduced millions of readers to a dazzling world of history and adventure — a world of vibrant settings and utterly unforgettable characters. Now one of these characters, Major Lord John Grey, opens the door to his own part of this world — eighteenth-century London, a seething anthill of nobility and rabble peopled by soldiers and spies, whores and dukes. Great Britain is battling France for supremacy on three continents — and life is good for a soldier.

The year is 1757. On a clear morning in mid-June, Lord John Grey emerges from London’s Beefsteak Club, his mind in turmoil. A nobleman and a high-ranking officer in His Majesty’s Army, Grey has just witnessed something shocking. But his efforts to avoid a scandal that might destroy his family are interrupted by something still more the Crown appoints him to investigate the brutal murder of a comrade in arms, who may have been a traitor.

Obliged to pursue two inquiries at once, Major Grey finds himself ensnared in a web of treachery and betrayal that touches every stratum of English society — and threatens all he holds dear. From the bawdy houses of London’s night-world to the stately drawing rooms of the nobility, and from the blood of a murdered corpse to the thundering seas ruled by the majestic fleet of the East India Company, Lord John pursues the elusive trails of a vanishing footman and a woman in green velvet, who may hold the key to everything — or nothing.

The early days of the Seven Years War come brilliantly to life in this historical mystery by an author whose unique and compelling storytelling has engrossed millions of readers worldwide.

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 30,2003
Series
Lord John Grey
Places
london england, 

This edition

Format
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published
October 4, 2005 by Seal
ISBN
9780770429454
ASIN
0770429459
Language
English
Characters More characters
  • Lord John Grey

    Lord John Grey

    Lord John Grey is a secondary character in the Outlander novels and the protagonist of a subseries of historical mysteries, the Lord John novels and novellas....

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diana gabaldon

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
32(32%)
4 stars
36(36%)
3 stars
32(32%)
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100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Novecento
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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It was truly a pleasure to get acquainted with John Grey.

His introduction into the narrative has added a new and exciting dimension.

As I progress with the Claire and Jamie story, I can sense that his presence will bring about a plethora of interesting developments.

John Grey is a complex character with his own set of qualities and secrets.

His interactions with Claire and Jamie are bound to create tensions and alliances that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats.

I am eager to explore how his story will intertwine with that of Claire and Jamie, and what impact he will have on their journey.

The addition of John Grey has truly enriched the narrative and I can't wait to see where it takes us.
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nuclearstudent
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Lord John Grey's story is once again told in a truly excellent and thrilling book.

The author has done an outstanding job of research. In my opinion, this is especially evident in the details regarding the clothing, food, customs, and taboos of that era, as well as the descriptions of the buildings, streets, alleys, and occupations. Virtually everything is covered.

This makes the book even more interesting and allows you to vividly imagine what life was like during that time, for both the upper classes and the ordinary workers and the poor.

It's a great achievement!

Overall, this book about Lord John Grey is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction or the life and times of that particular period. The author's attention to detail and engaging writing style make it a truly enjoyable and immersive read.

Highly recommended!
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
ZaffronExe
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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As in her other well-known series, this author painstakingly takes the time to set the stage for the time period.

Her attention to detail is truly outstanding and is richly embellished with vivid descriptions.

I have always had a penchant for the character of Lord John, and this story was captivating as we got to witness him grappling with solving a mystery.

Often, he took the wrong steps and made those "if I had known" statements, which served to humanize him even more.

Although the story progressed at a somewhat leisurely pace, I did not detect any deficiencies. Instead, I eagerly looked forward to reaching the conclusion of the tale.

All in all, I found the story to be highly atmospheric, with the characters coming across as genuine and believable.

Consequently, I would wholeheartedly recommend this work to others.

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mori_no_shine
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I haven't read anything else by Diana Gabaldon and I probably never will. When I initially picked up this book, I didn't know much about the character's backstory. I was only aware that he had been a minor character in some other epic adventure. However, the concept sounded interesting, and as it turned out, it didn't disappoint.

I selected it because I wanted to read about a lead who was gay. It was part of the pride festival theme, and one of my favorite bookstores had gathered a collection of their books with homosexual lead characters as a tribute to the subject. I was rather cautious because I didn't want something like the lead's sexual orientation to overshadow the actual story of the book. The clerks assured me that this would likely be the book for me, and I have to concur with them.

Regarding the actual story, well, it's not particularly complex. However, it is witty and fast-paced in a realistic manner.

It's not a mind-blowing super classic, but it's a good read and functions well as a standalone novel. The summary of the next book in this series didn't sound overly interesting, nor did the "main" series. But we'll see. Maybe in the future, I'll pick them up too.

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Profile Image for Kimberly .
kaedesumire
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Lord Grey first makes his appearance in Dragonfly in Amber, which is the third book in Outlander series. He is presented as an important minor character.

I must admit that I haven't read Outlander and I have doubts about whether I will.

The book, in my opinion, was just okay and not as good as I had expected. The story has its interesting aspects, but it fails to be a real page turner. The main character is likeable enough, but the other characters seem rather flat. Of course, the mystery is ultimately revealed by the "baddy" in the end. And I really have no idea why so many readers have shelved this story as "romance".

All that being said, I do have a plan to read Lord John And The Hand Of Devils. Maybe this book will offer a different and more engaging reading experience.
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
the_terrible
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I recently made an interesting discovery. I found out that Lord John had his own set of books. Out of curiosity, I visited the author's website and there I saw how these books were intertwined with the Outlander series. Intrigued, I decided to start reading them in order.


However, I'm finding that these books are taking me a bit longer to get through than I expected. They are well-written, that much is obvious. But so far, there seems to be something lacking for me.


The case presented in the books is quite intriguing, yet I thought this particular one was just overly complicated. There was simply too much going on at once. I often felt like I was losing track of all the events and details that were happening.


Despite this, I'm still hopeful that the books will get better as I progress through them. Only time will tell if my expectations will be met. We shall see how the story unfolds and if it manages to capture my full attention and interest.

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Profile Image for Kimberly .
MarioWeeb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Oh, this was truly a captivating read.

It is essentially a thrilling tale that combines elements of murder and espionage.

A few bodies are discovered under mysterious circumstances, and they appear to be connected to some crucial missing military documents.

Lord John Grey takes on the case.

Crime investigation in those days was indeed quite different from what we see in modern shows like CSI and Chicago PD.

However, Lord John demonstrates himself to be a highly capable investigator, being both resourceful and extremely relentless.

The clues lead in various directions, and some people are not what they seem at first glance.

But in the end... well, that would be spoiling the story (you'll have to pick up the book to find out!).

What makes this story stand out for me is the detailed portrayal of the lives of both the upper and lower classes in London during the early 1700s.

Diana Gabaldon has clearly done an extensive amount of research.

The insights into life in brothels and the world of the mollies in London are truly enlightening.

Also, I was pleasantly surprised by the understated humor that pops up here and there.

Lord John is an appealing character, and it's obvious that he is a favorite of Gabaldon's.

Overall, it's a great book. I would rate it a solid four stars.
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
SkepticalIce
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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DNF
Okay, I really wanted to give this a try because I love Lord John. However, oh my goodness, I'm so bored.

I managed to get about 80% done with the book, but I just can't bring myself to care about reading any more.

My mom didn't care for this series, and I never understood why. Now, I do.

It was extremely hard to keep up with all the character names and remember who did what.

I truly wanted to like it, but I have to be honest with myself and admit that I just don't.

I still love you, Lord John, but just not in your own book series.

I guess this just wasn't the right fit for me, even though I had high hopes at the beginning.

Maybe I'll give it another chance in the future, but for now, I'm done.

It's a shame because I really wanted to enjoy this series as much as I love the character of Lord John.

Oh well, such is life when it comes to reading. Sometimes we just have to accept that not every book is going to be a winner for us.
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