Thought I might enjoy this Outlander spinoff series, but not so much.

Oh, Lord John is clever and charming enough. He has a certain allure that can draw people in. However, when it comes to the mystery in the series, I just wasn't interested at all.

It was truly boring. So incredibly boring. The plot seemed to drag on and on, without any real excitement or twists to keep me engaged.

I found myself constantly looking at the clock, waiting for the episode to end. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea, but I had high hopes for this spinoff and was really disappointed.

I was expecting something more thrilling and captivating, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver.

Having listened to all eight of the currently released Outlander novels on Audible last year, I was eager to explore the Lord John spin-off books. I knew the recommended reading order was as follows:

• Lord John and the Hellfire Club, a short story.

• Lord John and the Private Matter, a novel.

• Lord John and the Succubus, a novella.

• Lord John and the Brotherhood Of The Blade, a novel.

• Lord John and the Haunted Soldier, a novella.

• Lord John and the Custom of the Army, a novella.

• The Scottish Prisoner, a novel.

• Lord John and the Plague of Zombies.

I'll admit that the Hellfire Club short story didn't overly excite me. However, I adored the character of Lord John in the Outlander books and wasn't about to abandon him. Besides, I'd already purchased The Private Matter on Audible, so I was determined to give it a listen.

I'm pleased to report that I much preferred this novel to the Hellfire Club. With The Private Matter being a full-length novel compared to the short story, there was a more extensive plot and greater character development. It was fascinating to see Lord John outside the context of the Outlander series and discover what he gets up to when not pining for Jamie or rescuing Brianna from an unwanted marriage.

I was truly shocked and dismayed by the negative reviews, especially those centered around Lord John being a gay character. People claiming they don't want to read stories with gay leads in 2021 is astonishing. Hello, folks! Having diverse characters in our reading is not only enriching but also essential. If I only read about straight white women, my reading choices would be not only dreadfully dull but also severely limited to cheesy rom-coms. For the love of literature, let's expand our horizons!

I, for one, already liked Lord John as a character and was delighted to see that The Hellfire Club wasn't the end of his development or a predictor of the storylines to come. I thoroughly relished this tale of murder, double-crossing, and intrigue. If the rest of the books are this good, I'll be more than happy to continue reading and recommending them.

This book presents an entirely distinct tone when compared to that of the Outlander. While I have a deep affection for the John Grey we encounter there, in this particular work (at least in this book), his world is significantly more gritty. As I was engaged in reading, rather than the vivid and rich scenes that I relish in the other series (even during its darkest moments, Outlander exudes a lush quality), everything here feels harsh, shadowy, and ominous, lacking in levity or anything light to counterbalance the weight. If I were compelled to draw a comparison, it would be like a meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series (initially, I thought of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series, but that comparison didn't quite capture the grittiness).

What I liked about Lord John and the Private Matter:
John Grey - One of my favorite secondary characters in the Outlander series, he remains true to his character, and almost seems out of place in this new setting that is ostensibly his personal world. Perhaps this is an indication of all the ways in which he truly feels out of place in his own world...

What I didn't care for:
It was a bit challenging for me to follow along - I'm unsure if it was due to the writing style being so different from what I had anticipated or simply because I actually came across some vocabulary that was unfamiliar to me (some of it being \\"thesaurus words\\", others being just vernacular or words that were appropriate for the time but have since fallen out of use) but for certain portions of the book, I was a bit unclear about what was happening. I was able to grasp the general idea, so I wasn't completely lost, but it felt similar to navigating an unfamiliar, dimly lit room; you can see well enough to move around cautiously, but you aren't entirely certain what you're looking at.

This isn't a terribly written book, but it's not the kind that typically attracts me. I am, however, sufficiently curious about Lord John's world away from Scotland. Since many of the installments in Lord John's series are shorter stories, I imagine I will explore at least a few more before deciding if I'm interested in fully committing to seeing it through. Mostly, I'm hesitant to delve too deeply into the grittier mystery genre. It can be a bit too gory for my taste, and I suspect I need to approach it with just the right mindset to be able to immerse myself in the story while remaining relatively detached from some of the more noir-ish aspects. I do really enjoy Lord John, though, so that's a plus.

After reading the first three books in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series (Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager), I was really looking forward to the first book in the Lord John Grey series. However, it truly did not meet my expectations.

If I could, I'd actually give this closer to 2.5 stars. It really lacked the action and drama that I had been anticipating. It was very anticlimactic.

The plot of the story is interesting enough. Lord John Grey, by order of the Crown, is tasked with investigating the murder of a member of his regiment who is suspected of being a traitor - a spy for the French. During his investigation, other murders take place, a man goes missing, and new elements emerge, creating additional obstacles in the case.

But it just didn't seem that these events were fully exploited to generate the drama necessary to hold the reader's attention throughout. More often than not, I really had to force myself to stay focused. It was just okay. If this is any indication of what to expect from the other books in the series, I won't be rushing to the library for the next one. I think I'll just stick with the Outlander series.

I was disappointed with this book, especially after the excitement of the Outlander series. I had hoped for more action, more drama, and more of the engaging storytelling that I had come to love from Diana Gabaldon. But unfortunately, this book just didn't deliver.

Maybe the other books in the Lord John Grey series will be better, but based on this first installment, I'm not overly optimistic. I'll probably give the series another chance at some point, but for now, I'm going to go back to the world of Outlander and enjoy the adventures of Claire and Jamie.

Lord John Grey


Lord John Grey, a major in His Majesty's army, shoulders a weighty responsibility. He is tasked with uncovering the truth behind two murders and the actions of a spy who is selling secrets. Through his investigations, Lord John discovers that a man named O'Connell may have been involved in selling military secrets to an enemy spy. There are numerous clues scattered throughout the cases, but they don't seem to fit together neatly to form a comprehensive answer. It's possible that these are all separate crimes and not interconnected. Will Lord John Grey be able to solve the mysteries before it's too late?


Diana Gabaldon has once again crafted a winner with this novel. Lord John Grey, a beloved character from the Outlander series, takes center stage. Alongside him, the secondary characters are equally engaging and a pleasure to get to know. We gain a deep understanding of Lord John's character through the well-written dialogue and detailed descriptions. The plot and subplots are tightly constructed and feel entirely feasible, drawing the reader in and keeping them on the edge of their seats. The vivid setting and descriptions transport the reader directly into the heart of the story. Additionally, there is a tastefully written m/m sexual scene that adds an extra layer of complexity to the narrative. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction and mystery alike.

Not entirely a success - this book fails to live up to expectations. It is neither meaty, complex and id-pleasing like Gabaldon's Outlander series, nor witty and smart like a successful mystery novel. Instead, it ends up being mediocre.

I believe part of the problem lies in the fact that Gabaldon's strength lies in writing epics full of anguish, love, and sex. However, this book lacks the first two elements, and the third is entirely off-stage. She is somewhat restricted because Lord John Grey, the protagonist here, is a secondary character in the Outlander books, and much of his story is already pre-determined. Nothing overly exciting can occur to him in this book, as it would undermine or reverse the events in those books.

Another issue is that Gabaldon stumbles when dealing with the queer subcultures of 18th century London. She presents interesting issues and introduces potentially captivating characters, only to abandon them with their stories unresolved.

Lord John Grey himself, who was a highlight in the Outlander books, appears pale and cold here, bordering on being boring. The best scene was his interaction with a Scottish whore halfway through the book. I think without the English-Scottish culture clash, Gabaldon struggles to write engaging character interplay.

It's not an awful book, but it was a disappointment. I suppose if I want to witness truly interesting (and sexy) things happening to Lord John Grey, I'll have to rely on fanfiction.

What a pleasant surprise! Well, perhaps surprise isn't the most accurate term. You see, I was fully anticipating this to be excellent - but it exceeded my expectations by far. You know?

There is so much murder and so much lust in this story!

This side plot novel bears some resemblance to Gabaldon's other works, yet it also possesses its own unique qualities that distinguish it. For a while, it's like a 'whodunnit' mystery, intertwined with elements similar to those found in Sarah Waters' writing. It also strongly reminded me of The Luminaries by Elenaor Catton, which is wonderful because that is my all-time favorite book.

BRB, I have to visit www.DianaGabaldon.com and check on my progress with Outlander. I'm really eager to see how things unfold in this captivating literary world that Gabaldon has created. The combination of mystery, passion, and unique storytelling keeps me thoroughly engaged and hungry for more.

I truly have a deep affection for LJG. I was captivated by him in the Outlander books, and my curiosity led me to desire more knowledge about him. He is an outstanding individual, constantly uncovering leads in mysteries and behaving like a detective of sorts. I absolutely adore it when he thinks of JAMMF. This makes him even more endearing to me because I, too, have a great love for Jamie and yet cannot have him. I am eagerly looking forward to more stories and adventures involving LJG. :)

BTW, these books possess a completely distinct feel compared to the Outlander series. I have a profound love for Outlander, but these books are also excellent. They have less of a focus on magic and more on history, which offers a refreshing and engaging reading experience.

More like 4 and a half stars, really.

It was a very enjoyable read indeed. Even though the resolution of the murder mystery and the "private matter" had a few issues around the edges and perhaps shouldn't be thought about too deeply, it didn't overshadow the overall experience.

I absolutely adored the entire atmosphere of the book. Strangely enough, it reminded me of the pleasure I derived from reading Wodehouse's Jeeves books. I'm well aware that it's a completely different era and book genre, but still, this Lord John book exudes that English upper-class feel, complete with all the delightful tongue-in-cheek humor that accompanies it.

Having already read the first three Outlander novels, I was already familiar with DG's storytelling style, which I love. It's truly remarkable how well she captures the differences in everyday life in Scotland, France, and in this particular book, England. I have a great affection for these little day-to-day insights into history, especially considering how well-researched the material for her books appears to be.

I also love reading from LJ's point of view. He may not be flawless and might make the occasional stupid mistake, but he's also extremely observant and utterly endearing. All things considered, he's a great and complex character. I simply love him.

Last but by no means least, this book also introduced a number of new and delightful characters. Some of them I can't wait to learn more about, hopefully in the next few novellas and LJ novels.

I will most definitely continue reading this series.

The narrator of this audiobook is truly great.

Despite all the lukewarm reviews I had read before, the book itself turned out to be much better than I had anticipated.

The story is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the narrator's performance really brings it all to life.

Now that I've listened to this first installment, I'm extremely excited to listen to the rest of the series.

I can't wait to see what adventures await the characters and how the story will unfold.

I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller.

The combination of a great story and an excellent narrator makes it a must-listen.

While I'm still a fan of the character Lord John Grey, the lack of the charming and magnificent Jamie and Claire truly brings to light all the flaws in Gabaldon's writing. Her characters are indeed delightful, and each one gives an immediate sense of familiarity. However, her writing is extremely heavy-handed and is in urgent need of a competent editor.

The Lord John Grey novels, as per Gabaldon's website, were an opportunity for her to tell the story of this man who only makes brief appearances in the OUTLANDER series. Supposedly filled with political intrigue and mystery, we were promised a deeper look into a good man and soldier who has sacrificed a great deal for God and country. But I didn't feel that I got that in this book. Political intrigue and mystery - perhaps. It was surely there, yet her way of weaving Lord John's "private matter" with the larger mystery at hand was done in an unskilled manner, being trite and extremely dull. I couldn't wait to finish it just to be done with it.

But when it comes to showing the other side of John Grey - I think Gabaldon completely failed. (SPOILER?) We know from the OUTLANDER novels that Grey is a homosexual. It was his unrequited love for Jamie Fraser that made me like him, and so I was looking forward to delving into his novels to learn more about the man. However, we learn hardly anything more than the fact that Lord John Grey is gay. In fact, she seems to remind us of his preference every few pages, and - like most of her writing - is not subtle at all. I don't mean to say that I don't want to read about the sexual desires of a gay man. I do - in fact. It's just that - I happen to think Lord John Grey is much more than just that. And that Gabaldon did him a great injustice by focusing only on that one aspect.

Lord John, that great rascal. I like him.

Lord John is truly an interesting character. He is known for his mischievous ways and has a certain charm that draws people to him. Despite being a rascal, there is something endearing about him. His actions are often unpredictable, which makes him all the more captivating. I find myself constantly intrigued by his antics and looking forward to seeing what he will do next. Whether it's pulling off a clever prank or getting himself into a bit of trouble, Lord John always manages to keep things exciting. I can't help but like him for his unique personality and the entertainment he provides.