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Summary: More great and unique writing from Diana Gabaldon
Review: First, I must point out that some people are obviously confusing Lord John Grey with Black Jack (Jonathan) Randall. They are two completely different characters! I really enjoyed this book and I appreciate it for what it is: a short mystery story with a really admirable and interesting main character. I get the feeling that some may be turned off by the fact that Lord John Grey is gay, but I applaud Diana Gabaldon for giving Lord John his own series of books - he deserves it! The mystery kept me engaged and, as usual, the descriptive writing and dialogue are first-rate. It is not a continuation of the Jamie and Claire books, but that is fine with me. With writing this good, I hope Diana Gabaldon continues to write more of the Outlander series, as well as other books.
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Summary: Humor, Mystery and the Seedy Side of 18th Century London
Review: Perhaps because it was such a radical change from the Outlander series, I had a hard time starting this book. I read the first 30 pages, set it aside, picked it up again and found I like it very much. In fact, I wondered what my problem was the first time around. Lord John was always one of my favorite characters from Outlander. I enjoyed how his young character entered pre-Culloden then resurfaced years later, older and wiser. I can find no fault for anyone who loves Jamie Fraser, thus my liking of John. The wry humor and colorful characters made this an enjoyable read, something of an 18th century "Will & Grace" episode. Even the book's title is a clever play on words. Private matter, indeed! John's compassion and integrity make him the perfect focal point for the unfolding of the mystery. Because of his loss of Hector, and what could never be with Jamie Fraser, I found myself crossing my fingers for what may develop with the ridiculously plumed German.
Quarry, cousin Olivia, the Countess, Trevelyan, Scanlon, and persons associated with Lavender House round out an excellent array of secondary characters. I find myself looking forward to the next two books to see what happens with this lot, and to discover what events take place prior to John's re-entry into Jamie & Claire's lives in the New World. I recommend this book ONLY for those who are open-minded enough to know this is NOT and Outlander book, but an enjoyable spin-off, nonetheless.
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Summary: Mediocre Historical Mystery
Review: I expected something more from than a bland (at best) mystery novel. Diana Gabaldon is a favorite of mine, and since I'm also a mystery fan I was thrilled that she was releasing a mystery. However, upon reading, this seems like a side project that she didn't devote her full attention to. The story is missing the passion and vivid characterization of her other books. The plot points moved along slowly, and while I do like Lord John, I found the majority of the characters confusing and bland. I didn't care what happened to any of them, really. There are much better mystery novels around, if you need a Diana Gabaldon fix I'd reread Outlander instead.
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Summary: "Lord John" -- Not a Bad Start for a New Series
Review: "Lord John and the Private Matter" started existance as a short story that got away from the author, and ended up instead as a novel. It is the first of a series of mysteries featuring a character from the wildly popular "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon. Lord John is an 18th century British army officer, who also happens to be gay. His sexual orientation is made known to the reader from the beginning (if they did not know it already from reading "Outlander), but it is not common knowledge among his fellow officers. In solving the rather light-weight mystery, Lord John gives the reader a tour of the underground world of some 18th century London homosexuals, including pubs that catered to gays, as well as houses of prostitution. Some of the vocabulary in the book is rather modern (such as the use of the word 'transvestite'), and the author states that she did take liberties in this area. There is a brief encounter with a male prostitute, which may disturb some readers. The strength of the novel is with the characters, not the plot. Lord John is very likable and intelligent; his loyalty to his family shines through the entire work. We also get to meet his delightful mother, who is witty and well-read. My impression was that mother was aware of her son's sexual orientation, although that is not spelled out; his 16-year-old female cousin is obviously unaware, as she would like to see him married. I hope that future "Lord John" books have a stronger plot line and a more interesting mystery. Ms Gabaldon's "Outlander" series is full of historical detail, has complex plot lines, and very memorable characters, so that this book was a bit of a disappointment to a reader who has read all of her previous books more than once. However, the strong characterizations alone will keep me coming back to "Lord John."
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Summary: Substandard for Gabaldon's potential
Review: I eagerly awaited the installments of the Outlander Series and expected similar such writing from my favorite author in LORD JOHN as to have me devouring every last word. Unfortunately, Diana did not deliver! Her portrayal of nearly every Englishman as gay was unrealistic and presumptive. The plot did keep me guessing, but in truth the only aspect of this book that met my expectations was her descriptive language. Diana Gabaldon used her talent to vividly describe people and personalities (an A+!), but this wasn't enough to salvage the entire book. I did not add this one to my library.
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Summary: Missing something
Review: Absolutely loved the Outlander series, but could not get into Lord John. The details that worked so well in her other books seemed to drag down the story in Lord John--in fact I didn't make it past the 3rd chapter. Disappointing!
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I am disappointed in Lord John PM, It does not seem to be written by the author of the Outlander Series. Mystery may be popular, but does not seem to be Diane Gabaldon's forte. It amazed me that she writes so poorly with this book. I look forward to the next Jamie and Claire Novel, hoping that Diane has not burned out as an author.
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Summary: Darker side of 18th century London
Review: Major Lord John Grey, a soldier and respected member of Londons highest circles, has inadvertently realised that the man who is engaged to marry his cousin, has what was then known as the pox, and is determined to stop the marriage while protecting his cousin from scandal.When a soldier in his regiment is found brutally murdered, suspicions of espionage arise and Grey is appointed by the Crown to investigate and prevent the possible leakage of military secrets to France. The trail winds its way through the drawing rooms of the nobility and into the bawdy houses of Londons night world, touching pockets of treachery and corruption at all levels. This book has no connection to the wonderful Outlander series except that it uses Lord John Grey as its main character, but it really does provide the clearest,and probably closest to the truth, insight to the world on London in 1757.
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Summary: It ain't Outlander, people
Review: Which of course Diana makes clear in her introduction. As a huge Lord John fan, I was very happy to see this book. I'm not a mystery fan at all, but I relished the chance to see my second-favorite Gabaldon character (after Himself) in action. It's a fun, light read, and great for those of us who relish historical novels as Gabaldon (as usual) has done her research. The story isn't a strong one, but I found that didn't matter. What I wanted was a chance to revisit John and get involved in the atmosphere of the world he lived in. And this book delivers.
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Summary: Not your typical Gabaldon work
Review: My biggest complaint with LJ&TPM is that bookstores insist on putting it in the "Romance" aisle -- which it definitely is NOT! Anyone familiar with Diana Gabaldon's beloved "Outlander" series has strong feelings for Lord John, but this book represents a vivid departure from her usual narrative style and delves into the realm of the "whodunit", with mixed results. Those who like Lord John from the Outlander series will enjoy further morsels of his life. Those who pick up LJ&TPM expecting more Outlander, or even a romance, will be sharply taken aback. Not by the homosexuality -- with Lord John, that's a given -- but by the mystery format, and the rather heavy-handed ending that is not at all in keeping with the deftness DG's readers have come to appreciate. Or perhaps her loyal readers are simply so accustomed to 800+ page works that a much shorter work seems abbreviated!
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