Rating: 
Summary: This book took a little time to get into
Review: I enjoyed the role John played in the Outlander series, and picked this up hoping to read more about his relationship with Jaime and Clair. At first I was dissapointed to find this book had nothing to do with them and put it down. I'm the type of person who has to finish a book when I start it, though, and I'm glad I picked it back up. The book was an enjoyable little mystery with great characters and atmosphere, and I look foward to the next book in this series. It took me to places that most people never even think about when reading about Regency England. The ending was not what I expected, but that in itself was refreshing. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't yet read this book. Read the book, but don't expect it to be the next Outlander story.
Rating: 
Summary: Private Matter indeed, me Lord!
Review: I have tried to read Gabaldon's tomes of great renown, i. e. The Outlander series, and I may yet try again. But something about this little book in purple on the Sam's Club sales shelf wooed me, much as the small detective series of Sharon Kay Penman's protagonist, Justin de Quincey had lured me into a series of mysteries in the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine.And I just thought I should give this shorter write a try. I am so glad I did! For I discovered much more than I thought I would in the pages of Lord John's tale, a story of intrigue befitting the times of the mid-1700's in England and rich with a history of a seamier side of life which directly impacts the lives of Lord John and the other characters. I found Lord John's role in the nobility of his day and its leadership of the English military quite fascinating, especially as it linked itself into the very real underworld of humanity, the scandalous and necessary part of whoring, both male and female, and the varied sexual proclivities that have always been enmeshed in human life. Was I surprised by Lord John's tastes? Yes! Was it off-putting? No! In fact, his sense of duty to family and his task as an agent of the monarch, indeed his self-knowledge and loyalty to who he really is are quite admirable. And Gabaldon's skill at keeping me reading, leaving just enough to question, made the novel one I found hard to put down. The other characters in the story, especially the Byrd brothers, Quarry, Stubbs, Olivia and Lord John's mother, the Countess, are colorful enough to make me feel like I would enjoy seeing them again, as is the especially flamboyant Stephan von Namtzen. Even the villains are sympathetic with a seemingly despicable Trevelyan and his Irish apothecary Scanlon assuming near heroic purpose as the tale unwinds. This little book is quite user friendly. It feels good in one's hands, and its smaller size, with a less crowded set of words on each page made me feel like I was just breezing through it. Nothing weighty here, though the social and moral questions it presents, which are set in a time of England's war with France, and the tragedies that war brings are weighty indeed. Most wonderful of all is Gabaldon's skill in writing historical fiction with a mystery interwoven. I really shall look forward to the rest of Lord John's trilogy. And I will promptly mail my copy of the book to my very dear friend for his enjoyment. I shall delight in knowing how he views this tale. If you like historical fiction that is on the mark, and you consider yourself a mystery buff, I suggest you spend some time with this private matter as well. This is mature adult fiction, at its best.
Rating: 
Summary: Lord John Ain't No Sherlock!
Review: Like many other readers, I am a great fan of the "Outlander" series. Ms Gabaldon has the gift of creating characters so real that you laugh and cry with them and for them. Lord John's appearances in "The Drums of Autumn" were heartwarming. He obviously did his best to be a good father to young Willie, and he went above-and-beyond to be kind and helpful to Brianna during her tribulations. Because of this, I was looking forward to getting better acquainted with him in the new book. At the time of "The Private Matter," however, I guess he hadn't yet matured into the man described above. Although he doesn't shrink from his duty in preventing his cousin's marriage to Trevelyan, (the chap who has "the pox"), he goes about it in a cool, remote way. As usual, Ms. Gabaldon does her homework and gives us a vivid picture of London in the mid-1700's. Despite the colorful backdrop, the characters move across the stage rather woodenly. I found it difficult to care who committed the murder, or why, and I didn't really like being dragged through the seamier side of society. There are several flashes of witty humor throughout the story, but they can't rescue the book. I can't wait to meet up with Jamie and Claire again!
Rating:
Summary: Good historical mystery
Review: Unlike most of the other reviewers, I can't claim to be a great fan of the Outlander series. While the characters are certainly engaging, I've always found the plotting and descriptive passages overwritten - what some reviewers call 'lush,' I considered repetitive and overly florid. That's why this book came as such a pleasant surprise. Gabaldon seems much more disciplined in this story, letting the characters and plot carry the day rather than relying on sweeping melodrama. Although I've read other reviews lamenting the lack of steamy love scenes, I actually consider this a much more mature work than her other books. The plot is inventive, the dialogue is witty, and I cared deeply about the characters. If I were an Outlander fan, I would probably give the book three stars at most - it is a radical departure. However, if you prefer historical mysteries or novels about 18th century England, I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fun mystery, interesting look at English society
Review: Dr. Gabaldon has made it clear in previous books that she loves mysteries. This book is mostly a mystery. If you're not into mysteries, you'll probably have a take on this book similar to others listed here, which run along the lines of "nothing happens". A lot happens, if you're attuned to and interested in mysteries. On top of that, Dr. Gabaldon does an excellent job of dramatizing the kind of risk and fear that a gay man of the 18th century lived with. If you're not interested in experiences particular to a closeted gay man in a society hostile to the love that dare not speak its name, then I can imagine that you might find it uninteresting or even uncomfortable; however, as an achievement of characterization and narrative voice, I thought it superb. I found this book engaging and I very much enjoyed reading something by Dr. Gabaldon that was relatively compact. Detour? Read her note to readers before you buy. If you're expecting Jamie and Claire, don't. If you've enjoyed Lord John or like a mystery novel now and then (or more often), I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: honestly.... well, boring?
Review: Like most of the reviewers thus far, I have been a fan since "Outlander" was first published. I've even, gasp, bought the entire series in hardback because I couldn't wait for the paperbacks. Same with "Lord John and the Private Matter". Ordered it, read it, & then mostly forgot it. It just wasn't very interesting at all. Lord John is a great character as introduced in the Outlander series but in this solo outing he did a whole lot of nothing. Some sort of vague, blah plot involving a cousin's fiance and his case of VD, a murder & gay brothels. Lord John just happens to be "checking out" his soon to be cousin-in-law while in the loo, notices the supposedly upstanding lord's "pox" and then frets about how to break up the cousin's engagement all the while kind of investigating a murder. The details were confusing, the dialogue inane and for me, most unfortunately, it didn't have ANY of the humour that I associate with her writing ( and love the most). The story went nowhere, the characters were instantly forgettable, the ending was.. (what was the ending?) and I was immensely disappointed. I didn't get any sense of the "rich descriptive prose" that other's have commented on: it just seemed like so much publisher filler until the next Outlander installment is ready. I can only hope that the next installment in the(old)Outlander series will prove to be up to her previous standards. I will probably buy the second Lord John book but I'll wait for the paperback issue the next time.
Rating: 
Summary: I really wanted to love this book
Review: After passionately reading the OUTLANDER series I became a Diana Gabaldon fanatic! I receive group messages and frequent her web site. I even slipped into a mild depression when completing FIERY CROSS knowing it would be a few years before I would be able to find out what happened to my beloved Jamie and Claire. Her books are among the best I have ever read---until LORD JOHN and the PRIVATE MATTER. Even after reading the dismal reviews, I was determined to like this book. I find it difficult to believe that Diana even wrote this book. I knew this book would be totally unrelated to all things Outlander but I figured that the same great writing with wonderful character development that we are so accustomed to would continue with her new series. Unfortunately, I was wrong. In fact, I know no more about Lord John after reading a book about him than I did from reading the Outlander books. Plus, I had a hard time following this mystery. For example, when Lord John would notice a 'look' in a servants eye, I wasn't certain what that look meant. I don't mean to write a scathing review because this book is not horrible--it's just not great. Read it for what it is, a little mystery story that is mildly entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: a detour...
Review: Lord John and the Private Matter is simply a detour on Gabaldon's quest to finish the Outlander saga. Like other readers, I haven't been as captivated by this novel as I expected, in spite of being fond of Lord John in DG's Outlander novels. At times, it seems like a gratuitious exercise in eeking more money out of her fans with all the name dropping (Fraser, Fraser, Fraser?), but there are brilliant moments when you can be transported back into 18th C. London. As the first in a Lord John "trilogy" (would that be like the Outlander Trilogy now numbering 5 and counting?), I will continue reading them until it becomes utter dreck. DG can only improve these stories.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to her standards
Review: If you are a Gabaldon fan and really are interested in reading this book. Get it from your local library don't waste your money on it. It is not at all as compelling at her Outlander series, (and yes I do know that it was not another Jamie and Claire book) nothing at all to sink your teeth into.
I couldn't even finish the book, I kept waiting for it to get better, but it never did. I gave up.
Rating:
Summary: Lord John doesn¿t matter at all
Review: I hungrily scooped up Lord John and the Private Matter, as I am always waiting for a new Diana Gabaldan book. But alas, this absolutely left me wanting and failed to sate my hunger. Gabaldan's books are rich in detail, both in character and history and are quite succulent in plot description and sexual escapades. This book lacked all of this. Lord John is a compelling character in the Outlander series, but here he barely reaches one dimension. Of course no one could take the place of Jamie Fraser, the ultimate protagonist from the Outlander series and every woman and man's fantasy, but at least give us someone to sink our teeth into just a little. Not only are there no exciting characters, but the mystery never seems to evolve into anything either. This book does not even read like a Gabaldan book. She never seems to find her voice and the witty repartee, which is so amusing in her other books, is completely non-existent in this one. I question whether she actually wrote this one at all.
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