Rating: 
Summary: A Waste of Time
Review: Yes, I'm a huge Outlander fan, but I was more than willing to get into a new series outside of Jamie and Claire. This, however, is not it. Although I loved the character of John Grey from the Outlander books, and do think he would make a compelling protagonist, this so-called mystery does not do him justice. We really learn very little about John's character, other than a small amount of background information. The bulk of the book is devoted to his unravelling of a mystery of which I cared little about; it didn't even have anything to do with John personally, and only towards the end of the book does it become intruiging. We learn that he is intelligent, and also lonely (pining away, like the rest of us, for Jamie!), and that he is oftentimes confliceted about his homosexuality and the problems it entails in the world of the mid-1700s. But, unlike Gabaldon's other books, this one is missing the rich historical details and her wonderful way of drawing the reader into a different age. I think this was simply a writing exercise for Gabaldon, never intended for publication.
Rating: 
Summary: Correction
Review: Sorry, I haven't read the book yet, but I'd like to be (perhaps) the first of thousands to correct "Reader" about Lord John raping both Jamie and Claire .... HUH?!! What in the world books were you reading?!!! I can't even begin to imagine where you got that from. Jamie was raped by Jonathan Randall, and Claire and Jamie's daughter was raped by Stephen Bonnet. Methinks you should refresh your memory.
Rating: 
Summary: A pleasant change of pace
Review: As much as I love the Jamie and Claire books, it's starting to look like Gabaldon might have taken the characters about as far as they can go without repeating herself. This book was a wonderful change of pace; it allows her to branch out and use some of her other strengths as a writer.But don't think that I enjoyed this book just because it's different. It's also a fine historical mystery in its own right, with well-drawn characters and an interesting plot.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful side dish to the Jamie and Claire saga
Review: I really loved this book. After having been slightly disappointed last year with the latest in the Outlander series, I opened "Lord John" with some trepidation. No need! It was fascinating to see Lord John's world from his point of view. This is a character who's kept most of his feelings to himself in previous books, and I found it a delightful revelation to look through his eyes. I enjoyed learning about his previously-hinted-at secrets, his affections and prejudices, and his feelings of unrequited love for a certain red-haired Scottish prisoner. The book deals in part with Lord John's sexuality, but it's done so subtly that I don't see it being offensive to readers who would turn away from explicitness. In fact, one of the things I enjoyed most about this book is that much of it _is_ subtle. Working on a smaller canvas, Ms. Gabaldon makes every word count. No skimming through this novel for the "good stuff" because the vast majority of the book _is_ the "good stuff." Several sentences, from different parts of the book, have remained in my mind and make my heart ache for Lord John: the way he must mourn his long-dead lover in socially-mandated isolation; the way he can rarely escape rigid self-scrutiny for fear of the smallest gesture or glance revealing the man he is. My admiration for Diana Gabaldon (who was already my favorite author) has increased since I read "Lord John" -- and my fondness for the character of John Grey has increased, too, as I got to know him better in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Why Lord John?
Review: I have enjoyed the Oulander series immensely and anxiously awaited the newest Diana Gabaldon book. As I read the Lord John book I kept wondering what it was that I missed about this character previously. Unless my memory fails me, Lord John raped both Jamie and Claire. I find it hard to understand how other reviewers find this character likeable or appealing. The historical aspects were, as always in Gabaldon books, interesting and engaging. I would have found the book more enjoyable had Ms. Gabaldon chosen a new character for this book.
Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I couldn't begin to tell you what Diana and her Outlander Series means to me! She is my favorite author and those are my favorite books...to say the least!!!
But...Lord John and the Private Matter really isn't for me! I like the character of Lord John in the Outlander series...but going deeper into his life and finding out what arouses a gay man is just not in my taste of reading. I'm trying to finish the book...but having a hard time with it. Diana has always been able to mezmerize me with her writting skill and I'm just not finding that in this book.
I'm disappointed in finding that this will be a series...I wish Diana would concentrate on the Outlander series and give her devoted fans what they truely crave...I'd love to loose myself once again in a wonderfully well written and romantic novel by Diana Gabaldon! ...my favorite author!
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat disappointing
Review: Let me start out by saying that Lord John is my favorite character from the Outlander series and that I am happy to leave Claire and Jamie in North Carolina for a few years to learn more about his character. I was eagerly looking forward to this book, but perhaps my expectations were too high. The strength in this story is the description of what it might have been like to be homosexual in the 18th century. When Ms. Gabaldon deals with Lord John and his fears and loves the story really moved along and captured my attention. HOWEVER, in her other books, Ms. Gabaldon has shown a great talent for conveying lush historical detail and making the reader feel a part of the environment. This time there were still plenty of details, but I felt that her writing was more detached than in her other books, so that the details seemed to get in the way for me in this book. Also, the mystery, as other reviewers have commented, was not terribly compelling. A couple of the new characters, such as Lord John's new valet, were interesting additions and ones I'll want to find out more about as time goes on. Most, however, I hope not to encounter again. Since we have been told that this is the first of a series of Lord John mysteries, I really hope that the next two improve and that the author gets a better handle on the mystery genre.
Rating:
Summary: Genius
Review: This book is great...D. Gabaldon shows just how genius she really is. Her writing is captivating and everything she has wrote is superb! Her vivid details let you envision exactly what is going on and makes you a part of her book. Lord John Grey is a great book and I suggest to anyone who hasn't read any of her books, start with the first in the Outlander series and you will never want to put the whole series and her newest down! She is the type of author that whatever she writes, you'll want to read.
Rating: 
Summary: A very entertaining view of 18th-century London
Review: I love all the Jamie & Claire books and wouldn't trade them for anything -- but I think Gabaldon has created a very nice period detective story here, much in the vein of Bruce Alexander's Sir John Fielding mysteries. (In fact, Sir John is alluded to, though not met, in "Lord John and the Private Matter.") There's a real sense of being behind the scenes in 18th-century London, from the bawdy-houses to the mansions of the wealthy, enlivened by Gabaldon's grasp of arcane matters -- such as potentially deadly "cures" for syphilis. Don't expect swooning romance, but if you like historical mysteries, this one is very well done.
Rating:
Summary: oh, so this is where the plot went
Review: It seems clear that Miss Gabaldon is tired of the Outlander folks. Those novels are thousand page tributes to historical research, while Lord John gets all the fresh plotting and new ideas. I'd say she should decide what she wants to do and stick with it, rather than cheating Peter and Paul both.
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