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“Call it what you will—historical adventure,
conspiracy thriller—it’s an engrossing story, masterfully paced, with exciting
plot twists, swift reversals, and robust characterizations.”
— Globe and Mail (Toronto)
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“Capturing the lonely, tormented, and courageous
career of a man who fights for his crown, his honor, and his own secrets,
Gabaldon delivers breathtaking human drama, proving once again that she can
bring history to life in a way few novelists ever have.”
— Sheffield Star (England)
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“A new Lord John story is always welcome, but one
that features Jamie Fraser is a triumph. Gabaldon fills in parts of the [Outlander]
series’ missing pieces and delivers a taut, suspenseful mystery that will
captivate fans of both series. As her fans know, Gabaldon brilliantly combines
strong characters, breathtaking historical events, epic escapades, and
deception to create an unforgettable read.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)
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“Fraser embarks on a quest fraught with murder,
espionage, and the dredging-up of potent secrets. A complicated plot will
likely baffle new readers, but long-time Gabaldon fans will find plenty to
love.”
— Publishers Weekly
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“When Lord John Grey reluctantly seeks Jamie’s
assistance to clear the name of a friend and fellow officer and to bring the
true criminal to justice, a classic case of strange bedfellows ensues. The
strong chemistry between these two stalwart, yet supremely dissimilar,
protagonists crackles as they travel to Ireland and face a daunting series of
moral and physical obstacles and quandaries…Two supermen for the price of one—Gabaldon
fans everywhere will be standing in line.”
— Booklist
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“A spirited return to the world first created in
Outlander…This novel is, ultimately, an authentically fashioned historical
mystery that allows the author to do what she does best: chronicle the lives of
her characters with impeccable detail…Gabaldon fans, you’ll find much to
delight in here.”
— Library Journal
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“As always, Gabaldon goes above and beyond…If you
love historical fiction, this book could be a good entrance point into the
Outlander world.”
— Bookreporter
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“There are the requisite villains, sneaky and
dastardly, and good guys who are very good. But the author also has a nice,
sometimes bawdy sense of humor…and some of the adult interactions in the story
are very adult indeed…Fraser and the Greys are on hand for most of the action. A
not strictly chronological but thoroughly entertaining entry in a franchise
that shows no signs of running out of steam.”
— Kirkus Reviews
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“Long after the battle of Culloden in 1760, Jamie
is a paroled prisoner in the remote Lake District of England, where he cares
for Lord Dulsaney’s horses. Lord John Grey checks on the prisoners, including
Jamie. Rick Holmes’s soft, musical voice delivers most of Jamie’s parts,
defining him with a Scottish burr. Jeff Woodman portrays Grey with a crisp
British accent. The alternating narration of the chapters is subtle even to the
practiced listener, and each narrator handles the accents consistently. The
portrayal of two-year-old Willie, Jamie’s secret illegitimate son, the ninth
Earl of Ellesmere, is also well done. As Lord Grey and Jamie head off to
Ireland in search of a Druid relic that could raise havoc between the island
and Britain, the polished dual narration keeps the listener engaged.”
— AudioFile