The Scottish Prisoner

2011 • 560 pages

Ratings14

Average rating4.2

“This could be the worthy Lord John Grey’s breakout novel, as readers are treated to large dollops of Outlander hero Jamie Fraser.”—Booklist A captivating return to the world Diana Gabaldon created in her Outlander and Lord John series, The Scottish Prisoner is a masterpiece of epic history, wicked deceit, and scores that can only be settled in blood. London, 1760. For Jamie Fraser, paroled prisoner-of-war, life is coming apart at the seams. In the remote Lake District, where he’s close enough to the son he cannot claim as his own, Jamie’s quiet existence is interrupted first by dreams of his lost wife, then by the appearance of an erstwhile comrade still fighting to rally the Irish. But Jamie has sworn off politics, fighting, and war. Until Lord John Grey shows up with a summons that will take him away from everything he loves—again. Lord John is in possession of explosive documents that expose a damning case of corruption against a British officer. But they also hint at a more insidious danger. Soon Lord John and Jamie are unwilling companions on the road to Ireland, a country whose dark castles hold dreadful secrets, and whose bogs hide the bones of the dead. Praise for The Scottish Prisoner “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.”—The Globe and Mail “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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Series

Featured Series

3 primary books6 released books

Lord John Grey

Lord John Grey is a 6-book series with 3 primary works first released in 1998 with contributions by Diana Gabaldon.

Lord John and the brotherhood of the blade

A Plague of Zombies: An Outlander Novella

Besieged

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

Lisa Petrilli

I love Lord John Grey and the way Diana Gabaldon uses these novels and novellas to connect the events in all of the Other Novels in the series.

March 26, 2016

Alysses

This book was just ok for me. I don't know if I would have liked it more had I read it myself but I did listen to it and well, it was just ok. I have to admit, like most Diana Gabaldon Outlander fans, I read the book ONLY BECAUSE OF JAMIE.

This book picks up during the time Jamie is paroled at Helwater. Paroled means something different in England or perhaps during this time. Although he is paroled he is still a prisoner and has to do what he is told. Hal Grey, Lord John Grey's brother, tells Jamie he must help them with a traitor. Jamie is given the choice of helping or being sent to prison. Needless to say Jamie said he would help without hesitation. So there goes Jamie and Lord John on their little adventure and get into a bunch of crazy situations...

As I mentioned before I listened to this on audiobook. I didn't care for the voice that was given to Jamie. I didn't much care for the plot either. I just wanted some more of Jamie. I think the best part of the book was the first few pages where Jamie wakes up from a dream he was having of Claire.
The love he has for this woman will always be to great of a feeling to put into words. I just don't like spy books and thrillers and with all the Jamie it had in it, it just didn't cut it. I think one of my biggest pet peeves of the entire Jamie series, you know any series with Jamie in it, is the power others have on him. This man was minding his own business and living out the most peace he's had in a very long time even with the fact that he is still a prisoner and here comes Hal Grey and blackmails him into agreeing to go along on this mission. Hal Grey is not a dumb man and he must have known that this would cost Jamie lots in the long run. Jamie is all about honor and this little adventure they went on caused Jamie to betray his country and some of his friends. Jamie took the bait because staying at Helwater meant he stayed close to his son.

It just irks me when good men are constantly made to suffer. This man has suffered his entire adolescent and adult life. I swear I would have wanted to die a thousand times by then having gone through what he has. I'd be too damn tired to care.

By the end of the book all has been wrapped up nicely and Jamie is at Helwater watching his son grow while Lord John watches them.

I'd say read it because you know you want/need to but if you are a fan, don't expect a lot of Jamie and definitely not the same vibe you get from the other series. This book has a vibe of its own.