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caitiebeth's review against another edition
3.0
It was decent. But, once again, Gabaldon has demonstrated her appalling lack of attention to chronology.
This book takes place in 1761. Mrs. Abernathy is on the island, and her husband has died recently.
But in
Voyager
, set in early 1767 by the time they're in Jamaica, it says this:
Barnabas Abernathy had come from Scotland, and had purchased Rose Hall five years before ... Then, two years ago, he had married a woman no one knew, bringing her home from a trip to Guadeloupe ... And six months later, he was dead.
So, Barnabas Abernathy came in 1762-ish, and Mrs. Abernathy showed up in 1765. But this novella takes place in 1761. To echo my previous reviews of
Outlander
,
Dragonfly in Amber
and
Voyager
: huh???
At least it explained Mrs. Abernathy's "zombie poison" from
Voyager
.
This book takes place in 1761. Mrs. Abernathy is on the island, and her husband has died recently.
But in
Voyager
, set in early 1767 by the time they're in Jamaica, it says this:
Barnabas Abernathy had come from Scotland, and had purchased Rose Hall five years before ... Then, two years ago, he had married a woman no one knew, bringing her home from a trip to Guadeloupe ... And six months later, he was dead.
So, Barnabas Abernathy came in 1762-ish, and Mrs. Abernathy showed up in 1765. But this novella takes place in 1761. To echo my previous reviews of
Outlander
,
Dragonfly in Amber
and
Voyager
: huh???
At least it explained Mrs. Abernathy's "zombie poison" from
Voyager
.
deehaichess's review against another edition
4.0
I found this story in an anthology and I have to say, while I just can't stomach time travelling heroines romancing Scottish lairds or whatever the Outlander books are meant to be about, I really don't think Gabaldon can do any wrong when it comes to Lord John Grey. He's just the perfect protagonist - brave but human, smart, instinctive, lucky, skilled and just a little flawed. In this story he plays diplomat-come-detective, travelled to Jamaica to quell an alleged slave uprising and instead encountering deadly mysteries to solve and chilling discoveries to overcome.
For a short story, this was nicely creepy. The sense of time and place is amazingly vivid and Gabaldon's supporting characters are well fleshed out, given the work's length. Our hero faces a suitably dangerous trial in the end which, regardless of the expected outcome, still had me biting my nails. Another really, really good read in this series! I highly recommend it!
For a short story, this was nicely creepy. The sense of time and place is amazingly vivid and Gabaldon's supporting characters are well fleshed out, given the work's length. Our hero faces a suitably dangerous trial in the end which, regardless of the expected outcome, still had me biting my nails. Another really, really good read in this series! I highly recommend it!
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really fantastic read, and I just needed to know if this was supernatural, or faked, and it was a really great read!
khoerner7's review against another edition
1.0
This was a dud. The Lord John novellas aren't nearly as good as the ones in the Jaime/Claire line. In this one Lord John is sent to Jamaica to help put down a slave rebellion. He encounters corrupt government officials, talk of zombies and snakes. This is one worth skipping.
cometgrrl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
thisistaylort's review against another edition
4.0
I can't believe this is the last book (chronologically) in the Lord John Series. It went by too fast. I really do hope there are more stories to come.
From my review of the first book in the Lord John Series, because every book deserves a review:
When I discovered Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series about three years ago, I devoted a whole summer to reading it in its entirety. But then I was finished and decided to turn my attention to other books, other authors. There are so many books and so little time.
If you've read any of my other book reviews this year, you'll see that I was in a bit of a book rut. I've been reading lots of new, buzzy books and have been completely disappointed.
I want to read a book with excellent writing that's also entertaining. I needed some action. I needed some adventure. I needed Diana Gabaldon. I'm not one to reread books (see comments above.) So I decided to try out the Lord John series. I was not disappointed.
Lord John and the Private Matter is fast paced. I finished it in a day and half. I am cured of my book rut. I hope there are more Lord John books to come!
From my review of the first book in the Lord John Series, because every book deserves a review:
When I discovered Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series about three years ago, I devoted a whole summer to reading it in its entirety. But then I was finished and decided to turn my attention to other books, other authors. There are so many books and so little time.
If you've read any of my other book reviews this year, you'll see that I was in a bit of a book rut. I've been reading lots of new, buzzy books and have been completely disappointed.
I want to read a book with excellent writing that's also entertaining. I needed some action. I needed some adventure. I needed Diana Gabaldon. I'm not one to reread books (see comments above.) So I decided to try out the Lord John series. I was not disappointed.
Lord John and the Private Matter is fast paced. I finished it in a day and half. I am cured of my book rut. I hope there are more Lord John books to come!
michaelromeo's review against another edition
4.0
A tour de force foray into the world of colonial West Indies rife with the legends of zombies. The audiobook is an added treat due to the talent of reader Jeff Woodman who brings each character to life.