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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I like Lord Grey better than anyone else in the Outlander books (except of course Jamie).
As a stand-alone, this probably a mildly passable book, not very captivating, "just okay". To read it as a huge fan of the entire Outlander series, of which these Lord John books are a spin off, it is another chance to experience something of that world which fans of the series are desperate to partake in.
Lord John is an intriguing character and I had expected to learn more about him in this book but that wasn't the case. Set in 1757, Lord John is called upon to investigate the death of a suspected spy, Timothy O'Connell, as well as having to deal with another revelation that threatens to bring scandal upon his own family.
It had the potential to be a good investigative story, set as it is among the heights of London society and also its houses of ill repute but it never fully develops into anything much more than a story that feels underdeveloped and lacking in drive or excitement.
Readable but not remarkable.
Lord John is an intriguing character and I had expected to learn more about him in this book but that wasn't the case. Set in 1757, Lord John is called upon to investigate the death of a suspected spy, Timothy O'Connell, as well as having to deal with another revelation that threatens to bring scandal upon his own family.
It had the potential to be a good investigative story, set as it is among the heights of London society and also its houses of ill repute but it never fully develops into anything much more than a story that feels underdeveloped and lacking in drive or excitement.
Readable but not remarkable.
While I have read quite a bit of the Outlander books and liked the first few of her books, the more I read them, the more I'm losing interest. This book was just ok. It wasn't engaging enough. The language is too old fashioned and verbose, historical with not as much emotion. I like Lord John Grey as a character though, and his concern for his cousin Olivia. The story itself didn't seem to have a whole lot going on, yet at times it was hard to follow.
2 stars, just ok.
2 stars, just ok.
Definitely not Outlander, but an interesting read. I wasn’t expecting a mystery. The ending left me a bit flat though.
I binge read the entire Lord John series in a few days of vacation (thank you grandparents for taking care of the little boy!), so they all kind of blend together. They were pretty well-written, per usual with Ms. Gabaldon, but I got the sense occasionally that she’d done a little too much immersive research in the time period and was out of touch with what a typical reader might know. (Kind of reminded me of Georgette Heyer’s books getting mired in period slang.)
Additionally according to her website these books are stand alone and can be read in any order, but they definitely refer to prior events and are much better enjoyed in order.
I wouldn't have read these if I wasn't already attached to the characters thanks to Outlander, and I don't think crime/mystery is going to become my genre of choice any time soon.
Additionally according to her website these books are stand alone and can be read in any order, but they definitely refer to prior events and are much better enjoyed in order.
I wouldn't have read these if I wasn't already attached to the characters thanks to Outlander, and I don't think crime/mystery is going to become my genre of choice any time soon.
I enjoyed this book and it helped me understand and like the character of John Grey more than I had before. I wasn't overly compelled though but it helped while I was wanting something new from the Outlander universe. I'm still planning to read the rest of them.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes