Customer Reviews

Lord John and the Private Matter

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(37)
2 star:		(33)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

"Lord John and the Private Matter" started existance as a short story that got away from the author, and ended up instead as a novel. It is the first of a series of mysteries featuring a character from the wildly popular "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon. Lord John is an 18th century British army officer, who also happens to be gay. His sexual orientation is made known to the reader from the beginning (if they did not know it already from reading "Outlander), but it is not common knowledge among his fellow officers. In solving the rather light-weight mystery, Lord John gives the reader a tour of the underground world of some 18th century London homosexuals, including pubs that catered to gays, as well as houses of prostitution. Some of the vocabulary in the book is rather modern (such as the use of the word 'transvestite'), and the author states that she did take liberties in this area. There is a brief encounter with a male prostitute, which may disturb some readers.

The strength of the novel is with the characters, not the plot. Lord John is very likable and intelligent; his loyalty to his family shines through the entire work. We also get to meet his delightful mother, who is witty and well-read. My impression was that mother was aware of her son's sexual orientation, although that is not spelled out; his 16-year-old female cousin is obviously unaware, as she would like to see him married.

I hope that future "Lord John" books have a stronger plot line and a more interesting mystery. Ms Gabaldon's "Outlander" series is full of historical detail, has complex plot lines, and very memorable characters, so that this book was a bit of a disappointment to a reader who has read all of her previous books more than once. However, the strong characterizations alone will keep me coming back to "Lord John."

After passionately reading the OUTLANDER series I became a Diana Gabaldon fanatic! I receive group messages and frequent her web site. I even slipped into a mild depression when completing FIERY CROSS knowing it would be a few years before I would be able to find out what happened to my beloved Jamie and Claire. Her books are among the best I have ever read---until LORD JOHN and the PRIVATE MATTER. Even after reading the dismal reviews, I was determined to like this book. I find it difficult to believe that Diana even wrote this book. I knew this book would be totally unrelated to all things Outlander but I figured that the same great writing with wonderful character development that we are so accustomed to would continue with her new series. Unfortunately, I was wrong. In fact, I know no more about Lord John after reading a book about him than I did from reading the Outlander books. Plus, I had a hard time following this mystery. For example, when Lord John would notice a 'look' in a servants eye, I wasn't certain what that look meant.

I don't mean to write a scathing review because this book is not horrible--it's just not great. Read it for what it is, a little mystery story that is mildly entertaining.

This book is a departure from our usual Diana Gabaldon fare. It is definitely not a romance - but none of her books are romances - there is only one scene that even hints at romance, and the particulars are left to the reader's imagination.

The book provides some intriguing insights into the mind and character of Lord John Grey. No matter what one may think of him in the main series, one will know him better and perhaps see him as a more sympathetic character after reading this book.

At heart, Lord John is a good and honorable man and these traits are displayed in a good twisting plot

Like many other "Outlander" fans, I've been reluctant to even attempt to read this second Gabaldon series which centers on a secondary gay character first introduced in "Dragonfly in Amber." I was discouraged not only by the average Goodreads rating of 3.35, but by the sheer memory of THE homosexual encounter in "Outlander." I simply didn't feel like going through the same pain and suffering again. But then the 7th book came out ("An Echo in the Bone") and everybody was saying that you had to have read Lord John books to really get into the story. Of course, in this case, I simply had to at least try to read these books to be sufficiently prepared for future series installments.

Well, I am pleased to say that I enjoyed "Lord John and the Private Matter" very much. I understand however where the low ratings came from. This book was nothing like Outlander books. They are different in genre, in size, even in vocabulary. This Lord John book was a historical mystery with a lot of old-fashioned sleuthing, unlike smutty romance/adventure type Outlander books are. What remains the same in both series however is the high quality of writing, fantastic characterization and smartly presented historical details.

There was no passionate love story (not even a gay one) in "Lord John and the Private Matter," but it was filled with political intrigues and discussions of military affairs, and I enjoyed every bit of it. The subject of homosexuality was presented throughout the story: not only was it always in the back of Lord John' mind, but we also had to follow our protagonist sleuthing through brothels, male secret rendezvous houses and chasing transvestites. Needless to say, it all was new to me, because honestly I know very little about gay life style and especially that in 18th century London.

As for Lord John himself and his personal life, Gabaldon managed to make me appreciate this man of honor and feel a lot of compassion for his plight, because if nothing else he is a lonely man who among other things is forced to keep an important part of self hidden at all times, because his "preference" can simply have him executed.

What else is there to say? Only that I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written mystery which started as an quest to find out if Lord John's future cousin-in-law had syphilis and ended with him solving two murders and uncovering a spy against England. I am definitely reading the rest of the books in this series.

P.S. Just a heads-up, there was one man/man sex scene involving Lord John, but it wasn't at all graphic, although you do know what's going on.

This book seems to have been greatly underrated by fans of the author's Outlander series. I don't care much for romance novels, but I loved this witty, clever mystery that takes place in 1757 London.

Lord John is lovable, eccentric, clever and intuitive, but still surprised and even occasionally embarrassed by the events as they unfold. The story is intelligent and subtle without being difficult to follow. Historical content is presented accurately and adds greatly to the richness of the tale. The author doesn't bore you with long descriptions, but rather uses a few sparse details to create vivid pictures.

I'm terribly disappointed that there's only one Lord John mystery. I could happily read many more.

Note on the audio version: The reader, Jeff Woodman, is fabulous. Besides adding the proper subtle tones to the speech, he's a master of British accents. Each spoken voice is unique and rich with personality. I'd recommend this version both to fans of audio and those who've never tried it.

I feel duty-bound to write a positive review of LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER, since so many of the reviews here have been negative. Those reviews almost decided me against purchasing the book, but, given Gabaldon's excellent writing in the OUTLANDER series, four of which I've read, I figured LORD JOHN would be just as well written. I'm glad I decided in favor of reading it.

Now, don't get me wrong. This is NOT a love story, so if you're expecting a hero and heroine like Jamie and Claire, you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you enjoy murder mysteries like those in the Fiona Buckley series, then LORD JOHN is for you. Moreover, if you're like me and appreciate Gabaldon's scrupulous attention to historical detail with respect to the location, habits, dress, language and behavior of 18th century England, then you won't be disappointed.

John Grey is an immensely sympathetic protagonist. What I find intriguing about him is that he is obviously masculine and handsome, characteristics we ladies have come to expect in our romantic heroes; yet, he is also a homosexual, and I had to keep reminding myself of this as I read. I wasn't sure how Gabaldon would handle his "amorous exploits," but she does this tastefully. In any event, the main thrust of the novel is the murder mystery and the mystery of his cousin's fiance's "affliction." But I found that the juxtaposition of Lord John's sexual orientation and his "tough-guy" military career made for a complex and intriguing character. I certainly could sympathize with his need to conceal his homosexuality in an England where such behavior is not only against the law, but subject to extreme punishment, not to mention what revelation of his secret would mean for his and his family's reputations. He can't help the way he was born, but he handles it with dignity and style.

The plot is definitely complex, but one comes to expect that of Gabaldon's novels. I found myself carefully reading the last few chapters to make sure I understood how all of the plot points were resolved, but this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. It was a good read, and I look forward to more Lord John books.

In 1757, Major John Grey, an aristocrat concludes he must end his cousin Olivia's engagement to John Trevelyn because he knows the man suffers from the pox. After consulting on the delicate matter with his military superior, Colonel Quarry also assigns John to investigate stolen ordnance requisitions, which unless recovered will force the English armies on the continent to make costly relocations to avoid massacres.

John begins his inquiries with the homicide of soldier Timothy O'Connell who is the prime suspect. Evidence takes John to a whorehouse and subsequently to a gay gentleman's house, Lavender House that he knows intimately from five years ago. He continues to follow the trail that leads to a small specialty wine shop and from there to the murder of a wine maker wearing a dress. As he closes in on the military case, he makes major progress on the personal matter too, but does not realizing the two connect. John forces the end of Joseph's engagement to Olivia, but also is drugged by the man.

Though readers need to understand that this is not a romance and the likable hero has a gay encounter, the novel still is the typical Gabaldon book. The insightful Georgian espionage mystery is rich with a taste for the era, but not just the typical kind found in mid eighteenth century novels. John, who has appeared in previous novels such as THE FIERY CROSS, is a delightful hero and the support cast adds depth to the era and to the suspense including a rather surprising heterosexual love story.

Harriet Klausner

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I began to read this book. I had not really warmed to Lord John in the Outlander series, but I like Gabaldon's writing style, so thought this might be an interesting read. For a "short story" by Gabaldon (less than 400 pages), this was pleasantly entertaining.

The story centers around Lord John investigating Lord Trevelyan, the financee of his cousin, whom he suspects of being poxed. In the process of trying to keep his family's best interests at heart, we wind through the streets of London's East End -- Cheapside, in particular, where the upper crust mix with the prostitutes and thieves. The plot involves murder, intrigue, and an interesting look at the gay lifestyle of "molly houses" in 18th century London.

The concept of a Lord John series has great potential, given the character's military background and the various storylines that could come from that. The characters introduced around Lord John were well developed and believable. I'd like to see this be the beginning of more stories centered around Lord John. Should the author chose not to continue her wonderful Outlander series, the segue to a Lord John series is believable.

Nice first outing, easy read, and entertaining -- I recommend this book to anyone, whether they have read Outlander or not.

Major Lord John Grey, a soldier and respected member of Londons highest circles, has inadvertently realised that the man who is engaged to marry his cousin, has what was then known as the pox, and is determined to stop the marriage while protecting his cousin from scandal.When a soldier in his regiment is found brutally murdered, suspicions of espionage arise and Grey is appointed by the Crown to investigate and prevent the possible leakage of military secrets to France. The trail winds its way through the drawing rooms of the nobility and into the bawdy houses of Londons night world, touching pockets of treachery and corruption at all levels. This book has no connection to the wonderful Outlander series except that it uses Lord John Grey as its main character, but it really does provide the clearest,and probably closest to the truth, insight to the world on London in 1757.

Reading the other reviews here, I see that many readers are disappointed this book doesn't live up to the excellence of Gabaldon's Outlander series. I am unfamiliar with the Outlander books, so I approached Lord John's story with no preconceived notions of what to expect. What I got was a perfectly enjoyable, well-plotted little mystery with some wonderful characters and just a splash of history. Being a mystery fan, I loved it! No, this isn't an epic tale of. . . well, whatever the Outlander books are about. It's a light read, clever and fun, with intriguing and sympathetic characters. What more do you want?