Lord John and the Private Matter

September 15, 2003
Trouble befalls Lord John Grey (fresh from minor roles in Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander novels) when he accidentally discovers that the Hon. Joseph Trevelyan, his cousin's betrothed, may have what those in 1757 termed "the pox" or "the French disease"—syphilis. Before he can figure out an appropriate way to handle this delicate matter, he becomes involved in the investigation of the mysterious and grisly murder of a military colleague suspected of being a spy. Gabaldon (The Fiery Cross; Drums of Autumn; etc.) stitches these two plots together into a compelling narrative that also offers a wealth of juicy details about 18th-century London, especially its homosexual underbelly. Lord John, who reminisces about his dead lover, Hector, and the "lean, hard body" of an old flame, learns that Trevelyan may be traveling from one house of ill repute to another of a different sort: at the Lavender House, both buyers and sellers are men. Among his various trials and tribulations, Lord John must discern the identity of a mysterious figure in a green velvet dress spotted in both of these establishments and investigate the mysterious death of a similarly attired man, found with his face bashed in. Grey is a competent and likable sleuth, and Gabaldon's prose is crisply elegant. Her many fans will be happy to learn that this is the first in a series about the travails of Lord John Grey.

July 1, 2003
In a new trilogy based on a character from Gabaldon's beloved "Outlander" series, Lord John Grey pursues a traitor through the back alleys of 1750s London.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2003
After accidentally observing a spot on Joseph Trevelyan's "privy member," Major Lord John Grey finds himself in a devilishly difficult position because Trevelyan is about to marry Grey's cousin, who has no idea her fiance is infected with the pox. As he searches for a discreet way to confirm his suspicions, Grey is dragged into a different kind of investigation. British Army requisition papers have vanished in Calais, and Grey must find out if there is some connection between their disappearance and the recent murder of a possible spy Sergeant Timothy O'Connell. Grey, who has a secret of his own to protect, begins an investigation into O'Connell's death, which, interestingly enough, leads to Trevelyan and a mysterious woman in green velvet whose identity may provide answers to all of Grey's questions. " New York Times" best-seller Gabaldon promotes Grey, a popular secondary character in her Outlander series, to a starring role in this thoroughly entertaining and wonderfully witty historical mystery set in the richly detailed, occasionally bawdy world of Georgian England.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)

August 1, 2003
A popular supporting character from Gabaldon's best-selling "Outlander" series, Lord John Grey gets his own novel (and possibly his own mystery series) in this work. The tale begins in the summer of 1757 when Grey inadvertently glimpses a suspicious sore on the "privy member" of the Honorable Joseph Trevelyan. Suspecting that it is syphilis, Grey is tempted to ignore what he's seen, except that his young cousin Olivia is engaged to Trevelyan. He can't let her marry someone with a deadly venereal disease! Grey is sidetracked from his familial responsibilities, however, by his investigation into the murder of fellow soldier Tim O'Connell. A mysterious woman in a green velvet gown may hold the key but only if Grey can uncover her true identity. Gabaldon's lively prose and gift for historical details make this an enjoyable read. Fans of Lord John will appreciate learning more about his past. Strongly recommended for public libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 7/03.]-Laurel Bliss, Yale Arts Lib.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.