The Scottish Prisoner

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman, Rick Holmes

Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Quill Award and the Corine International Book Prize, Diana Gabaldon is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Outlander series. This fourth novel featuring popular character Lord John Grey is told both from Lord Grey’s perspective and from that of Jamie Fraser, the star of the Outlander series.

©2011 Diana Gabaldon (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

One of Gabeldon's best written

I love historical fiction, and am a big fan of Diana Gabeldon's details of the lives and politics of the eighteenth-century world and her range from Scotland, Ireland, and England to Paris, Le Havre, Germany, Jamaica, the North Carolina backcountry, Philadelphia, New York, and Ticonderoga. Despite her rich characterizations, fascinating plot twists, and historical detail, sometimes the writing can get a little repetitive, as when Jamie shrugs his shoulder as if his shirt were too tight. Sometimes one feels that the author might not be paying strict attention to continuity, as when Claire is rescued from the witches' trial clad only in Jamie's plaid, and later ends up with at least her shift, if not a dress, in Outlander.

In The Scottish Prisoner, a more compact novel, the writing seems refreshed.

The Scottish Prisoner details Jamie Fraser's stay at "Hellwater," an estate in the Lake District, where he has been sent to serve out his sentence for treason, rather than being transported to the British Colonies. Lord John Gray has arranged this placement. Through events at Hellwater and later in London and Ireland, we see how trust, respect and friendship gradually develop between the two wary ex soldiers, one a defeated Jacobite, the other a British Major. In this development, Lord John continues to struggle with his feelings for Jamie, but becomes somewhat more at peace with the strengthening of their friendship.

Within the Outlander series, the novel deepens the reader's understanding of Jamie's relationship to his son, William, and of his loyalty to Claire, his wife, who has been separated from him. We learn a little about his past association with Irish allies of the Jacobite cause. We also learn more about Lord John's brother Hal, his wife Minnie, and their three children, who have greater roles in An Echo in the Bone, the most recent of the Outlander series.

Primarily, one enjoys the extended focus on two of Gabeldon's most delightful characters, Jamie and Lord John, both well-educated eighteenth-century gentlemen, well acquainted with literature, and languages; both practical and adventurous, and above all, both ready wits. Of couse, Gabeldon endows both with magnetism and physical appeal; it is no wonder that readers and listeners cannot get enough of them.

Another enjoyable read by Gabaldon

Relatively well written, interesting historical data and interesting characters, with a little who dunnit mystery for extra interest.

OHHH so thats what happened!

The missing years at Hell Water. A mix of Outlander and the Lord John series. I loved it but wouldn't have expected anything less.

A good tale for lovers of Outlander

This is a good addition to the series. I prefer Davina Porter as narrator and her Jamie voice, but these narrators were pretty good too.

Not bad but I missed the other narrator

I thought the different narrators somewhat distracting switching back and forth with no clear reason. And I missed Davina Porter as she does such a wonderful job of bringing these tales to life.

GOOD BOOK

What did you love best about The Scottish Prisoner?

This was a good book. However, I can see if you have read the Outlander series, it will be even better. You will have more insight on this book. Over all I enjoyed this book. I do enjoy Diana's writing.

The best of the Lord John series

While this book can stand alone, best to read all the prior Lord John books, along with the Outlander series. A very satisfying and illuminating story about Jamie Fraser and Lord John Grey.

Narration distracting

I think Rick Holmes is probably a talented voice actor but this book definitely didn’t show that. His portrayal of Jamie is cringe worthy at best. I spent much of the first half of the book being super distracted whenever he read and then feeling immense relief when Jeff Woodman narrated.

Other than narration, the story is another wonderful, complex, well developed characters work of fiction from Diana Gabaldon.

narration is decent but not great

i had to adjust my review after listening to more. It is just very difficult to get used to Rick Holmes when you are used to Jeff Woodman and Davina Porter.

All was great but……,

All was great , but as personal preference, I would have like a different voice for My King Of Men, Jamie.