The Scottish Prisoner

February 13, 2012
Jamie Fraser, a Scottish Jacobite from Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander series, is back and in the spotlight in the newest Lord John novel (after An Echo in the Bone). Having been arrested and paroled to the Lake District, Fraser has fathered a child with a noblewoman, though he cannot claim him lest he put his son's inheritance at risk. While engrossed in this complicated familial situation, Lord John Grey appears with an enigmatic letter that Grey suspects of containing clues to a political conspiracy. However, the mysterious message is written in the language of the Scottish Highlanders, which only Fraser can translate. His interpretation reveals the schemes of a corruptâand potentially traitorousâmilitary officer, Siverly. Promised his freedom by Grey's brother, Hal, in exchange for his help in tracking down Siverly, Fraser embarks on a quest fraught with murder, espionage, and the dredging-up of potent secrets. A complicated plot will likely baffle new readers, but long-time Gabaldon fans will find plenty to love. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary.

Long after the battle of Culloden in 1760, Jamie is a paroled prisoner in the remote Lake District of England, where he cares for Lord Dulsaney's horses. Lord John Grey checks on the prisoners, including Jamie. Rick Holmes's soft, musical voice delivers most of Jamie's parts, defining him with a Scottish burr. Jeff Woodman portrays Grey with a crisp British accent. The alternating narration of the chapters is subtle even to the practiced listener, and each narrator handles the accents consistently. The portrayal of 2-year old Willie, Jamie's secret illegitimate son, the ninth Earl of Ellesmere, is also well done. As Lord Grey and Jamie head off to Ireland in search of a Druid relic that could raise havoc between the island and Britain, the polished dual narration keeps the listener engaged. M.B.K. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine