Now, if you don’t want to know _anything_ about this book before reading it–stop right here. {g} This is the original catalog-copy for THE SCOTTISH PRISONER; the general description of the book that I wrote for use by editors (who write the flap-copy and back-cover copy), agents (who write descriptions for their own catalogs for use at international book-fairs), and publishers (who write brief descriptions of new books for the catalogs their sales reps use when describing new books to their accounts). This is the basic description of the book, on which all those things are based. So, for those of you who want to know just what SCOTTISH PRISONER is…read on!
There are only two compensations to Jamie Fraser’s life as a paroled Jacobite prisoner-of-war in the remote Lake District: he’s not cutting sugar cane in the West Indies, and he has access to William, his illegitimate (and very secret) son, otherwise known as the ninth Earl of Ellesmere. His quiet life comes suddenly apart with the appearance of Tobias Quinn, an Irishman and an erstwhile comrade from the Rising.
Some Jacobites were killed; others, like Jamie, imprisoned or transported. Others escaped. And many of them didn’t give up. Quinn still burns with passion for the Stuart Cause, and he has a Plan. A singularly dangerous plan, involving Jamie Fraser and an ancient relic of Irish kingship—the sacred cup of the Druid King.
Jamie has had enough of politics, enough of war—and more than enough of the Stuarts. He’s having none of it.
*********
In London, Lord John Grey has brought home from Quebec a packet of papers that might as well have come equipped with a fuse, so explosive are their contents. Material collected by a recently deceased friend, the papers document a damning case of corruption and murder against a British officer, Major Gerald Siverly. For the sake of his friend, and his own honor as a soldier, John is determined to bring Siverly to justice.
John’s brother Hal, the Duke of Pardloe, takes this cause as his own, and enlists the help of his wife, Minnie, a retired spy in her own right. The Greys show Minnie a mysterious document from the dangerous docket—what appear to be verses, written in a language they don’t recognize. Minnie does recognize the language. It’s Erse, she tells the brothers. The language spoken by Irishmen and Scottish Highlanders.
Erse. The word gave Grey a very odd sensation. Erse was what folk spoke in the Scottish Highlands. It sounded like no other language he’d ever heard—and barbarous as it was, he was surprised to learn that it existed in a written form.
Hal was looking at him speculatively.
“You must have heard it fairly often, at Ardsmuir?”
“Heard it, yes. Almost all the prisoners spoke it.” Grey had been governor of Ardsmuir prison for a brief period; as much exile as appointment, in the wake of a near-scandal. He disliked thinking about that period of his life, for assorted reasons.
“Did Fraser speak it?”
Oh, God, Grey thought. Not that. Anything but that.
“Yes,” he said, though. He had now and then overheard James Fraser speaking in his native tongue to the other prisoners, the words mysterious and flowing.
“When did you see him last?”
“Not since last spring.” Grey spoke briefly, his voice careful.
Not careful enough; Hal came round in front of him, examining him at close range, as though he might be an unusual sort of Chinese jug.
“He is at Helwater, is he not? Will you go and ask him about Siverly?” Hal said mildly.
“No.”
“No?”
“I would not piss on him, was he burning in the flames of hell,” Grey said politely.
One of Hal’s brows flicked upward, but only momentarily.
“Just so,” he said dryly. “The question, though, is whether Fraser might be inclined to perform a similar service for you.”
Grey placed his cup carefully in the center of the desk.
“Only if he thought I might drown,” he said, and went out.
But needs must when the devil drives—and Lord John and Jamie are shortly unwilling companions on the road to Ireland, a country whose dark castles hold dreadful secrets, and whose bogs hide the bones of the dead.
As a fan of all the books in the series, I also am intrigued (Nell notice the correct spelling). And I, too, wonder if Erse is Gaelic. I’m looking forward to the additional sidebar to the main story.
“Only if he thought I might drown,” he said, and went out.
LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!
As much as I love reading about Jamie and Claire, and their families, I’m so glad you’ve taken the time to tell us Lord John’s stories. I’ve quite enjoyed getting to know him better and have found I have a great deal of respect for the man. Plus, he’s got a wonderful, if somewhat dry, sense of humor. His last statement in the passage you’ve just shared with us, had me laughing out loud. I’ll enjoy reading about how you bring about the change in his and Jamie’s relationship…. well, heck, I’ll just enjoy reading the whole book, period! Thank you!
Wow I cannot wait to read this, I will be first in line. Such an unusual story, full of fantastic characters that leaves me wanting more.
So then this is not the next book in Outlander? Just a side story in the Lord Johy Gray line?
Either way I’ll buy it, because I love your writing. Just want to get it clear in my mind what I’m in for.
Dear Mary–
Neither one. It’s kind of a hybrid book, in that it follows BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, in terms of Lord John’s life–but also tells the story of Jamie’s life during part of the time when he was separated from Claire. I think you’ll enjoy it. {s}
–Diana
“I think you’ll enjoy it”….lol…Understatement of the year!
I am looking forward to more about Lord John’s brother, the Duke-he is quite the character. Your brain is truly a gift. Write fast.Please.
Diana — if you write it, we will certainly ENJOY it!!!!!!!!
Oh Goody!! Thank you. and as for telling us about the book, it’s what we could read on the inside flap so what’s the flap?? LOL
Looking forward to reading it but it might not be till after Christmas since it is on my list!
Thanks for all the writing you do. I love the stories (all of them) the characters and the other folks in my “real” life who I have met because we all love your stories. What a wide web you spin!! (sure it should be an eight legged spider on the new book rather then an octopus? LOL Just asking!!)
Anything about Lord John is a treat. His is a very interesting, comples and likeable personality and is an excellent counterpoing to Jamie’s . More, more and more.
I’m still waiting for the continuation of Jamie’s story….when will we see it?
Dear Rosalie–
This _is_ a continuation of Jamie’s story–it’s part of what happened to him while Claire was in the future, and I think you’ll enjoy it.
If you mean when’s the next book that follows AN ECHO IN THE BONE….see the earlier blogpost titeld “Book 8 Has a Title”.
–Diana
Okay Okay, you got me at Erse. How I love your character John Grey and the dialogue you set up between he and Hal is just enticing…narrative about John and Jamie alone? I am so there. Come on release date!
As usual, you have left our mouthwatering for more, oh the torture.
How enticing! I can’t wait!
Every Xmas I have to write a list of gift ideas (for me) for my husband. This title is going at the top, heavily underlined, and in red ink! Love both the Outlander and Lord John series of books. Thank you so very much for writing them.
You have such a fantastic way with words! The worlds you build in your books, and subsequently, my imagination are so vivid as to be almost tangible when I am in among the imagery. Thank you!
Fantastic hook, Diana. The description oozes masculinity, angst, and mystery; Jamie and John. I am so looking forward to reading The Scottish Prisoner.
Do you get as excited about your stories as the reader does? Do you have chills, tears, joy, etc, as the words come to you? Just wondering.
I cant wait to read “The Scottish Prisoner”, tbh since I first started reading your books a few years ago I cant seem to put them down. The Frasers seem like part of my family, never before have I felt such a connection with fictional characters. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for introducing such wonderful, honest and intriguing characters into my “tame” life………Im chomping at the bit to read the next installment of Outlander. HAIL DG!x
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can not wait to have this book in my hot little hands and hide away and devour the whole thing. Great excerpt. The relationship between Jamie and John is so compelling to me and I truly adore both these characters. Looking forward to lots of spicy tension between them.
I’m so glad you published this. I can’t say I was excited about the Scottish Prisoner, thinking it would be similar to previous stories, but now I AM excited and can’t wait for its release. Will there be an audio version, and if so, who is the reader?
Dear Anita–
Since when have I _ever_ written a book that was “similar to previous stories,” pray? {g}
–Diana
Had me from the reading of the title.
I am wondering is there by any chance- you will be using Davina Porter for narrotor of this book? I am hoping you will do an audio book for those of us who spend hours in a car and other multitask activities.
I know that sounds crazy using a female voice with two men as leading roles, but I am amazed with her skills in bringing the past books you have written to life.
Looking forward to The Scottish Prisoner!
Dear Sheila–
There _will_ be an audiobook of THE SCOTTISH PRISONER, it _will_ {crossing fingers} be out at the same time as the print copy, and it will be read by _two_ fabulous actors. Jeffrey Woodman has read all the Lord John books to date, and he’s flat-out wonderful; partly by serendipity but mostly by talent, he actually sounds almost exactly like Lord John sounds in my head. {g} He’ll read all the scenes (about half the book) from Lord John’s point of view. Rick Holmes (for whom I’ve only heard a small bit of an audition tape, but that was good, and I trust the Recorded Books people implicitly) will read the scenes from Jamie’s point of view. I think it will be terrific, and can’t wait to hear it!
–Diana
Jeffrey Woodman was excellent in all the Lord John books and I look forward to being introduced to the voice of Rick Holmes as Jamie. I think this combination will further enhance the experience. For years whenever we would get into the car my son would plead “please mom, do we have to listen to Jamie and Claire?” Lucky for him, he has his own car now. Hopefully Davina Porter will read #8. I’m ready for re-read #3.
I love Jeffrey Woodman as Lord John! He’s exactly perfect for Lord John (and now I know why), but I’m wondering how I’ll feel about Rick Holmes after Davina Porter has created Jamie for me. When I surface after one of the Outlander series books I marvel at her ability to imbue her voice with whatever it is that makes him disctinctly male, along with every other male character she does. Not to mention making him a very charismatic and attractive being
My hat is off to her mad skills!!!!
I have a gf who commented she isnt into LJ and doesnt like him all that much .. SHOCK HORROR from me… as a response!
I have always like LJ, but started to really understand him more and love him in the stories after listening to the LJ audio books.
I have suggetsed to my gf that she tries listening and then tell me what she thinks of LJ…
love the audio books… working on the farm or on the ride on mower or travelling I have the books on.. I dont care if I have heard them more than once, as I find I still pick up on things and events sometimes have more meaning as you realise the implications of the actions earlier…
No, no, no, Lord John should have a British accent NOT an American accent. It is wrong. Sorry…
In my humble personal opinion, Davina Porter is the ‘ultimate’ voice for our Jamie, and John, and Claire et al.
Antipodean Janet
To have a non English accented Lord John would be like having Dolly Parton’s voice for Claire!
Or Fran Dressher [aka The Nanny]. Ewan McGregor in his beautiful full Scots would work for Jamie though.
I agree with you Janet, Davina Porter really brought all the books to life. I wish it was her that did all the readings for all of Diana’s books. IMHO that is…*smile*
Dear Diana,
Thank you. I can’t wait, *only* 64 days to go, but whose counting?
Fiona
Can’t wait to read this. It sounds very interesting. And now we’re Ireland? even more far reaching than before.
Oh my . . . The waiting just got worse!!