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.
When will the Scottish Prisoner be on general release in Scotland?
Dear Fiona–
Should be out in all the English-speaking markets on November 29th!
–Diana
Hey just in time for my birthday!!! Perfect
that date is now in my outlook calender !!!! :))
YAY !!!!!!!!!
Great timing. The day before my birthday 8) Always ask for Barnes and Noble gift cards to buy books for my nook! The Scottish is at the top of my wish list!
I’ve been to both Ireland and Scotland, so this will be a double treat. I’ve already pre-ordered a copy from Amazon. Can’t be soon enough!
This is going to be an awesome story! (they all are) Can’t wait!
I have been anxiously awaiting this instalment of the Lord John series and ordered it as soon as it became available for pre-order! I’m not sure, however, that I will last till November/December, when it is due to arrive! Keep up the great work, Diana! Your books are the ones I always come back to – like catching up with old friends!
Hi Diana, my sister and I had just started reading your series. We just love them! I will be traveling to Italy and Ireland this November but just have to go to Scotland now. Only have three days. Where should I go?
We just returned from a two week trip through Scotland. If you only have three days, go to Edinburgh and Inverness. Not exactly close to each other, but two very beautiful, and different cities. When we go back again, we’re making Inverness our “base of operation”.
Thank so much.
WONDERFUL!!!!! Though from the title I figured it was about the time Jamie was kept at Helwater. I can hardly wait for it to come out; but I feel this way with every one of the books I hear about the you write.
Ah Diana, you’re posting is like a balm on the chafe of my day. Thank you.
Can you see the big grin on my face? I’m so happy to dive into that world again!!!! Can’t wait to see you in Sedona on Saturday, Diana.
Oohhh, I wasn’t expecting that twist,can’t wait for the book!
Can’t wait to read more about Jamie during this time. Love the the line about drowning!!
Can’t wait to read the Scottish Prisoner but am just bursting to read the followup book to Echo in the Bone……was left gasping at the end of it.
I recently read Lord John and the brotherhood of the Blade……what other Lord John Books are available and in what order should they be read?
I can’t tell you how much I love your books. I had gotten away from reading for a long time..after I got glasses but someone gave me Outlander and that was it…I was hooked and have read the whole series. Thank you for getting me back to reading.
I’m looking forward to learning more about Minnie. I like LJG so much and can’t wait for this book to come out! Hopefully it’ll be nice and thick!
The Scottish Prisoner opens up a whole other tentacle in the life story of Jamie Fraser. Thank you for filling in some of the blanks. Twenty years was a long time for Jamie and Claire to be apart and the main books in the series brush so lightly over the events of that time. When Claire left Jamie at Culloden he was still so young and it makes sense that a lot happened before she journeyed back through the stones and found a man who moved seamlessly with printers and smugglers.
Pat Conroy used to be my favorite author………..untill I met Diana’s Outlander.
“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.”
Shouldn’t that be justice For Siverly? Just trying to help.
Looking very much forward to reading Lord John’s next adventure.
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
the “charges of murder” are against the British officer, so “bringing Siverly to justice” is correct. Siverly wasn’t a murder victim, he was the one charged with the murder. Hope this clarifies.
Jen Reese
It sounds fabulous. I am so keen for it to be released here in nz!!
To be honest, up until a little while ago – I didn’t really like Lord John (prob because of Claire’s perspective until the last couple of books too!) but thought I would try the books written about him… and lo and behold – I like him so much more now… Thanks for your great writing and am sort of glad that you aren’t touring so that you finish that next book!!! Then you can tour – Ha ha.
I can not wait. may have to use a few sick days from work because I will not be able to put it down!!!
I love that Minnie was a spy. I appreciate that there are always strong, smart women in your books.
Dear Diana,
I was introduced to “Outlander” after I had major back surgery in 2002. I couldn’t stop until I had finished the book! When talking to my mother in law, she said she had read the entire series (up until then) and had her daughter send me the next two books. Now, my best friend and I are obsessed! Two years ago I lost my vision due to botched cataract surgery on my right eye, so they were afraid to operate on the left. Then, “An Echo in the Bone” was released, and I was dying to read it. My children got together with my husband and bought me a Kindle! Yours was the first book I downloaded! Since then, my vision has been corrected enough to return to normal vision in my left eye, and I have started re-reading all the novels. Can’t wait for the next book in the series, but you can bet I will pre-order “The Scottish Prisoner” for my Kindle.
What a wonderful gift you have!