Product Description

Diana Gabaldon, the New York Times bestselling author of Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade and the wildly popular Outlander novels, delivers three tales of war, intrigue, and espionage that feature one of her most popular characters: Lord John Grey. In the heart of the eighteenth century, here are haunted soldiers . . . lusty princesses . . . ghostly apparitions . . . dark family secrets. And here Lord John will face enemies who come in the guise of friends, memories in the shape of a fiery-haired Scot named James Fraser, and allies who have the power to destroy him with a single blow. . . .

In Lord John and the Hellfire Club, Lord John glimpses a stranger in the doorway of a gentlemen's club—and is stirred by a desperate entreaty to meet in private. The rendezvous forestalled by a sudden murder, Lord John will wade into a maze of political treachery and a dangerous, debauched underground society. . . . In Lord John and the Succubus, English soldiers fighting in Prussia are rattled by the nocturnal visitations of a deadly woman who sucks life and soul from a man. Called to investigate the night-hag, Lord John finds a murdered soldier and a treacherous Gypsy, and comes to the stark realization that among the spirits that haunt men, none frighten more than the specters conjured by the heart. . . . In Lord John and the Haunted Soldier, Lord John is thrust into the deadly case of an exploding battlefield cannon. Wounded in the same battle, Lord John is called to tesify and soon confronts his own ghost—and the shattering prospect that a traitor is among the ranks of His Majesty's armed forces.

Capturing the lonely, tormented, and courageous career of a man who fights for his crown, his honor, and his own secrets, Diana Gabaldon delivers breathtaking human drama. And in tales seething with desire, madness, and political intrigue, Gabaldon once again proves that she can bring history to life in a way few novelists ever have.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154907 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-27
• Released on: 2007-11-27
• Format: Bargain Price
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

From Publishers Weekly
The indefatigable Gabaldon, who has made the British 18th century her own, offers a trio of novellas about Lord John Grey, whose minor role in the Outlander novels (concerning Jacobite Jamie Fraser and including A Breath of Snow and Ashes) has become a major fictional spinoff (Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, etc.). The three mystery-adventure novellas of this volume span 1756 to 1758, in settings packed with dark secrets—and therefore dangers—for the soldier-hero with secrets of his own. The first novella finds Lord John swearing vengeance in London for a murdered government official, leading him to a deconsecrated abbey where members of the political elite indulge their basest desires. The second pits Lord John against a succubus that plagues his Prussian encampment, and combines humor with military strategy and supernatural myth. The third, most complex narrative finds Lord John investigating the cause of a cannon explosion in the English countryside that results in a fellow officer's death. Gabaldon brings an effusive joy to her fiction that proves infectious even for readers unfamiliar with her work or the period. A foreword and introductory notes add background on the book's evolution. (Nov.)
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Review
“Gabaldon’s strengths are on full display.... Deftly written, pleasantly concise stories about the ghosts of desire, each with its own discrete merits.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A captivating collection.... featuring richly detailed historical settings, splendidly nuanced characters, and expertly crafted plots.”—Booklist

“[Lord John displays] characteristic elan, intelligence, and fortitude…. You may find yourself relishing the dishes of gooseberry trifle, the cozy afternoons at the Beefsteak Appreciation Society, and the companionship of this urbane 18th century blade.”–Entertainment Weekly


From the Hardcover edition.

Review
“Gabaldon’s strengths are on full display.... Deftly written, pleasantly concise stories about the ghosts of desire, each with its own discrete merits.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A captivating collection.... featuring richly detailed historical settings, splendidly nuanced characters, and expertly crafted plots.”—Booklist

“[Lord John displays] characteristic elan, intelligence, and fortitude…. You may find yourself relishing the dishes of gooseberry trifle, the cozy afternoons at the Beefsteak Appreciation Society, and the companionship of this urbane 18th century blade.”–Entertainment Weekly

Customer Reviews

solid trio of stories
The good news is that we didn't have to wait long after Gabaldon's fine work Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade: the bad news is that we are going to have to wait a while for Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner [Jamie Fraser, I presume]. Hand of Devils is 3 independent tales of John Grey from 1756 to 1758: two novellas and a long short story. All three tales have very different flavors: I'd give the first two a solid 4 stars, and the third 5 stars. Those who enjoyed Brotherhood of the Blade should enjoy this book as well, those who found parts of Brotherhood offensive will not find as much to offend here.

Hellfire Club is the first story, the shortest (less than half the length of the other two) and the most conventional. Succubus, set in Prussia, has, by and large, a similar feel to the part of Brotherhood that also take place in Prussia, but Succubus certainly takes some strange turns, and there are some very funny scenes centering on how the soldiers try to ward off the succubus. Haunted Soldier is the most satisfying of the three tales: it has the best historical flavor and interest of the stories. You learn about the making of gunpowder, some of the politics, military life, and morality of the time. There's a wonderful line here--when Lord John goes before a 3-man investigatory commission: "All three of them looked suddenly at him as one, like a phalanx of owls eyeing a mouse". Great writing!

Brotherhood of the Blade is a fine historical novel: Gabaldon had the leisure to develop an excellent sense of time and place--manservant Tom was always busy cleaning the ubiquitous grime of London off Lord John's clothes. The stories in Hand of Devils do not have quite the same leisure to achieve a similar depth. There is a fine historical flavor to the stories, but it's not as rich as that in Brotherhood. It's still a very worthwhile book: I put aside the other two books I was reading in order to finish it, and it was with considerable reluctance that I left for work and left the book unfinished. When I got home, supper had to wait until the book was done. Entertaining and enjoyable!

Delightful trio of stories about Lord John ...
The book contains 3 short stories about Lord John, two of which were published previously. The first, "Lord John and the Hellfire Club," previously appeared under the title, "Hellfire," in the anthology "Past Poisons" (Headline, 1998). It's the shortest at about 37 pages. In the chronology of Lord John books, it comes first (before "Lord John and the Private Matter").

"Hellfire" takes place in 1756, shortly after Lord John's return from Ardsmuir (the prison that held Jamie Fraser in "Voyager"). It deals with the murder of a young man invited to meet with the secretive Hellfire Club. No one knows much about it. But John receives a sobbering induction, is framed for murder, and saved by Harry Quarry (his predecessor at Ardsmuir) all in the space of about 8 pages - a major feat for Gabaldon.

The second story, "Lord John and the Succubus," is clever. It previously appeared under the same title in the anthology, "Legends II: New Short Novels by the Modern Masters of Fantasy." In the chronology of Lord John titles, it falls between "Private Matter" and "Brotherhood of the Blade."

The story takes place during 1756 and 1757, when England was at war against France and Austria. While serving as a major in the English army, Lord John investigates rumors and deaths attributed to succubi.

I can't speak to the story's cleverness without giving it away, but suffice it to say that the "devils" in this story are quite human and the hand controlling them quite present today and since the beginning of time.

The third, "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier," is an original publication. In the chronology, it comes after "Brotherhood of the Blade." It takes place in 1758.

Lord John has recently returned from the battlefield to respond to an inquest about a cannon that blew up under his command, killing several soldiers. The intrigue involves investigating the cause of the explosion. Lord John struggles with feelings of guilt and memory lapses (In the midst of a crisis, who can say what really happened?).

Consequently, a request that he investigate the disappearance of a local young woman comes as a welcome distraction. Little does he know how the two - the disappearance and the explosion - relate.

Of the 3 stories, I enjoyed Succubus the most. I like Gabaldon's writing style and her imagination, so I'll read anything she writes. But Succubus is a cut above the other 2 stories. If you haven't read it, it alone is worth the price of the book.

For Jamie Fraser fans, you'll find references to him in all the stories. But he is most apparent in the "Haunted Soldier."

For others, you might find this collection easier to follow, if you read the other 2 Lord John novels as well as the first 3 Outlander books. Gabaldon is truly a gifted storyteller in that she can retell episodes from earlier works from the viewpoint of another character. It's quite well done and I'm amazed that she does this without planning for it.

Short, sweet, fun
The three stories that make up this book are a nice mix of settings and mysteries,(though the device of having the villian explain all at the end is a little repetitive- and the only reason I refrained from giving this book a full five stars). There are many lovely historical details and nice turns of phrase, but the real highlight of the book is simply the character of Lord John Grey. He is wonderful to spend time with and to root for through the murders, hauntings and political machinations. Aside from possessing the requisite bravery and intelligence of a hero, he also has a dry sense of humor and a deep, often unspoken, compassion for his fellow human beings.

I can only hope he'll have more adventures and perhaps a romance of his own.