Jamie abducts Lord John to a remote woods, out of town, in order to have a private conversation. The conversation goes badly, as one might expect, ending up with Lord John in the custody of rebels and about to be shot as a spy. Before Jamie can return to Claire, and further explanation, he becomes a General in the American army. William makes the unlikely acquaintance of a young whore who ends up under his protection after she performs a necessary although heinous deed in defense of her young sister. And in the background, Young Ian is running around inside a war zone, Lord John’s brother is looking for John, and both William and Lord John end up searching for a possible American spy operating as a double-agent. Jamie and Claire, finally reunited, have a rather large family to care for and protect in an English-held city that will soon be overrun by American rebels. Jamie is off to command troops in the Battle of Monmouth but it isn’t Jamie who is tragically injured, it’s Claire.

There is a great deal of action and rather a lot of people, doing a great deal of running to and fro, to keep track of. This story was not quite as straightforward as her previous novels. I found it just a little confusing to keep up with. But overall, the story was interesting and the characters just as beloved. And – thank you, Diana – she even throws in another time traveler or two. I always enjoy the medical – both herbal and surgical – procedures; but I didn’t particularly like the overt mentions of ghosts accompanying/looking-after Young Ian and Jamie. It felt a bit…much. And I thought Brianna and Roger’s reunion was a bit rushed and not sufficiently detailed for my taste. But, I am, after all, a true-blue fan so I’ll be waiting impatiently another four years for more. ~~ Catherine Book

For more books in the Outlander series click here

For more books by Diana Gabaldon click here