The Scottish Prisoner

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman, Rick Holmes

Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Quill Award and the Corine International Book Prize, Diana Gabaldon is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Outlander series. This fourth novel featuring popular character Lord John Grey is told both from Lord Grey’s perspective and from that of Jamie Fraser, the star of the Outlander series.

©2011 Diana Gabaldon (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Issues

I liked the story, but... first syllables were frequently cut off and I didn't like the voice of Jamie. The narrator that typically did Jamie's voice was good overall, but not quite right for Jamie.

Lord John 'Quixote' rides again

Stop me if you've heard this one before - An Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walk into a conspiracy...

If you haven't read "Lord John and the Custom of the Army" you might want to catch that first (from the Warriors anthology of short stories) to understand the full scope of the events that catapult Lord John Grey into a quest to bring a fellow soldier who committed atrocities in Canada during the Seven Years War to justice.

Even before his parolee, once and future friend Jamie Fraser, is pressed into helping him by his brother the duke, and the squirrelly Toby Quinn tags along as a guide, Grey knows that he's about to unearth a hornet's nest. When he stumbles across an old family rival, Twelvetrees, events take on a different twist and subtly begin spinning out of control, and in such a way that Grey, Fraser and Quinn won't realize until it's far too late that the price for the secrets they uncover will be paid in blood.

However, it takes a Jacobite to know a Jacobite, and Fraser, already full of distrust and misgivings, and harried by his old friend Quinn, finds himself walking a tightrope between helping the Greys and betraying old allegiances, until both men find themselves in the center of a political storm of conspiracy and betrayal.

Underneath it all, John Grey juggles his family and personal relationships, from the warmth of his relationship with Hal's family, Bird, Quarry and Von Namtzen, to the open hostility of Edward Twelvetrees, to the often fractious odd half-friendship with the suspicious Fraser. When that friendship goes wrong, it's horribly, horribly wrong, but when they recover the common ground that once made them friends, even as bittersweet as it is, it shines.

While the Lord John series can be read independently of the Outlander series where he is a "guest star", knowing the full story of why Jamie reacts the way he does is best learned from the first three (Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager) of these novels. I always recommend reading the Lord John series in the correct order, since these novels and short stories build neatly upon one another. They are, in order:

Lord John and...
The Hellfire Club (Hand of Devils)
Private Matter (Novel)
Succubus (Hand of Devils)
Brotherhood of the Blade (Novel)
Haunted Soldier (Hand of Devils)
Custom of the Army (Warriors, Anthology)
The Scottish Prisoner (Novel)
A Plague of Zombies (Down These Strange Streets, Anthology)

While Gabaldon is more known for the heftier Outlander novels, Custom of the Army and Scottish Prisoner are an excellent read, and I kind of consider them a continuation of the same story. I would not be surprised to find these two works made into a movie.

Need to read!

It has got to the point where you need to read the Lord John books to understand the Outlander Series. How could you not like Lord John, and as others have said this book fills in some of the gaps in Jamie's life while Claire was gone. The narration definitely left a lot to be desired. Davina Porter is the voice of voice of Ms Gabaldon, in fact I would rather listen to Davina Porter than Diana G., Diana do the writing and Davina Porter do the reading, best of both. You will not be disappointed with the book.

Great addition to the Outlander series

The Narrator is very talented with the varying accents. I only wish that Jamie's "thinking voice/narrated parts" were in the Jamie "scots" speaking voice. I kept getting confused when it would jump suddenly between Lord John and Jamie even tho it was 2 diff narrators...but it was an english voice which could have been any character since they were in England...aside from that, it was marvelous. It fills in a lot of blanks about Jamie's time at Hellwater and how he and John strengthened their friendship.

Well done indeed

I thoroughly enjoyed both of the narrators of this novel. I have listened to the other outlander books and it does have a different narrator from this novel for Jamie‘s character. However, I think this was absolutely wonderfully narrated. That’s just to not even mention the fact that the story was absolutely wonderful.

awesome

excellent fills in gaps I hate these required statements a lot you know that

Pretty good listen!

Very interesting information about the forming of Jamie Fraser 's and John Grey's friendship during Jamie's stay at Helwater.

Why 2 Narrators??

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, especially those who love the Outlander series. It's a nice way to get back in touch with a few of our beloved characters while we wait for the next book in the series.

What did you like best about this story?

The story was great, and filled in a time between the storylines we know and love already.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Why 2 narrators? It was really distracting and wasn't necessary. Both did a great job independently, but I was constantly annoyed that I had to readjust myself between each of the narrators. It was weird and made the book feel disjointed.

If you could take any character from The Scottish Prisoner out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Um...Jamie, of course. Because he's sexy as hell and Scottish!

Any additional comments?

Overall, lovers of Outlander will love this book, but I felt compelled to question the dueling narrators. Too weird.

Lord John and Jaimie spy story from JAMF POV

Well written- hello written by herself... This book gives insight to how Jaimie spent the helwater years from his point of view. Provides Hal backstory. (I want a book about his wife's backstory) This starts with Lord John and Jaimie hating one another but have to work together for Hal.
# audible 20 review sweepstakes entry

Doesn't do it justice

As an avid Outlander fan, this was a must have. The story doesn't disappoint, in fact it is great. The narration got in the way at every turn. Jamie sounds, not only like a country bumpkin, but an IRISH country bumpkin. It would have helped if the narrator had made himself familiar with the character.
Disappointing. Read the book.