An Echo in the Bone

Outlander, Book 7

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 45 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Diana Gabaldon's immensely popular Outlander saga soars to new heights with this seventh novel, which takes listeners on a breathtaking journey to 1777 America.

Jamie Fraser knows from his time-traveling wife Claire that, no matter how unlikely it seems, America will win the Revolutionary War. But that truth offers little solace, since Jamie realizes he might find himself pointing a weapon directly at his own son - a young officer in the British army.

And Jamie isn't the only one with a tormented soul - for Claire may know who wins the conflict, but she certainly doesn't know whether or not her beloved Jamie survives.

Epic in scope and featuring a colorful cast that includes many legendary figures - including hero-turned-traitor Benedict Arnold and bawdy statesman Benjamin Franklin - An Echo in the Bone is a thrill from start to finish.

©2009 Diana Gabaldon (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Favorite in series

I’ve listened to the whole Outlander series at least 30 times and I think this one is my favorites. Always get some new bit that surprises and clicks with all the other books. Definitely recommend reading in order so you can really appreciate the clues to the whole story.

Wonderful Read

I loved this book with so many Swiss and turns. I look forward to reading more about the lives of the characters.

How Great

Novel delivered in all ways! Especially loved (as American History major) to find my favorite characters propelled so realistically into the events of the Revolutionary War.

Great book

This is a wonderful story and the history brought to life is painstakingly accurate! Wonderful!!

The story spreads to more members of the family

While not quite as long as the previous book in the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone has an awful lot going on.

Jamie and Claire were headed back to Scotland to get Jamie’s printing press, but they once encounter a British press gang, and some pirates, and somehow wind up at Fort Ticonderoga in time for the British takeover there. They make new friends there – a Quaker doctor by the name of Denzell Hunter, and his sister and assistant, Rachel. But this book, even more than the earlier books of the series, deals with the children and grandchildren and other more distant relatives. By the time Claire meets them at Ticonderoga, young Ian Murray and William Ransom (Lord John Grey’s adopted son) have both met them, and both of the young men have fallen in love with Rachel Hunter. This doesn’t quite resolve in this book but leaves interesting possibilities for the next one.

Meanwhile, back in the twentieth century Roger and Brianna MacKenzie and their children are having some interesting adventures too. Roger continues his education, gets appointed choirmaster somewhere, and in sort of a return to teaching, has some success teaching the old highland songs to people in the neighborhood. They are living in Lallybroch at this time. They are troubled by a sort of prowler, who turns out to be Roger’s many times' great grandfather, William Buckleigh Mackenzie, the one who had him almost hanged back in the 1700s. He is much more understanding once they get a chance to talk.

Brianna gets an engineering job – the kind of thing her education has prepared her for – only to have her new co-workers (all men) play what sounds like a potentially dangerous initiation prank on her, in the course of which she thinks she feels the presence of yet another time travel portal below ground. One of these co-workers later turns out to have an interest in time traveling as well, and he kidnaps Roger and Brianna’s son, Jem. This too is left unresolved, but it looks as if Jem is more resilient than you would expect for a boy of his age.

Jamie and Claire do manage to return to Scotland briefly after their adventures with the army, taking young Ian with them. They get there just in time for the older Ian Murray’s last days.

Somehow, Claire and Jamie return to America on different ships, and there are reports that Jamie’s ship has sunk without survivors. Very sad for Claire. Lord John hastily marries her for her own protection. But it turns out that the reports of Jamie’s death were premature. Oops!

The book features cameo appearances by Benedict Arnold and Benjamin Franklin. Also, the Great Dismal Swamp, which tries to eat William Ransom.

Davina Porter continues to be a stunning narrator for the Outlander books.

Gripping Story

Compared to the other books in the series so far, this one starts off with action and drama. There’s a lot less slow periods and plenty going on as the Revolution continues! A few famous characters from history even make brief appearances as well, Definitely looking forward to seeing where the story leads me next.

Masterful

The narrator oF all of the Outlander books is masterful. She makes it so easy yo follow just by listening. How she changes accents and timbre if her speech is amazing. It adds to the wonderful narrative and deepens my appreciation of the story.

Love it

I have read more books in the past year than the past 30 years combined! Mainly thanks to audible & this author!

Details

This is a wonderful book, written by a incredible writer. I enjoyed every moment of the story as well, as prior outlander books. I highly recommend!

You should read the series in order

As a copulation to the series, this final book is a great ending. There are many plots and twist throughout this book and not everything is tied with a bow. I was happy that the Revolutionary War did not overtake the story of a family. There are enough characters for interesting sub-plots that I found easy to track. I found it a fast read that caught my interest.