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    Lord John and the Hand of Devils
    Lord John and the Hand of Devils
    Lord John and the Hand of Devils
    Audiobook9 hours

    Lord John and the Hand of Devils

    Written by Diana Gabaldon

    Narrated by Jeff Woodman

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the celebrated Outlander series, delivers three mesmerizing tales of war, intrigue, and espionage that feature one of her most popular characters: Lord John Grey. In Lord John and the Hellfire Club, Lord John glimpses a stranger in the doorway of a gentleman's club-and is stirred by a desperate entreaty to meet with him in private. It is an impulse that will lead Lord John 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 a lethal creature that appears at night. Called to investigate, Lord John soon realizes 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 baffling case of an exploding battlefield cannon that ultimately forces him to confront his own ghosts-and the shattering prospect that a traitor is among the ranks of His Majesty's armed forces.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateFeb 18, 2008
    ISBN9781436115742
    Lord John and the Hand of Devils
    Author

    Diana Gabaldon

    DIANA GABALDON is the author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times best-selling Outlander novels, described by Salon magazine as “the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D.” She serves as co-producer and advisor for the Starz network Outlander series based on her novels.

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    Reviews for Lord John and the Hand of Devils

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    • 4/5
      Individual Summaries and Reviews: Lord John and the Hand of Devils is a collection of short stories (really one regular length story and two longer novellas) that are interspersed between the full-length Lord John novels."Lord John and the Hellfire Club" is the shortest work in the bunch, and chronologically occurs before the Lord John and the Private Matter. In it, Lord John, freshly returned from Scotland, meets a young man who says that he urgently needs his help - but who is then murdered in a crowded street before he can explain himself. Lord John becomes involved with a secret society with some dark rituals before he can unravel what's going on. I thought it was too quick to be really satisfying, and that if it had been in a longer format, the ending could have been milked for a lot more. "Lord John and the Succubus" takes place between Lord John and the Private Matter and Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade. Quartered in Germany during the Seven Years' War, Lord John is confronted with two soldiers, both dead by impossible means, and a persistent rumor that the town is being haunted by a succubus. I liked this one a lot, as Gabaldon had more time to develop the mystery as well as fit in some character moments, and a few nicely creepy parts. However, I don't know much about the Seven Years' War, and I had a difficult time keeping track of the regiments and commanders and troop movements, especially since I was lacking a map of the relevant area. Also, by this time, I was beginning to think that Gabaldon was purposefully going to keep poor Lord John from ever getting any lovin', using more and more outlandish coincidences. (This was of course disproven in Brotherhood of the Blade, but I didn't know it yet."Lord John and the Haunted Soldier" takes place shortly after the events at the end of Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, and concerns them directly. Lord John is summoned to appear before a military tribunal to be questioned about his part in the Battle of Crefield... only the tribunal appears to be more interested in the explosion of the gun Lord John was commanding than in the death of the gun's former commander, even going so far as to implicate Lord John's half-brother in the deliberate production of faulty powder. Lord John must then attempt to clear his family name while attempting to do what he can for the family of the soldier whose death hangs on his conscience. This was my favorite of the bunch; it had several well-developed little mini-mysteries, one military and one personal, that fit together neatly and kept me intrigued and emotionally involved right to the end.Overall Review and Recommendation: I don't know how essential these stories are to the understanding of the full-length Lord John books; Gabaldon occasionally introduces characters or events in the short stories that reappear in the books, but I think she does a fine job re-explaining them in the novels. I'm mostly basing that on my experience reading Lord John and the Private Matter, which contains a lot of callbacks to "Lord John and the Hellfire Club", but was perfectly understandable, even though I read them out of order. On the flip side, I think that the stories also stand mostly independent of the books... at least the first two, although "Haunted Soldier" somewhat less. Overall, I'd say they're not required reading, and I wouldn't recommend starting with them, but for fans of the Lord John novels, the stories should be just as enjoyable. 4 out of 5 stars.
    • 4/5
      This is a collection: one short story, Lord John and the Hellfire Club, and two novellas, Lord John and the Succubus and ...Haunted Soldier. Hellfire Club is slight, a a 20-page short story that is more an idea than an actual story; it's the two novellas that form the meat of the book. Succubus is silly, engaging fun: Grey is in Prussia with the estimable Stephan van Namtzen, aristocrat, soldier and gentleman, and Grey is not at all in love with him. They're solving a mystery of a succubus, or night-hag, a demon who's killing soldiers and... er.... draining their essence, and it's silly and doesn't quite hang together as a plot, but as usual, is redeemed by Grey and van Namtzen and their surrounding cast, who are their usual funny, delightful selves. Haunted Soldier is something different again. It's notable firstly because, as a story in itself, it really doesn't work, but acquires depth and meaning when taken as a sequel to Brotherhood of the Blade, and secondly because it isn't immediately clear who the haunted soldier is. There are several candidates, but by far the most likely is Grey himself, who has returned to England after Crefeld to deal with, among other things, having had a tonne of cannon explode in his arms.Much as I complain about Galabldon's occasional romance-novel nonsenses, she really can write when she wants to, and never better than here. It's interesting that despite the fact he never acknowledges it, Grey is very obviously clinically depressed throughout this story. His usual characterisation is so crisp and clear that the author can press the metaphorical mute button on it here to great, subtle effect. It's one ot the things she's very good at, actually; everything that happens to him informs his subsequent character development, and it's clear how he changes with experience across the novels. For this reason, I don't think this book does stand alone, despite the publishers' blurb, and I wouldn't recommend it to someone who didn't know the series. Start with one of the novels.
    • 1/5
      Three tales of war, intelligence & espionage with a 18th century storyline. Tales have definite thread of homosexuality and masturbation. Not my bedtime reading. Author delivers human drama and moves the tales along. If she wrote about other facts of life, I might read her!
    • 4/5
      I picked this book up because I kept coming across Diana Gabaldon in the bookshop, and her books looked intriguing. Being a bit wary, as always, of investing in a tome of a new-to-me author (because I've been burned before, but I haven't the heart to eject such books off my shelves), I thought this collection of short stories about a minor character from her historical / time travelling 'Outlander' series (extrapolating from the cover blurb) would be a good introduction.The stories are :1 - Lord John and the Hellfire ClubLord John Grey, in investigating the death of an acquaintance, finds himself embroiled in very strange goings-on.This story is set in the 18th century when (we learn from obscure hints and innuendo) homosexuality was considered an atrocity - which poses a problem for Lord John and certain of his friends. It is divided into three parts, though I felt a bit lost in the first part, as it kept referring to events from the 'Outlander' series and hinting about a red-haired mutual acquaintance of Lord John and his friends. However, once the story got going, part two drew me in.2 - Lord John and the SuccubusIt is 1757 and Lord John Grey is stationed in Saxony, as liaison officer to Hanoverian allies, fighting against the French and Austrians. As well as corporeal enemies, the troops stationed in and around the town of Gundwitz suddenly find themselves facing the threat of a succubus; but does such a thing actually exist? Lord John finds himself involved in the investigation, as well as a possible romance or two.I must admit that whenever I read a story that takes place in England anytime before WWI, I subconsciously use Jane Austen as my standard, and expect the characters to behave with Victorian propriety, so it startles me when it's written more in Georgette Heyer's style; but that's just my mind-set.That said, this war-time mystery was enjoyable. Lord John seems to be turning into a detective of sorts, with the action taking place in 18th century Europe.3 - Lord John and the Haunted SoldierLord John is back in London, and - after recovering from an injury resulting from an exploding canon at the front - finds himself in front of an inquisition into the murder of Tom Pilchard i.e. the canon itself. The inquisition suspects that the canon was sabotaged, and Lord John Grey finds that suspicion turned on himself. Feeling that he (or one of his brothers) is being framed, he investigates further.stAs in the first two stories, Grey finds himself embroiled in a mystery which he sets out to solve. For me, the interest was not so much in trying to solve the mystery (which is what I usually try to do with crime fiction) as in the details of life in that period. The action moved from the Arsenal, where arms and ammunition were tested, to London, the countryside and out on the water, with visits to gentlemen's clubs. I can only assume that the details are accurate (never having studied the era before). Although, as I mentioned before, this gentleman soldier seems to move in more permissive circles than my Jane Austen heroines: for a society where even to be suspected (rightly or wrongly) of being homosexual could mean death or worse, some characters in these stories are fairly blatant with their hints and invitations.While I didn't love these stories to bits, they are good stories and certainly held my interest. I think I'll be exploring further into this world at a later date.Having now read other reviews, I'd like to add:1 - like other reviewers, I agree that the third story is the best, and it lifted my rating by half a star.2 - unlike other reviewers, this is my first foray into Diana Gabaldon's universe, and I think that does make a difference to how we experienced the book.
    • 3/5
      Plot: Three novellas which fit into gaps between other books in the Outlander/Lord John universe, all of them set up as mysteries. Only one really works as a mystery, while the other two very quickly turn too convoluted and the solution is not convincing. Characters: Lord John, who is portrayed with experience and with all the background from previous appearances. Side characters who have shown up in the books before fare reasonably well when it comes to author attention. New characters get very little love, and there are far too many of them. No clear showing of their motives subsequently leads to bad mystery plots. Style: Good war scenes, good action scenes. Horrid society scenes and a tendency towards stilted dialogue. It's not exactly memorable prose, but it's serviceable. Plus: The second novella, Lord John and the Succubus is quite an enjoyable read. Minus: For novellas, the stories rely far too much on the surrounding universe and on quite obscure characters from there, who don't get properly introduced. Summary: Stories which occasionally remember they are supposed to have a mystery plot, but then tend to forget when they meet new characters.
    • 3/5
      Gabaldon's writing is of the kind I call "serviceable" but her characters either make you swoon, pant, sweat and holler, or they leave you completely cold. I fall on the non-hollerin' end of category A. I like these people, Lord John especially having a claim on me because he's a shirt-lifter (or Warmbruder, depending on where we are geographically). This book is a collection of three novellas that Gabaldon wrote about the good Major Lord John Grey. One was written for this collection. Does it matter what they're about? Lord John, in peace or at war, will never suffer a wrong he can right to go unrighted; he will never allow personal comfort or convenience to stand in the way of what duty and honor require him to do; and he will never fall out of love with Jamie Fraser, featured in Gabaldon's main time travel romance series as the husband of the time traveler. So he don't get none. Relax, ewww-ickers.Anyway, in a marketplace crowded with mystery choices, and quite a fair few eighteenth-century historicals at that, why choose these books with their serviceable writing? Bruce Alexander, for one example, is a better writer. His Blind Justice series is very good.Simple: Depth. Lord John Grey is part of a well-known alternate world. It's obvious that Gabaldon could act as a tour guide to eighteenth-century England and Scotland, and it's obvious that SOMEwhere in a properly ordered Creation, Jamie and Claire and Lord John are plying their different courses through the time streams. The reason to read this series starts and stops with an individual's familiarity with or receptivity to Gabaldon's world. If you've read Dragonfly in Amber and did not find it so tedious and plodding as to make you beg a merciful Goddess for death or blindness, you're likely to enjoy these books.Recommended? Oh, sure. Why not. Start with these novellas and see if the character appeals; if so, the novels await your pleasure.
    • 4/5
      Lord John and the Hands of Devils is a collection that contains three Lord John mysteries... one simply called a short story and the other two meriting the designation "novella" from the author. Prior to starting the Lord John novels, I should have done a bit of research, as the first of these stories comes before the first novel in chronological order... similarly, the second story comes before the second novel and then the third story finishes things up. Reading them out of order doesn't necessarily harm you, but I wish that I had somehow contrived to figure out the chronological order as it would have filled in some details within the larger books that get more attention in the stories (who kills someone in the Abbey, why suddenly the Prussian guy is pining for John, etc.). It's a quick read, but really only worth it to those who enjoy Gabaldon's other work and, in particular, Lord John."Lord John and the Hellfire Club" is the first and shortest of the bunch -- though it is to this story that we are indebted for all of the Lord John spin-off works, as it was this story that launched him as an independent protagonist. Lord John comes across the historically famous/infamous Hellfire Club at Medmenham Abbey as he investigates the death of a young man, a cousin of John's friend Harry Quarry. Immediately returned from his exile in Scotland and still burning with desire for Jamie Fraser, John is implored by Harry Quarry's (gay) cousin for assistance in a certain matter, but before John can meet him to discuss the matter, the young man is killed. John is then courted by the elite club, which includes an ex-lover of his among the members, but he's quite right to believe that there are many things amiss with the Hellfire Club. Very short and simple, this mystery solves itself quite quickly, but one must at least appreciate this story for spurring Gabaldon to write other Lord John tales.In "Lord John and the Succubus," Lord John is stationed in Gundwitz with a companies of Prussian and English troops as they attempt to rout some French and Austrians, but the men seem more frightened by rumors of a demon spirit in the area. Of course, Lord John is smart enough to see mortal hands behind these actions... though it might take some real magic if he wants to keep out of a widowed Princess's matrimonial designs and get a moment alone to find out if his friendship with handsome German soldier Namtzen is just brotherly love or a bit more. The mystery isn't much of a mystery, but there are some amusing scenes of suspense and the standard fear that men have about their manhood and essence being stolen.For "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier," you certainly need to have read Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade to understand everything well -- because the story largely concerns the battle of Crefield, which closed out that novel. Lord John is summoned before a military commission that is concerned with the explosion of the gun he had commanded and the death of a lieutenant, floating the veiled accusation that it might have been Lord John's inept leadership that led to it. The military seems more concerned about the gun, which leaves John to try and see what right he can do by the family of the lieutenant and the man's missing widow. Lord John also investigates some leads on what caused the gun's explosion and finds a few problems, including the faulty construction of guns due to someone inside the military stealing copper and the potentially volatile ammunition provided by John's half-brother's company. In the author's notes before each story, Gabaldon makes jokes about the fact that by the time she's hit the page count for a Lord John novel, she generally feels like she's just starting up the story, so real short stories and novellas were quite the challenge indeed. Her real talent lies in creating wonderful characters and taking them through epic stories, so while individual stories might not be ideal as short stories on their own outside of the context of the larger world, they are lovely little installments in the ongoing story of Lord John Grey. I l like Lord John as a strong male figure who happens to be homosexual -- while this fact of his existence doesn't define his life, it does play a large role. He's witty and clever... and there's always the odd glimpse of Jamie, which is fun. I do hope that Gabaldon eventually gives us a story that takes us through the healing of his friendship with Jamie... which might relieve poor John from pining after his russet-haired Scot.
    • 1/5
      I'm enjoying the book but it has stopped at chapter 3 and won't continue playing.
    • 5/5
      I thoroughly enjoy Diana Gabaldon's writing, her detailed poetic flow of scenes and the thoughts of her characters, and in this case specifically Lord John, candidly revealing the aspects of his gayness. My favorite in this small book of short stories was The Haunted Soldier, lots of good sleuthing with the help of his talented and likeable valet Tom...reminded me a bit of Sherlock and Dr. Watson. As in the Outlander series, there are lots of openings for continuing to explore the lives of her characters and their relations.
    • 3/5
      I love Diana Gabaldon's writing, and came across Lord John in her Outlander series. He is quite a likeable character, but I'm not sure she's able to take his stand-alone stories as far as she does in the Outlander stories. I liked it anyway, and will always buy whatever Diana writes.