LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS
DIANA GABALDON
ISBN# (13)9780385311397/(10)0385311397
November 2007
Bantam Dell, A division of Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, New York 10019
Hardcover
$ 25.00
302 pages
Fiction/Historical
Rating: 4 Cups

Lord John and the Hellfire Club

John Grey has returned to London form his latest posting in Scotland. Meeting with his friend Harry Quarry, he is introduced to Quarry's cousin by marriage and finds himself deeply involved in a mystery and murder investigation.

George Everett is an acquaintance of Grey's and manages to get him an invitation to spend a weekend with the Hellfire club in the country. He holds a secret as dangerous as Grey's own. But what other secrets does he hold close?

Lord John finds himself in the most difficult of situations during his weekend with the Hellfire Club. When he is initiated into the club, he finds out the truth behind the murder of Quarry's cousin only to find himself facing death.

This is actually Lord John's first story. It gives us a glimpse of Lord John and what is to come.

Lord John and the Succubus

John Grey is stationed in Germany during the Seven Years War as liaison between the British and the German armies. He finds himself in a rather interesting situation when rumors start going around of a succubus who hunts men while they are asleep.

Captain Stephan Von Namtzen brings the rumors and the burgermeister of the town to Grey. He and Grey believe that there is more going on than meets the eye.

Grey and his valet, Tom Byrd, join up with the locals in order to find the grave of the succubus. Will they be able to uncover the truth before it is too late.

Lord John is a stronger, more developed character in this story as it is his third. The reader will find the more Ms. Gabaldon writes of Lord John the stronger his character becomes making for a great read.

Lord John and the Haunted Soldier

Lord John is called before the Royal Commission of Inquiry. They are trying to implicate his half brother for faulty gunpowder. Along the way he is asked to find the love of a man who died in the battle and her child.

Captain Reginald Jones is also searching for the truth behind the explosion. He and his assistant believe it has something to do with the copper being used but are unable to prove it.

Lord John visits his brother and the two men who are in business with him making gunpowder. One of the other owners was involved in a serious accident and he is also involved in finding the woman and her child.

This is another wonderful adventure involving Lord John. Ms. Gabaldon has brought his adventures to a new height.

These are truly wonderful stories. Ms. Gabaldon has given her readers the gift of not one but three stories in which to indulge our craving for Lord John Grey. We catch a glimpse of him before the first full length novel and then the in between. It is well rounded with the addition of the third novella, written after Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, in which we see him in London still suffering the effects of his injury. Lord John and the Hand of Devils is truly a collection of stories that must be read to further a readers love for Ms. Gabaldon's writing.

Liadan
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books