Lord John and the Private Matter

The year is 1757. On a clear morning in mid-June, Lord John Grey emerges from London's Beefsteak Club, his mind in turmoil. A nobleman and a high-ranking officer in His Majesty's army, Grey has just witnessed something shocking. But his efforts to avoid a scandal that might destroy his family are interrupted by something still more urgent: The Crown appoints him to investigate the brutal murder of a comrade-in-arms who may have been a traitor. Obliged to pursue two inquiries at once, Major Grey finds himself ensnared in a web of treachery and betrayal that touches every stratum of English society - and threatens all he holds dear. From the bawdy houses of London's night world to the stately drawing rooms of the nobility, Lord John pursues the elusive trails of a vanishing footman and a woman in green velvet, who may hold the key to everything - or nothing.


Genre: Historical Mystery

"Diana Gabaldon brings the seamy side of 18th-century London into powerful focus in a hugely enjoyable novel with a somewhat unconventional hero. A murder investigation coupled with a pressing personal matter lead Lord John Grey from the drawing rooms of the high society and into London's hidden gay and transvestite community. Gabaldon's wit, attention to detail and sheer talent as a storyteller make this novel a joy from start to finish." - Elizabeth Chadwick