England - 1758

Seventeen years ago, Lord John Grey's father, the Duke of Pardloe, was found dead, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Rumors that he was a Jacobite agent left his family devastated, and his heir, Grey's brother Hal, refused to use the title he inherited. Mysteriously, pieces of one of the late duke's journals have shown up, stirring up devastating memories and prompting Lord John to delve deeper into how, and why, his father died.

Quite a few events are making it difficult for Grey to pursue his investigation. For one thing, his mother has announced that she is marrying for the third time, and Hal and Grey have just met their future "brother," Percy Wainwright. Immediately, Grey is attracted to the man, and it's quite obvious that the feeling is mutual. Before he can pursue that enticing idea, Grey hears of the death of a friend and leaves London to attend her funeral. He goes with misgivings, however, since the one man who won't have him, the Jacobite prisoner, Jamie Fraser, works as a groom there. Still, Grey realizes that it's possible Fraser could have some information on the rumor about Grey's father. Although well aware how Fraser feels about Grey's preference for men, he also knows that the Scotsman has always been honest with him. But he learns very little about the Jacobites, and quite a lot about Fraser, before he must return to London to prepare his troops for deployment to the continent.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE is the second in the Lord John mysteries, and it's a riveting and thrilling story. Grey is a well-loved character from Ms. Gabaldon's Outlander series who, between his stint as jailer at Ardsmuir and his arrival in the Americas, has taken to solving mysteries. This one is his own family's mystery, and he is determined to erase the stain against their name by proving that his father did not die a traitor. Grey has his own secret, one which could be just as devastating. Readers should note that there are one or two intimate scenes between Grey and Wainwright, that, while not overtly graphic, one should be prepared for. The mystery itself is played out extremely well as Lord John delves into the reasons behind the betrayal of his father. There are plenty of possible villains.

It's the little things that come together in this novel to make it so good. The details of the battle scenes are heart-stopping; Lord John's deepest feelings are revealed to readers as he hides them from those around him; the dog who plays a healing role for his master, the silly, very pregnant cousin who is planning Grey's mother's wedding -- all of these are part of a real life. This isn't just a mystery; it's also the story of how a man in the eighteenth century deals with an issue that could cost him not only his commission, but his family, and his life. This story is about honor, and just how important it was then, and should be now.

LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE is beautifully written, has incredibly rich characters, and a page-turning premise that will be sure to entertain readers.

Jani Brooks