An Echo in the Bone
by Diana Gabaldon..

Delecorte hardback, 814 pages. 2009.
1776. No. Carolina/New York/Philadelphia/England/Scotland.


the Revolutionary War is well underway and many are deeply affected.

 

"'Don't change the subject!' I snapped. 

'Is the subject not that I'm not killed?' he asked, trying to raise one brow and failing, with another wince. 

'No! The subject is your stupidity, your bloody selfish stubbornness!' 

'Oh, that.' 

'Yes, that! You - you - oaf! How dare you do that to me? You think I haven't got anything better to do with my life than trot around after you, sticking pieces back on?' I was frankly shrieking at him this time. 

To my increased fury, he grinned at me, his expression made the more rakish by the half-closed eye. 

'Ye'd have been a good fishwife, Sassenach,' he observed. 'Ye've the tongue for it.' 

'You shut up, you fucking bloody -' 

'They'll hear you,' he said mildly, with a wave toward the party of Continental soldiers making their way down the slope towards us. 

'I don't care who hears me! If you weren't already hurt, I'd - I'd -' 

'Be careful, Sassenach,' he said, still grinning. 'Ye dinna want to knock off any more pieces; ye'll only have to stick them back on, aye?' 

'Don't bloody tempt me,' I said through my teeth, with a glance at the sword I had dropped. 

He saw and reached for it, but couldn't quite manage. With an explosive snort, I leaned across his body and grabbed the hilt, putting it in his hand. I head a shout from the men coming down the hill and turned to wave at them. 

'Anyone hearing ye just now would likely think ye didna care for me overmuch, Sassenach,' he said, behind me. 

I turned to look down at him. The impudent grin was gone, but he was still smiling."
 

Jamie and Claire, trying to head back to Scotland to get his printing press and then return to set up business in the colonies, end up involved in battles of the Revolutionary War - battles which have Jamie and his son William on opposite sides and many a close encounter. 

Meanwhile, in the twentieth century, Roger and Brianna are settled on the land called Lallybroch - Jamie's former home in Scotland. Brianna starts a new career and Roger explores more than one for himself. They read the letters that Jamie and Claire had hidden for them to read - one at a time and not all at once. 

Finally reaching Scotland with Ian, they encounter more difficulties and problems - the worst being Ian's father's health. There are matters to settle before they can head back. 

Claire and Jamie are separated again - they had gone thru an ordeal on their trip across the ocean  to Scotland - and everything gets dramatic for all concerned. Very dramatic.
 

After so many years waiting for this story in the series - there is no disappointment. This is as great as expected. Powerful story involving all of the beloved characters you've read about before. Fergus, Marsaili, Jenny, the older Ian, - mainly the young Ian - William, a couple of new characters, John Grey, and more - so many more! Oh, this is magnificent! No one should miss this if they've read the previous ones. And if you haven't, read Outlander right away and start catching up. It leaves you in great suspense for what's coming next. What torture! How can we possible stand the wait? Gabaldon is a genius.

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