An Echo in the Bone: A Novel

Diana Gabaldon

Sep 2009 · Outlander Book 7 · Sold by Delacorte Press

About this ebook

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The seventh book in Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander saga, the basis for the Starz original series.

“All you’ve come to expect from Gabaldon . . . adventure, history, romance, fantasy.”—The Arizona Republic
 
Jamie Fraser, former Jacobite and reluctant rebel, is already certain of three things about the American rebellion: The Americans will win, fighting on the side of victory is no guarantee of survival, and he’d rather die than have to face his illegitimate son—a young lieutenant in the British army—across the barrel of a gun.

Claire Randall knows that the Americans will win, too, but not what the ultimate price may be. That price won’t include Jamie’s life or his happiness, though—not if she has anything to say about it.

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, Jamie and Claire’s daughter, Brianna, and her husband, Roger MacKenzie, have resettled in a historic Scottish home where, across a chasm of two centuries, the unfolding drama of Brianna’s parents’ story comes to life through Claire’s letters. The fragile pages reveal Claire’s love for battle-scarred Jamie Fraser and their flight from North Carolina to the high seas, where they encounter privateers and ocean battles—as Brianna and Roger search for clues not only to Claire’s fate but to their own. Because the future of the MacKenzie family in the Highlands is mysteriously, irrevocably, and intimately entwined with life and death in war-torn colonial America.

Ratings and reviews

Not as good as the previous books...too many storylines...sometimes it was hard to remember what/who's story I was reading. Too much John Grey, he's not a character I enjoy reading about and didn't like the relationship between Claire and him, something I wouldn't think could happen knowing the strong relationship of Claire and Jamie and John's sexual preference not being women.

Ok, another wonderful tale with Jamie and Claire. Somewhat "unorginal" in the begining, sounding alot like the Pirates of the Carribean stories but once past that...stirring tale of the Revolutionary War in US. Riveting portrail of the hardships endured by so many. Imaginative and suspenseful. Diana is branching out a bit with this book doing some cross over to the John Grey series which is entertaining. She explores new charactors, Jamie's illegitimate son and John Grey's adopted son, William Fraser. Claire gets herself into quite a pickle in the end...one UNRESOLVED. What a DUMB ending...Thorough cliff hanger. What happened to Jem? Where is Roger now? What will Brianna and baby Amanda do? Where will that story go? Where is Jamie? Where is John Grey? What will become of Ian? And Jenny? Just like life, there is a continuing saga....so now I get to wait breathlessly for book number 8. I hope you're typing fast, Diana. How long will I have to wait this time?

Compared to previous books of the series, even more useless information that has no meaningful addition to the plot nor emotion to the scene at hand. The beginning of the story starts like a semi-prequel of the last novel(lord knows why) , but so dry and bland to the point of "ad nauseum". I am not sure I can even bring myself to continue reading this book… four chapters in. This series/writer needs a seriuosly abridge version of these books.

About the author

Diana Gabaldon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular Outlander novels—Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voy­ager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes (for which she won a Quill Award and the Corine International Book Prize), An Echo in the Bone, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone—as well as the related Lord John Grey books, Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John and the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner; a collection of novellas, Seven Stones to Stand or Fall; three works of nonfiction, “I Give You My Body . . .” and The Outlandish Com­panion, Volumes 1 and 2; the Outlander graphic novel The Exile; and The Official Outlander Coloring Book. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband.