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    An Echo in the Bone
    An Echo in the Bone
    An Echo in the Bone
    Audiobook46 hours

    An Echo in the Bone

    Written by Diana Gabaldon

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Diana Gabaldon’s immensely popular Outlander saga soars to new heights with
    this seventh novel, which takes listeners on a breathtaking journey to 1777
    America.
    Jamie Fraser knows from his time-traveling wife, Claire, that, no matter how
    unlikely it seems, America will win the Revolutionary War. But that truth offers
    little solace, since Jamie realizes he might find himself pointing a weapon directly
    at his own son—a young officer in the British army. And Jamie isn’t the only one
    with a tormented soul—for Claire may know who wins the conflict, but she
    certainly doesn’t know whether or not her beloved Jamie survives.
    Epic in scope and featuring a colorful cast that includes many legendary figures—
    including hero-turned-traitor Benedict Arnold and bawdy statesman Benjamin
    Franklin—An Echo in the Bone is a thrill from start to finish.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateOct 2, 2009
    ISBN9781440760488
    An Echo in the Bone
    Author

    Diana Gabaldon

    DIANA GABALDON is the author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times best-selling Outlander novels, described by Salon magazine as “the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D.” She serves as co-producer and advisor for the Starz network Outlander series based on her novels.

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    Reviews for An Echo in the Bone

    4.5/5

    268 ratings47 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Davina Porter is brilliant in the reading of this book. Her voices, accents, intonations, inflections just sheer perfection.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I have read all of the previous books in this series, and will probably read the next one, but I find that the longer the series goes on the more it seems impossible for the main characters to meet seemingly all of the major players in early American history. Ben Franklin and Benedict Arnold both make appearances in this one. It is starting to remind me of what I didn't like about the John Jakes series back in the 1970s.
    • 5/5
       I have been savoring this book for some time now knowing that it will be a few years before Jaime and Claire's story is continued. I absolutely loved An Echo in the Bone and am a little bit sad that it's over. This book felt more like the second and third in the series which were my favorites. Jamie and Claire were wonderful of course but I'm glad that we got to spend more time with Ian and William in this book. I am anxious to see where Ms Gabaldon will take them in the next novel.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely love Diana Gabaldon. But was dissapointed in her new book. I still gave it 4 stars because I love the series. It dragged on though. It left too many things on hold and it is getting old that poor Jaime and Claire can't take a boat ride without trouble!
    • 5/5
      Amazing book! Absolutely amazing. Sometimes a bit scattered, I think she had too many stories going on but she ties them up very neatly at the end and leaves the path open for the next book. Full of suspense, tension, angst, woe, and a few tears. A must read for the J&C set.
    • 5/5
      Jaime Fraser is back and wonderful as usual! Loved the book, hated to see it end. Sure are a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up though!
    • 5/5
      Gabaldon is still the best for historical fiction. I read her books for that as much as the love story of Claire and Jamie. This installment left me crying! for more and now I must put my mind in hibernate mode until the next installment. I liked the story told from many perspectives, but still enjoy Claire and Jamie's voices the best.
    • 4/5
      I'm a huge fan of the Outlander series so I was really pleased to get this as a Christmas present. I know, I know, why am I just getting round to it now? ... I don't have a good answer except maybe I'm easily distracted. The story follows several different plot lines, including a John/William section, Jamie/Claire and a present day Brianna/Roger. I have read one of the Lord John books so this character was fairly familiar to me as well. I particularly enjoyed the parts with Ian and would love to see more of him. This is probably my least favourite of all the books. I found it dragged in parts and was really disappointed in the late plot twist involving Jem that was left unresolved. I know we are supposed to be left wanting the next instalment but there's no need to leave us hanging quite so badly.
    • 2/5
      I've been waiting for the next book in the Outlander series for quite a while, and I have to say that I'm quite aggrieved with Echo in the Bone. Gabaldon keeps on switching the story perspective from Claire/Jamie to Bree/Roger to William/John Grey. Once I got interested enough in one story, it ends and switches over to another one. It felt like I was reading 4 different stories at the same time, and they never ended up braiding themselves together into one cohesive vision. I read the Outlander series for Jamie and Claire, not for John Grey or William. I felt that Gabaldon started writing the John Grey novels to "clear the creative faucet" so that she could continue her Outlander books, but she grew more and more interested in John Grey and so Jamie and Claire's story got put on the back burner.
    • 5/5
      I have always shied away from reviewing this series of books by Diana Gabaldon as I always felt that my reviewing skills wouldn't really do them justice! They are so jam packed with everything you could want from a book!The series comes under the heading of Romance but this does not do it justice at all! There are high jinx and adventure at every turn of the page, along with time travel, sadness, happines a bit of medical drama and yes there is romance but there is so much more than that!An Echo in the Bone is like the other books bursting with adventure, with twists and turns at every turn , and as with the others ends on a cliff hanger (oh goody there will be another one!!)Once you start reading these books you will be caught up with the story of Claire and Jamie and their large extended family!Believe me when you read the first in the series you will want to read on, and good luck to you, you will be in for a treat!!
    • 4/5
      The only thing I didn't care for in this book was the Very abrupt ending; more so than usual. Moving in time back and forth in 1776, 1778, and 1980. I really liked the way people like Ben Franklin, Benedict Arnold and other well knowns were linked in the story which ranged from the Colony of No. Carolina into Quebec and over to England, Scotland, and France. Her light coverage of the Revolutionary War mixed into her good fiction of time travel was very well done. Another winner for Gabaldon!
    • 3/5
      I really, really wanted to love this book. I feel like I've been waiting forever and just imagining what's going to happen to Jamie and Claire. Instead, she brings more secondary characters and makes them main characters, taking a lot of the focus off of Jamie and Claire. I did like what included them, but I felt like the book really dragged in some places. I did like Young Ian being more involved than previously, but I could've done without William being so heavily involved in the majority of the book. (I did like his bit in the end, though.) I hate to say it, but I'm really dissapointed with this book. I guess my expectations were too high. I will definitely read the next book in the series, but only because I loved the previous books so much- not based on this book.
    • 4/5
      Echo ...is quite enjoyable but quite obviously leaves us hanging. Some of the things that are unresolved did not please me. It was typical Gabaldon though.(Revolutionary War, this time)I found it to be a bit less cohesive than the other books, almost as if she was trying to inject certain themes so as to address them later, or maybe to resolve certain issues from past story lines. I haven't heard about her next book. Has anyone? Also, the inimitable Davina Porter was the narrator and she makes the listening experience an epic adventure for me and my husband. She has narrated all the Outlander books that we have listened to. I have decided to begin at the beginning actually reading the books for a different experience. I have most of them and I also have The Outlandish Companion which is a great help for understanding beyond the books themselves.
    • 4/5
      An Echo in the Bone is the seventh book in the Outlander series. I will say this right up front --- not as discouragement but as a matter of fact --- if you have not read the six preceding novels, don't bother with this one. You'll be confused and annoyed by page eight and want to hurl the book across the room, and at 814 pages (hardcover), you're likely to break something.The reason for the above warning --- Gabaldon jumps right in where the last book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, left off. If you don't know who these characters are or how and why some of them end up moving from 1776 to 1980, it would be hard to catch up quick enough to enjoy the story.If you're familiar with Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his time traveling doctor wife, Claire, then be prepared for a long and meandering story. Having read all of the previous books, I'm fully vested at this point and couldn't wait for this one. Gabaldon answers a lot of questions and leaves you with many more and an obvious eighth book. At least there better be because now I'm left wondering and I hate that!Jamie and Claire Fraser are still on Fraser's Ridge in North Carolina waiting for their chance to depart for Scotland with their nephew Ian Murray. It's 1776 and the American Revolution is looming. Claire being the time traveler that she is knows what's going to happen and, Jamie, having lost too much in wars past, is trying to get them out before things start erupting.Unfortunately, before they set foot in Scotland, Jamie ends up in the Continental Army. Luckily, both get through the few battles they see relatively unharmed but a bit battered. In trying to make their way back home, they end up encountering pirates, see two battles of the American Revolution, death, new life, a return from the dead, and new love.Let's sum it up by saying it's a long trip for both of them. Keeping in mind this is essentially a love story, in order to make the story interesting and move it along, there's a kidnapping, spy charges, lots of fighting, and, oh yeah, sex. Lots and lots of sex.One of the things I enjoy about this series, aside from the characters which I just find irresistible and charming, is the medical knowledge imparted by Claire. She’s a 20th century surgeon transplanted into the 18th century and doing the best she can to heal people without the technology she’s used to. She gathers plants, makes her own penicillin, and somehow manages to operate on people with a fairly high success rate. She's endearing for this quality and Jamie, well, I guess I find something entrancing about a big, redheaded, Scottish man.So while I have to say I didn't love this book as much as the first (I always find that to be the case with a series like this one.), I did enjoy it immensely. It's extremely potent and highly addictive brain candy. I find Jamie and Claire to be incredibly entertaining characters and I always want to know more about their life together and the people in it. So, I guess that means at least three more years of waiting to find out what happens with these two.
    • 5/5
      Sigh, what an awesome story. I'm sad to be finished and now have to (im)patiently wait for the next installment of Claire and Jamie's life.
    • 5/5
      I really hope that Diana Gabaldon is already at work on the 8th book in this wonderful series. I certainly think she left too many cliffhangers at the end of this installment not to be. I'm not entirely sure that this book is quite up to the standard set by the first 6 in the series, but anyone as taken with Jamie and Claire (and their various compatriots) will be left as breathless as ever.
    • 4/5
      So much going on!I love the medical parts when Claire doctors people up! I am still sad that Bree and Roger are separated from the eighteenth century, however I loved how Diana bridged the gap through letters. It made perfect sense for Jamie and Claire to continue their relationship with their kin via letters passed through time. I think Ian and Rachel's relationship will be very interesting in the long run. I honestly profess that I think I need a genealogy chart to keep all the relations straight! I was very saddened to see Ian (Sr.) die, but I think Jenny will become an very important part of the future story. I commend Diana for her treatment of Jamie and Claire's relationship as it matures- Diana does understand that there is more to a marriage than sex- like laughter, comfort and peace, as well as trials and tribulations. I look forward to the next in the series, as the ending leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions and I think that since Jamie has at least 4 more lives, we have a lot more adventures to look forward to!
    • 4/5
      In the latest in the adventures of Claire and Jamie, we are well into the beginning of the American Revolution while Brianna and Roger are living back in the future with their children. We get to know Jamie's son, Willie, a bit more as his character has a larger role and Ian gets some adventures too. In the present day, Brianna has received a trunk of letters that her mother had written and had stored and delivered after Bree came back forward. The story alternates between what's happening in the past and the present and the letters fill in some gaps in Jamie and Claire's story in between our visits. We thought this would be the last book in the series but judging from the cliffhanger ending, there's definitely at least one more book. Ms Gabaldon promises that all the threads will be tied up by the end and also promises a happy ending. How we get there, as you will know by now, is not a straight and even road. I can't wait for the next book!
    • 5/5
      I am entirely addicted to Diana Gabaldon's time-traveling Claire Fraser and her entire family and have looked forward to this addition to the series. "An Echo in the Bone" was not disappointing, although quite a long read. My pleasure in these books I am sure is greatly enhanced by enjoying them on Audio. The entire Outlander series has been narrated by the very talented Davina Porter.
    • 4/5
      The seventh book in the Outlander series is set (mainly) during the American Revolution. Jamie and Claire, having survived the burning of their house at the end of the last book, decide to head back to Scotland so Jamie can get his printing press. He needs it to print articles in support of the revolutionary cause because he doesn't want to be put in a position where he might have to fight against his son, William, who has been raised by Lord John Grey. However this aim soon gets sidetracked because the ship Jamie and Clair and Jamie's nephew, Ian, are on is attacked by pirates. Jamie and Ian manage to defeat them but their ship founders and they end up on another ship that is taking supplies to Fort Ticonderoga. Jamie forms a militia unit that is involved in the fighting there and at Saratoga where he sees his kinsman, a general in the British army, killed. William was also in the battle but was not hurt. Jamie, Clair and Ian finally manage to get to Scotland where Ian's father is near death due to tuberculosis.There is also a modern timeline concerning Brianna, Jamie and Claire's daughter, who is living in Scotland in Lallybroch, the house where Jamie was raised. Brianna and Roger have a collection of letters that Jamie and Claire managed to get through the ages so Brianna knows their fate. They read these letters one at a time while continuing on with their life. However, at the end due to events outside of their control Roger has to go back through the stones.Jamie and Claire return, separately, to the new world and Claire comes into contact with Lord John Grey and William. Ian has also returned to try to win the hand of a Quaker girl with whom he fell in love. At the very end William comes face to face with Jamie and realizes that he must be his father.As always, there is lots of historical detail and lots of lovemaking. It's a great book to lose yourself in but probably only if you have read all of the previous books in the series.
    • 3/5
      Too much of a history lesson, this one: In particular, I could have done without the lengthy excusion to Ticonderoga and the self-conscious "ooh, look at the cool historical figures we can meet if we time-travel!" name-dropping throughout the book. But still. It's Gabaldon doing Claire and Jamie, and I'm sorry it's over. It's always hard to leave their world and come back to ours, even on a day to day basis, never mind at the end of a book.
    • 3/5
      I'm not sure how to review this book. At the end of A Breath of Snow & Ashes, I was almost content enough with the ending to accept it as the end of the series if that had been the case. Yes there were a few loose ends, but it was a satisfying ending.I struggled some with An Echo. I really got bogged down in the minutiae of the battles and the strategy. It seemed that Jaime & Claire were somewhat unimportant to the story for much of the book. I enjoyed what there was of them, though. I also enjoyed Roger & Brianna adjusting to life back in "real" time. Maybe I've just grown bored with the whole story...there were many things in this one that I found myself thinking "oh, come on". There were also more loose ends created than there were tied up. I will continue to read the series; I have too much time invested in Jaime & Claire not to follow them to the end. But I guess I sometimes wish I could see the end in sight.
    • 2/5
      This was disappointing compared to the other Outlander books. I found the British and Colonial War scenes boring and long to slog through and towards the end the plot twists and coincidences were bordering on the ridiculous even for Gabaldon. While she usually leaves something to be continued in the next book -- this one leaves a major plot line completely unresolved -- which might be okay if this were a soap opera and I only had to wait until the next day or week for some resolution -- instead I have to wait until the next book which will likely be Years! To her credit the historical research is as good as ever as is the description and the new romance for Ian is compelling too.
    • 5/5
      An Echo in the Bone continues the story of Claire & Jamie Fraser.This is book #7 in the Outlander Series.So I will assume those reading this review have read the previous books so will not go into the story in too great a detail.At the end of A Breathe of Snow & Ashes Bree, Roger and their children went back to their own time I enjoyed the back and forth in Echo from 1777 to 1980 and seeing them adjust back into life in modern times.In an Echo in the Bone Jamie & Claire again run into such difficulty during their travels, meeting some new characters along the way some famous in Claire’s actual time.The love story of course is there with a few others thrown in. The extended family of these two continues to grow as they make their way through the Revolutionary War. With a side trip to Lallybroch where Jamie & Claire deal with endings in more ways than one.I Loved this book as I have loved this entire series was glad the author let us know what happened with Bree and her family when they went back to their own time. This installment answered some questions revealed some answers and unfortunately left us hanging at the end. But I guess that’s what makes a great series I just wish it wouldn’t be another 2 years or more before we can catch up with Jamie & Claire and find out what happens next. All in All Another Great book by Diana Gabaldon
    • 4/5
      I am a big fan of this series, so was looking forward to reading An Echo In The Bone, the seventh book in the series. However, I was left feeling slightly disappointed. It wasn't the worst book in the series but not the best either. If you haven't read (or like me, have read but didn't enjoy) the spin-off Lord John books, you might struggle with large sections of Echo as a number of characters from the Lord John books feature quite prominently in the story. In fact, there are so many chapters (mainly in the first half of the book) devoted to Lord John, Percy Wainwright, Hal, Dottie, and in particular, William Ransom, that sometimes this didn't really feel like a Jamie and Claire book at all. However, the chapters that do deal with Jamie and Claire are as exciting, compelling and emotional as ever.I also enjoyed reading about Roger and Brianna, who have arrived back in the 20th century, and are following Claire and Jamie's fate via a box of old letters.I had been looking forward to Jamie, Claire and Young Ian returning to Scotland again and being reunited with Jenny and Ian Murray - however, this didn't happen until near the end of the book, and when they finally did get to Lallybroch, it wasn't exactly the happy reunion I was expecting. From this point onwards, the final 100 or so pages felt very rushed, with the plot suddenly moving at a whirlwind pace. We were left with a lot of loose ends and cliffhangers (one character is left trapped inside a tunnel, for example) - it's going to be a long wait for the next book in the series!
    • 1/5
      I had great expectations for this book. I re-read the entire series so I could pick up where we left off with A Breath of Smoke and Ashes. I was very excited to start this book. What a waste of time and effort. Echo in the Bone is a meandering, disjointed, badly edited book. Jumping from story to story is bad enough but I'm infinitely tired of having to read all the side stories instead of focusing on Jamie and Claire. Seriously, I thought this series was about them. Brianna's character is horrid. She's a snide, nasty, self-righteous person. Can't take it. Wish Roger would heave her over and find someone nice. The William/Lord John stories do not fit in this book. What was the editor thinking? Since she can sell books, let her write exactly what she wants? I don't know why it has gone off-track. I refuse to read this book. I'm one-third of the way through and do not want to waste my time being disgusted by each chapter. I don't even care what happens now. I'm very sad by this -- 800 pages of wandering stories. For instance, when Ian takes the two "boys" to brothel. Why include that story? It means nothing to the storyline other than to include Arch Bug at some point. These characters will never be seen again unless she sticks them in later in some other book. And will they be remembered? Doubtful. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely love this series but I do have to agree with those who say it is a bit disjointed. There were minor characters popping in and out and it's been so long between books that it's hard to remember who's who and I wondered what the point was of some scenes. I wish there was a list of characters included in the books to remind us who these minor characters are. There are a couple scenes that are hard to follow. But all in all, I can not wait for the next one!
    • 4/5
      As much as I loved each of the Outlander books, this one left me with such a cliffhanger I cannot wait to read the next one! The only disappointment I have with this book is it seemed to simply be a transition to the next one. I loved reading more about the characters we have all come to love.
    • 5/5
      Honestly, I don't even know where to start in this review. Diana Gabaldon is one of my all-time favorite authors, and her Outlander series is one of my favorite book series of all time, if not my favorite. I could read her books again and again, and the sheer volume of the books is not a deterrent.An Echo in the Bone is the seventh book in the series. The saga of Claire and Jamie, as well as Bree and Roger, really grabs the reader and brings you into their story, which by now is in the middle of the Revolutionary War. Gabaldon clearly does her homework, as is evident by the fact that there usually elapses about three years between each book and also by the number of historically accurate nuances throughout it. She is a researcher, after all.Clocking in at over 800 pages means that the plot is too involved to discuss, and I wouldn't want to give anything away. But, as I was finishing the last hundred or so pages while my students were taking a final exam, I found myself about to cry more than once, and had to remind myself that I was in public. The book ends on a note that basically ensures there will be another book in the series. Even if I have to wait for three years, I'm happy to do it with characters like these ones and a story that is completely brilliant, unique, and well-developed.
    • 4/5
      Gabaldon is expanding the story in this installment, adding a lot more narrative about Jamie's son (the echo in the bone), and goes into a lot of detail about Revolutionary war battles and strategy. I have to admit, this book (which I was so looking forward to) disappointed me to a degree. It moves the plot forward, but has no really satisfying conclusion of any plot line within this novel. It feels very "to be continued..." Dang it!I also have to say it reminds me of any given episode of "24'...every journey goes awry-ships sink or are attacked, it just feels frantic and overwrought at times. (I don't watch 24 anymore, either) I look forward to the next novel, and hope it will be a more rewarding read--this is such a wonderful series and Gabaldon is a gifted writer!