GREAT READS

An Echo in the Bone

Diana Gabaldon.

Diana Gabaldon's books are epic blends of historical fiction, adventure, sci-fi, fantasy and romance. Though she is typically labeled a romance writer, her books defy simple genre classification and her writing is never formulaic. Her latest book, An Echo in the Bone, doesn't disappoint in this regard. This is the seventh book in her Oulander series and one would think the author would run out of writing steam. Nevertheless, the book satisfies with a skillful orchestration of characters new and old. The story does start a bit slowly, laying a complex historical background, but successfully builds to a fantastic and fast-paced intensity. Gabaldon's skill at interweaving her many plots is impressive and fun to read. The ending is particularly excellent as the many plots converge, bringing loose ends together in a creative frenzy that showcases her writing skill. Even though the book is 800+ pages, readers will finish and find themselves sighing with disappointment that they'll have to wait years for the sequel.

Recommended by Erica Jesonis