Outlander Book Club: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade Chapter 27 breakdown

At first glance, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade Chapter 27 is about bringing closure for John with Percy. However, there is something bigger as the chapter continues.

This is a long chapter, especially compared to most of the others in the book. That’s not surprising when you consider how much information there is in this. The chapter starts with John hearing Percy’s story, and it ends with some more information that could help the Grey family in the current situation.

There are some great moments in this chapter that allow for John’s character development. Of course, the plot development is also welcome.

Breaking down Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade Chapter 27

The chapter starts with John and Hal discussing Percy. Hal explains that while some would like to see Percy executed, it can’t be done publicly. Hal gives John a pistol that John should give to Percy. The best option is for Percy to take his own life.

This gives a reason for John to visit Percy in jail. Percy explains a few things to John, including the fact that a Mr. A in London was pimping him out. Weber had been involved with him in London, and then blackmailed him into continuing their love affair in Germany. Percy is also angry at Lord John for not returning all the feelings and for putting honor over everything else.

It’s hard not to feel for Percy in this moment. He is facing death, and he’s scared. Of course he’s going to lash out at John.

There are some moments of honesty from John. He realizes that he doesn’t love Percy in the way that Percy loves him, and while John was never physically unfaithful to Percy, his heart belongs to another—Jamie.

Later on, John receives a letter from Percy, who explains that the attack on John in Hyde Park wasn’t random. We learn that Mr. A has information about the Grey family. Percy didn’t realize the Hyde Park attack wasn’t random until the one at Seven Dials. However, Percy thought John would be safe in Germany. It turns out that an army surgeon is friends with Mr. A and part of the plot against the Grey family.

When Tom suggests that John should be bled, John realizes that this is a good time to talk to the doctor about some of the other men in the medical unit. Hal also appears, and John gives Hal the letter from Percy, making it clear that he believes the words to be true. Hal interrogates the doctor, helping the Greys get closer to figuring out the conspiracy.

The doctor does remember a name: Arthur Longstreet! Mr. A?

Longstreet is in Prussia, but the doctor doesn’t know the regiment. So, they need to go in search for the man, but not so that Longstreet knows. They need to find a way to speak to Longstreet privately.

Could this chapter be used in a TV adaptation?

If we ever get a Lord John Grey series and this book was used, we would need to see this chapter. There is so much going on, and all of it is either relevant to John’s character development or the plot.

We need to see the scene of Percy and John talking. This is so important for John to realize how deep his love for Jamie is. He needs to see that while he’s infatuated with Percy, it’s not love. That then leads to Percy writing the letter, and the letter is essential. Without it, the plot involving the Grey family wouldn’t continue.

I don’t think we really need the letter, though. To allow for all of this to be shown on the screen, we could have Percy tell John everything in the cell. Then John could relay it to Hal before the doctor comes to bleed him. The letter would make sense, though. With the conversation between Hal and John, it allows for the contents of the letter to be spoken aloud. Otherwise too much is internalized.