“Separation” by plutoplus1.deviantart.com
I would like to thank my friend and fellow Outlander fan “Marja-Liisa Miettinen” for compiling this incredibly detailed chronology. She is verra thorough! The numbered titles in CAPS are the actual Outlander series. Everything else has a description next to it…
- OUTLANDER / CROSS STITCH is the UK version
- DRAGONFLY IN AMBER
- VOYAGER
3.1 Lord John and the Hellfire Club* (novella)
3.2 Lord John and the Private Matter (novel)
3.3 Lord John and the Succubus* (novella)
3.4 Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade
3.5 Lord John and the Haunted Soldier* (novella)
3.6 Lord John and the Custom of the Army^ (novella)
3.7 The Scottish Prisoner (a Lord John novel)
3.8 Lord John and the Plague of Zombies (novella in the anthology titled “Down These Strange Streets”) - DRUMS OF AUTUMN
4.1 The Outlandish Companion (a non-fiction guide to the OUTLANDER world and covers big books 1-4. It is also titled “Through the Stones” in the UK, however this edition is out of print. Vol II of the Outlandish Companion is rumored to be published sometime in 2013) - THE FIERY CROSS
- A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES
- AN ECHO IN THE BONE
7.1 The Exile (graphic novel which covers the first 1/3 of Outlander)
7.2 A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows (novella in an anthology titled “Songs of Love and Death”/going to be out as single e-book in the USA soon)
7.3 The Space Between (novella out in the USA early 2013 in the anthogy titled “The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World
domination”)
7.4 Virgins (novella being published December 3rd, 2013 in an anthology titled “Dangerous Women”) - WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD (due out in March 2014)
* = these novellas are in a collection titled as: “Lord John and the Hand of Devils”
^ = published in the USA as a single e-book in May 2012, also to be found in an anthology titled: “Warriors”
“A Trail of Fire” is collection of 4 novellas and it will be published in the UK, Australia & New Zealand in October 2012. It won’t be published in the USA until 2014 due to some publishing rights issues with one short story. If you’re from North America you can buy the book anyway. The stories in this collection are: “Lord John and the Custom of the Army,” “The Plague of Zombies,” “A Leaf in the Wind of All Hallows” and “The Space Between.”
Lord John novels are part of the Outlander series (a few characters who are introduced in them later appear in the Outlander novels) but they’re a bit different in style than the big books of the ‘Outlander saga’…
(Thanks again Marja-Liisa, you’re a rock star!)
outlanderfan.com 
Sara said,
December 3, 2012 at 4:19 pm
I just started the series; I am reading Dragonfly in Amber now. Do you recommend reading the 7 Outlander books first and then The Lord John books? I understand that Claire and Jamie are not in The Lord John books. Seems I should stick to the seven main books before reading anything else, right?
OutlanderFan said,
December 3, 2012 at 4:49 pm
I’m so envious that you have so much of the story ahead of you! Personally, I read the 7 books first; However, the most recent Lord John novel released in January 2012 “The Scottish Prisoner” has ALOT of Jamie in it- you could read that one AFTER you finish Voyager (book 3). I only read the LJG books because I was desperate for any connection to Jamie & Claire, but I found that I really liked them. They’re great stories in and of themselves. What do you think of DIA so far?
Sara said,
December 3, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Thanks!
I’m so engrossed in DIA! I can’t put it down. I’m either reading, or thinking about the story. I’m obsessed! I wish I would have found the series when I was single…now I have a family that expects me to feed them! Argh, don’t they realize I’m not in reality right now?! Lol
OutlanderFan said,
December 9, 2012 at 9:38 am
Just wait until Voyager lol!
Linda Benoit said,
February 15, 2015 at 3:56 pm
That’s what I did. Just finished Written in My Own Hearts Blood last night. Have all of the Lord John books to start next until the series starts again and she finishes the 9th book which she has already started. BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!! and I am 65 and read A LOT!! LOL
mertikfamily said,
December 17, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I just finished A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows, and enjoyed it. At the end, Diana says we can find out who the men who helped Jerry are in An Echo in the Bone. However, my sense of chronology and characters in the Outlander books has become hazy, as I read them some time ago. As I scroll thru Echo, I come across characters I don’t remember, and don’t want to re-read the whole book to uncover the mystery! Can someone point me to the part of the book with the scene with Jerry?
Jamie fan said,
January 30, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Roger’s dad, Jeremiah (“Jerry”) MacKenzie, is mentioned briefly in a couple of places. The most important and detailed reference is in AN ECHO IN THE BONE, chapter 21, “The Minister’s Cat”, starting on page 227.
Linda Benoit said,
February 15, 2015 at 3:57 pm
You need to buy the Outlander Companion to catch you up on characters etc. It’s worth it!
Becky White said,
April 23, 2013 at 6:53 am
Jeepers, I am just about to sit down and restart Outlander and the rest of the series for the sixth or seventh time! I get to the point where I can barely speak English without a trace of Scots in there!
For those of you just starting your journey! Dear god alive, be ready to hold your breath, then hold your sides, hold your tears and then do it all again. Its an incredible story and it’s not done yet!!
Book 8 is on it’s way!
OutlanderFan said,
April 25, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Thank Lord in heaven for that Becky!
Eileen Ehrmann said,
September 30, 2013 at 1:10 am
I love your blog Jennifer! I know I keep saying that but it’s just AWESOME!
Vanessa said,
October 20, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Hi Jennifer, I’ve read the entire series, as well as the Lord John series. Huge, huge fan. I could really use some help solving a mysterious scene. To the best of my recollection, there was a scene, at the beginning of the first novel, where Frank goes on a walk through the town in the evening. He is a short distance from the house where he and Claire are staying and sees her in one of the windows (I think she might be changing). He then suddenly sees a man, dressed in a kilt, also watching her. I think he sees the man smile, then he (the guy in the kilt) runs off and Frank is baffled. I feel like such a lump not figuring this out, but that scene has been a mystery to me since that first book! Who was that kilted man and how did you figure it out? Jamie can’t travel in time…is it a mystery yet to be solved? I would be so grateful for any help anyone can give:). THANKS!
OutlanderFan said,
October 20, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Hi Vanessa,
Frank indeed saw something- it was Jamie’s ghost, According to Diana Gabaldon. She has said that particular scene will be explained in the final book of the series, which may or may not be Book 9 (which she has not starting writing yet). Hope this helps!
Anonymous said,
May 24, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Hi Vanessa, Jamie also says, (I believe this is after his snake bite) ” I know my penance for the life I have lived, is that I shall have to wonder this earth for 200yrs waiting for you.” Plus after frank sees the kilted man, when he enters their room claire says “you look as if you have seen a ghost” frank replies “I’m not entirely sure I haven’t”
Susan said,
August 5, 2014 at 8:09 pm
I continually wonder about that and how it fits into the series. Seeing it again with Starz reminded me of the mystery. How can Jamie see into the future?
Why does Frank see him??
Renee Dodson said,
August 16, 2014 at 8:50 am
it was the night of the dead. As the lady in the B&B said the ghosts can do what ever they want. I would say Jamie’s ghost has been there for the last 200 years waiting for Claire to finally get to Scotland…
Anonymous said,
September 24, 2015 at 3:21 am
I think your right! Jamie knew when Claire crossed for the first time! He was waiting for her!
OutlanderFan said,
September 7, 2014 at 7:13 pm
There are many theories, but Diana Gabaldon has said that it will be explained in the final book. (Book 9?)
A fan. said,
March 12, 2015 at 1:32 am
I am glad that I’m not alone in wondering if that was Jamie. I’m now reading the ‘Fiery Cross”. I thought somehow I missed the answer
in the first book “Outlander” and read it again. I felt like such a dummy.
OutlanderFan said,
March 18, 2015 at 8:23 am
Awww, don’t feel that way. Part of the fun of reading the Outlander series is getting lost in the complexities of the varying story lines…Every time I re-read I discover something new that I hadn’t picked up on before lol
Beth said,
September 9, 2014 at 9:16 pm
I’m an Outlander newbie, but the series has hooked me and I bought the book today. But I can already see that there are some differences the book and the tv series. Is there anything substantively different so far?
OutlanderFan said,
October 20, 2014 at 5:14 pm
(Just saw this!) You’ve probably finished the book & know for yourself by now, but there is not much difference; any significant changes do not deviate from but add depth to existing story lines (with the exception of some characters- don’t you just love the tv version of Angus, lol?)
Tracy said,
December 6, 2014 at 3:18 am
I have read all the outlander books but none of the lord John or the novelettes. I have just purchased a trail of Fire and was wondering if I should read the four books in the order they appear in the book or read them chronologically as you have shown; the other option is to re-read all the Outlander books again from the start and throw the novelettes in as they come up chronologically. What would you recommend?
Thanks
OutlanderFan said,
December 11, 2014 at 8:50 am
Well, all of DG’s books could be read as stand alone; Like you, I myself read the Lord John books after completing the Outlander books.
In my personal opinion, the only Lord John book I would read ‘in order’ with the Outlander series is “The Scottish Prisoner,” which takes place during Jamie’s time at Helwater and includes a lot of narrative with his point of view. I would read that one after the first third of Voyager…
Therese said,
January 23, 2015 at 12:26 am
Does Claire ever get back to Frank?
Susan Harner said,
June 9, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Spoilers 😂
Lynne Yulish said,
February 8, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Are the Lord John books necessary to the story or can I get by with just the big books?
OutlanderFan said,
February 10, 2015 at 10:36 am
No, they are not, but they do fill in a few details relating to the stories here and there. The one exception for me is “The Scottish Prisoner,” which takes place during Book 3/Voyager, I highly recommend reading it in the middle of Voyager…
Here is a quote from Diana Gabladon re the Lord John Novels:
“The Lord John novellas and novels* are sequential, but are built to stand alone; you don’t need to read them in order.
In terms of their relationship to the larger Outlander novels: These books are part of the overall series, but are focused for the most part on those times in Lord John’s life when he’s not “onstage” in the main novels. [The Scottish Prisoner] focuses also on a part of Jamie Fraser’s life not covered in the main novels.
All of the Lord John novels take place between 1756 and 1766—this one is set in 1760—and in terms of the overall Outlander novels/timeline, they thus occur more or less in the middle of VOYAGER. So you can read any of them, in any order, once you’ve read VOYAGER, without getting lost.
*There are also a couple of short stories—and will eventually be more—dealing with minor events, minor characters, and/or lacunae in the main books. These are presently published in various anthologies, but will eventually be collected in book form.”
Lynne Yulish said,
February 10, 2015 at 10:49 am
Thank you!
OutlanderFan said,
February 10, 2015 at 10:59 am
🙂
harriet said,
November 14, 2015 at 10:26 am
Please I cant find the books in my country, so I have been trying to find them online, can somebody help me?!
OutlanderFan said,
November 14, 2015 at 11:13 am
Where do you live/which Country?
vicki said,
November 20, 2015 at 1:14 am
when will the re print the scottish prisoner in Hard COVER
Therese said,
June 1, 2016 at 11:36 pm
Does Claire ever be with Frank again?
hakulani said,
June 2, 2016 at 2:45 pm
Thank you, thank you. The puzzles, your blog. Awesome!
Debra Field said,
June 12, 2016 at 5:53 pm
Thank you for the time spent listing the chronology. Its very helpful and timely as Im just beginning “Drums” and will
switch to Lord John and pick it up after.
Beverly Johnson said,
June 27, 2016 at 1:04 pm
For thelast 2 years I have read All the Claire books and am finishing up Written in my own hearts blood.I have 20 more pages. What do I do now? I have kept up with all these people..is the 9th book out?
what is name and when can I get it…It is not satisfing to start for the Ridge, and Breanna is lost in space, somewhere and you keep waiting for her to appear around the next bush. I have been in this for so long, I will have withdrawals..The books are much better to read than Starz.
OutlanderFan said,
June 27, 2016 at 3:50 pm
Hi Beverly,
I hope by now you’ve read the last 20 pages of WIMOHB, you’ll be glad you did 🙂
The ninth book is still being written, no projected release date or name yet.
Have you read any of the Lord John novels? I highly recommend them, especially “The Scottish Prisoner.”
Lisa Ward said,
September 27, 2017 at 12:59 am
Oh yes, finish WIMOHB! You will love the ending, but hate waiting for the next book!