I'm really not sure what I thought of this book, on its own. I got through it pretty fast for its size, and I always looked forward to reading it, and there were many parts where I simply couldn't put it down. And yet, I still don't really know what it was about. The focus skipped around and around and plotlines were (seemingly) dropped without further comment or resolve all throughout. It was much more of a hodge-podge collection of scenes than any of the others in this series, and it seemed more like... I don't know, a television series than a book. 
 Luckily for this book, however, it's not on its own, but part of a fascinating and irresistibly compelling (to me) series. On that term, it feels like a set-up sort of book, where Gabaldon is getting things into position for the next book. So issues like what the heck is going to happen with the new guy from Ardsmiur who moved to the Ridge, and where in bloody christ did Bonnet go and is he still alive (though we all know by now, of course he is), AND when will they wreak vengeance upon that jerkwad William Buccleigh for trying to kill Roger? will probably be resolved in the next book(s). So, that gives me something to look forward to, at least. 
 But this book won't appeal to very impatient readers or those not as invested in these characters as I am. Frankly, the scenes where they were just wandering around talking to each other and tending to minor emergencies were still incredibly interesting to me, so I'm probably not a good judge for people who are thinking about not reading this book. But I enjoyed it.