Murder in the Trembling Lands - (Benjamin January Historical Mystery) by Barbara Hambly

Book Synopsis

Masked balls, duels and murder: musician, sleuth and free man of color Benjamin January is caught up in a shocking crime in this gripping nineteenth-century mystery set in New Orleans.

February, 1841. It's Carnival season in New Orleans. Free man of color Benjamin January - a surgeon turned piano player, with a talent for attracting trouble - is playing at an opulent masked ball when, little to his surprise, a quarrel breaks out between two guests, and his services are requested at a duel. Young planter Bastien Damoreau has accused a recent arrival to town of passing himself off as white - an insult not to be borne.

The duel results in the stranger's death. But when January examines the body, he's disturbed to realise that young Damoreau couldn't possibly be the killer, as the dead man was shot from behind . . .

January knows it's murder, but this is white people's business, and calling attention to himself is not a risk he can afford to take. So when Detective Abishag Shaw asks if he'll investigate, he declines - a decision he will later come to regret.

Murder in the Trembling Lands by NYT-bestselling author Barbara Hambly is the latest instalment of the critically-acclaimed historical mystery series featuring "winning character" Benjamin January, who "nimbly mov[es] through parts of history we should all know better" (The New York Times)

Review Quotes

[Benjamin January is] a winning character, nimbly moving through parts of history we should all know better-- "The New York Times on The Nubian's Curse"

A hauntingly atmospheric mystery with a complex and exciting storyline-- "Kirkus Reviews on The Nubian's Curse"

As always, Hambly fully immerses readers in her humid historical setting, and January proves an astute, empathetic sleuth. This long-running series shows no signs of slowing down-- "Publishers Weekly"

Characters are drawn with impressive depth . . . An excellent read-- "Historical Novels Review"

Hambly is a terrific storyteller; she builds a world that feels very real with fully realized characters. In the Benjamin January novels, we feel like we've been transported to a different time and place. Wonderful-- "Booklist on The Nubian's Curse"

Illuminating, challenging, and enlightening-- "Booklist"

One of Hambly's best mysteries combines historical detail, intense local color, and ugly truths about slavery and politics-- "Kirkus Reviews on Death and Hard Cider"

Outstanding . . . fastidious period detail, and a consistently surprising investigation-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of The Nubian's Curse"

The historical backdrop is vivid, and the writing is exquisite. One of the best in a not-to-be-missed series-- "Booklist Starred Review of Death and Hard Cider"

This masterly portrayal of smoldering racial tensions deserves a wide readership-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Death and Hard Cider"