The Drinking Gourd - (Benjamin January Historical Mystery) by Barbara Hambly (Paperback)

About the Book

Following the murder of a chief 'conductor' of the Underground Railroad - the secret network of safe-houses that guide escaping slaves to freedom - Jubal Cain, the coordinator of the entire Railroad system in Mississippi, is accused of the crime. It's up to Benjamin January to step in and find the true killer - before their covers are blown.

Book Synopsis

Benjamin January investigates the murder of a 'conductor' of the Underground Railway, helping slaves to freedom.

Benjamin January is called up to Vicksburg, deep in cotton-plantation country, to help a wounded "conductor" of the Underground Railroad - the secret network of safe-houses that guide escaping slaves to freedom. When the chief "conductor" of the "station" is found murdered, Jubal Cain - the coordinator of the whole Railroad system in Mississippi - is accused of the crime. Since Cain can't expose the nature of his involvement in the railroad, January has to step in and find the true killer, before their covers are blown.

As January probes into the murky labyrinth of slaves, slave-holders, the fugitives who follow the "drinking gourd" north to freedom and those who help them on their way, he discovers that there is more to the situation than meets the eye, and that sometimes there are no easy answers.

Review Quotes

"Hambly's well-tuned ear for the vernacular speech of her characters, whatever their race, is a plus"-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Another strong entry in an always enjoyable series"-- "Booklist"

"Hambly juxtaposes heroism with hypocrisy and altruism with cruelty in her compelling sixth instalment"-- "Kirkus Reviews"