A Free Man of Color

Benjamin January is a rarity in New Orleans 1830s; a free Black man. He is free because his mother is a place, the mistress of a wealthy white planter. Ben is educated and smart, but the casual racism of the times means he makes a living as a musician instead of a surgeon.

Despite his papers, he is always afraid of being kidnapped and sold into slavery, and that fear casts a shadow over his life.

When a beautiful quadroon is murdered, and no one cares, Ben’s sense of justice inspires him to investigate, despite risking his own freedom.

I… show more.

A Free Man of Color is the first book in the Benjamin January series by Barbara Hambly. I was already a fan of Hambly's fabulous fantasy books, so following her as she ventured off into more historically slanted books was an easy leap for me. 

The world of Benjamin January is set during a fascinating and chaotic time in the United States. New Orleans in the 1800s was a clash of cultures and creeds. The French and the Creole philosophies they'd imprinted on the city collide with the new ways of the growing American populace. Throw in the convoluted social… show more.

This first book in the Benjamin January mystery series got me hooked for life. Author Barbara Hambly takes us deep into the culture of free people of color in 1830s New Orleans with this well-researched mystery series. A musician by trade and a physician by training, January is well-positioned as an amateur investigator. He sees and hears everything as a musician, but his medical training gives him expertise that white sheriff Abishag Shaw lacks — and is more than happy to draw on. This first book involves a murder at one of the infamous quadroon balls, where January happens to… show more.