A Free Man of Color

The Benjamin January Mysteries, Book 1

By: Barbara Hambly

Narrated by: Ron Butler

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

This lush and haunting novel tells of a city steeped in decadent pleasures and of a man, proud and defiant, caught in a web of murder and betrayal. 

It is 1833. In the midst of Mardi Gras, Benjamin January, a Creole physician and music teacher, is playing piano at the Salle d'Orleans when the evening's festivities are interrupted - by murder. 

The ravishing Angelique Crozat, a notorious octoroon who travels in the city's finest company, has been strangled to death. With the authorities reluctant to become involved, Ben begins his own inquiry, which will take him through the seamy haunts of riverboatmen and into the huts of voodoo-worshipping slaves.

But soon the eyes of suspicion turn toward Ben - for, black as the slave who fathered him, this free man of color is still seen as the perfect scapegoat.

©1997 Barbara Hambly (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Love this series!

The stories of Benjamin January are just great! Barbara does a wonderful job of bringing this time in history to life through story and characters.

Recommend

Lush, complex and thought provoking, this work introduced to me a world I've never before explored.

Awesome historical fiction

I love history and I read historical fiction for whole my life. I have to tell it is rare to find a book where you really feel like you have been transported in time and place. I am from central Europe and we do not see many people with African or Afro-American ancestry here. And more importantly we do not have much chance to become friends with them and hear some family stories about their ancestors and past. Or ask them about culture in their homeland. So listening to this book was like opening whole window to the unknown culture.

This book describes mix of cultures in New Orleans. It only scratches the surface as it is the first book of series. But I was amazed how much diverse and fascinating place was New Orelas was . There was so many things what I had no idea about. And thanks to this book I felt like I have been inside the main protagonist head. I could imagine how people felt during that turbulent times and what they thought about certain things. How they viewed slavery. And I had no idea about so many free people of color there.

The main mystery is also very good. I always judge the crime fiction stories by how long it takes to me to figure out who is the murderer. In this book I had no idea almost till the end. So I am satisfied. I love surprising endings.

Narrator voice is pleasant to hear. Only it took me while to get used to French names and some words. English is not my native language and when English is mixed with French I had some trouble at beginning but now I enjoy it.

Disappointing narration

A story taking place in New Orleans well prior to the civil war with a free black as the protagonist. Sounds like a white guy from Ohio telling the story. Very disappointed that dialect was entirely ignored. The story is historically accurate and a fine “who dun it”.

I felt like I was there

I am new to these tales so forgive my naïveté.

This author and voice actor combined to create a vivid, exciting adventurous story.
You should stop reading this review and get Barbara Hambly’s book now!

The French

The language is its own reward. The skillful touch of Hambly doesn't go amiss either.

Enlightening historical information and perspectives.

Slow start, but it picks up nicely the further and longer you delve into the mystery. A satisfying conclusion.

Wonderful Series

I have loved this series for many years and am delighted to find them on Audible.

Excellent story and well read

I have always enjoyed Barbara Hambly's work. She has a way of writing that gives you a vivid picture in your mind and the stories she writes are interesting and quite different from most other writer's works. And this book didn't disappoint. If you like historical fiction and mysteries, you will probably enjoy this book.

The narrator was good but not great

I love all the Benjamin January stories, but I was disappointed that Hannibal Sefton was given a southern accent, instead of an Irish accent. One of the most interesting features of this setting is the mixture of different cultures, and Hannibal’s culture is quite different from the wealthy Americans, who would be expected to have that same southern accent. Therefore, the lack of an Irish accent detracts from the portrayal of different points of view that stem from the different cultures, in my opinion.