The Nubian's Curse - (Benjamin January Historical Mystery) by Barbara Hambly

About the Book

Fifteen years ago, musician sleuth and free man of color Benjamin January survived a ghost-hunting trip to a haunted house . but one of his party did not. Who - or what - killed British explorer Deverel Wishart? January is determined to finally solve the cold case, in this historical mystery set in New Orleans.

Book Synopsis

A cursed statue . . . A haunted house . . . A seemingly supernatural death . . . The unexpected arrival of a friend from his past plunges musician, sleuth and free man of color Benjamin January into an old, unsolved case in this historical mystery set in New Orleans

"Outstanding . . . fastidious period detail, and a consistently surprising investigation" Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"[Benjamin January is] a winning character, nimbly moving through parts of history we should all know better" New York Times

December 1840. Surgeon turned piano-player Benjamin January is looking forward to a peaceful holiday with his family. But the arrival of an old friend brings unexpected news - and unexpected danger.

Persephone Jondrette has found Arithmus: a Sudanese man with extraordinary mental abilities who January last saw in France, nearly fifteen years ago, during a ghost-hunting expedition to a haunted chateau. January and his friends survived the experience . . . but Arithmus' benefactor, the British explorer Deverel Wishart, did not. He was discovered dead one morning, his face twisted in horror, and shortly afterwards Arithmus vanished, never to be seen again.

Did Deverel succumb to the chateau's ghosts - or did Arithmus murder him and run away? January is determined to uncover the truth about the tragic incident from his past, and clear his old friend's name - but even he isn't prepared for what happens next . . .

The Nubian's Curse by NYT-bestselling author Barbara Hambly is the latest instalment of the critically acclaimed historical mystery series featuring talented amateur sleuth and free man of color, Benjamin January.

Review Quotes

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

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"

Outstanding . . . fastidious period detail, and a consistently surprising investigation-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review"

A hauntingly atmospheric mystery with a complex and
exciting storyline-- "Kirkus Reviews"

A fascinating, sadly timely tale of the hero's struggles with his rage over the treatment of Black people-- "Kirkus Reviews on House of the Patriarch"

A riveting exploration of a little-known period of Texas history intensified by gut-wrenching depictions of people's enduring inhumanity-- "Kirkus Reviews on Lady of Perdition"

A stark and occasionally brutal story, and Hambly tells it superbly, in prose that is vivid and empathetic. For fans of this fine series, this is a must-read-- "Booklist Starred Review of Lady of Perdition"

Deeply researched . . . Hambly's well-wrought denunciation of slavery and her skillful defense of women's rights resound from January's times to our own-- "Publishers Weekly on Lady of Perdition"

Hambly lays bare the dark underbelly of American society in the mid-nineteenth century. A fine entry in an impressive series-- "Booklist on House of the Patriarch"

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 . . . Hambly's masterful historical detail, scrupulous character portrayal, and psychological analysis of human frailties contribute handsomely to her storytelling-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of House of the Patriarch"

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"

About the Author

Barbara Hambly, though a native of Southern California, lived in New Orleans for many years while married to the late science fiction writer George Alec Effinger. Hambly holds a degree in medieval history from the University of California and has written novels in numerous genres.