Wet Grave (Benjamin January Series #6)

Beware Hurricane Season

Hesione LeGros¿s murder as a poor, drunken prostitute is far removed from her younger days as the beautiful, fiery mistress of a pirate captain. The city guard is busy with the death of a white plantation owner, so it is left to Benjamin January to investigate during the grueling summer heat in New Orleans. But January¿s inquiries quickly take a backseat when disaster strikes closer to home. Soon, Benjamin and his sweetheart Rose are caught up in a tangle of conspiracies ¿ gun running, slave revolt and pirate treasure. Forced to flee New Orleans, they work to untangle the many mysteries in the surrounding plantations and swamps. This is the sixth book in Hambly¿s series about 1830s New Orleans and Benjamin January, well-educated freeman and seeker of justice. Hambly provides enough of a history recap for readers new to the series. The rich descriptions put you directly on the streets of the tarnished jewel that is New Orleans. Hambly is as effective as ever in her depictions of the many colliding cultures, the contrast of the lives of the haves and the have-nots, and the heartbreaking injustices and indignities suffered because of race. One of the best things about this series is that the characters and relationships continue to grow and change. Benjamin and his friends and family are all complex characters. The villains however, seem to be almost over-the-top evil. The pacing steams along steadily until the climax, which is riotous barrage of action. Hambly does an excellent job of wrapping all of her plot threads together. I have one minor quibble - so many things were wrapped up, I¿d be afraid for the series if I didn¿t know that the next book was already out.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful!

This was a treat, and what an ending! Benjamin January fans will adore this latest addition to the series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Benjamin January Rules!

This is Barbara Hambly's best Benjamin January mystery yet. The storyline is intriguing - why is a horrifically poor freed black prostitute killed with a dubloon, which could have been used to elevate her standard of living, in her pocket? - and the twists and turns of the plot from there are of the 'never a dull moment' variety. But best of all, there's an ending to this particular mystery, the sixth in the Benjamin January series, that will make readers stand up and cheer. Go for it - go out and buy this terrific book!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great nineteenth century tale

In 1835 New Orleans, Olympia Snakebones sends for her brother Benjamin January to come to the poorer side of town because someone killed a free colored lady, Hesione LeGros. The victim was stabbed to death with the culprit obviously searching her shack for something, but it was not for financial reasons. The killer never robbed Hesione or took the money in her possession.

The city guards fail to arrive to investigate the homicide as they are busy with the murder of a white plus blacks receive ¿leftover¿ justice in the same way slaves receive food scraps. Refusing to ignore the crime, Benjamin accompanied by his beloved Rose Vitric begins making inquiries into the brutal death of an old woman.

The January historical mysteries are some of the best nineteenth century tales on the market regardless of genre. The story line vividly brings New Orleans with its caste society to life so that the reader feels as if they are visiting the locale. The who-done-it is cleverly designed to further bring out the era and the hero. Fans of historical tales, especially mysteries will want to read WET GRAVE and the previous January novels that Barbara Hambly has written because these are insightfully top quality.

Harriet Klausner

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