Overview

Benjamin January heads to the ""Slaveholders' Republic"" of Texas to locate a kidnapped girl and help a woman who saved him from the noose. April, 1840. Benjamin January knows no black person in their right mind would willingly go to the Republic of Texas but when his former pupil Selina Bellinger is kidnapped and enslaved, he has no choice. Once there he is saved from being hanged by Valentina Taggart, wife of the wealthy landowner of Rancho Perdition. After Valentina is accused of the murder of her husband, she in turn calls on Benjamin for help. To do so, he must abandon the safe haven of New Orleans, where people know he's a free man, to return to the self-proclaimed ""Slaveholders' Republic"". In a land still disputed between vengeful Comanche, disgruntled Mexican Tejanos, Americans who want to join the United States and those who want to keep Texas free, January must uncover what happened to Valentina's husband. Behind lies, betrayals and rising political tensions lies the answer . . . but finding it could cost Ben his life.

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9781780296463

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Reviews

A riveting exploration of a little-known period of Texas history intensified by gut-wrenching depictions of people's enduring inhumanity * <b>Kirkus Reviews</b> * 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 * <b>Publishers Weekly</b> * 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 * <b>Booklist Starred Review</b> *

A riveting explorations of a little-known period of Texas history intensified by gut-wrenching depictions of people's enduring inhumanity --Kirkus Reviews 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 An atmospheric, beautifully written mystery--Kirkus Reviews on Cold Bayou Outstanding ... In addition to the slavery issue, Hambly focuses on broader social concerns, with panache and sensitivity--Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Drinking Gourd January is a wonderful character ... Hambly does a fine job of painting January's world realistically--Booklist on Murder in July Fascinating ... This well-researched mystery offers readers an appealing cast of characters, a suitably complex plot, and some eye-opening historical details--Publishers Weekly on Murder in July Readers will learn a lot about the unique culture of antebellum Louisiana--Publishers Weekly on Cold Bayou

Outstanding ... In addition to the slavery issue, Hambly focuses on broader social concerns, with panache and sensitivity * <b>Publishers Weekly Starred Review</b> of <b>Drinking Gourd</b> * January is a wonderful character ... Hambly does a fine job of painting January's world realistically * <b>Booklist</b> on <b>Murder in July</b> * Fascinating ... This well-researched mystery offers readers an appealing cast of characters, a suitably complex plot, and some eye-opening historical details * <b>Publishers Weekly</b> on <b>Murder in July</b> * Readers will learn a lot about the unique culture of antebellum Louisiana * <b><i>Publishers Weekly</b></i> on <b><i>Cold Bayou</b></i> * An atmospheric, beautifully written mystery * <b><i>Kirkus Reviews</b></i> on <b><i>Cold Bayou</b></i> * While murders, rapes, thefts, and violence were commonplace in that era, their inclusion in this novel into a twin mystery is made compelling by the addition of the historical details, and the exposition of the plight of the unfortunate, the black population, and particularly the treatment of women. Highly recommended * <b>Historical Novel Review</b> * A riveting exploration of a little-known period of Texas history intensified by gut-wrenching depictions of people's enduring inhumanity * <b>Kirkus Reviews</b> * 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 * <b>Publishers Weekly</b> * 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 * <b>Booklist Starred Review</b> *

An atmospheric, beautifully written mystery --Kirkus Reviews on Cold Bayou 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 A riveting explorations of a little-known period of Texas history intensified by gut-wrenching depictions of people's enduring inhumanity --Kirkus Reviews Fascinating ... This well-researched mystery offers readers an appealing cast of characters, a suitably complex plot, and some eye-opening historical details --Publishers Weekly on Murder in July January is a wonderful character ... Hambly does a fine job of painting January's world realistically --Booklist on Murder in July Readers will learn a lot about the unique culture of antebellum Louisiana --Publishers Weekly on Cold Bayou Outstanding ... In addition to the slavery issue, Hambly focuses on broader social concerns, with panache and sensitivity --Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Drinking Gourd

Author Information

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.

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