Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to all my American friends. Stay safe and healthy as you celebrate freedom and equality for all people!
If you like historical mysteries, then be sure to read on for the latest in the Benjamin January series. It’s a winner!
House of the Patriarch by Barbara Hambly
Genre: Historical mystery
Publication: Severn House, 5 January 2021
No one can talk to the dead . . . can they? Free man of color Benjamin January gets caught up in a strange, spiritual world that might lead to his own demise, as he hunts for a missing teenager in this gripping, atmospheric historical mystery.
New Orleans, 1840. Freshly home from a dangerous journey, that last thing Benjamin January wants to do is leave his wife and young sons again. But when old friends Henri and Chloe Viellard ask for his help tracking down a missing girl in distant New York, he can’t say no.
Three weeks ago, seventeen-year-old Eve Russell boarded a steam-boat – and never got off it. Mrs Russell is adamant Eve’s been kidnapped, but how could someone remove a teenager from a crowded deck in broad daylight? And why would anyone target Eve?
The answer lies in New York, a hotbed of new religions and beliefs, of human circuses and freak shows . . . and of blackbirders, who’ll use any opportunity to kidnap a free man of color and sell him into slavery. January’s determined to uncover the truth, but will he ever be able to return to New Orleans to share it? (from Bookshop.org)
My thoughts
This is the first book by Barabara Hambly that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. I was impressed by Hambly’s skill as a storyteller in this complex and enthralling mystery of a missing girl.
Eve Russell is missing. Kidnapped, her mother believes. January has his doubts. After all, the Russells aren’t rich, so it’s unlikely that she’s a target for financial reasons. The answer might lie in Eve’s curiosity and spiritual seeking.
During this time period, new religious ideas were springing up everywhere and from unlikely sources, such as people claiming to have visions or communication with the dead. The religious variations intermingle with various lifestyles (such as polygamy) and causes (such as abolition). It’s easy to see that Eve might gravitate toward a self-declared prophet who claims to have answers. But is that what happened?
High stakes
The stakes are high for the Russell family, who stand to lose their child. But for Benjamin January, there’s more at risk here than one girl’s life.
If the Russells offer a reward for their daughter, slave catchers will search the western New York farms and communes. They might not find Eve Russell, but they would assuredly find (and recapture) runaway slaves near the Canadian border. January feels that he must find Eve before her parents do this. He also can’t tell the Russells not to offer the reward and why. They won’t care, especially given their fears about their daughter’s possible fate. (Sex trafficking is a chief concern.) It’s understandable, complicated, and heart-breaking–and dramatically increases the stakes for January’s search.
The story moves swiftly and seamlessly as January travels from New Orleans to New York. The tension never relaxes in this deftly-plotted mystery.
Characterization
Benjamin January is a deeply thoughtful, self-aware man. He knows that hatred of white men might blossom in his heart; yet he’s honest enough to know that he might not be aware of this hatred when/if it happens. Hambly deftly captures his complicated emotions towards whites (especially white men), including those he otherwise likes, such as Henri Viellard or his friend Hannibal Sefton.
Even though he’s a free man, he must pretend to be a slave while he travels with the Viellard family. (In playing this role, he also has to act “stupid.” Never mind that he’s a French-trained doctor!) The Viellards are almost family, in a way. Although married to his cousin Chloe, Henri is the “protector” of January’s sister Dominique. At first, the complicated family relationships discombobulated me. But it wasn’t difficult to follow, once I got my bearings.
Setting
Barbara Hambly brings the setting to life in sparkling detail. I almost felt the humidity of New Orleans, and along with January, I watched in helpless horror as slave catchers deceive and abduct a freeman. New York state also comes alive, as the wild streets of New York City lead January into danger, but also introduce him to P. T. Barnum and abolitionist David Ruggles. She did a fantastic job researching the time period and settings. Just as importantly, she incorporates that knowledge into this story to adds depth to every aspect of storytelling, from the characters to the settings to the tiniest of descriptive details. Masterful work.
House of the Patriarch works as a standalone. The book does reference previous stories from earlier books, and I don’t know whether these references are spoilers or not. However, they add depth to this story. Besides, if the previous Benjamin January novels are as well-written as this one, then even these slight spoilers won’t diminish the pleasure of reading about his other adventures.
Recommended
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Like this? Read that!
If you enjoy gripping historical mysteries, then check out my review for The Art of Dying by Ambrose Parry.
Having read all the books in this series I can assure you that they are all as.good. I.would also recommend her fantasy books of you are that way.inclined – “Dragonsbane” is a corker.
she does despair particularly well I find
Oh, I’m thrilled to hear that about the Benjamin January series! It was a delight to read such a well-crafted story. I’ll be on the lookout for Dragonsbane, too; fantasy isn’t my favorite genre, but occasionally, a well-written one will pique my interest. Thanks so much for commenting, Anne. I appreciate it.