I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

While I appreciated the shift in scene and tone to change things up – which must be an ongoing problem in such a long-running series, I was very glad that I’d read several books charting Ben January’s previous adventures. This is not one to plunge into if you haven’t previously read any of these books.

This particular adventure takes time to build, as the current situation comes with a detailed and complicated backstory that Hambly interleaves with the current narrative. I’m not sure it wholly works. There was also a new cast of characters to get to grips with and keeping both sets in my head took some effort and certainly meant that I didn’t immediately get pulled into the story in the way that normally happens with this author. Perhaps if the backstory leading up to the current adventure had been told in a single chunk, rather than constantly interrupted, the narrative pace would have been smoother. However, at no point was I ever tempted to DNF this offering – for starters, the genuinely creepy, gothic nature of the backstory was well depicted.

That said, once the narrative stayed in December 1840, the pace picked up and I once again found myself fully involved in Ben’s world. Hambly’s vivid descriptions of a New Orleans society from the viewpoint of a freed slave always resonates with me. It helps that Ben is a thoroughly likeable chap – intelligent, thoughtful and possessed with a strong sense of justice at a time when the colour of your skin absolutely defined who you could be and how far you could rise. Even a free man of colour was at risk of being kidnapped and shipped off down the Mississippi to the cotton fields. If you were a woman at that time, you were defined by how desirable you were and how much money your male relatives possessed. This tale gives a brutal example of how vulnerable a young woman was if she no longer had any male relatives around to protect her – and while there are no graphic scenes of any assault, I think a trigger warning for rape is in order.

In addition to the vivid descriptions of the landscape, the clothing, customs and food that makes this world leap off the page – there is also a thumping good murder mystery, full of tension and drama. Overall, this is a rather dark tale, but Hambly provides occasional shafts of humour that stops it from becoming too grim – as he was running through the swamp, I loved Ben’s changing opinion of his recent gift of a fine new waterproof. If it hadn’t been for a rather slow start – it would have been a solid ten out of ten and once again reminds me of why I like Hambly’s writing so much. Highly recommended for fans of historical murder mystery set at an unusual time with a particularly well portrayed protagonist of colour. While I obtained an arc of The Nubian’s Curse from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

Barbara Hambly’s, “The Nubian’s Curse” (20th in the Benjamin January Series), is an action-packed multiple time-line historical fiction full of numerous ‘who dun its” set in multiple locales from Europe to the pre-Civil War Antebellum South. “Curse” is chock full of interrelated characters whose hopes, dreams, plots, and plans mesh and merge resulting in complex and often inexplicable results.

I was drawn to “Curse” because of the intriguing title that whispers of ancient times and compelling enigmas—which is exactly what it does. Not to give any spoilers away, it’s up to the readers to decide if the outcomes in the novel could be traced back to the ancient goddess and her curse…

This is my first Hambly novel and I was shocked to discover that “Curse,” which I consider a “Cozy Mystery,” features slavery as a backdrop. Admirably, featured protagonist hero Benjamin January, and many of his cohorts, are portrayed as well-educated, erudite, Greek and Shakespeare-quoting free-men-of-color. Nonetheless, ‘The Benjamin January Series,’ including “Curse” are books that I can’t endorse because of their controversial nature.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Barbara Hambly, and Publisher for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

I'm a fan of Benjaimin January and was glad to read another story featuring this story. Barbara Hambly is a great storyteller and this is an excellent story that mixes historical fiction, horror and mystery
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I’ve been reading Barbara Hambly since the 1980s; I think it was The Dark trilogy. I stopped reading Fantasy for the most part, and was very happy to find the Benjamin January historical mystery series still going strong now after the first was published in 1997: A Free Man Of Color. The Nubian’s Curse is the 20th novel in the series, and I’ve read most but for the last few years.
Benjamin January is a young Black man in pre-Civil War New Orleans, freed by his mother’s “protector,” and goes to Paris, swearing never to return to America. He becomes a doctor and a musician and an amateur sleuth with the help of some very interesting characters, including an aunt involved in voodoo, an opium-addicted Irish fiddler, and a tobacco spitting “Kentuck” constable.
What I love about these books, and this is also true for The Nubian’s Curse, is the complicated tapestry of memory that informs the current murder mystery and layers it with the past. A death in a haunted and derelict chateau in 1820s France somehow is a part of a disappearance and a murder in the present.
The books are steeped in detail of life and culture in that era. Benjamin is a likable character filled with heart and soul for his fellow humans. If you haven’t read any of these books yet and love historical mysteries series, this is an excellent one, written by a well-seasoned author who’s survived publishing for many decades. Also, Severn House is one of my favorite publishers, and I’m never disappointed in any book of theirs I’ve read.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and review.

Barbara Hambly's Benjamin January historical mystery series is a favorite of mine. Given that The Nubian's Curse is the twentieth volume in the series, it must be a favorite of a good many others. The series is set in the mid 18th Century, primarily in New Orleans. January is a free man of color with a wide range of life experiences. He was born a slave, then was purchased by his mother when she became a placee (a sort of mistress/concubine) of a wealthy white man. He's a gifted musician; he's also studied medicine. He's lived in both slave-holding and free states; he's also lived in France.

The range of January's life experiences is what gives this series its power. January has lived in enough places that he understands the ways the rules of race differ by location. In the U.S., he's always at risk of being captured as a runaway slave and sold "down the river," despite being a free man. In New Orleans, he's generally a respected figure. His social opportunities are limited because of his race, but he is friends with an interesting mix of individuals, Black and white, wealthy and poor. In Paris, he had the freedom to interact with whites in ways that would have placed him at risk of violence in the U.S.

The Nubian's Curse is a two time-period novel. The mystery at its heart began in Paris with the murder of a white scientist and showman. That man's business partner, Arithmus, a Black man born in Africa who has exceptional memory and numerical skills is presumed to be guilty of the crime. When one of January's friends from Paris, a white woman, arrives in New Orleans and explains that Arithmus is in the U.S. living on a plantation to which she must travel, January winds up traveling with her and with the wealthy, recently-orphaned young woman who she is escorting to the guardian named in her father's will. Of course, January isn't "just" travelling with her. He's joined by a white friend, a fiddler, a former (and perhaps current) reprobate and acts as this man's servant.

The mystery here is complex and involves several more important threads that I haven't included in this summary. Past and present overlap.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those that examine uncomfortable periods in U.S. history, you'll be deeply satisfied with The Nubian's Curse or any other of Hambly's Benjamin January novels. Hambly handles this series with a deftness that makes it possible to begin with any volume in the series without feeling ungrounded. The Nubian's Curse is being released in January 2024 and is worth keeping an eye out for. In the meanwhile, if you come across a different Benjamin January mystery, read and enjoy.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

The Nubian’s Curse by Barbara Hambly
Barbara Hambly writes historical mysteries as well as science fiction. It’s an intriguing mix of gifts—and I would say that it takes a science fiction writer to convincingly portray such an alien world as antebellum New Orleans. She places her detective, the trained musician, surgeon, and free man of color Benjamin January, in a fully-realized world of family, friends, enemies, comforts and dangers, sights and sounds (and since this is Louisiana, flavors as well). The action takes Ben up to Natchez and out on the bayou, as well as to balls in the city where gossip provides clues to a string of mysterious deaths. The key to the mystery lies in past events and relationships in Paris, France, so there are flashbacks at intervals, clearly signaled to the reader with years and dates in the chapter headings. Although the Benjamin January series is sequential, I have read some of them out of order and it has not detracted from my enjoyment, so it’s ok to jump in here. This richly-textured, immersive historical mystery is highly recommended. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Benjamin January series is among my favorite long-running historical mystery series. Not only is there always a solid mystery to be solved, but also the characters are engaging, and the reader learns a bit about the history and culture of New Orleans.

This was an okay read to me . I felt engaged with the story and characters and felt the story flowed nicely . Overall it was a good read .

It was good to see Ben again. I followed the series until it got pushed back. The mystery has been around fr years. It comes up when two people show up in New Orleans. What follows s a tension filled plot that kept me guessing. Woven in are the things that affected people of color changing how they reacted to everyday life. Very readable.

I've been a fan of this series-it's good atmospheric historical fiction-but this one felt like a deviation of sorts. Benjamin January's past comes back to haunt him and there's a fair amount of reminiscence about Paris years before. It's longer than the other installments and, if perhaps not more complex, more convoluted. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm still looking forward to the next one.

I found this novel very slow to get into and a chore to complete. I found myself distracted with the numerous characters and their relevance to the story and its “mystery.” At its core, the musician, Benjamin January, is called upon by an old acquaintance to investigate the death of a mutual friend they both knew during their exploits in Paris years earlier. The author’s style of writing is layered and the storytelling is constantly peppered with flashbacks to Paris or other events/happenings in the character's lives. I gleaned a few notable bits of knowledge – it is historical fiction set in New Orleans and ventures to other areas in the slave-holding South - but those were few and far between the passages of heavy, stilted dialogue.

No doubt I’ll be in the minority as this is a story that is satisfying if one has the patience to persevere to the end.

Thanks to the publisher, Severn House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

I have read Barbara Hambly’s Fantasy books before (dragons) and really enjoyed her stories so I recognized her as an author.

I have not heard of this series before but boy am I glad I read this book. This is book 20 in a long going series which I fully intend to go back and read all 19 predecessors.

This is about Benjamin January is a Creole in 1850s New Orleans. He is a classically trained musician and trained in medicine.

Benjamin is enjoying his life in New Orleans when people from his past arrive in New Orleans bringing troubles from the past.

He had gone ghost hunting with them in Egypt and France. Mysterious death happens which remains unsolved.

The niece of his benefactor is part of the group that has arrived bringing with them memories Benjamin would rather forget.

There is savant character wrongfully enslaved, prince’s, plantations, voodoo and ancient Egyptian curses.

It all evolves into a complex and intriguing mystery of who killed the gross Crise who is a very bad man trying all kinds of tricks to steal artifacts and money while being horrible to women.

I really enjoyed this mystery. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Benjamin January series rolls on...and while this isn't as stand-out as some, we are back with the usual cast of characters and the time and place that Hambly so gloriously evokes. I ate it up - the way I have every single one in the series - and just want the next one...

Figures from Benjamin's past draw him into a situation that is occuring now. As Benjamin tries to find a long lost friend, he is put in jeopardy as well as some of the people closest to him. Finding a body and finding a killer becomes the only way that Benjamin can decide who can be trusted.

I do like a new Benjamin January book. As always, I love the background and historical aspects that the author includes in these novels. I always learn so much about how society operated in that time, and the different roles that people of color had to play .

I am torn about this book. I absolutely have enjoyed the Benjamin January series...but this one for me was difficult to finish. I forgot how many french words and descriptions you had to learn or remember to understand each person's "place" in society at that time. The descriptions of the balls and the plantations etc. are always very vivid and make you feel like you are living in that world for time.

I am not sure why put I found it had too many characters, and sub plots to keep up with. Although I appreciate the plot device of flashbacks to previous times, in this instance they did not really add much to the story other than to keep you confused.

The addition of the situation with January's niece was unresolved and , again, did not enhance the story in any way.

I love the way that Hannibal and Benjamin support each other, but I wouldn't mind learning more about Hannibal away from Ben, the same with his wife Rose. I can't put my finger on it, but there was something missing in this story, or maybe it was just too similar to some of the others?

For someone new to the series I think they may find it hard to follow the characters. I do look forward to another January novel.

Barbara Hambly is an amazing storytelling. This book is #20 in the Benjamin January series. I had read a story of hers years ago and took a chance on this book.
The book plunges you into New Orleans society celebrations. Benjamin January, the main character, is a musician (and sleuth and has medical knowledge). I felt immersed in the culture of New Orleans, the good and bad. An old friend from Paris requests January's assistance when she sees him at a party. Together, they seek to find persons involved in a haunted house and mysterious death from their time in France. The danger arises again.
I loved the depth of the story. I always enjoy the history. I learned a lot about New Orleans society, the slave trade, and a little bit of voodoo. The characters were engaging and multifaceted. However, I was a little lost at times by the number of characters and how they connected to the story. I will definitely read previous books from this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for an ARC copy of the book.

I liked the last book that I read by this author, so I decided to try this one, as I liked the cover design and description.

I thought the writing itself was very good, but I felt that I didn't really connect with the story, and I didn't feel any connection to the characters, I was indifferent to all of them. I would still be interested in reading some more books by this author though.

Recommending series books is always difficult because in manyu cases the reader should have read the earlier entries in the series. One of the things I have admired about Barbara Hambly’s Benjamin January series is that you can dip in and out of it but still thoroughly enjoy the story at hand. Hambly’s writing is evocative and her plotting exceptional, always.

The story here picks up some characters from Benjamin’s past in France, reminding him of some terrible times. As usualy, he is swept up into helping someone, leading to all sorts of adventures. Hambly blends Benjamin’s personal life with the “mystery” in each story, making his adventures totally part of his every-day life.

Recommended for fans of this series, but also for readers who enjoy historical mysteries featuring smart, strong Black men and women.

Detective Ben January confronts a major obstacle when he sets out to solve a mystery: He is a black man in the American South in 1840.

Laissez-faire New Orleans grants him access to the grand houses when he plays music for holiday parties, but he has to rely on white friends when he requires access through the front door.

The Nubian Curse introduces an African idiot savant controlled by an Egyptologist brandishing a fetish. January knew Arithmus in Paris fifteen years ago. Now he discovers the man is a slave in Natchez.

Hopping from France to Louisiana to tell the story of Arithmus, Hambly introduces an array of fascinating characters, both black and white.

This latest in a series is so good, readers will be checking out earlier mysteries.

So nice to read about Benjamin January again! It's been awhile (for me) but it all came back. Great plot, as always, though sometimes hard to read for the intended) creepiness factor.