Listen to a sample
A Free Man of Color
- Author
- Barbara Hambly
- Narrator
- Ron Butler
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 2 February 2021
- Run Time
- 11 hours 42 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
This lush and haunting novel tells of a city steeped in decadent pleasures and of a man, proud and defiant, caught in a web of murder and betrayal.
It is 1833. In the midst of Mardi Gras, Benjamin January, a Creole physician and music teacher, is playing piano at the Salle d’Orléans when the evening’s festivities are interrupted—by murder.
The ravishing Angelique Crozat, a notorious octoroon who travels in the city’s finest company, has been strangled to death. With the authorities reluctant to become involved, Ben begins his own inquiry, which will take him through the seamy haunts of riverboatmen and into the huts of voodoo worshipping slaves.
But soon the eyes of suspicion turn toward Ben—for, black as the slave who fathered him, this free man of color is still seen as the perfect scapegoat.
Critics Review
-
“A darned good murder mystery.”
USA Today
-
“A smashing debut. Rich and exciting with both substance and spice.”
Minneapolis Star Tribune
-
“A vivid depiction of an exotic bygone time.”
The Oregonian (Portland)
-
“Subtly planting clues along the way, Hambly crafts a tale of intrigue set against a class-conscious Louisiana society and the many different definitions of “black.’”
Detroit News
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
“Hambly pays rich attention to period detail—fashion, food, manners, music, and voodoo…Escapist entertainment flavored liberally with the sights, textures, sounds, and tastes of a decadent city in a distant time.”
Publishers Weekly
-
“A richly detailed, telling portrait of an intricately structured racial hierarchy, which was to leave its mark on everyone—from Ben January to the white woman whose life he ultimately saves.”
Booklist
-
“In lush detail, Hambly recreates the world of the demimonde and the Mardi Gras balls, the plight of slaves, and the intricate social structure of…New Orleans. Ben is a wonderful character, strong and tempered by personal grief, smart, and courageous…A rich story with well-drawn characters, memorable action scenes, and a sense of place so strongly rendered that it surrounds the reader.”
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Barbara Hambly
- Narrator
- Ron Butler
- Duration
- 11 hours 42 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 February 2021
- ISBN
- 9781799922018
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Historical crime and mysteries, Historical fiction
Synopsis
This lush and haunting novel tells of a city steeped in decadent pleasures and of a man, proud and defiant, caught in a web of murder and betrayal.It is 1833. In the midst of Mardi Gras, Benjamin January, a Creole physician and music teacher, is playing piano at the Salle d’Orléans when the evening’s festivities are interrupted—by murder.The ravishing Angelique Crozat, a notorious octoroon who travels in the city’s finest company, has been strangled to death. With the authorities reluctant to become involved, Ben begins his own inquiry, which will take him through the seamy haunts of riverboatmen and into the huts of voodoo worshipping slaves.But soon the eyes of suspicion turn toward Ben—for, black as the slave who fathered him, this free man of color is still seen as the perfect scapegoat.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.