--- product_id: 50461233 title: "Murder in July: Historical mystery set in New Orleans (A Benjamin January Mystery) Hardcover – December 1, 2017" brand: "barbara hambly" price: "VT6966" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 category: "Books" url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/50461233-murder-in-july-historical-mystery-set-in-new-orleans-benjamin store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Murder in July: Historical mystery set in New Orleans (A Benjamin January Mystery) Hardcover – December 1, 2017 **Brand:** barbara hambly **Price:** VT6966 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Murder in July: Historical mystery set in New Orleans (A Benjamin January Mystery) Hardcover – December 1, 2017 by barbara hambly - **How much does it cost?** VT6966 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/50461233-murder-in-july-historical-mystery-set-in-new-orleans-benjamin) ## Best For - barbara hambly enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted barbara hambly brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Review "Hambly's most complex mystery to date, filled with horrifying historical detail about the lives of subjugated people, ends with a shocking denouement" (Kirkus Reviews)"This well-researched mystery offers readers an appealing cast of characters, a suitably complex plot, and some eye-opening historical details" (Publishers Weekly) Read more Book Description Benjamin January investigates the murder of a mysterious Englishman in this absorbing New Orleans-set mystery. Read more See all Editorial Reviews ## Images ![Murder in July: Historical mystery set in New Orleans (A Benjamin January Mystery) Hardcover – December 1, 2017 - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sjsatx2gL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Mystery, Excellent World-Building *by A***T on January 10, 2018* This had an interesting plot. I wasn't sure how Ms. Hambly would end the book, but it was satisfying. This is a good mystery, and involves layering of a mystery from a prior time into what is currently going on in Benjamin January's life.Ms. Hambly is one of those few authors that can really bring historical times to life, as if you were really there. Sometimes that is good, and sometimes that is fairly terrible! But, all in the interest of a great story. Her characters are very real, and get more so as her books progress. This is important to me. I would like to care about the characters in the books I read. The best thing about Ms. Hambly's character building, from my point of view, is that her characters have humanity and imperfections in varying degrees as to flesh and blood people. One can see how people can be mixtures of good characteristics and bad, and can see the building up of character or the breakdown of it in each person at issue in her books.I hope Ms. Hambly's writing career continues for many years, so that I can look forward to many more books! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good, But Not the Best of Ben January *by B***L on December 24, 2017* I've read all of the books in this series, and have loved every one but this. I love the characters, the New Orleans of the early 19th century as painted by Hambly, and the intricate plots. This one went back to when Ben was in Paris, alternating between 1830 in Paris and 1839 New Orleans. It took a while to get into the story, and I can honestly say that I wasn't that keen on it until about halfway through. Too much ink was spent on 1830. In fact, Ayasha has a larger role in this book than does Rose. But at least we get to see something of Hannibal (about whom we learn an interesting fact). The reader who knows nothing of French or Latin will miss some of the nuances in the characters' interactions (mainly between Hannibal and Ben), but the writing is still richly rewarding.One of my favorite aspects of the Benjamin January novels is the descriptions of the color-based "caste" system in 1830s New Orleans society. Ben's mother, a light skinned placee, sees herself and her younger daughter as more socially acceptable than Ben or Olympe, the dark skinned siblings. Hambly's knowledge of the social strata of the people of color, French Creoles, and "Americans" is extensive. Her use of language is brilliant and beautiful.If you've never read one of the Benjamin January novels, do not start with this one. Ideally, start with Free Man of Color and read them in order. I give this book 4 stars, but I'd give each one of the previous books in the series a 5 star rating. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ set a mere weeks or days after the clunker that was Drinking Gourd is one of the best that Hambly has produced in this series *by J***R on February 28, 2018* Murder in July, set a mere weeks or days after the clunker that was Drinking Gourd is one of the best that Hambly has produced in this series. It is definitely up there with Days of the Dead, The Shirt on his back and Good Man Friday. This particular mystery blends in Ben(and Hannibal's) present life with the events in Paris the summer of 1830. We get another glimpse of Ben's life with Ayasha as well as his friends in Paris, the musician Lucien Imbot, the street gang with Chatoine and Pucet and his homosexual friend, Daniel Ben Gideon, who played a minor role in Ran Away but becomes a central character in Murder in July. I certainly hope Ms. Hambly brings Mr. Ben Gideon to New Orleans in a future novel because I like the character. One minor mistake: Ms. Hambly states in Murder in July that Pucet died in the Parisian riots of 1830. In Ran Away, she states that Pucet died of the same cholera that killed Ayasha while Carnot died in the riots. In Murder in July, Carnot is still walking around so she must have meant him to die of the cholera. Perhaps the paperback edition of Ran Away reflects this change. Otherwise, this was an excellent mystery and another great edition to the series. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/50461233-murder-in-july-historical-mystery-set-in-new-orleans-benjamin](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/50461233-murder-in-july-historical-mystery-set-in-new-orleans-benjamin) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-17*